Updated at 3:34 p.m. 10/09/2017
Michael Jordan is giving Novant Health $7 million to open two family clinics in Charlotte. Novant said the clinics, to be built in low-income neighborhoods just north and west of Uptown, are scheduled to open in late 2020.
The clinics are intended to be a one stop shop for people in these neighborhoods. Dr. Michael Hoben with Novant Health said right now they don’t have convenient access to health care on a regular basis.
“We’ve always provided care for the patients that live in this community. But it’s been fragmented and they haven’t been able to get comprehensive primary care services where they live," Hoben said. "They have had to come to emergency rooms and urgent cares in other places.”
Novant hopes the clinics will reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, because patients won’t have to go so far out their way to get non-urgent medical needs taken care of.
Once the clinics open, patients will be able to get behavioral health, social work and family planning services, physical therapy, and dental care in one location. Novant projects over five years the clinics will provide care for nearly 35,000 people who don’t have easy access now.
"The gift will remove barriers to high-quality health care in some of the most vulnerable communities," said President and CEO of Novant Health Carl Armato.
The gift from the former NBA player and current majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets will cover the full cost of starting up the clinics. Hoben says Novant has been in talks with Michael Jordan about the clinics for more than six months.
“It is my hope that these clinics will help provide a brighter and healthier future for the children and families they serve," Jordan said in a press release.
