Grady Health System has officially broken ground on a transformative new emergency facility in Union City, marking a major step toward closing the healthcare gap in South Fulton. Set to open in Fall 2026, the 20,000-square-foot freestanding emergency department will be the first of its kind south of I-20, providing 24/7 emergency care for both adults and children in an area long considered a healthcare desert.
Located just south of I-20, the new facility will include 16 exam rooms (including two resuscitation bays), four observation rooms, advanced imaging like CT scans and X-rays, a helipad for transfers, and even a community room for public health education. And unlike urgent care centers, this ER is equipped to handle strokes, heart attacks, traumatic injuries — the real emergencies.
This $38 million project is a partnership between Grady, Fulton County, and state leaders including Governor Brian Kemp and Chairman Robb Pitts. The funding comes from a mix of county, state, and federal dollars — and it’s sorely needed. Since the 2022 closures of Wellstar’s Atlanta Medical Center and AMC South, South Fulton residents have faced emergency travel times of up to 45 minutes. That ends now.
Union City Mayor Vince Williams put it best: “For far too long, our families have lived in a healthcare desert, traveling too far, waiting too long, and suffering too much. That ends today.”
The new ER is part of Grady’s broader mission to bring healthcare equity to underserved Black communities. It joins other recent projects like outpatient centers at Cascade and Camp Creek — and more expansion is on the way for the 40-acre Union City site.
📍 Stay tuned, South Fulton. Real access to care is finally coming home.
