On Wednesday, March 18th, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners will vote to approve a new hospital for South Fulton County in partnership with Grady Health System and the Fulton Dekalb Hospital Authority (FDHA).

The new hospital represents Phase 3 of the Project Care Initiative I started in 2023 to address the closure of the two Wellstar hospitals and the resulting healthcare desert.

Fulton County will invest $300 million of the estimated $900 million total cost of the project.

Earlier this week I shared my vision to restore medical services in South Fulton County. The vote on Wednesday is the culmination of months of planning and negotiation with Grady Health System and FDHA.

I am proud the day has come to make official my promise to build a first-class hospital for the people of South Fulton. This is a major step to advancing health equity and remedying the health disparities between North and South Fulton County.

Simply put, this new will hospital will save lives.

March 9, 2026

MAJOR PLAN FOR QUALITY HEALTH CARE IN SOUTH FULTON COUNTY ON FAST TRACK

My efforts to ensure that residents of South Fulton County have access to quality health care began years ago, and I am proud to announce those efforts are becoming a reality.

Well before the closure of Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta and AMC South in East Point in 2022, I was working behind the scenes with health care professionals, business leaders, nonprofit organizations, and residents to better understand — and address — the urgent medical needs of South Fulton. Those conversations made one thing clear: access to care was already fragile, and the consequences of losing hospitals would be devastating.

When the two hospitals closed, we immediately intensified our work. Partnering with Morehouse School of Medicine President Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, Fulton County engaged Ernst & Young to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the local health ecosystem. Known as Project Care, the study confirmed what residents had been telling us for years: South Fulton is a health care desert facing a genuine public health emergency.

We swung into action.

Through persistent leadership, extensive negotiations, and months of coordinated planning, I successfully spearheaded the effort to establish a network of quality health care services in South Fulton.

Phase 1

Construction is already underway on a 20,000-square-foot freestanding Emergency Department in Union City, operated by the Grady Health System, with an anticipated opening in Fall 2026. This facility will significantly reduce emergency response times and provide 24/7 critical care for adults and children, complete with advanced imaging, laboratory services, and emergency treatment.

Phase 2

I envision a medical office building adjacent to the Emergency Department. This facility will offer a wide range of outpatient services, including cardiology, radiology, maternal and pediatric care, and other diagnostic services — providing quicker access, shorter wait times, and more personalized care for non-emergency needs.

Phase 3

This phase of my vision is the construction of a full-service hospital in South Fulton. This hospital will deliver comprehensive, integrated care under one roof, including 24/7 emergency services, advanced diagnostics such as MRI and CT imaging, multispecialty physicians, surgical services, maternity care, and inpatient support. From routine checkups to life-saving interventions, residents will finally have access to the care they deserve close to home.

For the people of South Fulton, this is the long-awaited answer to years of desperate pleas for quality health care. No longer will families be forced to travel long distances or lose critical time seeking emergency or basic medical services. This plan will save lives.

As Chairman of Fulton County, I take great pride in leading this effort and delivering real results for a community that has been underserved for far too long. Expanding access to health care is not just a promise, it is a responsibility I take personally. South Fulton is a priority, and because of focused leadership and determined action, help is no longer a hope for the future — it is on the way.