CARELINK OF NORTHWEST GEORGIA PARTNERS WITH WELLSTAR TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE AND RESOURCES IN PAULDING COUNTY DALLAS, Ga. (July 18, 2018) 

CareLink of Northwest Georgia, Inc., the county’s first community health and resource center for the under-insured and uninsured, is partnering with WellStar Health System to help provide accessible and affordable healthcare and services to eligible Paulding County residents.

Everyday, people in Paulding County make difficult decisions about whether to seek timely medical care or go without because of financial limitations. They can now get their primary healthcare needs met at the CareLink Medical Facility. The partnership with WellStar is helping remove barriers to primary health care by improving healthcare access for uninsured and under-insured Paulding County residents, ages 18 to 64. CareLink will deliver healthcare and support services to those in need through the partnership. Services in planned order of implementation are:

• Primary healthcare
• Dental care
• Behavioral and Wellness health
• Community Resource Center

“At CareLink, we have a very clear mission—to deliver healthcare and resources to those in need,” said Guy Scull, president of CareLink, a non-profit organization. “Paulding County stakeholders and residents have worked tirelessly for over three years to bring this health and resource center to their community. With WellStar’s generosity, we are poised to make a significant impact in Paulding County as we improve healthcare access and address social determinants of health through our expansive network of community resources and partners.” CareLink plans to open their medical facility by early October 2018, following some upgrades and renovations at the facility. To follow the progress or to become a volunteer, go to www.carelinkga.org or contact Rita Norris, CareLink Board of Director Chair at 404.536.8762.

As a not-for-profit health system, WellStar is committed to collaborating with organizations to build healthier communities by addressing access to care barriers and promoting healthy lifestyles through education and prevention. By supporting a Paulding County-based safety net clinic such as CareLink, WellStar can help increase the delivery of preventive, primary care while reducing the number of patients who rely on the WellStar Paulding Hospital Emergency Department for non-emergent needs. The scope of WellStar’s healthcare system and its commitment to equity of care make it a vital integrator in the community for improving overall population health by addressing the most pressing health needs of the community. As a community benefit partner, CareLink will help WellStar implement its community benefit strategy to reduce health disparities and healthcare costs, enhance community
capacity and optimize health outcomes through collaborative partnerships.

To find out more about how WellStar is addressing priority health needs in the communities it serves via its community partnerships, visit www.wellstar.org/chna