‘Wellstar still has a responsibility to this community’: Mayor sends follow-up letter Wellstar CEO

ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has sent another letter demanding answers over the surprise announcement of the closing of Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center.

The health system’s announcement about the closing of the medical center this fall came last month.

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In a letter to the president and CEO of Wellstar Health System, Dickens said he has “concerns about how your decision will impact access to healthcare for residents and visitors of Atlanta, as well as those of surrounding communities.”

“As Mayor of Atlanta, I will leave no stone unturned as I explore every option to safeguard access to vital healthcare services for members of our community,” Mayor Dickens wrote. “But let me be clear: Wellstar still has a responsibility to this community as well. Wellstar needs to provide immediate answers to the community about what you are doing to mitigate the harm to the community of this closure.”

“We will continue to engage these partners to quickly identify potential resources and services to meet the needs of our community and mitigate any detrimental impacts from your decision to close Atlanta Medical Center.

—  Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens

On top of the hospital closing, Channel 2 Action News has learned that several of their clinics will also close.

The clinics set to close include: Wellstar Princeton Lakes, Wellstar Cascade, Wellstar Primary Care of East Point and Wellstar Virginia Highlands.

Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center is set to close on Nov. 1. Grady Memorial, Emory University and Piedmont hospitals will now have to absorb the 200 patients currently in AMC’s hospital beds.

Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts released a statement on Thursday saying as of now, he does not think the county can do anything legally to stop Atlanta Medical Center from closing.

Pitts said the focus right now is creating a plan for nearby hospitals to care for those extra patients.

Fulton commissioners also announced that will release a one-time $11 million payment to Grady Memorial to help them get ready for the extra patients.

Wellstar’s corporate office released a statement last month announcing the closure of Atlanta Medical Center due to a number of reasons, including a decrease in revenue, increase in costs for staff and supplies, and the pandemic.

After investing heavily in Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) for the past six years and pursuing every opportunity for an alternative path forward, Wellstar is announcing its plans to cease operations at Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) on Nov. 1, 2022.

—  Wellstar Corporate Office

The mayor’s full letter to the Wellstar CEO can be found HERE.

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