Urgent care still searching for a provider
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Dignitaries gather around the new CT scanner at Graham County Urgent Care, which was funded by the Golden Leaf Foundation. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com
Robbinsville – Golden Leaf Foundation Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton visited Graham County Urgent Care and Family Practice on Nov. 9, to see machines the foundation funded first-handed.
Golden Leaf is a nonprofit working to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities.
In 2017, the foundation provided permission to use $821,000 for a new CT scanner, an ultrasound and mammogram for the urgent care. The CT scanner and mammogram were leased to the urgent care in 2019.
“Healthcare is such an integral part of the workforce and economic development,” said Mountain West NC Partnership Director Josh Carpenter. “So having a healthcare option here in the county that is after-hours and other things is helping to continue that economic development.”
Golden Leaf provided funding for the county to use for Stanley Furniture in 2010. The total grant amount was $948,074. The funds were used to purchase equipment and to assist the county in retaining Stanley Furniture as an employer, plus the 468 jobs at the plant. Unfortunately, Stanley Furniture closed in 2014.
Graham County received permission from Golden Leaf to use the remaining funds for the urgent care equipment in 2017 to improve the county’s economic development.
“When we look at the urgent-care center, the outcomes when people think of urgent-care centers are the health outcomes. We look at it as the job outcomes,” said Hamilton.
Hamilton looked very impressed as he was given a tour around the facility to see medical equipment. He understood that the interior was still under construction and gracefully looked past plastic covering unfinished rooms.
The interior of the urgent care is still under construction and is only periodically open twice a week for Dr. Scott Bjerkness’ chiropractic service. The CT machine, ultrasound and mammogram can be used again as soon as Graham County Urgent Care and Family Practice gets a provider. Two interviews are set up for new potential providers, according to Juanita Colvard, urgent care project manager.