FORECAST 2021 39
the virus. They were — they are — all heroes.
Amid the upheaval, providers continued to
invest in themselves.
In October, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the
largest and only freestanding pediatric healthcare
system in Georgia, announced the $1.5 billion
Arthur M. Blank Hospital, named for the founder
of Cobb-based Home Depot after his foundation
made a $200 million donation — the largest in
the organization’s history. It will be the largest
healthcare project ever in the history of the state
and is expected to open its doors in 2025.
Located at the northeastern corner of North
Druid Hills and I-85 in Brookhaven, the 1.5
million-square-foot pediatric hospital will include
a 19-story tower with two wings and additional
operating rooms, specialty beds and diagnostic
equipment to meet anticipated patient needs,
according to CHOA. The hospital will also feature
space for clinical research, clinical trials and
overall patient care.
Wellstar opened a Heart Failure Clinic at
Wellstar Cobb Hospital and a $126 million,
263,000-square-foot addition to Kennestone
Hospital; it is among the nation’s largest emergency
departments, able to treat 600 people per day and
220,000 people per year.
The system also deepened its partnership with
Kennesaw State University, when they jointly
announced the expansion of the Wellstar School
of Nursing with a Wellstar-funded scholarship and
grant meant to address the nation’s shortage of
qualified nurses.
Wellstar also launched its Center for Health
Equity, an initiative of particular importance
during a public health crisis that has had
disproportionate impact on people of color.
Among its initiatives were a walk-up, pop-up
family COVID-19 testing in at-risk communities
The U.S. Army’s Black Daggers Parachute Team performed demonstrations
over two Wellstar Health System facilities – Wellstar Kennestone
Hospital and Wellstar East Cobb Health Park – on June 24, 2020 to
honor Wellstar’s healthcare heroes who were working tirelessly to care for
patients on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team jumped
from the aircraft at 4,000 feet and fell at 120 miles per hour before making
a precision landing in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Special
The Wellstar Community Health Team partnered with public health
departments to increase accessibility to COVID-19 testing in underserved
populations in June 2020. Wellstar planned to host pop-up testing events
through Wellstar’s Congregational Health Network until no longer
needed. Pictured are Wellstar nurses Cindy Newman and Kimberly Tilton
administering drive-up tests. Special
See HOPE, page 42
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