Hospitals in Atlanta: A Local Guide to Major Medical Centers and Emergency Care

If you live in, work in, or are visiting Atlanta, Georgia, it helps to know where the major hospitals are and what types of services they provide. Atlanta is a regional medical hub, with large academic medical centers, community hospitals, specialty facilities, and children’s hospitals spread across the city and nearby suburbs.

Below is a clear, practical overview of what hospitals are in Atlanta, where they’re located, and what kinds of care they typically offer.

Quick Overview: Major Hospital Systems in Atlanta

Most Atlanta hospitals are part of a few large health systems. Knowing the system names can make it easier to navigate referrals, insurance networks, and follow-up care.

Major hospital systems serving Atlanta include:

• Emory Healthcare – Large academic system tied to Emory University; several hospitals in and around Atlanta.
• Wellstar Health System – Multiple hospitals around metro Atlanta, including some major medical centers.
• Piedmont Healthcare – Nonprofit system with a flagship hospital in Buckhead/Midtown area.
• Grady Health System – Public safety-net system anchored by Grady Memorial Hospital downtown.
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) – Pediatric-only hospitals and specialty centers.
• Northside Hospital – System known for women’s health and general medical care, with a major campus in Sandy Springs (often considered part of “Atlanta” metro).

Key Adult Hospitals in Atlanta (In and Very Near the City)

This table summarizes several of the best-known hospitals that many Atlanta residents and visitors use for emergency care, inpatient stays, and specialty services.

Grady Memorial Hospital (Downtown Atlanta)

Grady Memorial Hospital is one of the most recognized hospitals in Atlanta, especially for emergency and trauma care.

• Type: Public, safety‑net hospital and major teaching hospital
• Known for:
  • Level I trauma center (handles severe injuries and accidents)
  • Burn center, stroke care, and high-acuity emergency services
  • Serving patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay
• Location: Near downtown government and campus areas

Residents across metro Atlanta are often transported to Grady when they need serious emergency care, especially after major accidents or complex medical emergencies.

Emory University Hospital & Emory University Hospital Midtown

Emory Healthcare operates several major hospitals that serve Atlanta.

Emory University Hospital (EUH)

Located near Emory University’s main campus, this hospital is a referral center for complex conditions.

• Type: Academic medical center
• Typical services:
  • Neurosciences (brain and spine conditions)
  • Transplants and advanced cardiac care
  • Complex surgery and specialty clinics
• Location: Druid Hills / Clifton Road area (east of Midtown, near Decatur border)

Patients are often referred here from other hospitals in Atlanta and beyond for highly specialized treatment.

Emory University Hospital Midtown

Formerly Crawford Long Hospital, this hospital sits between Midtown and Downtown and is more centrally located for many city residents.

• Type: Full-service adult hospital
• Typical services:
  • General inpatient care and surgery
  • Heart and vascular care
  • Women’s health, orthopedics, and other specialties
• Location: Just off major corridors like Peachtree Street and North Avenue

This is a common choice for in-city adult care, especially for those who want Emory specialists but prefer a Midtown location.

Piedmont Atlanta Hospital (Buckhead / Midtown Area)

Piedmont Atlanta Hospital is the flagship hospital of Piedmont Healthcare and a major presence in the city’s medical landscape.

• Type: Nonprofit, full-service hospital
• Typical services:
  • Heart and vascular care
  • Cancer services and surgery
  • General medical and surgical care
• Location: On Peachtree Road, in the Buckhead/Midtown corridor

Many Atlanta residents use Piedmont Atlanta for planned surgeries, cardiac procedures, and ongoing specialty care. The hospital is surrounded by doctor’s offices, imaging centers, and support services.

Northside Hospital Atlanta (Sandy Springs, Just North of the City)

While technically in Sandy Springs, Northside Hospital Atlanta is widely used by people who live in the city, especially in Buckhead, Brookhaven, and North Atlanta neighborhoods.

• Type: Full-service acute care hospital
• Known for:
  • Obstetrics and maternity care (very high delivery volumes)
  • Women’s health, gynecology, and reproductive services
  • General medicine, surgery, and cancer care
• Location: Just inside the Perimeter (I‑285), off GA‑400

If you are looking for maternity care or women’s services in the Atlanta area, Northside Atlanta is one of the facilities many local families consider.

Wellstar Hospitals Serving the Atlanta Area

Within the city’s core, some former facilities have changed ownership or roles over time, but Wellstar Health System still operates several hospitals around metro Atlanta that many city residents use:

• Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center South – Community hospital in East Point, often used by residents in south Atlanta and nearby neighborhoods for general and emergency care.
• Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center – Large hospital in Marietta, north of the city, used for a broad range of care including surgery, cardiac care, and obstetrics.
• Wellstar Cobb Hospital – Hospital in Austell, southwest of Atlanta, serving Cobb and parts of southwest metro Atlanta.

For people living in south or west Atlanta, these Wellstar hospitals can be closer options than some of the large in-city academic centers.

Children’s Hospitals in Atlanta

For anyone with kids in Atlanta, it’s helpful to know that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) runs the main pediatric hospitals in the city.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Egleston & Scottish Rite

Historically, CHOA has operated two major pediatric hospitals in or very close to Atlanta:

• CHOA at Egleston – Near Emory University and Druid Hills; provides a wide range of pediatric services and intensive care.
• CHOA at Scottish Rite – Near Perimeter area (north of the city); serves many families living in North Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and surrounding suburbs.

CHOA also runs specialty centers and outpatient clinics throughout the metro area, so many families go to a nearby clinic for routine pediatric specialty visits and to the main hospitals for surgeries, serious illnesses, or emergencies.

Other Notable Hospitals and Medical Centers in the Atlanta Metro

Beyond the core city limits, several additional hospitals are frequently used by Atlanta residents. Depending on where you live or stay, these may be closer than downtown or Midtown facilities:

• Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital – Located off Peachtree Dunwoody Road near I‑285; part of Emory Healthcare, with strong heart and surgical services.
• Emory Johns Creek Hospital – In Johns Creek; serves North Fulton and Gwinnett-area residents.
• Northside Hospital Forsyth / Cherokee / Gwinnett – Part of the Northside system, spread across the northern and northeastern suburbs.
• Piedmont Fayette Hospital – South of the city, in Fayetteville, used by many who live in south metro areas.
• Piedmont Henry Hospital – In Stockbridge, serving southeastern metro communities.

While these are not all physically within Atlanta’s city limits, many people who say they “live in Atlanta” (in the broader metro sense) receive hospital care at one of these facilities.

How to Choose a Hospital in Atlanta for Your Needs

Atlanta’s many hospitals can feel overwhelming. For non-emergency situations, people often consider:

• Location and convenience

  • How quickly can you get there from home, work, or school?
  • Is parking or transit access manageable for you and your family?

• Existing doctor relationships

  • Many primary care doctors and specialists are aligned with a specific hospital system (Emory, Piedmont, Northside, Wellstar, Grady, CHOA).
  • Choosing a hospital in the same system can simplify referrals and records.

• Insurance network

  • Most plans list “in-network” hospitals.
  • Calling your insurance or checking your member portal can help you confirm which Atlanta hospitals are covered.

• Type of care needed

  • Complex or rare conditions are often treated at academic centers like Emory University Hospital or Grady.
  • Cardiac, cancer, or transplant care may be concentrated in particular facilities.
  • Children generally go to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta locations.

Tips for Visitors and New Residents in Atlanta

If you’re new to Atlanta or visiting from out of town:

• Identify the closest emergency room to where you’re staying (hotel, Airbnb, friend’s house). This is especially important if you have chronic health conditions.
• Save key numbers in your phone, such as:
  • Local emergency number: 911
  • Your health insurance’s nurse line or customer service number
• If you have a chronic condition (heart disease, diabetes, asthma, etc.), consider noting the names of nearby hospitals with strong emergency departments, such as:
  • Grady Memorial Hospital (Downtown)
  • Emory University Hospital Midtown (Midtown)
  • Piedmont Atlanta Hospital (Buckhead/Midtown area)
  • Northside Hospital Atlanta (Sandy Springs)

When in doubt in a serious situation, calling 911 and following the dispatcher’s guidance is the fastest route to appropriate care.

Using Urgent Care vs. Hospitals in Atlanta

For minor illnesses and injuries, many Atlanta residents use urgent care centers or retail clinics instead of hospital emergency rooms. These are common in neighborhoods like Midtown, Buckhead, West Midtown, Decatur, and the suburbs.

People often choose urgent care for:

• Mild to moderate sprains or cuts
• Fevers, coughs, or ear infections
• Basic tests and X-rays for non-life-threatening issues

Hospitals are more appropriate when:

• Symptoms suggest a stroke, heart attack, severe injury, or trouble breathing
• There is significant bleeding, loss of consciousness, or sudden confusion
• A child or adult has symptoms that appear life‑threatening

By understanding the major hospitals in Atlanta, where they’re located, and the types of care they commonly provide, you can navigate the city’s medical options more confidently—whether you’re a long-time resident, a new arrival, or a short-term visitor.