The Columbus Project

As one of the Center for Health Transformation’s ‘21st Century Healthy Community Projects,’ the Columbus, Georgia Project is building and testing the models of a 21st century intelligent health system at the community level.  This initiative of CHT, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the Columbus Research Foundation is one of the largest community-based efforts to alter health status.  The Columbus Project was launched by Newt Gingrich, Founder of CHT, in September of 2006 at the Columbus community diabetes conference “Diabetes University.”

This large community project has several components that are impacting many segments of the community population:

1.  A program for the working-age population that is focused on “Metabolic Syndrome” as the cornerstone of an intervention model.

2.  A program to increase the number of physicians recognized by NCQA for quality diabetes care.

3.  A Medicare Diabetes Screening Project supported by Novo Nordisk to increase awareness and utilization of Medicare diabetes benefits.

4.  A project supported by a Be Well Fund Grant from the Microsoft Corporation to improve the activity level and food choices of 7th grade children

5.  A project supported by VSP to document the effectiveness of early interventions by optometrists in chronic disease.

6.  A project to test and develop applications that utilize the Microsoft Health Vault to improve the health of the citizens of Columbus, GA

7.  An annual two-day symposium, “Diabetes University,” is offered by Dr. Steven Leichter and the Columbus Research Foundation in order to provide education and information for the medical community as well as a day specifically for the lay population.

Columbus Project Meetings and Events:

• September 8, 2008
• April 25, 2007 

Media on the Columbus Project: