Morehouse School of Medicine Opens East Point Clinic
Morehouse Healthcare at East Point will be accessible to 189,000 residents throughout several underserved zip codes.
By Donovan Thomas, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After months of planning, Morehouse School of Medicine has opened its new clinic in East Point, which officials hope will replace some health care services lost in south Fulton County when Atlanta Medical Center South was closed there.
Equipped with more than 20 exam rooms, the clinic will house six providers who will care for patients with a range of needs. The clinic does not have an emergency department but will provide primary healthcare services and treatment for routine illnesses. The clinic is a partnership between Morehouse School of Medicine, Fulton County, and Atrium Health, which is part of Advocate Health.
Plans for the clinic were first announced in April during a Fulton County Board of Commissioners meeting. Commissioners called for an investigation of AMC’s owner, Wellstar Health System, for “redlining” or closing hospitals in majority Black and poor areas. The commission agreed action was needed to address what has been described as a “health desert” and public health emergency in south Fulton County.
In 2022, Wellstar permanently closed AMC in Atlanta and AMC South in East Point. According to Wellstar, both locations a were losing money. Both hospitals served a patient population that included many low-income residents of color without insurance.
“As Morehouse School of Medicine continues to lead the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice, we are committed to providing compassionate care, and innovative medicine to the residents of south Fulton County,” Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, Morehouse School of Medicine’s president and chief executive officer, said in a press release.
Morehouse Healthcare at East Point is the fourth outpatient clinic operated by Morehouse Healthcare, which is the clinical services arm of the medical school. The clinic is located at 1513 East Cleveland Ave., Building 500 in the Buggy Works complex and will operate 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with plans to extend hours.
Morehouse Healthcare’s other locations are at 1800 Howell Mill Road, 455 Lee St., and 3885 Princeton Lakes Way #300.