UNION CITY, Ga. — Union City Mayor Vince Williams and Grady Memorial Hospital officials are unveiling plans to bring essential medical services to south Fulton County with the announcement of a new freestanding emergency care center.
The decision to establish the facility came in response to community feedback and an identified gap in healthcare services following the closure of medical centers in Atlanta and East Point by Wellstar. Williams expressed gratitude for the project, which will provide crucial emergency care to Union City and neighboring communities.
"This is something that we have prayed about long and hard and something that is essential in this community," said Williams.
The facility, to be equipped with 24-hour emergency care, a pharmacy, and imaging services, aims to address the healthcare void in the area. Grady's CEO, John Haupert, emphasized the strategic location of Union City within a healthcare desert identified by Fulton County.
"When you look at that healthcare desert that is defined by Fulton County and the study they did, Union City is smack in the middle of it," Haupert said.
Construction of the emergency center is slated to commence in the fall, with completion expected by 2026. Williams highlighted the regional impact of the project, emphasizing its role in serving neighboring communities such as Fairburn, College Park, Palmetto, and Chattahoochee Hills.
"Being able to serve not only the Union City community, but our neighboring communities as well... it's a peak of hope," Williams added.
The establishment of this facility represents a significant step towards addressing healthcare disparities in the region, bringing essential medical services closer to those in need.