University Hospital joining Piedmont Healthcare system, $1 billion investment to come

University Hospital is preparing to usher in a new era. The hospital announced Wednesday it signed a non-binding letter-of-intent with Piedmont Healthcare, initiating a due-diligence period between the two. Piedmont is the largest healthcare system in Georgia with hospitals in Athens, Columbus, Atlanta and areas surrounding the Atlanta area. It serves 70 percent of the state’s population.