Fayette Care Clinic Inc

Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic, a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization, fills the gap in healthcare disparities for lower-income adults ages 18+ who find themselves without insurance but not eligible to receive Medicaid or Medicare. "C.A.R.E." stands for Compassion And Respect for Everyone. FCC’s mission is to provide a medical home in Fayette County for lower-income, uninsured adults caring for them always with Compassion And Respect for Everyone. Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic provides healthcare and health education at no cost to the patient. Our purpose is to keep the most vulnerable of our population out of health crises and out of the emergency room by providing the healthcare, medications, and support needed especially for those with chronic disease to achieve overall improved health outcomes as the patients take steps toward their optimum health. Since 2005, Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic has been providing free healthcare for thousands in our community in need and served 919 patients last year alone with more than 5,000 visits totaling more than $4 million in free healthcare services.  From a budget less than a tenth of the value of services provided, Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic provides $10 in free healthcare services for every $1 donated. Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic has achieved the Gold Standard from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.

The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn have increased the need for Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic as 1 in 7 is now uninsured. Many of our patients are small business owners, restaurant workers with reduced hours, and caregivers caring for their aging parents or school-age children attending online classes.  Our four full-time and three part-time staff coordinate patient care and refer patients to our network of 89 volunteer specialty providers and partners for a wide array of services from primary care to cardiology and podiatry to cancer treatment. Piedmont Fayette Hospital for laboratory studies, OPI for imaging, Fayette Counseling Center, Piedmont Heart, Ankle and Foot Centers of Georgia, The Women's Center, Avail Dermatology, Northside Hospital, Digestive Healthcare of Georgia, Complete Chiropractic, and Hudson and Barber for dental to name a few. 

 Chronic disease affects 40 percent of the total population of this country, but for the lower-income population, that figure climbs to 75%. Our Steps to C.A.R.E. care team customizes virtual care programs for patients to monitor conditions like hypertension or diabetes. Connecting and remotely monitoring our patients via telehealth and providing them with devices like blood pressure monitors, digital scales, blood glucose meters/starter strips, thermometers, activity trackers, and journals, our patients with chronic disease can maintain and even improve their chronic disease management even when they are self-isolating due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  With the connections to our primary care providers, health coaching, and quality health team with many specialty providers, we are providing the support these patients need to take steps to improve their health during these challenging times for the better days ahead. 

Steps to C.A.R.E. was launched in January of 2019 and awarded the United Way Sparks prize for innovation. Here are outcomes from the first 12 months: 

• 214 of 300 enrolled patients improved hypertension control by 5%.

• 97 of 240 enrolled patients reached controlled blood pressure.

• 512 registered patients increased their knowledge of hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk.

• 65% of new Fayette C.A.RE. Clinic patients that had 1+ emergency room visits in the 12 months prior to registration will have decreased their Emergency Department usage after registering as a new patient.

• 84 registered obese or overweight patients who had in-home blood pressure monitors, pedometers, and journals for 3+ months lowered their BMI by 4% or more. 

Through telehealth and remote monitoring of chronic disease patients, providers get a comprehensive picture of a person’s health and a deeper understanding of how their health has evolved over time. Medication compliance is improved, lifestyle changes including physical activity, sleep quality, nutritional choices, and mood are supported by the team for sustained changes. Above all, we want to C.A.R.E. for our patients especially those with chronic disease while they are safely at home. We want to make sure this is not a time of isolation for them but connected to our health team at Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic to sustain lifestyle and behavior changes and ultimately make the patient feel supported during this difficult time for the best possible health outcomes.