Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan has opened a second health clinic in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, to help provide ‘crit!cal’ care to the community during the ongoing pan*emic.
Three years ago, the 57-year-old had provided $7 million towards opening another such center on Freedom Drive in Charlotte. His donation covered purchasing the land and building the clinic, run by Novant Health.
The clinic finally opened in October 2019, with an emotional Jordan describing how it felt ‘to be able to give back to a community that has supported me over the years.’
Now he’s worked with Novant Health to open a second clinic, trying to address gaps in health equity gaps while offering comprehensive primary care.
The need for both issues to be addressed has become fr!ghteningly apparent in the wake of Covid-19. In April the Freedom Drive clinic came to be used as a respiratory assessment center, ta*geting the need for ‘accessible Covid-19 screening, testing, treatment, and education’.
Having provided more than 14,000 Covid tests and conducted around 12,600 mobile health appointments, the clinic had to redirect those in need of primary care to another nearby location. In a Zoom meeting to launch the new clinic, Jordan said: “When we came together to mark the first clinic’s opening last fall, no one could have predicted we would be facing a global pan*emic just five months later.
“I’m so proud of the positive impa-ct our clinic has had on the community so far, especially during Covid-19. Our second clinic will provide cr!tical services to improve the health and lives of more Charlotteans, which is so important to me and to Novant Health.”With the new clinic set to open on Statesville Avenue in the city’s North End, it’s planned to include 12 patient exam rooms, an X-ray room, and space for phys!cal therapy – as well as having a full time clinical social worker on site.
Carl Armato, CEO and president of Novant Health said: “We are thr!lled the North End community of Charlotte will have access to the same comprehensive care that is transforming lives at the Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in west Charlotte.”The imp-act of the first clinic has been measurable and if Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is the importance of having accessible, safe, and quality care in communities that need it most.
“Michael Jordan’s commitment to improving the health of our communities, and society, is deep-rooted. We’re so grateful to be his partner in bringing care and resources to those who would otherwise be without.”Jordan added: “‘We’ve been dealt with some very difficult cards in 2020.”I hope 2021 is going to be much better.”
This Article First Published On LADBIBLE