Blue Ridge Health Highlands-Cashiers has opened its doors to serve patients in both communities with a mission to improve health in rural areas.
The clinic is located at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital in the Jane Woodruff Clinic Building.
After recognizing an immediate and long-term need, a solution was found in funding a collaboration between Blue Ridge Health and Mountain Area Health Education Center. The plateau’s new health center will serve as a Rural Teaching Practice where UNC School of Medicine students and MAHEC Family Practice Residents will become acquainted with the community while providing quality primary care during their rural rotations.
“This started about two and a half years ago,” Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation Chairman Dr. Walter Clark said. “The foundation was involved in listening sessions all across our areas of operations. In that process, we found that the number one primary problem was a lack of primary health care for our citizens. After taking that information, we decided to research it and find methods of providing that primary care. We came up with what we thought was a very creative, workable and sustainable method.”
Dr. Richard Hudspeth, CEO of Blue Ridge Health said it takes a village to create a community health center.
“We are so excited and proud to be partnering with the Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation, as well as the hospital and MAHEC,” Hudspeth said. “We have a wonderful model set up and I heard Dr. Clark say that this could be not just a model for the Highlands-Cashiers area, but for North Carolina and even the nation.”
Blue Ridge Health began in 1963, expanding over the years to nine counties and 34 locations.
“We do primary care, hospital care, pharmacies, behavioral health and dentistry,” Hudspeth said. “We are extremely proud and honored to be a part of this movement in order to continue to have care available and accessible for all.”
Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor said he is always committed to advancing healthcare in the community.
“Healthcare is always changing,” Taylor said. “A few years ago, we had the transition from Mission to HCA, and I know, at the time, the Health Foundation had to reinvent their mission, but it is wonderful to me to see this partnership. We are all committed to advancing healthcare in this area and this is great to see.”
The clinic has welcomed two new doctors within the past month, Dr. Ann Davis and Dr. Kristy Fincher and both doctors are now accepting new patients.
The hours for the clinic are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m., until 5 p.m.
Blue Ridge Health accepts private insurance, including Blue Cross Blue Shield and many others, as well as Medicaid and Medicare. If you do not have insurance, BRH-HC has a sliding fee scale and associates at Blue Ridge Help can help apply for many different types of healthcare coverage.
Services offered at Blue Ridge Health include
• Complete physical exams
• Chronic disease management
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- COPD
- Hypertension
- Etc.
• Cuts, Scrapes and minor injuries
• Strains and sprains
• Acute illnesses
• Women’s health services
- Pregnancy care
• Nutrition
• Case management/health education
• Rapid testing for infectious diseases
- Strep
- Flu
- COVID-19
To make an appointment at the clinic, call 828-482-6160 and press one to schedule an appointment.