CareConnect clinic expansion provides greater access to affordable healthcare in Peach County

With more than $430,000 in federal funding approved for the clinic, four new exam rooms and two new restrooms were added onto the building to serve more patients.

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Accessing healthcare in rural communities can be difficult for low income patients. For Peach County residents, the expansion of a local clinic will make it easier to get the help they need.

For more than five years, the CareConnect Convenient Care clinic has provided access to affordable healthcare in the county.

Careconnect CEO, Dr. Ajay Gehlot, says as the facility saw an increase in patient visits though, there was a greater need for resources and a larger space.

“After the first three years, what we faced was that the number of patients getting access and coming to us for services was more than we could handle in the building itself,” said Dr. Gehlot.

That’s why US Senator Jon Ossoff worked with community leaders in Fort Valley and Dr. Gehlot, to assist in expanding the clinic. With more than $430,000 in federal funding approved for the clinic, four new exam rooms and two new restrooms were added onto the building.

“Before expansion, we were seeing a thousand patients a month here, and we expect that within a couple of months we would be seeing between thirteen-hundred to fifteen-hundred patients a month,” Dr. Gehlot explained.

According to Dr. Geholt, CareConnect is the largest and lowest cost federally qualified healthcare center in Georgia. With 43 clinics across the Georgia, CareConnect provides services for low-income patients; many of whom lack insurance or rely on Medicare and Medicaid.

Senator Ossoff says the expansion of the clinic is a reflection of teamwork, and an investment in everyone’s well being.

“Community pulling together with a clear, unified vision for a project that could raise quality of life and improve the health of families for seniors, for anyone who needs care in this region,” Senator Ossoff said.

The CareConnect Clinic is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.