Hospitals in Atlanta: How Many Are There and How They’re Organized

If you live in Atlanta, are moving here, or are planning a visit, it helps to know what the local hospital landscape looks like. Atlanta has one of the largest and most complex healthcare networks in the Southeast, with dozens of hospitals and specialty centers within the metro area.

Because hospital systems are always expanding, merging, or changing names, the exact number can shift over time. But you can think of Atlanta’s hospital scene in three helpful ways:

• Hospitals within the City of Atlanta limits
• Major hospital systems that serve the Atlanta metro
• Specialty and children’s hospitals based in Atlanta

Below is a clear breakdown of how many hospitals Atlanta has in practical, real-world terms and how they’re organized, so you can navigate care more confidently.

How Many Hospitals Are in Atlanta?

If you focus just on full-service, acute-care hospitals physically located in the City of Atlanta, there are roughly a dozen major hospitals, depending on how you count specialty facilities and campuses.

If you zoom out to include the wider Atlanta metropolitan area (covering places like Marietta, Decatur, Roswell, Lawrenceville, and other nearby cities), you’ll find dozens of hospitals operated by multiple large health systems.

Because facilities open, close, merge, or change designations, it’s most accurate to say:

• City of Atlanta: About 10–15 significant hospital campuses, including general, trauma, specialty, and children’s hospitals.
• Greater Metro Atlanta:Several dozen hospitals serving the larger 10‑county (and beyond) region.

For everyday purposes, most Atlanta residents interact with the major hospital systems that anchor care across the city and suburbs.

Major Hospital Systems Serving Atlanta

Atlanta’s hospitals are mostly organized into a few large health systems. Understanding who runs what can make it easier to choose providers, check insurance coverage, or find the closest emergency room.

1. Emory Healthcare

Emory Healthcare is one of the largest systems in Atlanta and is closely tied to Emory University’s medical school and research programs.

Key Emory-related hospitals in or near Atlanta include:

• Emory University Hospital (main campus in the Druid Hills area)
• Emory University Hospital Midtown (near downtown Atlanta)
• Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital (north Atlanta/Sandy Springs area)
• Emory Decatur Hospital, Emory Hillandale Hospital, and others in nearby communities

Emory facilities are known for specialty care, including cardiac care, transplants, oncology, and advanced surgery, as well as being teaching and research hospitals.

2. Grady Health System

Grady Memorial Hospital is Atlanta’s primary public safety-net hospital and one of the most important medical centers in the city.

• Located near downtown Atlanta
• Designated as a Level I trauma center, meaning it handles the most serious emergencies
• Serves many Atlanta residents who rely on public or subsidized care
• Plays a central role in emergency response, trauma, stroke, and burn care

In day‑to‑day life, many Atlantans know Grady as the place ambulances go with critical trauma cases from around the region.

3. Piedmont Healthcare

Piedmont Healthcare operates a large number of hospitals across Georgia, with a major presence in Atlanta.

Important Piedmont hospitals in or close to Atlanta include:

• Piedmont Atlanta Hospital (in Buckhead)
• Additional Piedmont hospitals in surrounding communities such as Piedmont Henry, Piedmont Fayette, Piedmont Newnan, and others around the metro

Piedmont sites are widely used for general medical care, surgery, cardiac services, maternity care, and a broad range of inpatient and outpatient services.

4. Northside Hospital System

While the flagship Northside Hospital Atlanta campus is just outside the official city limits (in the Sandy Springs area), it is deeply connected to Atlanta residents.

Key features:

• Strong reputation for maternity care and women’s services
• High-volume cancer and surgical services
• Additional campuses in Forsyth, Gwinnett, and other nearby counties

Even though some Northside facilities are technically outside the city of Atlanta, many city residents use them regularly due to convenient access from intown neighborhoods via GA‑400, I‑285, and local roads.

5. Wellstar Health System

Wellstar operates multiple hospitals around the Atlanta metro area, especially to the west and northwest.

Nearby hospitals include:

• Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center South (in the South Fulton/Atlanta area)
• Hospitals in communities like Marietta, Douglasville, and others around metro Atlanta

Wellstar facilities provide a mix of general hospital care, surgery, and emergency services, and are often used by residents in western parts of the metro.

Children’s Hospitals and Specialty Care in Atlanta

In addition to general hospitals, Atlanta is home to major pediatric and specialty hospitals that serve children and adults from across Georgia and the Southeast.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA)

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta operates multiple pediatric hospitals and specialty centers in the Atlanta area, including:

• CHOA Egleston (near the Emory/Decatur area)
• CHOA Scottish Rite (near the Perimeter area)
• A newer large hospital campus being developed to centralize and expand care

These facilities provide pediatric emergency care, intensive care, cancer care, heart services, and many pediatric specialties. For families in Atlanta, CHOA is often the go‑to option when a child needs hospital-level treatment.

Other Specialty Hospitals and Centers

Atlanta also has specialized facilities that may not function like large general hospitals but play important roles, such as:

• Rehabilitation hospitals for physical rehab after injury, stroke, or surgery
• Behavioral health and psychiatric hospitals
• Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) that manage complex, extended medical needs
• Specialty surgical centers and cancer centers linked to the major health systems

These are part of the broader hospital ecosystem, even if they are not all stand‑alone general hospitals.

Quick Overview: Hospital Landscape in Atlanta

Here is a simplified way to think about how many hospitals Atlanta has and how they’re structured:

Because hospital designations and ownership can change, this table is meant as a practical guide rather than an exact, unchanging count.

How to Find a Hospital in Atlanta That Fits Your Needs

When you’re trying to decide which Atlanta hospital to go to, the question is often less about the exact number of hospitals and more about which one best fits your situation.

Here are practical ways to narrow it down:

1. For Life-Threatening Emergencies

If someone has symptoms of a stroke, heart attack, major trauma, severe breathing issues, or loss of consciousness, the priority is getting to the nearest emergency department as quickly and safely as possible.

In central and intown Atlanta, major ER options include:

• Large system hospitals like Emory University Hospital Midtown, Piedmont Atlanta, and Grady Memorial Hospital
• Pediatric emergencies can go to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta locations with emergency departments

👉 In real emergencies, calling 911 is usually the fastest way to be routed to an appropriate facility.

2. For Non-Emergency Hospital Care

If you’re planning a scheduled surgery, childbirth, or specialty treatment, many Atlantans choose a hospital based on:

• Which system your doctor is affiliated with (Emory, Piedmont, Northside, Wellstar, Grady, etc.)
• Your health insurance network
• Location and convenience from your home or work
• Availability of specific programs, such as high‑risk pregnancy care, advanced cardiac surgery, or cancer treatment

This is where the number of hospitals in Atlanta works in your favor—there are multiple options within reasonable driving distance for most parts of the city.

3. For Children’s Medical Needs

For serious pediatric conditions, many families in Atlanta turn to:

• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospitals for hospital-level pediatric care
• Pediatric units within larger adult hospitals for certain services

For routine pediatric care or minor issues, urgent care or pediatric clinics may be more appropriate than the hospital ER.

Tips for Navigating Atlanta’s Hospital Options

A few practical steps can make Atlanta’s large hospital network easier to navigate:

• Check your insurance card
  Look for the list of preferred hospital systems or search your plan’s online portal for “in-network hospitals” in Atlanta.

• Ask your primary care doctor or specialist
  Many physicians in Atlanta are affiliated with one or two main hospital systems and can guide you toward appropriate facilities for planned procedures.

• Know your nearest ERs
  Take a moment to look up which emergency departments are closest to your home, job, or your child’s school. In a crisis, this saves decision time.

• Consider transportation and parking
  Large intown hospitals may have busy parking decks and one‑way streets nearby. If possible, review directions and parking details in advance for planned visits.

• Call ahead for non‑emergency questions
  For scheduled admissions or tests, hospital operator lines can usually confirm locations, visiting policies, and arrival instructions.

Why Atlanta Has So Many Hospitals

Atlanta’s size, population, and regional role explain why the count of hospitals is relatively high:

• It’s a major metro hub, drawing patients from across Georgia and neighboring states.
• It has several teaching and research institutions, such as Emory University, that support academic medical centers.
• The city’s population is large and diverse, with a wide range of medical needs—from trauma and chronic disease management to advanced specialty treatments and pediatric care.

For residents, this means that while it can feel overwhelming to sort through all the options, you also benefit from multiple choices for nearly every type of hospital care.

In everyday terms, the answer to “How many hospitals are in Atlanta?” is: There are about a dozen major hospital campuses within the city and many more in the surrounding metro area, organized under a handful of large health systems, plus dedicated children’s and specialty hospitals.

When you need care, focusing on which system, location, and specialty fit your situation will be more useful than the exact count of facilities.