NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — When you think of Sentara, you may focus on some of the big hospitals in the area, but there is an arm of this medical powerhouse that is laser focused on making sure community members in need are able to live healthy, full lives.
“We really want people to be able to thrive, and most of the time when folks come to us, they’re just surviving,” said Dr. LaTonya Russell, a pediatrician and director of medical operations for Sentara Community Care, a combination of several medical office sites, and six mobile units throughout Virginia, including Norfolk and Newport News.
“We are a clinic that focuses on folks who are underserved, or underinsured, and just generally the most vulnerable of our communities,” she said.
Russell said people who come to one of their clinics, like the clinic in the Berkley area of Norfolk, will get whatever medical treatment they may need at no cost. Vaccinations, blood pressure checks and medications are all part of the program. However, Russell said there is much more to Sentara Community Care than just medical care. She describes it is truly a holistic experience.
“We have community health workers who are our backbone, and other staff members who really work with families to identify what their needs are, and that could vary,” she said. “Some families have food insecurity, so they need access to nutritious foods. Some folks don’t have housing. When you’re unhoused, you can’t be healthy. If you are hungry, you can’t be healthy. So we will work with those types of things. If there are issues with getting the children in school, or getting the services that children need, especially for our non-English speaking families, some of our community health workers will go with them to the schools to help them…