Driving Our Economy Forward: Primary Healthcare at CCA
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A walk-in clinic is now open at The College and Career Center in Catoosa County. This week we take a look at how the facility serves area residents including students. It’s just another example of how the medical industry continues to drive our economy forward.
Marissa Brower, CEO of Catoosa College and Career Academy says, “So today was an amazing day to celebrate a partnership that has only strengthened over the years. Quite a few years ago, we opened the school-based health care clinic at Tiger Creek Elementary School. And today we celebrated opening another school-based health care clinic at the College and Career Academy.
We appreciate um, Sandy Mathison who serves on our board of the College and Career Academy. And she was so invested in making sure that we could have a clinic, here in our school.”
Sandy Matheson, Chief Development Officer with Primary Healthcare says, “Well we’ve been planning for this for several years. And so, it’s just seeing everyone come together it’s just wonderful. Seeing that um, you know other school participants were here from other schools, social workers, um city Councilman, Commissioners, just… Catoosa County is so wonderful. Because we really come together to take care of our community.”
Steven Henry, Commission Chair of Catoosa County says, “Well Primary Healthcare has always been a great partner to our schools and the kids within the schools. But I want to make sure that everyone knows that Primary Healthcare is open to all the residents. And they’re here to serve the whole community. And they’re a great facility with great doctors, great staff. And just to utilize what we’ve been blessed with in this county. And that’s a that’s a good medical facility. And that’s hard to come by these days.”
Matheson also said, “We are so excited to be able to be here to serve the community. And keep the students, we say healthy children learn better, which also equals increased seat time. But not just the student but their family. So, what we found is once we get the student in, we start earning trust within the family. And sometimes the parent might not have health insurance, or they may have insurance. But after a little bit of time, we start seeing the whole family, the mom, the dad, the brother, the sister. And, and you know, it’s about keeping our community well and healthy. And that’s why we’re here to serve.”
Marissa Brower also said, “Another opportunity for our students at the College and Career Academy, our nursing students can go and get observation hours in the clinic. They can talk to nurses. And even today I met people that work in the clinics and work in HR with Primary Healthcare. And they are wanting to know the exact dates when we’re going to have interviews for students, so that they can come here and get some of our students to come to work for Primary Healthcare.”
Sandy Matheson, finished by saying, “Not only do they include plans for healthcare center, but we can also utilize the health occupation students that are getting certified medical assistant, phlebotomy and so many other specializations. So, it’s a career to work pipeline for us. But also, to be able to keep the students healthy, to increase seat time, to help them learn we also serve the faculty and their children. We are just delighted to be here to be serving and helping keep our community healthy.”
