HEALTH ++ WELLNESS WELLNESS HEALTH
Discover how HopeHealth is working to improve access to routine healthcare for an underserved group.
360 N. IRBY STREET, FLORENCE 843.667.9414 HOPE-HEALTH.ORG
Taylor Thompson, FNP Taylor Thompson is a family nurse practitioner providing care for patients in the HopeXpress program for young adults. She has special interest in heart health, preventive care for younger adults, and keeping young adults in care. Thompson is a member of the American Nurses Association, South Carolina Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society.
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VIPMagSC.com
August 2022
HopeXpress story by Taylor Thompson, FNP-C, HopeHealth It’s easy to see why young adults may not prioritize regular wellness visits. Between juggling jobs, going to school, starting families, and other challenges, a trip to the doctor can seem like an extra (and unnecessary) chore. Especially when factoring in insurance coverage, tight budgets, and rising costs of living, young adults can view routine medical care as a waste of time and money when they are young, healthy, and have no known medical problems – or so they think. The problem is young adults can develop chronic medical conditions, and without routine medical checkups, early detection and intervention doesn’t happen. Conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes can develop and progress, leading to more problems and more costly medical care down the road. People often underestimate the role genetics can play in their health as well.
Even young adults with healthy lifestyles getting regular exercise, eating balanced meals, and getting enough sleep can develop chronic medical conditions. HopeXpress is a service at HopeHealth created to bridge this gap in care by providing convenient access to affordable primary care and preventive medicine services for young adults, aged 18 to 30. Our goal is to eliminate common barriers that discourage young adults from getting routine care, such as appointment availability, wait times, cost, and preferred methods of communication (text notifications, online portal access, and smartphone app support). By offering same-day appointments and integrated care, our hope is to empower young adults to take an active role in maintaining their health for better outcomes.
