This paper will focus on the excellent functions, operations and management of the Good Samaritan Health Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Access to health care is the ability to obtain healthcare services when needed. Millions of people lack adequate access for millions of people in the United States (Bodenheimer and Grumback). Over one million Georgians, have no health insurance. Non-financial barriers to health care include the inability to get care when needed, language, literacy, and cultural differences between patients and health care-givers, as well as factors of gender and race (Bodenheimer and Grumback).
Good Samaritan Health Center is privately funded, not for profit, tax exempt 501(c) 3 Christian organization. The center offers a comprehensive range of services to adults and children who are without health insurance or the means to afford healthcare. The Good Samaritan Health Center was founded in 1998, and opened for service in January 1999 in downtown Atlanta with a mission to spread the love of Christ through quality health care to those in need. The center began with a staff of eight ,handful of employees , the founder and volunteers with a vision to being obedient to God’s commandments to love and serve those in the community by providing quality medical and dental services for Atlanta’s working poor, uninsured, and homeless. The center provides comfortable environment for patients, where all are treated with dignity and respect.
Those that are involved with the organization to incorporate Christ’s love in providing quality healthcare, the center hold true to the vision of the organization through a variety of outreach activities. The center has a prayer room ministry. This provides a place for employees and volunteers to pray for themselves, the patient and sometimes with the patient. The staff has devotion time where they pray for the health center and the patient this builds a family like atmosphere,
References: Wikipedia. The American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Accessed on 5/20/2012) Georgia Free Clinic Network. http://gfcn.org (Accessed on 5/20/2012) Bodenheimer,Thomas and Grumbach, Kevin. Understanding Health Policy: A Clinical Approach.5thEd. Aspen Publichers Gapenski, Louis, Healthcare Finance, An Introduction to Accounting and Financial Management,5thEd.