Novant Health and the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina have formed a strategic partnership to expand services in underserved and rural areas.
Novant officials say the move combines the organization’s clinical care delivery together with the YMCA’s programs and wellness initiatives to promote their mutual goal of improving the health of the community.
It includes plans for a new 1,500-square-foot community care clinic to serve the east Winston-Salem community.
Kenneth Pettigrew is executive director of the Winston Lake Family YMCA. In a video of the announcement, he says the partnership will help boost community engagement.
“Our Y is right in the middle of a community where health disparities are real, both in terms of food insecurity, having access to equitable health care," he says. "And so being able to bring a clinic right into the community where folks can get the services that they need is going to be vitally important.”
Also planned are telehealth portals at some rural locations to connect patients with Novant Health clinicians remotely.
The YMCA of Northwest North Carolina has 17 branches across Alexander, Davie, Forsyth, Iredell, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin counties.