Southwest Gwinnett Magazine: Good Samaritan Community Healthcare Program Expands Access

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.

Read the full article on Southwest Gwinnett Magazine’s Website Here.