Good Sam provides full-circle health services for those in need

Founded in 1998, Good Samaritan Health Center serves individuals and families who are uninsured and medically underserved. Through medical, dental, behavioral health, health education and food access services, Good Sam serves patients of all ages on a sliding-fee scale based on household income and federal poverty guidelines.

“Our patients, who are the working poor, those experiencing homelessness and those on Medicaid or Medicare, find a true health care home here,” said Heather Kersey, chief development officer at Good Sam.

When the coronavirus pandemic began to affect the Atlanta area in spring of 2020, Good Sam had to expand and rearrange its services in order to best help its patients.

“We continue to adapt as the pandemic presents challenges to our community,” said Kersey. “In addition, people have had less capacity to manage chronic conditions and seek routine health care services. Many delayed other forms of health care or experienced significant trauma. Our goal is to create spaces and programs which help people recover and live healthy lives.”

In addition to COVID-19 treatment and prevention ser- vices, Good Sam has a 1-acre urban farm and market that works to address the barrier of living in a food desert and a Friday clinic that gives each patient a complete medical, dental and mental health assessment.

“We believe that everyone deserves a fair and just opportunity for a healthy life. Unfortunately, the state of the health care system in our country means that opportunity is out of reach for many of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Kersey. “By providing a full circle of health that includes medical, dental, behavioral, nutrition/health education and wellness services, we are helping to reverse the health care gap in our community and set families on a path to achieving long-term health.”