Children's Healthcare of Atlanta filed a letter of intent with the state of Georgia to obtain a certificate of need — the first step toward breaking ground on its proposed $1.5 billion construction project, according to Georgia Health News.
Here are five things to know:
1. The project, first announced in November 2017, will replace the 325-bed Children's hospital in Atlanta with a larger one containing 446 beds. The replacement facility also would be located in Atlanta.
2. The proposed $1.5 billion campus would span 70 acres, contain two patient towers and include an attached clinic and medical office building.
3. The letter of intent marks the first step toward construction. A letter of intent must be filed 30 days before the certificate of need is filed and a certificate of need is required to begin construction. Officials from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta expect state approval to take about six months if the project gets no formal opposition.
4. As part of the certificate of need application, a hospital must demonstrate is has sufficient funds to finance the project.
5. If the project is approved, the opening is slated for 2025.