Grady Memorial Hospital
Morehouse School of Medicine
Grady Memorial Hospital is the public hospital for the city of Atlanta. The hospital is ranked as the tenth largest public hospital in the United States and is a Level I trauma center.[1][2]
History
Grady Memorial Hospital was founded in 1890 and opened in 1892, as an outgrowth of the Atlanta Benevolent Home. It is named for Henry W. Grady, an Atlanta Constitution journalist and later owner who became a major force in Georgia politics and advocated for a public city hospital. At the time of opening, the hospital officially had 14 rooms. The original building (at the corner of Jesse Hill Jr Dr SE and Coca-Cola Place) is now on the National Register of Historic Places and is known as Georgia Hall, where the hospital's human resources staff now work. The second Grady Hospital (at Butler Hall) opened in 1912 and was for whites only, with blacks being segregated at the Atlanta Medical College. The third hospital was at Hirsch Hall and the current location is its fourth. From 1945 until 2008, the hospital was run by the Fulton/DeKalb Hospital Authority.
The current facility was also built as a segregated institution, with one section serving whites (Wings A & B; facing the city) and another section serving African Americans (Wings C & D; facing the opposite direction). Even though it is a single building, and the two sides are connected by a hallway (Wing E), the facility was referred to in the plural ("The Gradys") during the years of segregation.[3]
In 2007 and 2008, journalist Mike King of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote a series of "Saving Grady" editorials – dozens of pieces over eighteen months – during the time when Grady Memorial Hospital was nearly insolvent and in danger of closing.[4]
Infant abductions
Seven infants were abducted from Grady from 1978 to 1996, which was more than from any other hospital in the United States during that time period.[5] Five were recovered within hours or weeks of their abduction.[6] An additional child was abducted from the home of his mother after the kidnapper followed her from Grady.[5] The abductions were covered on season three of the podcast The Fall Line.[7]
Problems and restructuring
The hospital board has long been reluctant to make money-saving changes that might reduce its traditional mission. In late 2006, it rejected the advice of financial consultants and its newly hired chief executive to close an expensive outpatient dialysis clinic for the poor, being concerned that many of the clinic's uninsured patients, including many undocumented immigrants, would have nowhere else to turn. Others argued that the board of directors is politically clumsy and prone to micromanagement. In May the board's own consultants concluded that "Grady does not currently have the depth of leadership" necessary to transform the hospital.
In 2008, Grady Memorial Hospital was made into a non-profit organization. Numerous foundations have pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to revitalize it. Michael Young has become a chief executive officer. He was formerly the CEO of Erie County Medical Center Corp. in Western New York, University of Buffalo tertiary center. Prior to that, Young served for 16 years as president and CEO of the three-hospital, 530-bed Lancaster General Hospital & Health System in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In February 2013, it was announced that Grady's net profit was $20 million and that 200-300 jobs had been added at the hospital in the preceding 18 months.[8]
2008 tornado
On March 14, 2008, the buildings of Grady sustained minor damage when a tornado tore through downtown Atlanta. Historic Georgia Hall was the hardest hit, with windows blown out, a collapsed chimney, and water damage. The main hospital had a few cafeteria windows blown out, but never lost power. It was the first tornado to hit the downtown area since local weather record-keeping began in the 1880s. Nine people were taken to Grady for treatment, one of whom had critical injuries.[9][10]
Service
The hospital serves a large proportion of low-income patients and is supported almost entirely by Fulton and DeKalb counties, with little help from the suburbs or state, despite serving all of metro Atlanta's several counties.[8] The hospital relies almost entirely on Emory University School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine to provide doctor and resident staffing. As an editorial in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said, "When you read the phrase 'Grady doctor,' do a silent translation, because those words really mean either 'Emory doctor' or 'Morehouse doctor.'"[11]
Grady Hospital's ambulance service, Grady EMS, shares 9-1-1 responsibility for Fulton County, Georgia. The Downtown Connector (Interstate 75/85) makes a large bend around the hospital on its otherwise due north–south route, dubbed the "Grady Curve" on traffic reports.[12]
Notable patients
On August 11, 1949, Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell was hit by a speeding car while crossing Peachtree Street with her husband on the way to a movie. She was knocked unconscious and was taken to Grady. X-rays showed that her skull was fractured from the top of her head all the way down to her spine and her pelvis was shattered. She never regained consciousness, and died five days later at Grady, on August 16, 1949. The driver, who had 23 prior traffic violations, was thought to be drunk and was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served an 11-month jail term.[13]
In 2001, actor Whitman Mayo, who played the character Grady on television's Sanford and Son, died of a heart attack at Grady.
Grady Hospital gained national attention for treating supermodel Niki Taylor after her near-fatal car accident on April 29, 2001, in which she suffered severe liver trauma. Its effectiveness as a level I trauma center was highlighted by this incident. Several press conferences were held outside the hospital discussing the gravity of her injuries and her slow recovery following more than 50 surgeries.[14] It again gained attention after the Bluffton University bus accident in which seven died. The hospital cleared an entire wing of the hospital for the injured victims and their families.
In media
CNN's medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is Associate Chief of Neurosurgery at Grady, filmed a documentary at the hospital called Grady's Anatomy (a play on Grey's Anatomy) that aired in 2007 for CNN Special Investigations Unit. The documentary focused on four young medical residents and the daily stress of a large hospital practice.
In AMC's The Walking Dead, Grady Memorial became a major setting for several episodes of the show's fifth season in 2014. However, none of the series' scenes were filmed at the actual hospital.
See also
References
- ^ "20 Largest Public Hospitals in the United States". www.beckershospitalreview.com.
- ^ "The 50 largest public hospitals in America | 2021". www.beckershospitalreview.com. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
- ^ "Children at Grady Hospital". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2006-12-23.
- ^ Ga. Baptist Hires 2 Surgeons, Rejoins Atlanta Trauma System Author: KING, MIKE Mike King Science/Medicine Writer STAFF Date: December 15, 1988 Publication: The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution Page: B/7
- ^ a b "Where are they going, where have they been?". The Signal. 2018-10-30. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ Suggs, Ernie; Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta. "After Grady baby kidnapping, a full family life". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ Wheatley, Thomas (2018-05-09). "The Fall Line: Two podcasting sleuths revisit the cases of abducted Grady newborns". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ a b Blau, Max (February 28, 2013), How Grady Memorial Hospital skirted death, Creative Loafing Atlanta, retrieved March 1, 2013
- ^ Friday tornado pummels downtown; Saturday storm kills 2 Archived 2009-03-09 at the Wayback Machine by Tim Eberly and Paul Shea for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, March 15, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
- ^ Atlanta Tornado: The Aftermath: Landmarks Take a Hit by Rhonda Cook et al. for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, March 16, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
- ^ "Emory Magazine: Autumn 2007: Critical Condition".[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Downtown Connector Reopens After Crash At Grady Curve". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
- ^ New York Times, Margaret Mitchell Obituary, August 17, 1949.
- ^ Tyra Banks Show, 2007.
External links
- National Park Service: Georgia Hall Archived 2005-10-01 at the Wayback Machine
- Atlanta city government: Hirsch Hall
- New Georgia Encyclopedia: Grady Healthcare System Archived 2005-05-26 at the Wayback Machine
- A Safety-Net Hospital Falls Into Financial Crisis
- Atlanta, Georgia, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital Archived 2010-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
- v
- t
- e
- AdventHealth Redmond
- Appling Hospital
- Bacon County Hospital
- Barrow Regional Medical Center
- Berrien County Hospital
- Bleckley Memorial Hospital
- Brooks County Hospital
- Burke Medical Center
- Calhoun Memorial Hospital
- Candler County Hospital
- Candler Hospital (Savannah)
- Cartersville Medical Center
- Charlton Memorial Hospital
- Chatuge Regional Hospital
- Chestatee Regional Hospital
- Children Hospital of Central Georgia
- The American Red Cross of Central Georgia
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
- Clinch Memorial Hospital
- Cobb Memorial Hospital
- Coffee Regional Medical Center
- Coliseum Medical Centers
- Coliseum Northside Hospital
- Colquitt Regional Medical Center
- Crisp Regional Hospital
- DeKalb Medical
- DeKalb Medical Hillandale
- Doctors Hospital of Augusta
- Doctors Hospital of Columbus
- Doctors Hospital of Tattnall
- Dodge County Hospital
- Donalsonville Hospital
- Dorminy Medical Center
- East Georgia Regional Medical Center
- Effingham Hospital
- Elbert Memorial Hospital
- Emanuel Medical Center
- Emory Adventist Hospital
- Emory Eastside Medical Center
- Emory Johns Creek Hospital
- Emory University Hospital
- Emory University Hospital Midtown
- Emory University Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital
- Erlanger at Hutcheson Medical Center
- Evans Memorial Hospital
- Fairview Park Hospital
- Fannin Regional Hospital
- Flint River Hospital
- Floyd Medical Center
- Georgia Regents Medical Center
- Gordon Hospital
- Grady General Hospital
- Grady Memorial Hospital
- Gwinnett Medical Center-Duluth
- Gwinnett Medical Center-Lawrenceville
- Habersham Medical Center
- Hamilton Medical Center
- Hart County Hospital
- Higgins General Hospital
- Houston Medical Center
- Hughston Hospital
- Irwin County Hospital
- Jasper Memorial Hospital
- Jeff Davis Hospital
- Jefferson Hospital
- John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital
- Liberty Regional Medical Center
- Louis Smith Memorial Hospital
- Lower Oconee Community Hospital
- Mayo Clinic Health System in Waycross
- McDuffie Regional Medical Center
- Meadows Regional Medical Center
- Memorial Health University Medical Center
- Memorial Hospital and Manor
- Memorial Hospital of Adel
- Miller County Hospital
- Mitchell County Hospital
- Monroe County Hospital
- Morgan Memorial Hospital
- Mountain Lakes Medical Center
- Murray Medical Center
- Navicent Health Baldwin
- Newton Medical Center
- North Fulton Regional Hospital
- North Georgia Medical Center
- Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville
- Northridge Medical Center
- Northside Hospital - Cherokee
- Northside Hospital
- Northside Hospital Forsyth
- Optim Medical Center - Jenkins
- Optim Medical Center - Screven
- Palmyra Medical Centers
- Peach Regional Medical Center
- Perry Hospital
- Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
- Phoebe Sumter Medical Center
- Phoebe Worth Medical Center
- Piedmont Athens Regional
- Piedmont Fayette Hospital
- Piedmont Henry Hospital
- Piedmont Hospital
- Piedmont Mountainside Hospital
- Piedmont Newnan Hospital
- Pioneer Community Hospital of Early
- Polk Medical Center
- Putnam General Hospital
- Rockdale Medical Center
- Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital (Atlanta)
- Smith Northview Hospital
- South Fulton Medical Center
- South Georgia Medical Center
- Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick Campus
- Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus
- Southern Regional Medical Center
- Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center
- Spalding Regional Medical Center
- St. Francis Hospital
- St. Joseph's Hospital Savannah
- St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital
- St. Mary's Hospital
- Stephens County Hospital
- Stewart Webster Hospital
- Sylvan Grove Hospital
- Tanner Medical Center Carrollton
- Tanner Medical Center Villa Rica
- Taylor Regional Hospital
- The Medical Center, Navicent Health
- Tift Regional Medical Center
- Turning Point Hospital
- Union General Hospital
- University Hospital
- University Hospital Summerville
- Upson Regional Medical Center
- Walton Regional Medical Center
- Warm Springs Medical Center
- Washington County Regional Medical Center
- Wayne Memorial Hospital
- WellStar Cobb Hospital
- WellStar Douglas Hospital
- WellStar Kennestone Hospital
- WellStar Paulding Hospital
- Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital of Emory University
- West Georgia Medical Center
- Wildwood Hospital
- Wills Memorial Hospital
rehabilitation hospitals
- Central Georgia Rehabilitation Hospital
- Columbus Specialty Hospital
- DeKalb Medical Long Term Acute Care
- Kindred Hospital Atlanta
- Landmark Hospital of Athens
- Regency Hospital of Central Georgia
- Regency Hospital of South Atlanta
- Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation
- Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta
- Select Specialty Hospital Augusta
- Select Specialty Hospital Savannah
- Shepherd Center
- Southern Crescent Hospital for Specialty Care
- Triumph the Specialty Hospital Rome
- Walton Rehabilitation Hospital
- WellStar Windy Hill Hospital
- Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center
- Martin Army Community Hospital
- Winn Army Community Hospital
addiction hospitals
- Anchor Hospital
- Coastal Behavioral Health
- Coastal Harbor Treatment Center
- Coliseum Center for Behavioral Health
- Crescent Pines Hospital
- Hillside Hospital
- Laurel Heights Hospital
- Macon Behavioral Health System
- Peachford Hospital
- Ridgeview Institute
- RiverWoods Behavioral Health System
- Saint Simons By-The-Sea
- SummitRidge Hospital
- Talbott Recovery Atlanta
- Talbott Recovery Columbus
- Talbott Recovery Dunwoody
- Willingway Hospital
- Willowbrooke at Tanner
- Youth Villages Inner Harbour Campus
- Central State Hospital
- East Central Regional Hospital
- Georgia Regional Hospital Atlanta
- Georgia Regional Hospital Savannah
- Southwestern State Hospital
- West Central Georgia Regional Hospital
hospitals
- Atlanta VA Medical Center
- Carl Vinson VA Medical Center
- Atlanta Medical Center
- DeKalb County Addiction Center
- Georgia Mental Health Institute
- Georgian Clinic
- Southwest Atlanta Hospital