When Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) student Eihlan Fitch injured her knee and ankle, she didn’t have to wonder where to turn for help. A quick walk across the street led her to the Atrium Health Navicent Campus Health Clinic, which is celebrating one year of bringing health care into the heart of CGTC and Fort Valley State University (FVSU) campuses.
“It’s very important to have a student health clinic on campus because of how easy it is to access,” said Fitch, a member of the school’s basketball team who is from New Orleans. “It’s much easier to have this clinic here than trying to find a primary care physician. My experience at the clinic has been amazing. The nurse and athletic trainer take care of me like I’m their own, and I’m now able to play on my ankle and knee without any pain at all.”
Since the program began providing care in August 2023, Atrium Health Navicent Campus Health Clinics have completed 1,370 CGTC visits and 1,680 visits at FVSU.
"Partnering with Atrium Health Navicent to serve the health care and wellness needs of all our students is proving to be a valuable and significant investment," said CGTC President Ivan H. Allen. "As our college community grows and enrollment increases, we look forward to many more years of the clinics' impact on the wellness of all our Titans."
FVSU student Adrian Cunningham Jr. said he’s had a great experience visiting the Atrium Health Navicent clinic on his campus for mental health services.
“I’ve been able to develop myself so much,” Cunningham said. “They always greet me with a smile and always open themselves up to me, and that makes me able to open myself up to them.”
The campus health clinics were opened as a result of discussions amongst the colleges’ leaders and Atrium Health Navicent centered around ways to enhance students’ health and well-being through on-campus services.
“Along with providing world-class health care, Atrium Health Navient is committed to making that care accessible to everyone,” said Atrium Health Georgia Market President Delvecchio Finley. “Each of these schools is its own small community, with students who need access to health care close to where they live and study. On-campus clinics have made it easier for students, faculty and staff to live healthier lives, and we’re proud to partner and help foster environments that support learning as students prepare for lifetime success.”
In most cases, students have access to an in-person primary care provider without leaving campus. Students at CGTC’s Milledgeville campus have access to services at an Atrium Health Navicent clinic less than a mile away, located at 821 N. Cobb Street in Milledgeville. Students also have access to telehealth options. For those who already have a primary care provider, urgent care services are available.
The clinics are open Monday through Friday and provide basic services such as wellness exams and physicals and provide drug screenings, vaccinations and treatment for common illnesses such as the flu, strep throat and COVID-19. Female students are able to book their annual gynecological exams as well as pap tests. For students with chronic health conditions, providers at the clinic provide ongoing care management, monitoring and on-site laboratory services.
"On the one-year anniversary of the Atrium Health Navicent Health Clinic's presence in the Florence J. Hunt Wellness Center, we celebrate a remarkable partnership that has significantly enhanced the health and well-being of our campus community,” said FVSU president Paul Jones. “We look forward to continuing this collaboration and furthering our commitment to fostering a healthy and thriving environment for everyone at Fort Valley State University.”