Choosing between healthcare and eating or keeping a roof over their heads is a common occurrence for more and more families these days. So, just like the Biblical hero who helped out a stranger in need, Good Samaritan Health Centers (also known as Good Sam) strive to improve the quality of life for those around them.
In April, the nonprofit celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new Screening & Prevention Annex (SPA) at its East Gwinnett facility in Norcross. The two-year project was funded by HUD and local block grants, and builds upon the success of Good Samaritan Gwinnett’s first SPA, which opened at the Buford Highway clinic in 2021.
The idea behind the annex
The new facility, dedicated to Good Sam Gwinnett’s CFO (and former CEO) Greg Lang, will serve as a dedicated space for screening patients, treating infectious diseases and providing childhood vaccinations, as well as isolating patients with contagious respiratory symptoms from well patients before seeing medical staff.
“The SPA was conceived originally during COVID so that we [could] take COVID patients to the side and treat them with privacy, instead of using the old tents in a parking lot, and at the same time, isolate them from well patients,” said Lang.
“Over time, the screening and prevention annex became known as the SPA. …,” he continued. “[But] please don’t misunderstand, there’s not a gym or a massage table here. This is for working with people who come in with suspicious respiratory symptoms — be that flu, COVID, tuberculosis, anything else where we want to treat them but also protect our well patients that are in our general waiting.”
The health centers, which treat patients with conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, offer low-cost medical and dental services, with fees that are typically 50-75% lower than private practices. They serve a diverse patient base, including those from over 70 countries, emphasizing patient education and affordable care.
Tour of the Screening & Prevention Annex
During the dedication, Shannon Watson, the practice manager, explained the layout and purpose of the different areas within the annex. Patients first enter and are asked questions about current symptoms such as a cough or a fever.
“Anybody with a routine appointment, such as a sprained ankle or they need their blood pressure medicine or [they’ve] come in to get labs, will check in [at the front desk] and then move to the medical side or the dental side,” said Watson.
She pointed out the facility’s different waiting and treatment areas, including a triage area, testing room and multiple exam rooms.
Medical and dental services
The medical department’s capabilities include annual physicals, blood pressure checks and diabetes management. There are five treatment rooms and a procedure room, with a focus on low patient fees.
“Again, our patient fees are very low. They’re about 50 to 60% less than what patients would pay a private practice,” she said. “The only stipulation is we don’t take insurance.”
“Maybe a patient is out of work right now or maybe they just lost their job and therefore their insurance. Some people have medical insurance with very high deductibles. We call that underinsured. And in some cases, we can help. We call that a gray area.”
The dental department offers various services, including crowns, root canals and extractions, but does not provide cosmetic dentistry.
“In the beginning, it was a real struggle to get patients to understand the need to come in every six months,” said Watson. “Over the years, we’re seeing patients understand that dental treatment is necessary and maintenance is necessary. It’s a lot about education.”
Community impact and future plans
With such great need, the center works to see as many patients as possible. Watson explained that each doctor can see a patient every 15 minutes (which they call a unit) depending on the type of appointment. Some doctors see as many as 20 patients a day, but patient care is foremost — everyone gets the time they need.
“A lot of the patients have multiple organ disease and, consequently, some take an extended period of time,” said Watson, giving an example of two patients that needed more than routine checks that day. “Sometimes we have difficulty with compliance. … It may be economic, it may be lack of desire.”
She added that those factors complicate care.
“In the last couple of years, we’re seeing really extremely ill patients with renal failure, diabetes complications, hypertension and other forms of cardiovascular disease,” she said. “With all those co-morbidities, if a patient isn’t able to come for follow up, you have to start all over.”
The quest for more staff, more facilities and more ways to help is never-ending. That’s why Lang was proud to announce that Good Sam Gwinnett has been authorized to offer a certificate-granting medical assisting school.
“We are in the market to buy our third location that will be a training center, and we will enroll high school graduates and GED students who want to enter healthcare but who have no experience,” he said. “We’re going to train them in a five-month medical assisting program that will ultimately result in a certificate of accomplishment.”
After students pass the national certification exam, Good Sam Gwinnett will work to place them in local medical practices. The organization has already raised funds for the program and is now waiting for the current spending freeze to be lifted.
Good Samaritan Health Center
of West Gwinnett
5949 Buford Hwy., Norcross, 30071
678-280-6630 (p) | 678-280-6635 (f)
contactus@goodsamgwinnett.org
Monday-Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday: Noon to 7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
First Saturday only: 8 a.m. to noon
Good Samaritan Health Center
of East Gwinnett
1175 Commercial Court, Norcross, 30093
770-806-0162 (p) | 770-806-0166 (f)
contactus@goodsamgwinnett.org
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
