Two medical clinics for seniors are scheduled to launch in Augusta next year, after primary care provider ChenMed has acquired two properties on Milledgeville and Deans Bridge Roads.
“Augusta is a thriving and growing city,” said Dr. Maina Gatonye, Division Chief Medical Officer. “Yet, like many communities across America, Augusta has a large population of at-risk seniors living in underserved neighborhoods.”
ChenMed is a privately owned medical management and technology company, headquartered in Miami, that specializes in providing healthcare for Medicare-eligible seniors, especially in low-income or underprivileged communities. Its service is marked by personalized care, with door to doctor transportation, on-site prescription fulfillment and same-day telemedicine and in-person appointments.
“We also will phase-in acupuncture, tai-chi, exercise and nutrition classes focused on senior wellness,” said Gatonye. “We are holistic in our approach, so our patients can be happy and healthy during their golden years.”
During the summer of last year, the hyper-growth healthcare firm decided to self-fund and open two facilities, called Dedicated Senior Medical Centers, in Augusta, says Gatonye. ChenMed closed on its first location, at 3250 Deans Bridge Rd., on March 1 and acquired the property for the second at 2323 Milledgeville Rd. on March 18.
“ChenMed has successfully opened nearly 100 primary care practices in 12 states by being disciplined and thorough with market research,” said Gatonye, who believes the new Augusta centers could help accelerate urban renewal in the area.
Gatonye also notes that construction for the dedicated center on Milledgeville began last month, and that work on the Deans Bridge locale should start in June. When both the dedicated centers open, he says, the majority of the staff will be hired locally.
While there’s no definite date set, ChenMed expects to open both Dedicated Senior Medical Centers in early 2023.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering education in Columbia County and business-related topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
