For Immediate Release: April 3, 2012

Grady, Physician Team Up to Expand Care for the Underserved

Contact: Maria Lewis
Phone: (404) 616-7084
E-mail: mlewis1@gmh.edu

Grady Health System and Emory School of Medicine Physician Dr. Charles Moore have teamed up to make more health care services available to low income residents on Atlanta's west side. Moore's HEALing (Health, Education, Assessment and Leadership) Community Center recently relocated to the site of Grady's former Otis Smith Neighborhood Health Center at 2600 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Grady's Chief of Otolaryngology and Emory School of Medicine faculty member, Moore launched his HEALing Center just over seven years ago in response to what he called an overwhelming disparity in the cancer survival rates of his patients who had health insurance and those who did not.

"At the time I was seeing a large number of uninsured patients who, due to lack of healthcare, were being diagnosed with cancers that had unnecessarily advanced to critical stages," said Dr. Moore. "I knew that those patients could have easily been treated if they had access to routine health screenings."

With the help of private donors and community sponsors, Moore traveled across the metro Atlanta area, providing free health screenings for the uninsured out of his personal vehicle. As the demand for his services grew, he was able to launch a mobile clinic that provided cancer screenings and other general medical care for the city's most underserved populations.

Today, the HEALing Community Center houses a large, newly-renovated clinical space that includes 15 exam rooms, a mental health center and offices for physicians and nurses. In addition to providing general medical care services, the clinic has recently added cardiology, OB/GYN care and an organic gardening program. Dr. Moore anticipates that the program will soon grow to include oral health/dental services as well.

Through a collaborative partnership with Grady, Emory School of Medicine and other community partners, the Center has formed a network of in-kind donations, volunteer physicians and medical students that have helped contribute to the daily successes of the Center and reduced its nearly $2.2M operating costs by over $1.5M per year.

"This network of partnerships has helped to make a significant difference in the landscape of Atlanta healthcare and I am truly grateful for their collective support," said Dr. Moore. "However, we cannot rest on our laurels, there is much more to do if we're going to make an impact on the overall state of healthcare for Atlanta's uninsured."

About Grady Health System
Grady Health System is one of the largest public health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

With its nationally acclaimed Emergency Care Center and Burn Unit, Grady Health System has the only level I trauma center in the region. The state's only Poison Center is housed at Grady, as well.

The Diabetes Detection & Control Center, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Primary Stroke Center and Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Center are also notable components of the health system. Moreover, Grady's Infectious Disease Program was named one of the top three HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country.

Other exceptional medical services include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center and its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Primary Care Center, a dedicated 60 Plus service line for older adults, Teen Services, the Rape Crisis Center and a 24-hour Advice Nurse Line.

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