This will include telehealth portals at YMCA locations and a new 1,500-square-foot clinic
A health crisis is occurring in rural America, with this population more likely to die from a variety of health ailments including heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease and stroke; In part, this may be the result of a lack of access to care: 80% of rural counties lack an adequate number of primary care providers, and it’s only getting worse.
To better care for this population as well as other disadvantaged communities, including women and children, Novant Health, a network of hospitals, physician clinics and outpatient facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, entered into an expanded partnership with declare. YMCA of Northwest North Carolina.
The partnership includes the expansion of wellness programming and support for youth sports in the Y’s 17 locations in Alexander, Davie, Forsyth, Iredale, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin counties.
This will also include setting up physical and telehealth clinic locations; Those telehealth portals, which will be placed in more rural locations, will be powered by Tytocare and will allow patients to connect with a Novant Health clinician who can virtually examine their heart, lungs, skin, ears, throat and abdomen.
The partnership will also see the construction of a new 1,500-square-foot clinic, located inside the Winston Lakes Family YMCA, offering primary care services, women’s and children’s services, rehabilitation services, and diabetes and nutrition support. While the new clinic is expected to open in late 2024, Novant Health has already begun providing on-site primary care for patients with its mobile community care cruiser, which was first unveiled last April.
Even before getting the program off the ground, the two companies are already discussing future plans, including additional clinic or telehealth locations, chronic disease management, and dietitian and weight management services.
This isn’t the first time Novant has invested in local community health; Last August, it revealed that it had contributed $25.5 million to community impact and health equity initiatives in North Carolina designed to improve key drivers of health, including access to care, food, housing, transportation, technology and workforce training and development. million has been invested.
“From diabetes prevention to cancer prevention, Novant Health and the YMCA have always offered complementary services to our communities,” Chad Setliff, senior vice president and president of Novant Health’s Winston-Salem market, said in a statement.
“Going forward, we will deliver a more integrated wellness experience that will improve health outcomes for patients and members, strengthen wellness offerings, and remove barriers to care through a combination of digital tools and co-located clinics.” Takes the best of both organizations for less.”