The new nonprofit board of Grady Memorial Hospital hasn't been appointed yet, but potential members signaled they plan to move quickly to save the hospital, calling their first meeting for Monday.

"Things are moving forward," Tom Bell, the head of Cousins Properties, said Thursday. He is among those expected to serve on the new board.

The existing Grady board, formally called the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority, is expected to announce the 16 members of the nonprofit board today.

That nonprofit board, created in response to pressure from state elected leaders and the Atlanta business community, will assume responsibility for budget, staffing and policy decisions at the financially struggling hospital.

The nonprofit board will meet 3 p.m. at Steiner Auditorium, adjacent to the hospital.

Bell said he expects the first meeting will largely address organizational issues, such as selecting officers and creating a task force to help with the transition of control.

The nonprofit board will not have the authority on Monday to make decisions regarding the hospital.

It's unclear when the nonprofit will get state and federal approvals needed to fully assume its new role. Estimates range from weeks to months.

"We see that being a formality more than an obstacle," said Michael Russell, an Atlanta businessman also expected to serve on the board. "You just want to start moving."

Also on Thursday, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved the appointment of Georgia State University President Carl Patton to the existing Grady board.

Patton replaces Clayton Shepherd, who resigned last week.