col·lab·o·ra·tion

These days, collaboration is a popular buzzword in the nonprofit space. Too often, collaboration is used to describe referral relationships between two organizations offering independent solutions to the same person. But to collaborate, the organizations should work together to produce or create something that neither can do alone.

We are establishing collaborative partnerships with agencies who will locate in our facility to render their services both to our patients and the community in general. We are an established refuge and many turn to us for answers to problems beyond our capabilities. Now, with our collaborating partners, we are able to serve more people in broader ways. We welcome to our ministry Catholic Charities of Atlanta, providing Public Benefits Enrollment and Housing Counseling, and Project Community Connections, providing rehousing services for the homeless. We are delighted to work with these great organizations for the sake of Gwinnett County.

At the Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett, we treated 1,052 adults with hypertension during 2016. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading global cause of death with more than 17.3 million deaths each year. On average, someone in the US has a stroke every 40 seconds. One-third of US adults have hypertension. While Americans of all backgrounds can be at risk for heart disease, the poor and uninsured are at the highest risk for heart disease. With a donation of $50, you can provide a medical visit for someone with heart disease.

During the last five years, the Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett has served as a teaching site for students pursuing a degree in the healthcare field. We are now mentoring 80 students annually. Leveraging this experience, we designed Bright Path: A Workforce Development Program. Through Bright Path, we are preparing minority students for employment in the health and dental fields because we believe a diverse population receives better health and dental care if a diverse pool of professionals is available from which the consumer may select a provider.