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ARC Receives Federal Funding to Study Disparities in Health Care Access Across Metro Atlanta

Atlanta — May 09, 2024

The Atlanta Regional Commission today announced that it has received $543,000 in federal funding to study disparities in health care access across the Atlanta region following the closure of two hospitals serving South Metro Atlanta. Funding for the study was championed through the Congressionally Directed Spending process by Sen. Jon Ossoff and subsequently approved in this year’s bipartisan government funding package.

Large parts of the Atlanta region, especially those south of I-20, are now 45 minutes to an hour away from the nearest emergency room, depending on the time of day.

“We know that health care access in the Atlanta region varies greatly by your ZIP code. It’s time for action to address these disparities,” said Andre Dickens, ARC Board Chair and Mayor of the City of Atlanta. “This study is a critical first step that will provide the hard data we need to make informed decisions that can save lives.”

This health care access study will include:

• Mapping regional data on mileage to the nearest emergency room services and analyzing areas of lowest access.
• Collecting and analyzing data on emergency medical service (EMS) response times, EMS transport times, and EMS wait or diversion times.
• Analyzing Level 1 and Level II trauma center “diversion rates” – that is, how often these centers refer patients to another medical facility.
• An assessment of change in accessibility that would result from new transportation investments.

The study follows a 2023 ARC summit that convened elected officials and health care experts to explore the crisis in health care access.

“It’s critically important that people have good access to emergency health services, no matter where they live. When a health emergency like a heart attack or stroke occurs, every minute counts. It’s literally a matter of life and death,” said Anna Roach, ARC Executive Director & CEO.

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About ARC:

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 11-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 74 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission’s mission is to foster thriving communities for all within the Atlanta region through collaborative, data-informed planning and investments.

Contact Name: Paul Donsky
Contact Phone: 470-626-3869
Contact Email: pdonsky@atlantaregional.org