Adventist Health System and Emory Healthcare are closing Emory-Adventist Hospital in Smyrna on Oct. 31, the partnership said.
Pete Weber, board chair of the financially troubled 88-bed not-for-profit hospital, said that although costs have been cut, it still couldn’t attract enough patients to sustain its operations.
Weber said that, “Ultimately … the new market conditions in health care have made it impossible for (Emory-Adventist) to continue operation.”
The hospital said there would be no immediate changes for patients. More information about hospital operations before the closing, including scheduling of appointments and access to medical records will be announced.
Weber said officials looked at various options to avoid closing the hospital, including partnerships with other health care providers. There was interest, he said, but no deal.
The hospital admitted its first patient in 1974 and was bought in 1976 by Adventist Health System, becoming the first health care institution in Atlanta affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Adventist Health System has 37 hospitals across the country.
Emory-Adventist Hospital was formed out of a joint venture with Emory Healthcare in 1995.
