Knowing how to control high blood pressure is crucial since it can be fatal. A blood pressure value of 140/90 mmHg or higher indicates hypertension. One is in danger of a number of significant medical diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, when their reading is so high. Knowing the fundamental ways of regulating blood pressure would be beneficial. Certain healthy lifestyle choices that should be a part of your personal life goals are necessary to maintain high blood pressure.

Read how you can apply these home remedies and lifestyle changes to complement your high blood pressure treatment.

1. Regular exercise

An active lifestyle is a crucial component of healthy living. Maintaining healthy body weight and remaining active are two of the most effective ways to control high blood pressure. Blood circulation, lung capacity, and heart efficiency can all be improved with exercise.

2. Cut down on Salt 

One of the main ingredients in salt, sodium, has the power to attract water into your blood vessels, increasing the amount of blood that is circulated. This raises the pressure inside your blood vessels, raising blood pressure as a result. You should limit your daily sodium intake to less than 2300 mg to prevent hypertension.

3. DASH Diet 

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension is known as DASH. A DASH diet calls for consuming 4-5 servings of nuts, seeds, and legumes, as well as lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Encourage a diet high in protein and steer clear of fat and sugar. Add a lot of whole grains to your diet, such as brown bread, rice, pasta, etc.

4. Limit alcohol

Your heart may beat rapidly as a result of alcohol, which is how it works. Alcohol abuse that is extreme and persistent over time might raise blood pressure and raise your overall risk for cardiovascular disease.

5. Maintain a moderate weight

Low waist circumference and appropriate body weight are linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. To prevent or manage high blood pressure, individuals are encouraged to keep their BMI between 18 and 24.

6. Garlic water

Due to its ability to increase nitric oxide synthesis, garlic water is a natural technique to control blood pressure. This chemical has a potent circulatory action that promotes blood circulation and relieves heart pressure. One way of consuming garlic is by infusing it in water and drinking it throughout the day.

7. Know your numbers

Make sure to frequently check your blood pressure at the doctor’s office or home. Although most people want to maintain blood pressure at 140/90 mmHg, it’s not necessary for everyone to do so. Consult your doctor to determine the goal blood pressure you need to keep, then strive toward it.

Foods that help lower blood pressure

1. Leafy greens

2. Skim milk and yoghurt

3. Bananas

4. Dark chocolate

5. Olive oil

6. Pomegranates

7. Fish with omega-3s

Although these home remedies for high blood pressure are helpful in addition to prescription treatment, they should only be taken under the guidance of a medical professional and should not be used in place of the medicine given by your doctor.

(Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on general information, it does not substitute a medical expert’s advice. Zee News does not confirm this.)

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The first day of the Sanford International at Minnehaha Country Club was close to perfect for both spectators and the golfers they were watching with temps in the 70s accompanying calm conditions.

In addition, and more importantly for the PGA Tour Champions players, rain on Thursday made for an enticing situation on Friday for the strongest field ever to play in this tournament.

Robert Karlsson, a 6-foot-5 53-year-old from Sweden looking for his first PGA Champions Tour victory, tied a Sanford International record with an 8-under 62 to lead the field by a stroke going into Saturday’s second round.

Karlsson was one of 51 golfers who was under par for the day. The leaderboard included eight who were at 6-under or better. Kevin Sutherland, who was playing in the same group as Karlsson, shot a 30 over his final nine holes to finish with a 63, as did defending champion Darren Clarke.

Other prominent players in the mix after one day included Bernhard Langer, former Sanford International winner Rocco Mediate and Ernie Els at 64.

“It’s a fantastic day to play golf,” Karlsson said. “After all the rain yesterday, the greens are quite soft. The course is playing a bit softer as well, which makes it a bit easier to hit the fairways. And no wind around this golf course is quite unusual, so it was definitely there for scoring.”

Karlsson closed his round with three consecutive birdies on 16, 17 and 18 to emerge from a field crowded with rounds in red numbers. All in all it made for a great way to start a week that he’s already enjoying.

“I had a couple of good days here before — a couple of really good pro-am days,” he said. “I really enjoy the people here in Sioux Falls so it’s been great.”

Learn more

…

Posted In
Golf, Sanford International, Sanford Sports, Sioux Falls

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Appearance of Iran’s supreme leader comes after unconfirmed reports of the 83 year old falling ‘gravely ill’.

Tehran, Iran – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei made his first public appearance on Saturday after reports of poor health over the past week.

Dressed in black and wearing a mask as he has been since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Khamenei participated in a mourning event to mark the Shia religious observance of Arbaeen.

The annual ceremony with the supreme leader’s participation is held with representatives of student groups, but had been cancelled for the past two years because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Images released by Khamenei’s website showed the supreme leader walking, waving to the crowd and sitting to observe the mourning ceremony.

His appearance comes after multiple unconfirmed reports of the 83-year-old leader falling “gravely ill”.

“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

Images reportedly of Khamenei attending a mourning ceremony today. They appear not/not to be stock photos. https://t.co/0OTBnbZutx

— Henry Rome (@hrome2) September 17, 2022

The New York Times late on Friday, citing four unnamed sources, reported Khamenei’s health deteriorated last week when he began experiencing severe stomach pains, leading to him undergoing surgery for bowel obstruction.

It also reported he was too weak to even sit up and cancelled all public meetings.

The Iranian government or state media rarely comment on the details of Khamenei’s health, and remained silent on the reports as well.

The only news on local media was a denial that Khamenei had cancelled a meeting with the Assembly of Experts earlier this month, and claims he participated in an event last week with athletes and sports veterans.

No images or footage of that reported meeting were published, but a few athletes attested to the gathering on social media.

Reports concerning Khamenei’s health and false claims about his death have made headlines several times in recent years.

Khamenei, who has been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, underwent a successful prostate cancer operation in 2014.

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FRIDAY, Sept. 16, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Burnout in physicians is associated with a decrease in job satisfaction and with increased patient safety events and patient dissatisfaction, according to a review published online Sept. 14 in The BMJ.

Alexander Hodkinson, Ph.D., from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association of physician burnout with career engagement and the quality of patient care. The meta-analysis included 170 observational studies with 239,246 physicians.

The researchers found that overall physician burnout was associated with an almost fourfold decrease in job satisfaction versus increased job satisfaction (odds ratio, 3.79). Career choice regret increased by more than threefold compared with being satisfied with career choice in the presence of increased burnout (odds ratio, 3.49). Compared with retention, turnover intention also increased by more than threefold (odds ratio, 3.10). A small but significant association with burnout was seen for productivity (odds ratio, 1.82); burnout also may impact career development (odds ratio, 3.77). Patient safety incidents were doubled with physician burnout (odds ratio, 2.04), and low professionalism was more than twice as likely as burnout increased (odds ratio, 2.33), as was patient dissatisfaction (odds ratio, 2.22).

“Moving forward, investment strategies to monitor and improve physician burnout are needed as a means of retaining the health care workforce and improving the quality of patient care,” the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

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Did you know that osteoporosis can develop during menopause? If we told you that one in three women have the condition, would you believe us? The idea that this stage of life cannot be controlled has long been ingrained in our minds by society. In all honesty, we’ve been taught to let menopause push us around.

However, various solutions to help regulate menopausal hormones have emerged through research and traditional practices. Suppose you, like most women, want to avoid weight gain, hot flashes, fatigue, a lack of sexual desire, and other undesirable health conditions.

In that case, an author claims to have created a knowledge guide that may be useful. This review serves as an introduction to The Menopause Solution.

What is The Menopause Solution?

The Menopause Solution was developed for women who are about to enter menopause. Julissa Clay’s helpful guide outlines steps that could potentially alleviate the symptoms mentioned above. The author promises that The Menopause Solution is more than just a resource for natural remedies. Women who have always wondered about menopause, the changes that occur in their bodies, and why the known symptoms appear in the first place will finally have their questions answered. Taking everything into account, let’s spend some time on the knowledge to be revealed.

What can you learn from The Menopause Solution?

The Menopause Solution may lead to the following insights, among others:

• Natural alternatives that shame hormone replacement therapy
• Why women should focus on reducing symptoms rather than trying to reverse menopause
• The reasons why it is regarded as the quickest, safest, and most effective program for optimum comfort
• How men could benefit from some andropause education
• How each of the three menopause phases differs from the others
• Why it’s crucial to distinguish between menopausal symptoms and other conditions
• Eight telltale indicators that show when men and women have formally changed stages
• The little-known technique for interpreting mood function
• Reasons one might have problems falling asleep

The information that Julissa wants to communicate to people goes well beyond what is mentioned above. If everyone decides to follow her advice, there’s a good chance that both men and women (but primarily women) will be capable of managing menopausal symptoms, look and feel better, and save a tonne of money that would otherwise be wasted on therapies. Most importantly, favorite meals can be enjoyed without worrying about gaining weight or becoming prone to emotional eating.

How much does The Menopause Solution cost?

The Menopause Solution is available for $49 (before applicable taxes). Additionally, a 60-day money-back guarantee has been added to every purchase. To receive a complete refund of the purchase price, customer support must be contacted if Julissa’s understanding of menopause doesn’t appear sufficient. Visit the link below and fill out the contact form for further details and instructions:

• blueheronhealthnews.com/site/contact-us/

About Blue Heron Health News

As maintained by the publishing team at Blue Heron Health News, a totem animal, the blue heron stands for self-awareness, self-realization, and self-analysis. The animal can roam everywhere because it is self-sufficient, self-supporting, and adaptable. These elements constitute the principles of Blue Heron Health News. Put another way; their mission is to create informational guides and articles that inspire people to take charge of their health by leveraging global knowledge. The CEO of Blue Heron Health News, Christian Goodman, has the following to say:

“In my search for natural health solutions, I’ve been fortunate to run into many like-minded people […] I began to realize the information those fellow hunters held was so valuable, it needed to be shared with the world […] Our goal is to eventually address every health issue under the sun and present natural solutions to deal with them.”

For Julissa Clay, establishing a better environment inside the body and researching medical information are her two great passions, which have inspired her to build educational healthcare programs. She hasn’t disclosed her credentials, but she is a well-liked writer for Blue Heron Health.

Closing Remarks

Women need to understand that menopause is a normal part of life that cannot be avoided in the end. However, this does not imply that the symptoms it brings with it cannot be managed. By going through the recommendations within The Menopause Solution, women will better understand how their bodies function. Additionally, they will learn the steps that may be done to decrease mood swings, hot flashes, weight gain, and other symptoms.

The fact that the author intends to devote an equal amount of time to andropause—a decline in testosterone—surprised our editorial team the most. Although they are in different stages with erratic fluctuations, both can negatively affect the mind and body. As for Julissa, she has been an active and passionate researcher for Blue Heron Health News. To date, she has reviewed and compiled guides on several other health conditions that are prevalent and can be treated naturally, so she seems to be the organization’s top author. Before proceeding, interested parties should consider whether this suffices as credentials. To get started with The Menopause Solution, click here! >>>

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Thank you for your interest in supporting Kaiser Health News (KHN), the nation’s leading nonprofit newsroom focused on health and health policy. We distribute our journalism for free and without advertising through media partners of all sizes and in communities large and small. We appreciate all forms of engagement from our readers and listeners, and welcome your support.

KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). You can support KHN by making a contribution to KFF, a non-profit charitable organization that is not associated with Kaiser Permanente.

Click the button below to go to KFF’s donation page which will provide more information and FAQs. Thank you!

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ex-Propeller Health CEO to advise Aevice Health’s board

Singapore-based medtech company Aevice Health has appointed David Van Sickle, former CEO of mobile respiratory health firm Propeller Health, as its strategic board advisor.

According to a media release, Van Sickle, who has over 15 years of experience in digital health, will assist Aevice Health’s team in developing a US commercialisation strategy. He will also support the company’s efforts in building clinical evidence for its remote monitoring solutions.

“David’s experience and expertise will be instrumental in helping Aevice Health excel in the US market and beyond. He brought Propeller Health to the global stage and revolutionised the way asthma and COPD are managed. I look forward to his guidance and believe he will serve as a similar catalyst to the growth of Aevice Health,” said CEO Adrian Ang.

Surgical robot maker Brain Navi to enter Middle East, Egypt markets

Taiwanese surgical robot maker Brain Navi is set to enter the GCC region and Egypt through its latest distribution partnership with Medtreq Medical Equipment.

The deal involves the distribution of its NaoTrac surgical navigation robot, which combines machine vision and a proprietary algorithm to perform robot-assisted surgery, streamlining surgical procedures with real-time imaging and minimal invasive outcomes.

Aside from the Middle East and Egypt, the companies will also market the NaoTrac robots in Jordan, as well as in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, through Medtreq’s Philippine branch.

Olympus introduces third-gen Visera Elite surgical visualisation platform

Olympus Corp., a Japanese optical and digital precision technology manufacturer, has unveiled its latest surgical visualisation platform for endoscopic procedures across multiple medical disciplines.

The Visera Elite III offers multiple observation modes, integrating 3D and infrared imaging functions from its predecessor Visera Elite II and a 4K imaging function from VISERA 4K UHD system.

It comes with a focus adjust mode during 4K surgical observation and an EDOF (Extended Depth of Field) function that allows precise endoscopic observations through continuous broad focus and seamless magnification. It also provides C-AF (Continuous Auto Focus) capability that automatically adjusts the focus in accordance with the movement of the camera head and endoscope. It also supports fluorescence-guided surgery and Narrow Band Imaging, a unique observation mode developed by Olympus for examining features such as small blood vessels in the mucosa and surface patterns. 

Moreover, this latest system allows users to set up customised departmental profiles for different medical disciplines.

Olympus now allows software upgrades to Visera Elite III to add new surgical imaging functions, making it no longer necessary to replace an entire surgical visualisation system to access the latest technology. 

Visera Elite III will become available across Europe, EMEA, parts of Asia, Oceania, and Japan from September this year.

Andhra Pradesh’s NATCO Cancer Center adopts Dozee’s RPM solution

The NATCO Cancer Center, the flagship cancer hospital of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India, has started installing a contactless remote patient monitoring solution from Dozee.

The connected bed platform uses AI to track vital parameters such as heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, ECG, and temperature. It also has an early warning system that helps staff identify signs of patient deterioration. 

In adopting the solution, Dr Durgaprasad, professor and head of Radiation Oncology at NATCO Guntur, said: “Cancer patients need constant vital monitoring, timely critical care, and at the same time are highly prone to associated infections. By adopting Dozee’s contactless patient monitoring [solution], nurses and doctors can prioritise critical patients as a result of the timely alerts.”

The remote patient monitoring solution is being provided through Dozee’s MillionICU initiative, which seeks to convert one million hospital ward beds into smart connected beds.

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AP says the new law could “force” some of the 100,000 unhoused people in California into treatment, a move critics say is cruel. The law could also be used in instances where people have been diagnosed with particular disorders, such as schizophrenia. Other news is from Alaska, Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Montana.

AP:
California Governor OKs Mental Health Courts For Homeless 

With more than 100,000 people living on California’s streets, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a first-of-its kind law on Wednesday that could force some of them into treatment as part of a program he describes as “care” but opponents argue is cruel. Newsom signed the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Act on Wednesday. It would let family members, first responders and others ask a judge to draw up a treatment plan for someone diagnosed with certain disorders, including schizophrenia. Those who refuse could be placed under a conservatorship and ordered to comply. (Har and Beam, 9/14)

In other health news from across the U.S. —

Anchorage Daily News:
Gov. Dunleavy Vetoes Alaska Tax On Vaping And Increase To Minimum Tobacco Purchase Age

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed legislation last week that would have imposed a statewide tax on e-cigarettes and brought the state’s minimum age to buy tobacco into compliance with federal law, raising it from 19 to 21, because the governor thought the vaping tax rate was too high. (Maguire, 9/14)

Stateline:
Court Victories Deliver Cautious Hope For Voters With Disabilities

Paralyzed from the neck down, downtown Milwaukee resident Martha Chambers has difficulty voting. She can use a mouth stick to mark her ballot and sign her name on an absentee ballot, but she has no way of folding the ballot, slipping it back in the envelope or returning it to the mailbox. Driven by its conservative majority, the Wisconsin Supreme Court in July outlawed assistance in the absentee voting process. (Vasilogambros, 9/14)

Detroit Free Press:
Michigan Household Income Flat, But More Have Health Insurance: Census

Michiganders are making just as much money but more have health insurance now than before the pandemic, according to census data released Thursday. “Despite the enormous effects of the pandemic in so many ways, it did not kick the income and poverty numbers in a big way,” said Charles Ballard, an economics professor at Michigan State University. “It’s a remarkable story in itself, that you have this social and demographic and health earthquake and yet if you squint, you can’t see that it did anything to the income and poverty numbers.” (Tanner, 9/15)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Georgia’s New 988 Mental Health Crisis Hotline Is Already Responsive

Data from the first 45 days show that the 988 calls were answered quickly, in 7.4 seconds on average, according to new numbers from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. In those first 45 days, 476 calls resulted in rescues of people whose lives were believed to be in danger. (Landergan, 9/15)

North Carolina Health News:
Momentum Building For MAT In Jails Across N.C.

During his 20 years in the field of substance use disorders, Eric Morse has seen countless patients forced off their medication-assisted treatment (MAT) — a treatment that’s often working — while incarcerated. (Crumpler, 9/15)

KHN:
Montana Health Department Seeks To Ax Board That Hears Public Assistance Appeals

Montana health officials are asking state lawmakers to eliminate a board that hears appeals from people who believe they were wrongly denied public assistance benefits. Since 2016, the Board of Public Assistance has heard fewer than 20 cases a year, and very few of those are overturned, but preparing for those appeals and board meetings takes time from state Department of Public Health and Human Services’ staff members and attorneys, according to the department’s proposal. (Volz, 9/15)

This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.

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WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) — For patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), minocycline as add-on to antidepressant treatment as usual does not reduce depressive symptoms, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in JAMA Network Open.

Julian Hellmann-Regen, M.D., from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and colleagues conducted a trial involving patients with TRD who were randomly assigned to receive adjunct minocycline or placebo in a 1:1 ratio for six weeks (84 and 89, respectively). The participants (mean age, 46.1 years), recruited from January 2016 to August 2020 at nine university hospitals, had failed to adequately respond to an initial antidepressant standard medication as per the Massachusetts General Hospital Antidepressant Treatment History Questionnaire.

The researchers found that compared with placebo, minocycline treatment did not alter the course of depression as assessed by a Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score over six weeks of treatment (1.46; 95 percent confidence interval, −1.04 to 3.96; P = 0.25). Minocycline treatment also had no significant effect on secondary outcomes, including response, remission, and other clinical rating scales.

“Our results from this large randomized clinical trial of a pleiotropic anti-inflammatory drug in this difficult-to-treat patient population are of great clinical importance, robustly demonstrating that minocycline add-on treatment does not outperform placebo,” the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

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Like many neighborhoods in cities across the country, Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward is changing.

Condo buildings and modern minimalist homes punctuate city blocks of low-income housing. Many longtime residents of the historic neighborhood where Martin Luther King Jr. was born have been priced out and pushed to other parts of town.

Atlanta Medical Center, a 460-bed Level 1 trauma center, will be the next fixture to change.

Despite banners proclaiming the hospital’s commitment to the area — “120 Years Caring For Atlanta,” one reads — its nonprofit owner, Wellstar Health System, recently announced plans to close the hospital’s doors on Nov. 1.

Georgia has seen several rural hospitals shutter in the past decade, but this year Atlanta has joined other urban centers with facility closures, including a previous downsizing at a facility in the nearby city of East Point.

The Wellstar announcement has stoked the political debate over Medicaid expansion ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections. Like 11 other states, Georgia has not expanded eligibility rules for its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act, and hospital officials across the state say inaction has hurt their bottom lines because they still treat high numbers of uninsured patients, many of whom cannot pay for treatment.

The Wellstar announcement shocked city officials, including the mayor, Andre Dickens, as well as other members of the community.

On a recent weekday morning, Teresa Smith, 60, who lives in the neighborhood, said she frequently receives care there for a chronic digestive issue. “This hospital will be missed by the whole community,” she said.

Liliana Bakhtiari, the Atlanta City Council member whose district includes the hospital, was sharp in her assessment. “There will be loss of life and critical injuries that will not be taken care of, and I wish that mattered more to Wellstar,” she said.

Wellstar declined KHN’s request for an interview about the closure.

Nancy Kane, an adjunct professor at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, sees connections between the Atlanta situation and hospital closures in other major cities.

Many were acquired by large health care companies as part of package deals, and served largely low-income, minority populations.

“If you acquire a hospital, you should have an obligation to fix it up,” said Kane. “Wellstar has the funds to invest in this hospital. It’s a choice.”

Some community members wonder whether the hospital closure will lead to a pricey real estate development on the roughly 20 acres Wellstar owns in the neighborhood.

Randy Pimsler, an architect whose firm has designed projects in the area, said “it could become a blank slate, either for redevelopment or for new development.”

Politicians have been quick to turn the closing into a campaign issue. And at the center of the debate is Gov. Brian Kemp’s health care policy.

The Kemp team is working to put together a long-term plan for strengthening health care in the area after the closure, said Andrew Isenhour, a Kemp spokesperson. Kemp, a Republican who’s running for a second term in November, is unlikely to try to keep the facility open.

But officials at the nonprofit Grady Health System said this week that they have met with Kemp’s office, Dickens, and officials from Fulton and DeKalb counties about a financial infusion of state funding that would support capital needs at Grady Memorial Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center about a mile from Atlanta Medical Center.

Grady is expecting as many as 2,500 extra emergency room visits a month after Atlanta Medical Center shuts its doors.

“We can absorb all the trauma,” said John Haupert, CEO of Grady Health System. Still, the added ER crunch will be a challenge with more patients arriving, said Ryan Loke, chief health policy officer for Grady.

State funding would accelerate Grady’s existing plans to convert offices into inpatient care spaces, which would add more than 180 adult beds as soon as a year from now. The hospital also is adding 40 to 45 beds over the next six weeks, and is planning to install a 24-bed field hospital to help handle the patient flow from the closed hospital.

The closing puts Medicaid expansion “front and center” in the political conversation, Haupert said. Kemp has proposed a limited plan that would offer access to the state-federal insurance program to people who can fulfill a work requirement or similar obligation.

His challenger, Democrat Stacey Abrams, has long made expanding Medicaid a top campaign issue.

“This is no longer a surprise,” Abrams said. “It is expected to happen because the Kemp administration refuses to take action.”

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, which is less than a mile from the hospital, has also decried the closure and cited the strain on health care facilities caused by Georgia’s refusal to expand Medicaid. Wellstar officials have said that Medicaid expansion alone wouldn’t have kept the Atlanta facility open.

Earlier this year, Wellstar stopped providing emergency room and inpatient services at its hospital in East Point, just southwest of Atlanta. At the time, it said those patients could be seen at Atlanta Medical Center, about 8 miles away. Haupert estimated it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize the soon-to-close Atlanta hospital, which is what made a rescue difficult.

The closures just a few months apart could help Abrams’ arguments for Medicaid expansion resonate with voters, said Andra Gillespie, an associate professor of political science at Emory University. “An issue that was probably tailored more towards rural Georgia now all of a sudden becomes an Atlanta-area issue,” she said.

Gillespie cautioned that other issues, such as inflation, crime, and abortion, are likely to be more motivating to Georgia voters.

Wellstar, based in suburban Marietta, acquired AMC and the East Point hospital from Tenet Healthcare during an acquisition push in 2016, part of a $575 million deal that included three other hospitals in the metro region.

Todd Greene, formerly a member of Wellstar’s community board for AMC, said the system put more resources into its suburban facilities.

“Wellstar’s suburban hospital-oriented management approach unfortunately has resulted in large portions of Atlanta’s black and brown communities not having access to proximate and critical health care services,” he said in a written statement.

In Wellstar’s announcement of the closure, it said it had invested more than $350 million in capital improvements at the facility since 2016 and sustained “$107 million in losses in just the last 12 months, amid decreasing revenue and increasing costs for staff and supplies due to soaring inflation.”

The decision to close the hospital didn’t come as a surprise to some staff members, said Dr. Sulieman Wazeerud-Din, an emergency medicine physician at the hospital, who said doctors “were aware of financial losses.”

But the abrupt announcement caused a profound sense of grief among doctors, nurses, and other nonmedical employees, he said.

In the days since the closure announcement, Grady has offered jobs to a range of Atlanta Medical Center employees, from physicians and nurses to housekeeping and security staffers.

David Patton has lived in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward for 30 years and said Atlanta Medical Center has been a big part of his life.

His grandfather died in a nursing home on the campus, he has gotten care at the ER, and his son took swimming lessons at the hospital’s athletic club, all while he has seen the neighborhood transform from a “forgotten” part of the city to one that’s become a lightning rod for new development.

“It boggles my mind that an institution like that would just shut down virtually overnight,” he said.

This article was reprinted from khn.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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