Creating systemic change in the health of our community by addressing our area’s greatest health needs.

Learn More About Our Initiatives:

Augusta Health Farm

In 2018, we partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Institute to develop a sustainable production farm located on our hospital campus. 

The purpose of the farm is to:

  1. Provide access to locally grown, nutrient dense produce to our community: patients, employees, and visitors
  2. Create an education hub for teaching about healthy nutrition and sustainable agriculture practices 

Community Health Worker 

The purpose of the Community Health Worker Program is to identify diabetic patients who have an existing barrier to accessing resources, such as food insecurity, or other social determinants of health, and help connect these patients to hospital and community resources. The program is designed to work individually with patients on diabetes management through health care navigation, health education and goal setting to ultimately improve coordination of care and quality of life.

Crop to Community

The Crop to Community Fresh Food Box Program was implemented in April of 2020 in response to the food access needs that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 50 food boxes are delivered bi-weekly to community members who have been identified as having food insecurity. These boxes consist of fresh meat and eggs which are sourced from Cool Breeze Farms as well as fresh produce which is primarily sourced from the AMI Farm at Augusta Health. Produce has also been supplied by Malcolm’s Market Garden, Poplar Ridge, Project Grows, and White Spring Farm. 

Food Farmacy

Food Farmacy is our physician referral, prescription produce program for patients with chronic disease diagnoses, coordinated in partnership with the AMI Farm at Augusta Health. Through the program, participants receive nutrition education, take part in a cooking demonstration, and receive free take-home produce as part of their ongoing treatment.

Food Pantry

An onsite Food Pantry has been launched to incrase equitable access to nutritious food for Type II diabetic patients who have been identified as having food insecurity. The pilot location is the Jazzman’s Café in the Wellness Center. Premier partners include the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and the AMI Farm at Augusta Health. 

Homeless Healthcare Connection

Homeless Healthcare Connectionprovides access to preventative health care services to people experiencing homelessness. Through health screenings, education, vaccinations, and resource referrals, participants are able to access community health care resources and learn new lifestyle practices that encourage wellness. Program partners include Augusta Regional Clinic, Department of Social Services, Valley Community Services Board, Virginia Department, Valley Mission and Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry (WARM).

Get Fresh

Get Fresh is a program we created in partnership with Waynesboro Public Schools, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Project Grows, and Virginia Cooperative Extension. The program is designed to prevent type 2 diabetes among children and includes classroom nutrition education, fresh food tastings, farm field trips, and afterschool nutrition programming for the entire family.

Walk-to-School Week

Walk-to-School Week is held each year in partnership with local schools and other community organizations. Partially grant-funded by Safe Routes to School, the initiative promotes physical activity among elementary and middle school students and teaches students pedestrian safety.

Faith Community Nursing

Faith Community Nursing is a specialized practice of professional nurses who focus on the intentional care of the spirit, as well as the promotion of whole-person health. They also aim to prevent or minimize illness through screenings and health education events, and by referring patients to appropriate health care resources.

Screening Events

We hold annual screening events at Augusta Health, including an annual cancer screening and the Heart Health Fair. Additional screenings can be requested for community events.