A Heart for Collaboration: Wellstar Cardiovascular Quality Forum 2024

This holiday season, you can support Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital, by tuning in to the 24th Annual iHeartMedia Cares for Kids Radiothon.

Tune into 104.3 WBBQ, 96.3 KISS FM and 105.7 The Bull or watch News12 NBC26 to hear stories of hope, healing and inspiration as patients and families share how Wellstar Children’s has had a positive impact in their lives.

December 5 & 6
6 AM to 7 PM

December 7
8 AM to 1 PM

Wellstar Children’s offers dedicated, world-class care to the youngest patients in our state and beyond. The hospital is home to a 24/7 Pediatric Emergency Room, a dedicated Level II Trauma Center, a Level IV NICU and the only Level I PICU outside of Atlanta.

Giving is easy! Here’s how:

• caresforkidsradiothon.com
• During the event: Call the SRP Federal Credit Union Phone Bank at (866) 412-KIDS (5437)
• Anytime: Call (706) 721-4004
• By mail: Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia 1446 Harper Street, BT 1845 | Augusta, GA 30912
• By text: Text CHOG to 51555 at any time

Learn more at caresforkidsradiothon.com.

It’s simple for many of us to find a primary care physician or advanced practice provider that we trust and feel comfortable with. By booking online or making a quick phone call, we can make an appointment and feel confident about the level of care we will receive. We know how and where to get the help we need when we need it.

Many people lack access to care, making their path to high-quality care more challenging. It could be because they don’t have insurance, are unable to pay for medical services or don’t have a way to get to their appointments. This isn’t how it should be.

At Wellstar, we believe every person deserves to live their healthiest life, regardless of their circumstances. The Wellstar Center for Health Equity has partnered with local clinics like Someone Cares to make healthcare accessible to everyone in our communities.

A safe and welcoming space

People who rely on Someone Cares include those who are underinsured or have difficulty accessing healthcare due to transportation or financial issues. The clinic is a one-stop shop that offers care at a brick-and-mortar location in Marietta. Services include:

• Primary care
• Addiction treatment
• Behavioral healthcare
• Lab services, including confidential HIV/AIDS testing
• Onsite pharmacies
• Other diagnostic testing
• Treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

In addition to their Marietta clinic, Someone Cares has two mobile units. They travel to communities throughout mtro Atlanta to provide HIV and STD testing, health screenings, health education and vaccinations. It’s a convenient option that allows people to get the care they need, where and when they need it.

Someone Cares also offers specialized services for individuals in the transgender community, including gender-affirming hormone therapy.

How Wellstar supports Someone Cares

Wellstar and Someone Cares began their partnership in 2023 when the organization was applying to become a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

FQHCs are community-based centers that receive funds from the federal government to provide primary healthcare services in underserved areas. FQHCs typically work with a hospital or health system to ensure patients have easier access to services that are unavailable in the primary care setting, such as inpatient behavioral health services.

Someone Cares will officially become a FQHC in February 2025. The designation allows them to expand their services, further supporting vulnerable communities.

Each partnership is unique

Someone Cares is one of about a half-dozen clinics in the Wellstar Community Clinic Network. The Wellstar Center for Health Equity launched the network eight years ago to serve the most under-resourced populations in our communities better.

Each partnership is unique and customized to the community-based clinic’s needs. A few examples of the services we provide include:

• Lab services
• Medical imaging
• Patient education
• Reduced-cost outpatient medical care and health screenings
• Telehealth services

We’re grateful for our Community Clinic Network partners, who help Wellstar create a healthier Georgia for all. Together, we’re making a difference in people’s lives across the state.

Learn more about the Wellstar Center for Health Equity.

More than 450 Wellstar team members fanned out across metro Atlanta, West Georgia, Augusta and beyond on November 14, volunteering their time to improve access to healthy food and housing by supporting 20 local, community-based organizations.

They packed and distributed food, assisted in community gardens, and sorted food and clothing donations.

“It warms my heart to see so many team members participating in our annual Day of Service,” said Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System. “As a nonprofit, community-based health system, our mission is to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve, and it’s always exciting to expand that mission outside the walls of our facilities.”

Wellstar volunteers participated in service projects for the following nonprofit organizations: Atlanta Community Food Bank (Atlanta and Marietta), Covenant House (Atlanta), Douglasville Community Garden (Douglasville), The Drake House (Roswell), Feeding the Valley Midland Warehouse (Muscogee County), Five Loaves & Two Fish Food Pantry (Griffin), Food Well Alliance – Roswell UMC Giving Garden (Roswell), Golden Harvest Food Bank (Augusta and Aiken, S.C.), Helping Hands of Paulding County (Dallas), LaGrange Personal Aid (LaGrange), MUST Ministries (Marietta Donation Center and Mobile Pantry at the VA Clinic), North Fulton Community Charities (Roswell), Our Giving Garden (Mableton), The Salvation Army (Atlanta, Griffin and Marietta), Sweetwater Mission (Austell) and the Warehouse of Hope (Douglasville).