Ripples

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An article from Reflections Richmond Hill, Spring 2022 Issue

WORDS BY DR. JAY JAY HENDRIX  PHOTOS BY ERIN HIXSON PHOTOGRAPHY

My heroes make waves. They have common attributes: brave, resourceful, yet humble – living as if rules are “guidelines” and traditional roles are to be challenged. As a consequence, they’re amusingly misunderstood.

Who inspires you?
A family member, neighbor, celebrity, or teacher? Perhaps a parent who set a standard and held you to it? People with traits you admire and aspire to imitate?

Catherine Grant’s mother emphasized one of the same valuable lessons for her daughter as my dad did for me: Never need to depend on someone to take care of you. No doubt, given her example, her daughters will perfect this strength.

Raising three daughters is an enormous challenge in itself. Ask me how I know. When considering the possibilities for Catherine’s girls, a familiar saying comes to mind, “If you see her, you can be her.” Little girls need examples in a variety of roles to know they have options. Sometimes rather than plotting a course for us to follow, the people we admire inspire us instead on an uncharted journey.

“Who inspired you?” I asked.

Encircled by stacks upon stacks of books confirming her thirst for growth, Catherine answered without a second of hesitation, “My mom.”

She vividly described an iconic mother-figure, content to earn the “degree of Mrs.,” required to shift direction by a marriage that didn’t work, a twist among many that would set the foundation for the building of her daughter’s tenacity. Beyond the quintessential story of a mom needing to work with her child in tow, the stage was set for an inquisitive daughter to inherit a relentless work ethic and commitment to excellence. Catherine was eight when her mother re-married. Poppy, as he was lovingly known, became a piece of her balance. With his selfless love and encouragement, he helped her mother lay the foundation- the forging of an entrepreneur. She learned early that work was her way to achieve her goals, and she set sail on that sea.

Catherine’s accolades and accomplishments are expanding in much the same fashion as the business she co-founded. Since opening the first urgent care center in Richmond Hill in 2009, she has been stacking recognitions and awards as neatly as the books surrounding her CEO chair. With her at the helm, ExperCARE is opening a fifth location.

Motivated to be a part of the solution to what she considers to be a “broken” system, Catherine envisions “healthcare the way it should be,” patient-focused with an improved standard of care. “People deserve better care,” and together with her leadership team, ExperCARE is advancing that mission.

Leadership, business fundamentals, self-improvement, and biographies make up Catherine’s reading collection, but she is clear about her Source. One of her guiding Bible verses is from Philippians 4:13 “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

“We all need a True North.” Catherine relies on her relationship with Jesus to provide truth, wisdom, and discernment. “I want to have a tangible impact by helping others experience Him.”

What are you building?

Catherine’s answer to this question again hails her mother’s recurring influence. She believes that what we hear as children becomes our inner voice, and she heard the incessant message, “With hard work, you can be and do anything.” Work does not intimidate Catherine, nor does challenge. In fact, challenge propels her to thrive. The inner voice she now conjures in the face of adversity repeats, “You were created for this.” Together with Scott, her husband, counsel, and confidant, the Grant’s are building full steam ahead.

Catherine’s waves extend beyond business to create broader change for a better world. Alzheimer’s, childhood cancer, and United Way fundraising; serving on boards for community development and healthcare advancement; and volunteering to mentor future business leaders are among her commitments to advocacy.

All of the accomplishments in her wake haven’t changed Catherine’s ultimate goal: to be more like the person who inspires her by exemplifying unconditional love. “In a broken world, my mom has been able to love others even when they were not easy to love.”

Her three young daughters, Grayson 12, Madison 9, and Emerson 1, are watching, and if their mother’s accomplishments seem impressive, I predict a tsunami. Catherine describes them as fearless and passionate. Grayson helped build the recycling program at school, and together with sister Madison, they worked diligently to raise funds for a clean water project in Zimbabwe. Their mom recognizes that her most important role is to encourage her daughters to become all that they were created to be, just like the person who inspired her.

Our daughters are watching; and so are our sons. May we inspire them and others to make waves. Waves are shifting and fading, but the changes they create are immensely powerful, enduring, and inspiring. May we never underestimate ripples.

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ExperCARE’s Corporate Partnership with Ronald McDonald House

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ExperCARE Health is a longtime supporter of The Ronald McDonald House Charities and has renewed their partnership for the 2022 year. After a challenging year, RMH Charities hold a special place in the heart of ExperCARE CEO and Founder, Catherine Grant.

“We are grateful to be able to support the Ronald McDonald House again this year. The work they are doing in our community, and beyond, makes such a meaningful impact to the families they serve,’ shares Grant,  ‘Last year, I got to understand on a more personal level the enormous blessing the Ronald McDonald House is, shortly after my niece was born at only 31 weeks. My sister and brother-in-law were able to stay there, very close to the children’s hospital in Philadelphia, so that they could focus all their time and energy on our sweet Mabry throughout her time in the NICU. The house provided an incredible home away from home for them during a very challenging time. We will forever be grateful to them and are honored to help pay that forward to hopefully bless others in their time of need.”

The Ronald McDonald House in Savannah provides a home away from home for seriously ill or injured children and their families who are receiving treatment at local area hospitals. “We’re serving every illness and injury in children from newborns to 22 years of age, said RMH CEO and Executive Director, Bill Sorochak. “Every dollar raised and donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire stays here in our community, not a single penny leaves. With our newest Corporate Sponsor, ExperCARE, their sponsorship & donations are making an immediate impact in our mission, and we can see that in our families’ faces.”

 

Last year, the Ronald McDonald House provided 4,500 family-night stays. The Savannah House has been serving families since 1987, and with its 13 rooms, compassionate and dedicated staff, it may be the most important house a child will ever visit. To learn more about Ronald McDonald House, and the good they do in our community, click here.

 

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Step One Automotive on Chatham Parkway Presents Local Hero Award to ExperCARE Physician Assistant Donna McAllister

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (February 17, 2022) – Step One Automotive Group will present their Local Hero Award to ExperCARE Physician Assistant Donna McAllister during their monthly Grab-n-Go Meal event for first responders on Friday, February 18th from 11am to 2:00pm at Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Fiat’s location at 1101 Chatham Parkway, Savannah GA.

“Step One Auto is proud to present our Local Hero Award to Donna McAllister. We express our gratitude for medical workers who worked tirelessly for the past two years. Donna is an example for all of us,” said Step One Automotive Group Marketing Manager Maja Ciric. “Being able to recognize and award Donna with a $500 gift card, a JEEP Gladiator for the weekend and complimentary dinner at Ardsley Station during our monthly Grab-n-Go Meals is an honor.”

“Recently, a patient with Dementia came into ExperCARE for an ear impaction. The patient’s caregiver explained that the patient was leery of strangers and didn’t like being touched. Donna went above and beyond, caring for the patient from the moment she entered the clinic, until the moment she walked out, ensuring that she would only have to interact with one person during her whole visit. She took the time to introduce herself, and chat casually with the patient until she felt comfortable being approached and treated. After the patient left the clinic, we received a call from the caregiver thanking us for Donna’s incredible care; the patient was in a great mood for the rest of the day,” shared ExperCARE CEO and founder Catherine Grant. “From her tireless work ethic and commitment to upholding the ExperCARE standard throughout the pandemic, Donna consistently embodies the core values of our organization. We are thrilled that she is being recognized as a local hero.”

The Award presentation is at 12 noon with interview availability following a brief ceremony.

Also – Step One Auto will serve delicious cooked fresh meals from popular and locally owned food truck Chazitos while abiding by social distancing standards. You can sign up for your meal by clicking https://conta.cc/3LgGTO4

Step One Automotive Group is focused on customer excellence, employee satisfaction and being an integral part of the community in which they operate. Dedicated to being involved in the local community, they have become strategic partners with the U.S. Army FM WR Fort Stewart & Hunter AAF by supporting and sponsoring events and activities for military families. Step One Automotive Group has an extensive selection of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat vehicles for sale at the best prices in the Low Country area. They also offer a great selection of pre-owned vehicles in every price range from pre-auction specials, to luxury pre-owned vehicles.

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Three Cheers for 12 Years

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Twelve years ago, ExperCARE opened our doors as The Urgent Care Center of Richmond Hill, on a mission to make a difference while providing access to high-quality healthcare AND extraordinary customer service. After 10+ years of working in healthcare, CEO and founder, Catherine Grant, knew there was an opportunity to create something special that wasn’t available in the market. She envisioned a team of caregivers that where were passionate about delivering high-quality, compassionate, patient-oriented healthcare. Somewhere that patients loved to be and would be crazy to go anywhere else. The gap was undeniable between primary care, the ER, and what patients craved– excellent healthcare, on-demand, by friendly people who really care. So the founding team took a bold leap, and The Urgent Care Center of Richmond Hill, now known as ExperCARE, was born.

Twelve years, three locations, and an incredible journey later, we find ourselves in 2021 – the year after the year that changed everything. The COVID-19 Pandemic undoubtedly affected everyone’s life to some degree, and the healthcare industry was shaken to its core. During this time, our phenomenal team banded together, and refused to stop delivering on our mission. We continued to serve, not only providing access to the experienced, award-winning healthcare and top-quality customer service we are known for, but also proving to be a trusted community partner and together, we made to the other side of crisis.

Reflecting back with grateful hearts, while much has changed over the last twelve years, our core values and our “why” remain steadfast. We will always provide enthusiastic service with a smile, ensuring our patients know that we’re happy they’re here, and ready to care for them. We will always treat our patients with compassion, making them feel seen and heard, and comfortable bringing their loved ones to us. We will always support our team and push and pull each other to reach our full potential. We will be leaders in our industry, and communities, making decisions with integrity and responsibility.

ExperCARE is grateful to have served the Greater Savannah Area for the last 12 years and are so excited about the incredible journey ahead!

12 Year Anniversary Celebration from Becca Rivera on Vimeo.

Click here to see photos from our 12 Year Anniversary Celebration in Richmond Hill!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=TheUrgentCareCenterofRichmondHill&set=a.10158929058731144

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ExperCARE Thanks Savannah Concierge Group

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Since ExperCARE opened its newest urgent care clinic at 818 Abercorn St. in downtown Savannah November 2020, new patients have streamed in, often referred to the clinic by concierges at various hotels and vacation rentals.

To thank these concierge leaders for placing their faith in ExoerCARE’s convenient, high-quality service, we hosted a socially-distanced, COVID-friendly luncheon for the Savannah Concierge Group on the outdoor patio at Collins Quarter at Forsyth on Thursday, Feb. 4.

The Savannah Concierge Group was established as a concierge networking group by Mickey Minick of Kelly Tours, well known for taking out-of-town tourists to all of Savannah’s most beloved places in comfort and style.

At the luncheon, ExperCARE’s Vice President of Operations Spencer Gambrell welcomed the group at lunch and then took them across the street for a tour of the new state-of-the-art clinic and a question-and-answer session with ExperCARE’s highly-skilled and professional team.

“We are so grateful for the generous support we have received for our newest location,” said ExperCARE Founder and CEO Catherine Grant. “We wanted to personally thank the concierges for referring business to ExperCARE and let them see for themselves everything our clinic has to offer their guests.”

If you are ready to book your appointment so you can experience our award winning healthcare at ExperCARE click here.





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WSAV’s The Bridge Interviews ExperCARE CEO Catherine Grant

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We were so excited Patty Turner from WSAV’s The Bridge featured our newest ExperCARE location at 818 Abercorn St. in downtown Savannah on their television show!  We took Patty around our newly renovated, state-of-the-art facility and talked about why ExperCARE strives every day to be the first choice for your healthcare needs. This interview gave us a chance to talk about how ExperCARE got started in 2009 in Richmond Hill. This community rallied behind our vision and their continued support, great reviews and word of mouth referrals made it possible for ExperCARE to grow to three convenient locations!

Thank you Patty and the team at WSAV’s The Bridge for telling the ExperCARE story to their viewers!

Video

https://www.wsav.com/shows/the-bridge/expercare-comes-to-historic-savannah/

Transcription of Video

PATTY TURNER: Access to healthcare just got easier in the Savannah area with the expansion of this local medical facility by one of Savannah’s very own, Catherine Grant. So, what’s offered there? Come inside with us to the newest ExperCare at 818 Abercorn to find out.

TURNER: This is exciting, Catherine. This is your third location?

 CATHERINE GRANT: Yes.

 TURNER: It’s downtown, historic Savannah.

 GRANT: Mmhmm.

TURNER: How did this come about? And, what does this mean for folks who live in the historic area?

GRANT: Well, we’re so excited. We’ve been around since 2009. We actually were founded as the Urgent Care Center of Richmond Hill, in Richmond Hill, but rebranded when we came to Savannah, which was in 2016, early 2016, with our first location in Savannah on Mall Boulevard. And, so, we’ve been looking in the downtown market for a number of years actually to find the perfect place where we have parking because we know that’s important — especially when you ‘re not feeling well – and came across this about a year ago, this opportunity and decided we were going to do a big renovation project and provide access to on-demand healthcare for the residents, the visitors and the businesses in the downtown community, so, we’re thrilled.

TURNER: So, what do you offer here at ExperCare in downtown Savannah?

GRANT: So, we offer all — it’s probably easier to say what we don’t do. But it is truly walk-in access to care for urgent care, for routine care, for occupational health. We see all age groups. We’re open seven days a week. We’re open extended hours. Everything from illness, to injury to routine testing sorts of things, vaccines, all sorts of things.

TURNER: Ok, since you’re talking about vaccines of course I need to ask you about Covid and the Covid vaccine. Do you do the Covid testing here and when the vaccines are ready will you be able to offer them?

GRANT: So, as far as testing, we started in this very early and so in the middle of March right when Covid testing became a thing. ExperCare was very involved and so, yes, we consider ourselves experts in the testing realm. We have rapid, antigen testing available on site at all of our locations including downtown. We added a car side visit which means patients who are having symptoms or think they may have been exposed are not actually seen in the clinic. We go to them and see them in their car. And we’re able to do that 15-minute test. We’re also able to send off a PCR test and get those results in as soon as 24-48 hours. And, then the vaccine, that’s all, that’s all the talk right now. So, the vaccine, yes, it should be available soon we’re all hearing. We are in line, signed up and registered to be a distributor of that and we hope to know more about it just as soon as details are available and how we can be part of that initiative as well.

TURNER: So, how did you get started in the urgent care business? Do you have a medical background or what is your background?

GRANT: So, my background. I was trained as a physician assistant, a PA. I’ve been a PA over 16 years now – I can’t believe I’m saying that. And so, trained and worked in several different areas, worked in plastics, worked in physical medicine, rehab and orthopedics and moonlighted some in urgent care. And, when I married my husband and moved to Richmond Hill there was such a need for healthcare. There was just no access to healthcare there. So, for on-demand healthcare. People had to drive to the ER in Savannah. And so, it was this beautiful sort of combination of the rebirth of the urgent care industry (we used to call them doc in the boxes, right, back in the ’80s) And, so back then it may have been more of a compromise to go there because nothing else was open. So, the rebirth of urgent care was less of a compromise and more of a first choice sort of thing. And so, as that industry was coming up we saw this opportunity in this community that needed healthcare. So, we decided, “We can do that,” and we can do it and deliver excellent customer service, excellent healthcare and obviously, we were right. The community loved it and they’ve just been rallying around us since then. So, we added back into Savannah very close to where I grew up in Mayfair and now downtown.

TURNER: That’s got to be really rewarding for you to offer this now downtown and see how this is growing and you’re serving the people you grew up with.

GRANT: Yes, it’s such a humbling thing to be able to give back and to be part of creating solutions in a community that you’ve grown up in and that you love and are passionate about. So, I have to pinch myself sometimes because it’s one of those things. I’m excited to get to do it. It’s not a “have to” kind of thing. It’s a lot of fun.

 

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Expert Care Starts with Talented, Experienced Leadership Committed to Service

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A true leader is more than just a manager of operations or administrative duties. Leaders inspire, influence and set direction. At ExperCARE, we have developed a leadership team that models our core values of integrity, enthusiasm, compassion, teamwork and loyalty. These values dictate our team members’ actions and responses at all levels of the customer experience from the moment a patient walks in the door until the final check up call.

Daily I witness our team leaders displaying their commitment to these core values and demonstrating how these values benefit our patients, our team and our success as an organization. It’s obvious from working with these individuals how their positive attitudes affect everyone around them, but I’m also so proud to see how their service-oriented actions affect our patients.

We have countless testimonials from patients who were impressed with how our staff treated them with kindness and caring. These patients describe our team members as professional and friendly. They are impressed not only with the convenience and affordability that they expect from an urgent care center, but by the extra steps our clinic takes like staying open to treat a patient who arrived just before closing and calling to check on patients after they have been seen.

Further, I believe that it is our leaders’ commitment to integrity, enthusiasm, compassion, teamwork and loyalty that prompted our nomination to Savannah Magazine’s Best of Savannah eight times. This recognition is affirmation that our leadership team assures the smooth functioning of our organization and has led to the growth that has allowed us to open two additional clinics in the last five years including our newest at 818 Abercorn St. in downtown Savannah.

Our leadership team has a wealth of diverse experiences that inspire our younger team members. For instance, our Medical Director, Dr. Robert A. Mazur, has practiced medicine around the globe including as the chief of emergency medicine at Ibin Sina Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, while serving with the U.S. Army. Even before joining our team, Robert was impressing his peers and commanders with his integrity and commitment to selfless service earning him the U.S. Army Flight Surgeon of the Year Award.

Another example is Dr. J. David Carson, our Director of Occupational Medicine. The Savannah native has more than 42 years of medical experience including 22 years in emergency medicine. As a leader in his field, he was named the Medical Director of DeKalb County’s Emergency Medical Services and later the Medical Director of Memorial Medical Center. David transitioned into the field of Occupational Medicine, and after 18 years of practicing in this specialty joined us at ExperCARE.

Kari A. Smith, our Director of Business Administration, also has a diverse background in business administration that enhances our daily operations. After graduation with a B.S. in Health and Wellness from the University of New York at Buffalo, NY, Kari worked in fine art studio management, digital art sales, and fundraising for Hunter’s Hope Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and research funding for Leukodystrophy, a rare genetic disease that is currently without a cure. Kari is a solution-minded, dedicated individual, who in addition to her personal and professional duties devotes her time to humanitarian efforts, leading mission trips to the Dominican Republic and establishing sponsorships for orphans.

Just from these three examples it is apparent that our leaders are passionate about healthcare and committed to caring for people. Each of their unique experiences enhances our delivery of quality, customer-service-oriented healthcare. It has been such a joy to work with this team and I cannot wait to see what we will be able to achieve in the future.

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ExperCARE Leads the Way as On-Demand Service Changes Healthcare 

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Urgent care centers like ExperCARE have been popping up across the country as shifting consumer demands drive the healthcare system to adapt to the needs of a more mobile and convenience driven society.

ExperCARE first opened its doors in Richmond Hill in 2009 when the emergence of convenient, on-demand healthcare was just starting to take root.  The Urgent Care Association (UCA) recently reported that the number of Urgent Care centers has grown from 6,100 in 2013 to 9,616 in 2019; a 58% increase. According to the UCA 2019 Benchmark Report, the presence of urgent care centers continues to grow and they recognized almost 10% growth in 2019 vs. the previous year. .

ExperCARE has grown along with the industry,  opening its second location in 2015 and a third location, in downtown Savannah, in 2020. What is driving the growth of urgent care clinics like ours?   Urgent care offers the convenient, efficient, and quality care that consumers want.

Like many urgent care centers, ExperCARE is open seven days a week with extended evening and weekend hours. We allow patients to book ahead if they prefer,  but the majority of our visits are from walk-in, on-demand service. The UCA report found that 92% of patients reported seeing a provider in 30 minutes or less at urgent care centers, with no appointment necessary. Compare that to the average wait time to see a primary care physician in Savannah (61 days) and you can see why urgent care centers now account for 29% of all primary care visits in the country.  ExperCARE is very comfortable and experienced with providing patients with the routine care they need to stay healthy.

Urgent care services are a cost saver for insurers, employers and patients. ExperCARE is in network with all major health insurance and also offers affordable cash rates.  After normal doctor’s office hours patients have two choices: emergency room or urgent care. A 2016 study in the Journal of Emergency Medicine found that ER treatments cost about 10 times more (an average of about $2,200) than treatment for the same diagnosis in an urgent care center (about $168).

Over the last five years, the number of primary care office visits have steadily declined as more patients have sought the convenience and money-saving services of urgent care. The innovation and competition created by urgent care centers has prompted traditional practices to offer more same-day appointments, convenient hours and communication methods. This is creating a future healthcare model that will be more responsive to patient needs.

Currently, one-quarter of patients seeking care at urgent care centers are unaffiliated with a primary care provider or medical home, according to the UCA Benchmark Report. Younger and often healthier patients aren’t looking for long-term relationships with care providers. These consumers, who may be paying out of pocket or paying high deductibles, just want to feel better fast and pay less.

Urgent care centers like ExperCARE are improving patient outcomes while reducing costs and expediting service. We are proud to be a forerunner in providing convenient, efficient and compassionate care.  Make ExperCARE your first choice for on-demand healthcare.

Video

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j63ahuflmm4uwxk/Evolution%20Future%20of%20Urgent%20Care.mp4?dl=0

Transcript of Video

The future of healthcare is going to look a lot like urgent care looks now. People are appreciating the fact they’re able to walk in without an appointment on their own schedule as opposed to working with appointments that are pre-booked weeks and months in advance that may or may not be convenient or based on the time that they need the service. So, we’re excited at ExperCARE to continue to deliver that access to healthcare at a super high level and give people not only want they need but also what they want when they want it.

Now urgent care is really being known as a reliable point of access in our healthcare system. With ERs being overcrowded and primary care physicians having full panels and inability to get in and not having extended hours and weekend availability, people need healthcare when they’re sick or injured. And so, urgent care has been a great solution to that. ExperCARE is really, we’ve responded to that. We’ve evolved with that and being able to both make an appointment while continuing to take walk-in services seven days a week is a huge part of why people continue to embrace urgent care and why urgent care isn’t going anywhere.

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ExperCARE Donates Thousands of Hand Sanitizers to Area Churches for Holiday Services

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ExperCARE is proud to have recently donated over 3,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to area churches ahead of their holiday services.

They say their primary concern is their patient’s health and wellbeing. “2020 has been a year of challenge and change for every business, family and person,” said ExperCARE CEO and founder Catherine Grant. “ExperCARE is grateful for the patients who choose us as their first choice for on demand healthcare. We want everyone to do their part to keep safe during the holidays and we’re happy to help in this small way.”

In an effort to spread holiday cheer and promote hand hygiene, ExperCARE is thankful for the opportunity to deliver hand-held hand sanitizers to 25 different churches in the Savannah and Richmond Hill area.

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