ARC receives federal funding to study health care access disparities in metro Atlanta

Atlanta — May 9, 2024

The Atlanta Regional Commission announced today that it has received $543,000 in federal funding to study health care access disparities in the Atlanta area following the closure of two hospitals serving the South Atlanta metro area. Funding for the study was championed by Senator Jon Ossoff as part of the Congressional Directed Spending process and then approved as part of this year’s bipartisan government funding package.

Large parts of the Atlanta area, particularly those south of I-20, are now between 45 minutes and an hour from the nearest emergency room, depending on the time of day.

“We know that access to health care in the Atlanta area varies greatly depending on your zip code. It’s time to take action to address these disparities,” said Andre Dickens, ARC Board Chair and Mayor of the City of Atlanta. “This study is a crucial first step that will provide the concrete data we need to make informed decisions that can save lives. »

This study on access to health care will include:

• Map regional mileage data to the nearest emergency services and analyze less accessible areas.
• Collection and analysis of data on emergency medical services (EMS) response times, EMS transport times, and EMS wait or diversion times.
• Analyze the “diversion rates” of Level 1 and Level II trauma centers, that is, how often these centers refer patients to another medical facility.
• An assessment of the changes in accessibility that would result from new investments in transportation.

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

“It is extremely important that people have good access to emergency health services, regardless of 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, executive director and CEO of ARC.

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About the 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 counties. and Rockdale as well as the city of Atlanta and 74 other cities. The mission of the Atlanta Regional Commission is to foster thriving communities for all in the Atlanta region through collaborative, data-driven planning and investments.

Contact Name: Paul Donski
Contact Number: 470-626-3869
Contact email: [email protected]