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Atrium Health

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority (doing business as Atrium Health,[2] and formerly doing business as Carolinas HealthCare System)[3] is a hospital network in the southern United States. The parent corporation, also named Atrium Health, merged with Advocate Aurora Health creating Advocate Health in December 2022.[4][5] It operates 40 hospitals, 9 freestanding emergency departments, over 30 urgent care centers, and more than 1,400 care locations in the American states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.[6][7] It provides care under the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist name in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, region, Atrium Health Navicent in the Macon, Georgia area, and Atrium Health Floyd in the Rome, Georgia area. Atrium Health offers pediatric, cancer, and heart care, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs.[8]

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority is a municipal hospital authority established under North Carolina's Hospital Authorities Act (North Carolina General Statutes chapter 131E, part 2). The authority is governed by a self-perpetuating board of commissioners which nominates new commissioners to fill its own vacancies; the chair of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners can approve or veto those nominations but not make nominations of their own.[9]

History

  • In 1876, Jane Wilkes leads the effort to establish St. Peter's Episcopal Hospital, originally called Charlotte Home and Hospital, in Charlotte's Fourth Ward.
  • Charlotte Memorial Hospital opens in 1940, replacing St. Peter's Hospital, whose remaining patients are transferred to Charlotte Memorial on October 7.
  • In 1943, Charlotte Memorial Hospital takes on a new legal status, known officially as the Charlotte Memorial Hospital Authority. This name was changed in 1961 to Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority.
  • Charlotte Memorial Hospital Authority assumes ownership and management of Good Samaritan Hospital, the city's only hospital providing non-emergency care to racial minority patients.
  • Charlotte Memorial Hospital adopts the first graphic version of its now-familiar "Tree of Life" logo in 1982.
  • Charlotte Memorial Hospital changes its name to Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) in 1990, and CMC is designated as one of North Carolina's five Academic Medical Center Teaching Hospitals.
  • The Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority begins using the name "Carolinas Healthcare System" in 1996.
  • In 2019, CMC underwent the system-wide rebrand and is now Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center.[10]
  • In 2020, Atrium Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health merged.[11]
  • In July 2021 Floyd Health of Rome, Georgia agreed to become a part of the Atrium system, as Atrium Health Floyd.[12]
  • Atrium agreed in May 2022 to merge its system with Advocate Aurora Health, assuming the Advocate brand, but based at Atrium's headquarters.[13] This merger was completed on December 2, 2022.

COVID-19 response

  • Atrium Health's Levine Children's Hospital is one of 30 sites across the world – and the only children's hospital in North Carolina – selected to open a clinical trial to test the efficacy of remdesivir in pediatric patients who test positive for COVID-19.[14]
  • Atrium Health developed a new vaccine research program, “STRIVE for Healthier Futures,” with a goal of identifying a vaccine that safely and effectively prevents the spread of COVID-19. The STRIVE program, which stands for strategic research, innovation, vaccines, and engagement, consists of a "diverse, multi-disciplinary team of researchers, scientists, physicians, and other medical experts within the Atrium Health enterprise."[15]

Hospitals & facilities

Atrium Health is based in Charlotte. Carolinas Medical Center is the flagship hospital for the entire system (located between Dilworth and Myers Park). Atrium Health operates seven freestanding Emergency Departments, these are 24-hour emergency care centers for the treatment of emergency medical conditions, but are not attached to a full service hospital. Atrium Health also operates 37 urgent care centers across the system's Charlotte NC market. [16]

The following is a list of Atrium Health hospitals:[17][18]

Medical education & research

  • Wake Forest School of Medicine (The “academic core” of Atrium Health.[20] The main campus is located in Winston-Salem, NC, and a second location is expected to be built in Charlotte, NC in a medical innovation district called The Pearl.[21])
  • Cabarrus College of Health Sciences (An education facility located on NE campus in Concord, NC)
  • James G. Cannon Research Center (A research facility located on Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center campus in the Dilworth neighborhood)
  • Carolinas College of Health Sciences (An education facility formerly on Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center campus in the Dilworth neighborhood)

Other facilities

In addition to providing patients with quality health care, Atrium Health operates long-term care facilities in the Charlotte Area. Other facilities of importance include:

  • Carolinas Physician Network (Network of Physician Offices in North and South Carolina)
  • Mercy School of Nursing (Closed May 30, 2016) [22] replaced by Carolinas College of Health Sciences and Cabarrus College of Health Sciences.[23]
  • Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute is a cardiovascular practice in Charlotte, North Carolina.[24] It is the region's only clinic to offer minimally invasive heart bypass option and heart transplant center. Sanger includes more than 175 providers and 20 care centers across the Carolinas. Founded in 1956 by Paul Sanger and Dr. Francis Robicsek,[25][26]

Mergers

Navicent Health

On February 8, 2018, Atrium Health and Navicent Health of Macon, Georgia announced a partnership.[27]

On December 19, 2018, leaders from Atrium Health and Navicent Health signed the definitive agreement that commits to the organizations’ strategic combination. The agreement was effective January 1, 2019, making Navicent Health the central and south Georgia hub for the Atrium Health network.[28]

On January 29, 2021, the system was renamed Atrium Health Navicent.[29]

Floyd Health System

On November 5, 2019, Atrium Health and Floyd Health System (Floyd) announced that the organizations signed a letter of intent to combine.[30] The agreement was finalized on July 14, 2021. "Atrium Health has pledged to invest $650 million in capital" into Floyd Health System over the next 10 years.[31]

On October 28, 2021, the system was renamed Atrium Health Floyd.[32]

Wake Forest Baptist Health

On October 9, 2020, Atrium Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health, including Wake Forest School of Medicine, officially joined as a single enterprise, Atrium Health.[33] The new enterprise became effective immediately.

The strategic combination was first announced in April 2019,[34] with a definitive agreement signed in October 2019, following approval by each entity's governing board.

On October 23, 2020, Atrium Health announced $3.4 billion in planned investments for Wake Forest Baptist Health and the communities it serves over the next 10 years.[35] Atrium Health will invest approximately $2.8 billion to improve facilities and fund critical investments.[36]

On August 18, 2021, the system was renamed Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.[37]

Advocate Aurora

The merger was first announced in May 2022. Advocate Aurora operates in Illinois and Wisconsin. The combined company will operate in six states: Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. It will have 67 hospitals and 150,000 employees with $27 billion in annual revenue. It will be the fifth largest hospital system in the country. The combined organization would be called Advocate Health and be headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Initially both Gene Woods, CEO of Atrium, and Jim Skogsbergh, CEO of Advocate Aurora will be co-CEOs for a year and a half until Skogsbergh retires; then Woods will be the sole CEO.[38]

The deal will not affect Atrium's new medical school Wake Forest School of Medicine and the medical innovation district The Pearl. The medical school will be the academic core of the newly combined company. Currently Advocate does have partnerships with nearby medical schools and supports research. However, they do not have their own medical school or innovation district.[38] Dr Julie Ann Freischlag, CEO of AHWFB, chief academic officer of Atrium Health and dean of the WFU School of Medicine said this about the merger's impact on the medical school “We’re really excited that the way this is set up. We’ll be a part of a bigger group, so I think if anything, people will know more who we are, and we’ll be able to touch more people and tell them about the research and education — the wonderful things we do.” Freischlag stated completing clinical trials and finding new treatment approaches will be easier with a larger patient population.[39]

The deal faced a number of approval hurdles. The North Carolina Attorney General stated he would not oppose the deal, the Federal Trade Commission reviewed the merger, the deal was subject to Illinois and Wisconsin approval since Advocate Aurora is based in both states.[40] The deal was temporarily blocked by Illinois health board and then decided to postpone the vote. During a special meeting on November 14, 2022, the board voted 6–0 to approve the deal.[41] The merger was completed on December 2, 2022,[40][42] making Atrium Health a division of Advocate Health.

Controversies and lawsuits

  • On June 9, 2016, it was reported that the U.S. Justice Department and the N.C. Attorney General's office filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Carolinas HealthCare System, alleging the chain illegally reduces competition in the local health care market.[43] Atrium Health settled the lawsuit with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice on November 15, 2018. The settlement included injunctive terms restricting Atrium's ability to add provisions to its contracts that would be considered anticompetitive.[44]
  • On July 3, 2017, it was reported that Carolina's Healthcare System (CHS) had agreed to pay a $6.5 million False Claims Act settlement to settle charges over its billing practices brought by a whistle blower, U.S. Attorney Jill Rose said Friday. Prosecutors contended the Charlotte-based hospital system had been improperly "up-coding" claims for urine drug tests in order to receive much higher payments than CHS would have if billed properly. CHS contended that two separate consultants had reviewed its practices and had confirmed its coding selection amid "complex and constantly changing billing guidelines." After two years into the process, CHS said it was in the system's best interest to resolve the charges.[45]
  • In September 2024, NBC News reported on Atrium Health's aggressive debt collection practices, including suing a widower struggling to pay off cancer treatment bills for his deceased wife.[46] In response, the company announced that "some 11,500 liens on people's homes in North Carolina and five other states will be released".[47]

See also

  • List of public hospitals in the United States

External links

References

  1. Greg Lacour. 2025 Charlotteans Of The Year: Eugene Woods Charlotte Magazine, November 7, 2025, retrieved February 5, 2026^
  2. ATRIUM HEALTH - Trademark Details Justia Trademarks, retrieved February 16, 2026^
  3. CAROLINAS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM - Trademark Details Justia Trademarks, retrieved February 16, 2026^
  4. Bryan Overstreet. Atrium Health Completes Mega-Merger With Midwestern Hospital Group WCCB, 2 Dec 2022, retrieved 24 May 2024^
  5. Katherine Davis. Advocate Aurora, Atrium hospital merger complete Crain's Chicago Business, December 2, 2022, retrieved October 10, 2025^
  6. About Us Atrium Health, retrieved 2022-01-20^
  7. Catherine Muccigrosso. Atrium Health completes major deal to double in size, combines with Midwest hospital chain The Charlotte Observer, 2022-12-02^
  8. Specialty Care Services Atrium Health, retrieved 2020-11-25^
  9. Ames Alexander. Officials: Taxpayers need say on CHS The Charlotte Observer, June 16, 2012, retrieved 12 March 2015^
  10. Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center: Where it All Began Atrium Health, retrieved 2020-09-29^
  11. Atrium Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health Combine, Create Next-Generation Academic Health System Atrium Health, retrieved 2020-10-13^
  12. Doug Walker, John Bailey. Merger between Floyd Health System and North Carolina-based Atrium Healthcare finalize Rome News-Tribune, 2021-07-14, retrieved 2021-11-19^
  13. Advocate Aurora, Atrium Health systems to merge Chicago Sun-Times, 2022-05-11, retrieved 2022-05-11^
  14. Levine Children's selected as one of 30 sites worldwide to open remdesivir clinical trial wbtv.com, retrieved 2020-07-31^
  15. WBTV Charlotte. Vaccine research registry opens in Charlotte wbtv.com, retrieved 2020-09-29^
  16. Urgent Care Locations & Hours retrieved 2018-02-07^
  17. American Hospital Directory for North Carolina Retrieved 3 Jun 2024^
  18. American Hospital Directory for Georgia Retrieved 3 Jun 2024^
  19. Catherine Muccigrosso. Atrium Health Union West will open Feb. 23 in Union County Charlotte Observer, 2022-02-11, retrieved 2022-02-14^
  20. Atrium Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health Combine, Create Next-Generation Academic Health System Atrium Health, retrieved 2020-10-19^
  21. Hannah Smoot Observer. Atrium, Wake Forest Baptist officially combine, paving way for Charlotte med school wbtv.com, retrieved 2020-10-19^
  22. Mercy School of Nursing retrieved 2021-07-14^
  23. Atrium Health Medical Education retrieved 2021-07-14^
  24. F. Robicsek. Francis Robicsek, MD, PhD: a conversation with the editor ∗ American Journal of Cardiology, 2000-06-01^
  25. Dr. Francis Robicsek, surgeon and humanitarian, dies at 94 retrieved 2020-05-13^
  26. Francis Robicsek, Obituary - Charlotte, NC Dignity Memorial, retrieved 2020-04-16^
  27. Atrium Health and Navicent Health Announce Plans to Form Strategic Combination to Serve Communities in Central and South Georgia Atrium Health, retrieved 2020-10-19^
  28. Atrium Health and Navicent Health to complete combination Jan. 1 Modern Healthcare, 2018-12-20, retrieved 2020-10-19^
  29. Navicent Health Announces New Brand Identity: Atrium Health Navicent Atrium Health, retrieved 2021-11-17^
  30. Floyd Health System and Atrium Health to Join in Strategic Combination Atrium Health, retrieved 2020-10-19^
  31. Merger between Floyd Health System and Atrium Health finalized. Northwest Georgia News, retrieved 2021-07-14^
  32. Floyd is Now Atrium Health Floyd Atrium Health, retrieved 2021-11-17^
  33. Hannah Smoot. Atrium, Wake Forest Baptist officially combine, paving way for Charlotte med school The Charlotte Observer, October 9, 2020, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  34. Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest University Announce Intent to Create Transformative Academic Healthcare System Atrium Health, retrieved 2020-10-19^
  35. Atrium Health Announces $3.4 Billion in Investments Into Wake Forest Baptist Health and its Communities Atrium Health, retrieved 2020-10-28^
  36. Daniel Finnegan. Atrium Health to invest $3.4 billion in Wake Forest Baptist Health, including $2.8B in new facilities Triad Business Journal, October 23, 2020, retrieved 2020-10-28^
  37. Wake Forest Baptist Health is Now Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Atrium Health, retrieved 2021-11-17^
  38. Carolin Hudson. Atrium Health to combine with Midwest's Advocate Aurora, creating nation's fifth-largest system Charlotte Business Journal, 11 May 2022, retrieved 3 December 2022^
  39. Lillian Johnson. What Atrium Health-Advocate Aurora deal means for Wake Forest Baptist, WFU med school Charlotte Business Journal, 13 May 2022, retrieved 3 December 2022^
  40. Rich Kirchen. Atrium, Advocate Aurora complete deal to become fifth-largest U.S. health system Charlotte Business Journal, 2 December 2022, retrieved 3 December 2022^
  41. Gordon Rago. Major Atrium Health deal to combine with Midwest system wins key regulatory vote Charlotte Observer, 14 November 2022, retrieved 5 December 2022^
  42. Caroline Hudson. Four factors to watch as Atrium Health, Advocate Aurora move ahead with mammoth combination Charlotte Business Journal, 20 June 2022, retrieved 3 December 2022^
  43. State and feds say Carolinas HealthCare drove up costs by curbing competition Charlotte Observer, retrieved 2018-11-07^
  44. Competitive Impact Statement United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina Charlotte Division, 2018-12-04, retrieved 2024-09-21^
  45. Carolinas HealthCare to pay $6.5 million settlement over urine tests Charlotte Observer, retrieved 2018-11-07^
  46. Chad Van Alstin. Atrium Health forgives patient debts, withdraws liens on 11,500 homes HealthExec.com, 2024-09-20, retrieved 2024-09-21^
  47. Gretchen Morgenson. North Carolina hospital company forgives debts of 11,500 people after NBC News report NBC News, 2024-09-20, retrieved 2024-09-21^