Atrium Health Navicent, local churches launch ‘Community Virtual Primary Care’ program

“A lot of people need medical care, and I’m hoping that this will promote people not to neglect their health."

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Atrium Health Navicent along with a partnership with Middle Georgia churches, introduced a new program to provide medical assistance without visiting a doctor’s office.

‘Community Virtual Primary Care’ offers virtual clinics at churches like Center Hill Baptist Church in Macon.

Here’s how the program works: Anyone five-years-old or older who are feeling unwell, can visit the church where an in-person care team member will take care of you, along with a provider accessible via video. The care team member at the church can assess various health indicators using advanced technology.

Carol Babcock, Assistant Vice President for Healthy Communities at Atrium Health Navicent, emphasized this program will particularly benefit those who may face challenges in accessing traditional healthcare services due to transportation limitations.

“One of the biggest issues that we see today is people having transportation, or even a person that can take them to the doctor. And so bringing it to the neighborhoods where people live, where we have a lot of need, is really going to be helpful for people to be able to get to see a doctor,” explained Babcock.

Senior Pastor at Center Hill Baptist Church, Dexter Jordan, expressed many of his members have phobias about hospitals, and this program provides a comfortable and familiar setting for people to seek medical care.

“A lot of people need medical care, and I’m hoping that this will promote people not to neglect their health,” said Jordan.

The program will accept insurance, and financial assistance will available for those who are uninsured. It begins on June 3, and operates on the first Monday of every month from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Here is the list of churches where ‘Community Virtual Primary Care’ will be available: