Hospitals in Atlanta, GA: How to Find the Care You Need

Atlanta has one of the most robust hospital networks in the Southeast. Whether you live in the city, commute in for work, or are visiting and need medical care, it helps to understand how hospitals in Atlanta, GA are organized, what types of services they offer, and where to go in different situations.

Below is a practical guide to major hospital systems, specialty centers, emergency options, and tips for navigating care in and around Atlanta.

Understanding Atlanta’s Hospital Landscape

Atlanta’s hospitals are concentrated in a few key areas:

• Midtown / Downtown – large academic medical centers and trauma hospitals
• Buckhead / North Atlanta – community hospitals and specialty centers
• Suburban Metro Area – large campuses in places like Marietta, Roswell, Lawrenceville, and Decatur

You’ll see several major systems repeatedly:

• Emory Healthcare
• Grady Health System
• Piedmont Healthcare
• Wellstar Health System
• Northside Hospital
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA)

Most Atlanta residents interact with one of these systems based on where they live, their insurance network, and their medical needs.

Quick Reference: Major Atlanta Hospitals at a Glance

The table below highlights some of the most-used hospitals in and near central Atlanta. This is not a full list, but it covers key options many consumers rely on.

*These are general roles; each hospital offers a wide range of services. Always confirm current services directly with the hospital.

When to Choose an Emergency Room in Atlanta

Atlanta has multiple full-service emergency departments (EDs). You should seek emergency care right away (by calling 911) for signs of:

• Chest pain or trouble breathing
• Severe injury or heavy bleeding
• Sudden weakness, confusion, or trouble speaking (possible stroke)
• Major burns, severe allergic reactions, or suspected poisoning
• Serious trauma (car crashes, major falls, gunshot wounds)

Some key Atlanta emergency departments include:

Grady Memorial Hospital (Downtown)

• Address: 80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Main phone: (404) 616-1000

Grady is widely known in Atlanta as a Level I trauma center. It handles some of the most serious emergencies in the region, including major trauma, burns, strokes, and complex cases. Many ambulances in and around downtown and south Atlanta bring critical patients here.

Emory University Hospital Midtown

• Address: 550 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
• Main phone: (404) 686-4411

Located in Midtown near major office and residential areas, Emory Midtown offers a full emergency department and broad specialty backup, including cardiology, neurology, and surgery.

Piedmont Atlanta Hospital

• Address: 1968 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
• Main phone: (404) 605-5000

Piedmont Atlanta is well-known for heart and vascular care and provides 24/7 emergency services. Many residents in Buckhead, Midtown, and west Atlanta use Piedmont as their main hospital.

Northside Hospital Atlanta (Emergency Department)

• Address: 1000 Johnson Ferry Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342
• Main phone: (404) 851-8000

Northside’s Atlanta campus in Sandy Springs draws many patients from north Atlanta, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, and Roswell for emergency, surgical, and maternity care.

Urgent Care vs. Hospital ER in Atlanta

For non-life-threatening issues, many Atlantans choose urgent care or walk-in clinics instead of hospital emergency rooms to reduce wait times and costs.

Consider urgent care for:

• Minor cuts, sprains, or simple fractures
• Ear infections, sore throats, minor fevers
• Mild asthma flares when breathing is stable
• Simple rashes or urinary symptoms

Use an ER for anything potentially serious, rapidly worsening, or involving severe pain, trouble breathing, chest symptoms, or major injury.

Most major hospital systems in Atlanta (Emory, Piedmont, Wellstar, Northside, and CHOA) operate their own urgent care or affiliated centers around the metro area. Their websites or main phone lines can direct you to the nearest clinic.

Major Adult Hospital Systems in Atlanta

Emory Healthcare

Emory is a large academic medical system based in Atlanta, with several hospitals and clinics.

Key Atlanta-area hospitals include:

• Emory University Hospital

  • 1364 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322
  • General line: (404) 712-2000
  • Known for complex specialty care, including neurology, cardiology, transplant, and advanced surgical services.

• Emory University Hospital Midtown

  • 550 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
  • General line: (404) 686-4411
  • Offers broad inpatient and outpatient services close to downtown and Midtown.

Emory is often where Atlantans are referred for specialty consultations, second opinions, and advanced procedures when community hospitals need higher-level care.

Grady Health System

Grady serves as Fulton and DeKalb counties’ public hospital system, providing a safety net for the region.

• Grady Memorial Hospital
  • 80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Main line: (404) 616-1000

Key roles:

• Level I trauma care for serious injuries
• Stroke, burn, and critical care services
• Large emergency department used by both insured and uninsured patients
• Teaching hospital connected with Emory and Morehouse medical schools

Many Atlanta residents rely on Grady for urgent, complex, and follow-up care, especially in and around downtown, south Atlanta, and parts of east and west Atlanta.

Piedmont Healthcare

Piedmont operates multiple facilities in metro Atlanta, with Piedmont Atlanta Hospital as its flagship.

• Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
  • 1968 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
  • Phone: (404) 605-5000

Piedmont Atlanta is known locally for:

• Cardiac and vascular services
• Surgery and oncology
• General inpatient medical care
• A mix of community-hospital feel with specialty options

Piedmont also has campuses in areas like Fayetteville, Newnan, and Snellville, which many metro Atlanta residents use depending on where they live.

Northside Hospital

Northside is especially recognized in Atlanta for women’s health, maternity, oncology, and surgery.

• Northside Hospital Atlanta
  • 1000 Johnson Ferry Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342
  • Phone: (404) 851-8000

Patients from across the metro area, especially north and east Atlanta, often choose Northside for:

• Labor and delivery
• Gynecologic and reproductive care
• Cancer treatment and surgery
• Routine hospital services

Northside also operates hospitals in Forsyth (Cumming) and Gwinnett (Lawrenceville) that serve broader metro residents.

Wellstar Health System

Wellstar runs several hospitals around metro Atlanta, including in Cobb, Douglas, Paulding, and other nearby counties. While some campuses sit outside the Atlanta city limits, many city residents use Wellstar hospitals based on their home location and insurance.

A useful contact for system-wide information:

• Wellstar Health System main number: (770) 956-STAR (7827)

Wellstar hospitals commonly provide:

• Community-based emergency departments
• Cardiac, orthopedic, and general surgical care
• Maternity and women’s services
• Outpatient imaging and rehabilitation

Because Wellstar facilities are spread through the western and northwestern suburbs, they are especially convenient for people living in Marietta, Smyrna, Douglasville, and Kennesaw, as well as commuters who live there and work in Atlanta.

Pediatric Hospitals in Atlanta

If you have a child in Atlanta, it helps to know that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) is the primary pediatric hospital system in the area.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston

• Address: 1405 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322
• Main phone: (404) 785-6000

Located near Emory’s Druid Hills campus, Egleston provides:

• Pediatric emergency services
• Specialty clinics and inpatient units
• Care for complex childhood conditions

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite

• Address: 1001 Johnson Ferry Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342
• Main phone: (404) 785-5252

Scottish Rite, in the Sandy Springs area near Northside Hospital, offers:

• 24/7 pediatric emergency department
• Surgical and specialty services for children
• Orthopedics, neurology, and other pediatric specialties

CHOA also has satellite locations, urgent care clinics, and specialty centers throughout metro Atlanta, which many families use for follow-up and outpatient care.

Maternity and Women’s Health Hospitals in Atlanta

Many Atlanta families focus on where to deliver a baby or access specialized women’s health care. Facilities commonly used for maternity include:

• Northside Hospital Atlanta

  • 1000 Johnson Ferry Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342
  • Frequently chosen for labor and delivery and high-risk pregnancies.

• Piedmont Atlanta Hospital

  • 1968 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

• Emory University Hospital Midtown

  • 550 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

Several suburban campuses (Northside Gwinnett, Northside Forsyth, Piedmont Fayette, Wellstar Kennestone in Marietta, and others) are also regularly chosen by metro-area residents for childbirth.

If you’re planning a delivery in Atlanta, it’s helpful to:

• Confirm that your OB-GYN or midwife delivers at your preferred hospital.
• Check that the hospital is in-network for your insurance.
• Ask about neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) availability if you are high-risk.

Specialty Care and Advanced Services

Because Atlanta is a large medical hub, many hospitals here offer specialized services that attract patients from across Georgia and the Southeast.

Common specialty areas include:

• Cardiology and heart surgery – Often concentrated at Piedmont Atlanta, Emory hospitals, and other large centers.
• Oncology (cancer care) – Available across systems, with dedicated cancer centers at Emory, Northside, Piedmont, and others.
• Neurology and neurosurgery – Frequently handled at Emory and other major facilities that see complex brain and spine cases.
• Transplant programs – Primarily at large academic centers like Emory University Hospital.
• Burn and trauma care – Centralized heavily at Grady Memorial Hospital.

If you’re referred to a specialist in Atlanta, your primary care provider or local hospital will usually guide you toward a particular system based on your diagnosis, insurance, and location.

How to Choose a Hospital in Atlanta

When you have some flexibility (for non-emergency care), Atlantans often decide between hospitals based on:

1. Insurance and Network

• Confirm if the hospital and its physicians are in-network for your health plan.
• Call the hospital’s billing or financial services office or the number on your insurance card to verify.

2. Location and Convenience

• Factor in traffic patterns—Atlanta congestion can significantly affect travel time to appointments.
• Consider proximity to home, work, or family support, especially for surgery or childbirth.

3. Specialties You Need

• Look for hospitals known to handle your specific type of condition regularly.
• Ask your doctor which Atlanta hospitals they most commonly use for that type of care.

4. Language and Accessibility

• Many hospitals in Atlanta offer language interpretation services and support for patients with disabilities.
• If these are important to you, call ahead and ask what is available.

Finding a Hospital Near You in Metro Atlanta

Here are practical ways Atlanta residents and visitors often locate nearby hospitals or urgent care options:

• Call 911 in an emergency and let dispatch know your location; they will route you to the most appropriate nearby facility.
• Use the customer service number on your insurance card and ask for in-network hospitals or urgent care centers near your ZIP code.
• Call the main lines of major systems (Emory, Grady, Piedmont, Northside, Wellstar, CHOA) and ask for the closest facility that fits your needs.

If you are new to Atlanta, it can be helpful to pick:

• A primary care clinic in your area (often part of one of the big systems), and
• A preferred hospital you know how to get to before a crisis happens.

Help for Uninsured or Underinsured Patients in Atlanta

Atlanta hospitals regularly work with patients who have limited or no insurance. Options can include:

• Financial assistance or charity care programs at large systems like Grady, Emory, Piedmont, Northside, and Wellstar
• Sliding-scale community clinics and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) for primary care
• Payment plans for hospital bills

If you’re worried about costs:

• Call the hospital’s financial counseling or billing office before scheduled procedures when possible.
• Ask about self-pay discounts, financial assistance forms, and payment options.
• For emergencies, seek care first, then work with the hospital on the financial details afterward.

Practical Tips for Using Hospitals in Atlanta

A few Atlanta-specific pointers to make your visit smoother:

• Plan around traffic: Build in extra time for weekday visits, especially if you’re crossing I-75/85, GA 400, or I-285.
• Parking and transit: Many central hospitals (Grady, Emory Midtown, Piedmont Atlanta, Northside Atlanta, CHOA) are accessible via MARTA bus or rail, and all provide on-site parking garages for a fee.
• Bring your information: Keep a list of medications, allergies, and prior surgeries with you. This speeds up care in busy Atlanta emergency rooms.
• Use patient portals: Most Atlanta hospital systems offer online portals to view test results, pay bills, and message providers between visits.
• Know your nearest ER: Look up the closest emergency department to your home and workplace now, so you’re not searching in a crisis.

Hospitals in Atlanta, GA offer extensive options, from trauma and emergency care downtown to maternity and specialty services across the metro area. By understanding the major systems, knowing where key hospitals are located, and planning ahead around insurance and traffic, you can navigate Atlanta’s healthcare landscape more confidently when you or your family need care.