About The FDHA

The Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority has served the indigent residents in the counties of Fulton and DeKalb, dating back to World War II. Governed by a ten-member Board of Trustees, appointed by the commissioners of Fulton and DeKalb Counties, the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority (“FDHA”) takes its statutory responsibility very seriously under the Hospital Authorities Law, to address the unmet healthcare needs of Fulton and DeKalb Counties. 

The FDHA has established innovative and educational research, networking, financial support, and preventive health programs to augment the healthcare services provided by Grady Health System (GHS) to fulfill the healthcare needs, including mental health, of various populations within Fulton and DeKalb Counties. The FDHA addresses the unmet health needs of those we serve and has collaborated with over 100 organizations in furtherance of The FDHA Mission.

Our Mission

Ensuring quality care is provided through Grady Health System and meeting the unmet needs of the indigent and medically underserved populations in Fulton and DeKalb counties by engaging, educating and empowering communities, healthcare providers and stakeholders.

Our Vision

The FDHA envisions becoming the premier resource for meeting the unmet needs of the communities that we serve.

The FDHA
Amended & Restated Bylaws

Legacy Timeline

1941

The Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority is established

1946

The Authority assumed management of Grady Memorial Hospital

1949

The Clay Eye Clinic opened and included the Southeast’s first eye bank

1950

Nursery established for premature infants

1952

Dedication held for Hughes Spalding Pavilion

1954

Ground broken for new 1,069-bed Grady Hospital

1957

The Authority purchased a city block bounded by Pratt, Gilmer, Butler and Decatur streets and contracted to sell Fulton County a parcel of land across from the new Grady for the construction of a public health building

1958

Asa Yancey, MD appointed chief of surgery at Hughes Spalding Pavilion to operate the first accredited training in Georgia for black surgeons

1959

An 18-bed Psychiatric Intensive Treatment Center at Grady was established in partnership with Emory Medical School and the Georgia Department of Public Health

1960

A $1 million home completed for 180 Georgia nursing students

1965

First Intensive Care Unit established

1966

Artificial Kidney Center established

1970

Drug Dependency Unit, Nephrology Center and Psychiatric Emergency Centers opened

1971

Diabetes Treatment Center established

1972

Asa Yancey, MD, appointed medical director

1973

Northwest Grady Clinic opened as health system’s first community-based health center

1974

Burn Center and Emergency Radiology Department open

1975

Grady Rape Crisis Center established and W.T. Brooks Health Center opened in South Fulton

1979

1954 bonds issued for 25 years to raise $20 million to construct the“new” Grady Hospital were retired

1981

Original Grady Hospital building placed on the National Register of Historic Places

1982

Grady School of Nursing graduated last class of nurses

1984

A new 30-year contract approved with Fulton and DeKalb counties to provide medical care to their indigent sick and the Sickle Cell Center opened

1986

Infectious Disease Center opened

1991

The Authority acquired Crestview Nursing Facility, the largest nursing home in the state with 388 licensed beds, and finalized a major comprehensive contract with Morehouse School of Medicine

1992

Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital became a free-standing hospital

1993

Volunteer corporate and civic leaders G. Lemuel Hewes, Ann Cramer, Robert L. Brown and Veronica Biggins established the Henry W. Grady Foundation to raise additional funds for Grady Health System and Boatrock Woman’s Health Center, the first medical center to open inside a public housing complex

1994

Lindberg Women’s and Children’s and The North DeKalb Health Centers established

1996

The Authority celebrated 50 years of managing Grady, dedicating its clinic and diagnostic center in honor of Grace Hamilton Holmes, former Authority trustee and civic leader

2001

Gift from Jane Fonda and matching philanthropic funds raised by Grady Health Foundation renovates the Teen Services Program and the Grady Cancer Center was established with support from the Avon Foundation and the Georgia Tobacco Settlement Fund

2002

Grady Foundation accepted first online donation for Grady Health System

2004

The Brian Jordan & Steve Atwater Employee Wellness Center opened for employees

2006

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta assumed management of Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital

2008

Local classical architecture enthusiasts partner to restore the Goddard Memorial Chapel at Grady and the Authority leases Grady Health System to the newly formed Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation

2009

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Fulton County commissioners to clarify their 1984 contract to provide medical care to the indigent sick

2010

The Authority donated one half million dollars in new furniture to the Auburn Avenue Recovery Center and equipment to the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence

2011

The Authority celebrated its 70th anniversary of existence at the annual retreat of the board of trustees

2012

The Authority hosts its first annual Health Summit to shed a light on and provide solutions and dialog about timely and important health issues impacting residents in Fulton and DeKalb counties

2013

The Authority implemented a Community Health Awareness & Prevention Department to take preventative approach to improve community health and reduce visits to Grady’s E.R. Also, the Michael R. Hollis undergraduate Internship Program was launched to give students practical experience and scholarship opportunities

2014

The Authority introduces the Network of Care for Public Health, a groundbreaking tool that surveys all population health statistics in order to present a comprehensive and continuously maintained dashboard of all local health indicators

2015

The Authority launched its Frank Monteith Fellowship program to provide practical, research, and scholarship opportunities to graduate students

2016

The Authority celebrates its 75th anniversary of existence as it hosts its 5th Annual Health Summit – “Building Healthy Communities: One Step at a Time”