Hospital looks to tap into underserved communities
Habersham Medical Center (HMC) launched the first phase of a plan to bring greater access to resources and knowledge to overlooked segments within the county Saturday morning, as volunteers distributed bookbags containing supplies donated by HMC staff members to around 50-60 families in Baldwin.
By 1 p.m., volunteers and HMC staff hosted a health fair at a nearby facility on W. Airport Road, with tables stationed around the room offering literature like children’s books in Spanish and other health-related resources – all available to members of the community at no cost.
According to Vice President of Health and Wellness Kesha Clinkscale, the initiative is a response to a Community Health Needs Assessment – conducted every three years by CMS – that found significant barriers and healthcare needs exist in Habersham County, including the prevention and treatment of diabetes, obesity, mental health and greater access to medical care in general. These issues have a disproportionate impact on impoverished areas within the county, according to Clinkscale, specifically the growing Hispanic population.
“What the hospital decided to do was create a strategy to address those issues in communities that they run most rampant in,” Clinkscale said. “And of course, those are going to be your communities of color – and as it relates to Habersham County – those are the Spanish-speaking communities.”
In a strategic effort to correct these disparities, volunteers and hospital staff will continue to go into marginalized communities within the county as it seeks to execute its long-term vision of better health and wellness for all Habersham Countians.
“Basically, we want to go out into the community and provide services and support that are related to those issues that are most prevalent in those communities,” Clinkscale said, adding that the initiative is a mutual effort between local churches, Georgia Power, the Habersham Medical Center Foundation Co. and its Health Equity and Inclusion Collaborative – a partnership between the foundation, Georgia Power and other non-profit entities.
CEO Tyler Williams, who was on the ground with HMC’s team of volunteers distributing supplies and engaging members of the community, said the foundation has had an integral role in making the initiative happen.
“The Habersham Medical Center Foundation has really taken it upon themselves to look at the health equity in the community – to make sure that everyone has the same access and understanding of healthcare and all the opportunities they have in the area,” Williams said. “It’s going to allow us to reach people that probably don’t know all the things we do, or can do, for them and ways they can take better care of themselves so that we can ultimately build a healthier Habersham.”
Clinkscale said HMC will plan similar outreach efforts going forward, with additional health and wellness fares taking place on a quarterly basis in six municipalities: Baldwin, Alto, Mt. Airy, Demorest, Cornelia and Clarkesville.
“What it’s going to look like is this sort of community outreach effort where we’re working with our chaplins to identify areas within their service areas,” Clinkscale said. “They are going to help us identify communities with the greatest needs.”
As HMC aims to deliver greater access to support and healthcare across the community, Clinkscale believes the effort could contribute to bridging the gap in access to resources that are often just out of reach for a large segment of Habersham County’s Hispanic demographic.
“This is going to create several pathways,” Clinkscale said. “The first is to provide information on health and wellness, provide information on various issues they might be experiencing or someone in their family may be experiencing, and let them know where they can receive support.”
The health fair also will look to introduce employment opportunities to these underserved factions of the community, benefiting both those residents and HMC.
“We want to raise more awareness about employment opportunities,,” Clinkscale said. “It’s two-fold. We have so many open jobs in the community and then there are so many folks who need jobs, so we want to bridge that gap as well.”
Brent Edwards, an area manager with Georgia Power Co., had a role in bringing in Spanish-speaking volunteers with the organization Amigos – a Georgia Power Co. employee resource group – to serve as translators between hospital staff and residents Saturday. He said the recent effort by HMC is fundamental to greater health as a whole.
“It’s a [great] opportunity to reach out to the Hispanic community, especially in underserved areas, and to let them know we care about them and to build trust and relationships and make them aware of the services there at the hospital and the job opportunities as well,” Edward said.
Natacha Val-Gonzalez, chair of Georgia Power’s Amigos group, said one of the organization’s missions is to connect Hispanic residents to their greater communities across Georgia through the building of trust.
“[We want] to build trust,” Val-Gonzalez said. “I think that’s one of the big pieces when you don’t speak the language. I’ve been there. I came to the United States, I didn’t speak the language, and when you don’t know what’s going on, and you don’t have the resources and don’t understand the resources, you have to build that trust.
“That’s what Georgia Power Co. tries to do with all communities – build that trust, no matter who you are or what you look like – that’s why we try to take advantage of these opportunities.”
Melissa Miller, the executive director of Grace Gate, also stressed the gravity of Saturday’s event by bringing resources directly to neighborhoods in need in Habersham.
“Access to healthcare is one of the primary things identified in the health and equity program,” she said. “Access is so key, and people don’t get healthcare help if they don’t know what’s even out there to go to.”
Clinkscale, who said HMC is looking to work alongside other organizations in the community on the outreach initiatives, said families in need can access critical resources through a number of organizations including HMC, Grace Gate, the Department of Public Health and Family Resource Center of Northeast Georgia.