Atlanta group could take over Augusta University hospitals

WellStar Atlanta Medical Center shut its doors on Nov. 1. The Wellstar system announced on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, that it would take over the Augusta University Health System after closing the money losing Atlanta hospital in November, prompting intense criticism. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)

An Atlanta-area hospital system could take over the hospitals affiliated with Georgia’s only public medical school under a deal announced Tuesday.

Augusta University Health System said it signed a letter of intent to join the Marietta-based nonprofit Wellstar Health System.

Any deal is far from final though, and spokespersons on Tuesday said they could not answer key questions, including how much Wellstar might pay to take over the system’s hospitals.