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”