The state of Georgia is getting help from The Peach Bowl to improve COVID-19 testing statewide.
Peach Bowl, Inc. will provide funding that will help make COVID-19 screenings available statewide during a critical time in the mitigation of the virus.
The Peach Bowl has donated $1.09 million to help scale the telemedicine screening mobile application developed by Augusta University Health System, the state’s public academic medical center and home to the Medical College of Georgia.
The AU Health ExpressCare app allows people to be screened for the virus virtually, 24/7, with no appointment required and at no cost.
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“At the core of the Peach Bowl’s mission is a desire to give back to our community in times of need, and there has never been a greater need in Georgia than there is right now as we fight this horrible virus together,” said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and president. “We are adding our support to the ongoing statewide effort so that every Georgian has access to screenings and testing as soon as possible.”
During the virtual visit, a provider will ask about common symptoms of infection and duration, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, as well as questions related to medical history and risk of virus exposure.
Patients who screen positive will be scheduled for testing at their nearest drive-thru location. Those who screen negative will be provided their visit summary and directed for further evaluation and treatment.
Why it Matters: Many health officials believe increased testing is the key to monitoring the spread of the disease. While not a cure, testing allows the spread to be better tracked and the virus to be better understood by doctors and scientists. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has called for more testing for weeks and state officials have been working to get more testing done in Georgia.
The AU Health ExpressCare app is part of the health system’s three-pronged approach for fighting the virus that includes widespread screening, specimen collection, and testing for COVID-19.
The app, called AU Health ExpressCare, can be downloaded for free in the App Store and on Google Play.
AU Health has been working in close collaboration with Governor Brian Kemp’s office, the Georgia National Guard, and the Department of Public Health to significantly increase COVID-19 testing across the state, making testing available to all Georgians who need it. With the help of Peach Bowl, Inc., AU Health can extend support of the app to all Georgians, free of charge.
“Our partnership with Augusta University has been critical as we work to increase access to testing through the AU Health ExpressCare app,” said Kemp. “This generous gift from the Peach Bowl will bolster those efforts and help us as we continue to find innovative ways to ramp up COVID-19 testing in our state. We could not be more grateful for their support in this fight.”
