· Emory University Hospital Midtown and Grady Memorial Hospital have seen more emergency and trauma patients since Atlanta Medical Center closed in 2022. · Norovirus, the highly contagious stomachbug that causes vomiting and diarrhea, is spiking across the US. What to know about symptoms and prevention.

Understanding the Context

· The new strain's emergence, found spreading throughout the country and on cruise ships, offers a possible explanation for the past month's steep wave of infections from the stomachbug. · Doctor predicts ‘terrible effects’ Atlanta Medical Center, once known as Georgia Baptist Hospital, was acquired by the Marietta-based nonprofit Wellstar Health System in 2016. The 460-bed facility sat in a tract of Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, where roughly 31% of residents live in poverty and 42% are Black. · The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that cases of norovirus —commonly known as the stomachbug—have doubled compared to this time last year.

Key Insights

The virus is ... · New complaints about overcrowding at hospitals across metro Atlanta and the state emerged as a top elected official claims patients are being treated in hallways. Which hospitals have seen more emergency patients since Atlanta Medical Center closed?Bracey Harris reported from Jackson, Miss., and J.J. McCorvey from Atlanta. Emory University Hospital Midtown and Grady Memorial Hospital have seen more emergency and trauma patients since Atlanta Medical Center closed in 2022.Could Atlanta's health care system be overwhelmed by a disaster?While comprehensive data isn’t yet available, interviews with 16 doctors, patients, residents, advocates, local officials and experts reveal growing strains on Atlanta’s health care system, which many fear would be overwhelmed by a disaster.

Final Thoughts

Grady Memorial Hospital is the sole Level 1 trauma center for adults in Atlanta. Alyssa Pointer for NBC NewsWho owns Atlanta Medical Center?Atlanta Medical Center, once known as Georgia Baptist Hospital, was acquired by the Marietta-based nonprofit Wellstar Health System in 2016. The 460-bed facility sat in a tract of Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, where roughly 31% of residents live in poverty and 42% are Black.Why did WellStar close Atlanta Medical Center?Citing financial troubles, Wellstar closed Atlanta Medical Center on , a few months after it closed a smaller hospital, Atlanta Medical Center South, on the outskirts of the city. Wellstar also shuttered or relocated at least 15 facilities affiliated with Atlanta Medical Center, further narrowing access to primary care and specialists. · Not your regular “stomachbug” Some people are using the term “stomachbug” interchangeably with norovirus, but it’s much more involved than that, says the American Medical Association ... · The new strain's emergence, found spreading throughout the country and on cruise ships, offers a possible explanation for the past month's steep wave of infections from the stomachbug.

· Doctor predicts ‘terrible effects’ Atlanta Medical Center, once known as Georgia Baptist Hospital, was acquired by the Marietta-based nonprofit Wellstar Health System in 2016. The 460-bed facility sat in a tract of Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, where roughly 31% of residents live in poverty and 42% are Black. · The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that cases of norovirus —commonly known as the stomachbug—have doubled compared to this time last year. The virus is ...