Yesterday, the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners, Administration, Staff, and officials from CareATC and NFP, Dougherty County’s insurance bro- kerage provider, held a re-grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Dougherty County Health & Wellness Clinic, powered by CareATC, a county employee benefit designed for employees who participate in the employee healthcare plan.

Dougherty County launched the Health & Wellness center for employees in 2016, with the inten- tion of providing county employees who participate in the County’s healthcare plan with quick and convenient health services, prescription medications, preventative healthcare and more. Employees and covered dependents are eligible to receive care at the Health & Wellness Cen- ter.

CareATC, Dougherty County’s new provider for the Health & Wellness Center, thrives on a model of providing employees with primary care providers who can provide more individualized appointments to strengthen the patient-provider relationship and increase genuine patient ac- countability, which results in little-to-no waiting, extended time with medical providers, an em- phasis on risk markers and total health, and integrated and coordinated care.

In 2008, Dougherty County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on a requirement for employees to undergo an annual Personal Health Assessment (PHA), which includes a check of blood pressure, height, weight, waist measurement, and blood draw to help with preventative

care. The Health & Wellness Center is instrumental in assisting employees with this requirement and providing health coaching as needed for each employee.

The Dougherty County Health & Wellness Center, powered by CareATC, is staffed by local phy- sician, Dr. Michael Satchell, and Nurse Practitioners, Nedra Fortson and Mike Kelly. Currently, nearly 115 County employees and their families take advantage of the services provided in the Health & Wellness Center each month.