Local ER doctor helping underserved metro communities battle COVID-19 pandemic

ATLANTA — Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the impact the virus has had on underserved communities.

Atlanta’s West End is one of many of those communities in the metro, and a local emergency room doctor wants to make sure communities like the West End get the health care resources that aren’t readily available to them.

Dr. Jonathan Goss is the CEO and founder of Emergent Testing.

His team brings COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatment to underserved communities in Georgia and Texas.

“Higher positivity rates and lower vaccination rates. This population represents an at-risk population still being two years into the COVID-19 pandemic,” Goss said.

Health care that is at no cost to the patient.

“It’s about bringing health care to the community,” Goss said. “We just want to do everything we can as a community-based initiative to support the community.”

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Bringing more jobs to underserved communities is also a part of Goss’ mission.

“These employees are the people in the community. there are a lot of people that said, ‘Hey, I want to help out when I can,’” Goss said.

The sites are set up under tents in a number of different neighborhoods, including Atlanta’s West End, Snellville and Decatur.

Goss’ team is now focused on offering the COVID-19 pill, knowing how much vaccine hesitation still exists in underserved communities.

“We want to give people options. Not everyone wants to get vaccinated, and everybody has their beliefs surrounding that,” Goss said. “If we come across anybody who has had symptoms for less than 5 days, they are a candidate to receive the anti-COVID-19 pill.”

Goss said the resources he provides are now expanding to other health care needs many of these communities don’t have access to.

He is offering telemedicine and that is also free for patients.

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