COURTESY CHENMED

Grammy-winning vocalist Anthony Hamilton (center) helped open ChenMed’s new senior center on West Sugar Creek Road on Aug. 3.

A new senior center has opened on West Sugar Creek Road.

ChenMed, a leading senior-focused primary care practice, opened its 100th facility in North Carolina on Aug. 3 to treat elderly patients from underserved populations.

The dedicated senior medical center is the first of eight opening rapidly in North Carolina to provide affordable and better care to some 20,000 Medicare-eligible seniors statewide. Miami-based ChenMed is a privately owned medical, management and technology company for aging citizens.

“Our commitment to underserved communities has never been stronger,” said Christopher Chen M.D. ChenMed’s CEO. “We’ll soon be operating more than 125 primary care centers in 15 states – all in underserved neighborhoods that frankly are healthcare deserts.  Our new Chen dedicated and JenCare senior medical centers bring better health to the most vulnerable populations and are catalysts for vital urban renewal.”

ChenMed centers are universally located in underserved communities where lack of access to quality healthcare and other social determinants of health have negatively impacted people of color for longevity. Barriers to health have shortened people’s lives by as much as 20 years compared to those who live in affluent neighborhoods.

The medical practice works to overcome what the late Martin Luther King Jr. once declared more than 50 years ago: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman.”

Dedicated Senior Medical Center celebrated its grand opening the first week in August and was welcomed by state and local leaders, faith leaders, ChenMed founder James Chen, and Grammy-award winning vocalist Anthony Hamilton, who performed.

“Dedicated Senior is all about giving the best of who they are to bring out the best in you,” said Hamilton, who is from Charlotte.

Doctors apart from the health system do everything they can to reduce barriers to health from providing transportation to patients and on-site medications, to helping with social services.

“Our doctors and care teams do whatever it takes to help vulnerable seniors stay healthy and happy,” explained Latoya Fulton, D.O., medical director at Dedicated’s first Charlotte center. “We deliver affordable VIP care that includes patients having their primary care doctor’s cell phone number, and being able to see their doctor same day, either by telehealth or a safe in-person appointment.”

ChenMed received $1.2 million in grants by the North Carolina Department of Commerce in partnership with cities of Burlington, Fayetteville, Greensboro, and High Point to expedite facility openings in underserved areas. With the health system constantly expanding, it is likely that Dedicated will keep expanding across the state and across the United States to meet the needs of high-risk seniors.

Aaliyah Bowden, who covers health at The Post, is a Report For America corps member.

Comments