Baton Rouge General Launches Community Initiative to Bring Healthcare into North Baton Rouge Neighborhoods

BATON ROUGE, La. – Baton Rouge General (BRG) is launching BRG Care on the Go, a community initiative that will bring primary and urgent care services to North Baton Rouge through a new mobile health unit. BRG Care on the Go will make weekly stops at set community partner locations, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, True Light Baptist Church, Eden Park Library, Turner Plaza Housing Authority, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church & School.

The initiative will launch Thursday, Sept. 26 at 9 a.m. at an event at BRG’s Mid City campus, in the atrium on the North Blvd. entrance. BRG leadership, local leaders and representatives from community partner organizations will be on hand for the launch and to see the unveiling of the new mobile unit. The mobile health unit was made possible by generous supporters to the Baton Rouge General Foundation.

“We know there are gaps in access to care in North Baton Rouge and in the communities surrounding our Mid City hospital, and while we made strides in closing that gap by reopening our emergency room, there is a lot of work to be done,” said BRG President and CEO Edgardo Tenreiro. “With BRG Care on the Go, we are bringing primary care services closer to where people live, work and go to school.”

Community members can visit BRG Care on the Go for primary care and urgent care services, diabetes care, wellness exams, and on-site testing. Dr. Vincent Shaw, Dr. Amber Robins and Dr. Oanh Truong will be the physicians leading healthcare services. In addition, community partner and supporter Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (Louisiana Blue) will be on hand at each community stop to help people get signed up for insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare.

“Almost a quarter of Louisiana adults reported not having a primary healthcare provider, and we know how important that relationship can be for your overall health,” said Dr. Shaw. “This is especially true for those with a chronic condition, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. Managing those conditions can keep you out of potentially emergency situations, and at a lower risk of other health complications.”

BRG Care on the Go Schedule:

• Mondays, 9 a.m.-Noon -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 4000 Gus Young Ave.
• Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. -- True Light Baptist Church, 3836 North St.
• Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m. -- Eden Park Library, 5131 Greenwell Springs Rd.
• Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Turner Plaza Housing Authority, 4546 North St.
• The mobile unit will also rotate some Fridays at Sacred Heart Church & School, 2250 Main St.

Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are encouraged. For more information or to make an appointment at an upcoming stop, visit brgeneral.org/CareOnTheGo or call (225) 763-4500. You can also follow along with @brgonthego on Instagram.

If you’d like to request the unit to visit an event or location, fill out this form.

About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is the area’s first community hospital with over 600 licensed beds between three campuses. Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900, and has provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge General is affiliated with several medical school programs, and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter @BRGeneral and Instagram @batonrougegeneral.

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