DeKalb Medical is now officially part of Emory Healthcare 

Frequently Asked Questions about the partnership:   

Q. Why is DeKalb Medical becoming part of Emory Healthcare?
A. DeKalb Medical is becoming part of Emory to be in a strong position to serve the community for years to come. Hospitals are finding it necessary to join larger systems to maintain the investment in technology, facilities and innovation that is needed for the future. DeKalb Medical is no different. The leadership at DeKalb solicited proposals, and after an extensive due diligence process, DeKalb chose Emory Healthcare, as it was the best fit for the community.

Q. When will DeKalb Medical officially become part of Emory?
A. September 1, 2018.

Q. What does this mean for DeKalb Medical patients?
A. Initially, patients will notice nothing more than a change in the logo. The full transition will take a few years. Ultimately, the goal is for patients to benefit from a more comprehensive array of easily accessible, high-quality, well-coordinated services.

Q. What does this mean for Emory Healthcare patients?
A. With the addition of DeKalb Medical’s three facilities and physicians, patients now have access to even more physicians and locations to receive care.

Q. What happens to my DeKalb doctor?
A. The DeKalb Medical staff remains intact. The doctors who have practiced at DeKalb remain in the community serving patients as they have been. DeKalb Medical has a high-quality medical staff and Emory wishes to retain that.

Q. My doctor is in a DeKalb Medical Physician Group practice. Will it still be DeKalb Medical Physicians Group?
A. The name will change immediately, and over time, there may be some changes with scheduling, the patient portal, billing, etc., but your doctor remains your doctor. We will make sure we communicate changes to you before they occur so you know what to expect.

Q. Will my records be visible to both Emory and DeKalb Medical providers?
A. Not initially, but they will be over time, as this is one of our goals. We plan for a cohesive electronic medical record platform.

Q. Does this mean DeKalb Medical will be a teaching hospital? Will medical residents be involved in my care?
A. DeKalb Medical hospitals will remain community hospitals. However, as a community hospital system, DeKalb Medical has maintained a residency program in podiatry for many years, and many DeKalb physicians work with residents in various specialties to help with their training. Whether or not residents are involved in your care depends on whether your individual physician is involved in training.

Q. Will Emory take my insurance? How do I find out?
A. Emory and DeKalb Medical both have contracts with most insurance providers. You can always check your insurance company’s provider network on their website to verify which providers are in network.

Q. Will the name change?
A. Yes.

• DeKalb Medical at North Decatur will be Emory Decatur Hospital.
• DeKalb Medical at Hillandale will be Emory Hillandale Hospital.
• DeKalb Medical Long Term Acute Care in Downtown Decatur will be Emory Long-Term Acute Care.

Q. Who else did DeKalb Medical consider?
A. Several health systems made proposals, but we are bound by confidentiality agreements to not disclose who they were. After an extensive review process, Emory was unanimously recommended by the board, the physician committee and the administrative team.

Q. I’m a DeKalb Medical patient. Can you schedule me at an Emory location?
A. Yes. To schedule an appointment, please call 404-778-7777 or find a physician using the link below.

• View Emory Healthcare Physician Directory

Q. I’m an Emory Healthcare patient. Can you schedule me at a DeKalb Medical location?
A. Yes. To schedule an appointment, please call 404-501-1000 or find a physician using the link below.

• View DeKalb Medical Physician Directory