The proposed project also involves renovations to the emergency department that will expand it beyond its current size to more than 14,500 square feet. South Fulton's emergency department is significantly undersized to accommodate the volume of patients treated there each year.

"Although operational and personnel changes have been designed to decrease wait times for the emergency department, this expansion from 17 to 26 examination rooms is designed to allow us to go even further to help ensure that our patients do not have to wait for much needed care. The new facility also will allow patients from our community to be treated in more comfort. Like our recently approved long-term acute care facility, this emergency department expansion is just one more sign of South Fulton's commitment to deliver the best possible care to our community," said Andrew Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., chief executive officer.

South Fulton Medical Center plans to break ground in the first half of 2003 with completion in 2004.

Tenet Healthcare, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates 113 acute care hospitals with 28,502 beds and numerous related health care services. Its hospitals and subsidiaries employ approximately 113,750 people serving communities in 16 states. Tenet's name reflects its core business philosophy: the importance of shared values among partners – including employees, physicians, insurers and communities – in providing a wide spectrum of health care. Tenet can be found on the World Wide Web at www.tenethealth.com

South Fulton Medical Center, a 392-bed acute care hospital, is affiliated with Tenet. In addition to emergency care, the hospital offers cardiac care, physical and occupational rehabilitation, inpatient oncology, ambulatory surgery, and labor and delivery. The hospital also has a level two neonatal intensive care unit. For more information on South Fulton Medical Center, go to www.southfultonmedicalcenter.com