North Carolina-based Atrium Health announced a merger with Illinois based-Advocate Aurora Health last week.  Atrium Health had recently purchased Floyd Medical Center in Rome and now plans to build a free-standing emergency room in Chattooga County.

Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry says that the plans for the new emergency room, which is to be built near Wal-Mart, will serve as a template for rural healthcare in Georgia.  The emergency room will be Atrium Health’s first free-standing ER in the Peach State.  The state has cleared the way for the new ER and plans are moving forward, according to Atrium Health.

As far as Atrium Health’s merger with Advocate Aurora that was recently announced – things will not change locally.  The hospital in Rome will continue to use the Atrium brand; as will the new emergency room when it is completed in Chattooga County.

Last week, the Leapfrog Group awarded Floyd Medical Center and 12 other Atrium Health hospitals with top-rated “A” grades on its spring 2022 patient safety report card.