Pictured are, left to right, Kathy Toomey of New View Realty, Darla Kleiner of WNC Edutech, Brian Morton, Chief Financial Officer, Milton Butterworth, Chief Development Officer, Cindy Pierce, Board Chair, Dr. Richard Hudspeth, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Amy Marietta, Physician, Tammy Greenwell, Chief Operations Officer, Dot Rechel, Board member, and Ronnie Reid of First Citizens Bank.

A 62-year-old woman experiencing worsening fatigue, shortness of breath and chest discomfort had been ignoring her health due to the stress of a recent move, but was started on medications and lifestyle changes to manage the disease and prevent it from progressing. Another young woman revealed that she had been abused as a child and is now getting the counseling she needs. And another is coming to terms with an addiction to methamphetamines and was introduced to community non-profits to treat her addiction.

These are just a few of the stories coming out of Polk County’s newest medical home, Polk Health Center, run by Blue Ridge Community Health Services (BRCHS), located at 155 Mills Street in Columbus, N.C.

On Monday, BRCHS celebrated the grand opening of this, their newest site. Over 50 county and community leaders were in attendance to tour and learn about the efforts underway by the non-profit health center to improve the health and well-being of Polk County.

“The support we have received since opening our Polk Health Center is a testament to the priorities of Polk County leadership and stakeholders,” said Richard Hudspeth, BRCHS Chief Medical Officer. “We are well-positioned in the county to be able to have a significant impact on health outcomes across the board for years to come.”

Like other BRCHS sites, the new Polk Health Center provides a full spectrum of primary care services for all residents of Polk County and neighboring communities. Services include family medicine, prenatal care, psychiatry, counseling, pharmacy, nutrition and outreach.

The center accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, and no one is turned away for an inability to pay. Patients without insurance pay on a sliding scale based on their family size and household income. The presence of BRCHS in the county has had an immediate impact on access to vital healthcare for low-income individuals experiencing barriers to care.

BRCHS is a non-profit community health center that has been providing high quality and affordable medical, dental and mental health care as well as promoting health awareness/education for over 50 years.

Services are conveniently provided in Hendersonville, N.C. at Blue Ridge Health Center, Hendersonville Family Health Center, 7^th Avenue Health Center; in Brevard, N.C. at Brevard Health Center; in Arden, N.C. at Arden Health Center; in Spindale, N.C. at Rutherford Health Center; in Columbus, N.C. at Polk Health Center, and in four Henderson County Public Schools.

If you would like more information about BRCHS services, call 692-4289; or visit www.brchs.com and www.facebook.com/BRCHS.

– Submitted by Lee Homan