Augusta Health was recognized as a national award winner at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Health Equity Conference for its efforts to improve healthcare access in underserved communities. The hospital received the Health Equity Award for launching the Augusta Health Neighborhood Clinics, which serve areas with rural geographic barriers and high poverty rates, among other social and health challenges.
Since its launch in September 2022, the clinics have expanded to operate at 14 different sites each month with the support of community partners. Dr. Clint Merritt, chief physician executive and chief medical officer of Augusta Health, stated that the program was driven by their mission to address local health disparities more inclusively, collaboratively, and responsively during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital recognized the need to adapt to meet patients’ needs for adequate primary care access.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services commended Augusta Health for increasing community members’ access to primary care services, reducing unnecessary emergency room visits, ensuring appropriate care at the right time and location, and improving outcomes for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. In just one year alone, the neighborhood clinics provided over 1,700 primary care visits for 825 patients at 17 community sites.
