Robbinsville – Graham County commissioners were expected to make final decisions after Wednesday’s press deadline on a contract with Dr. David Booth to take over urgent care operations in the county.
The board of commissioners were scheduled to meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Graham County Community Center, to discuss the contract. The meeting occurred after The Graham Star’s deadline and updates will be posted online as they become available.
Commissioners have been in final negotiations with Booth to take over urgent-care services after Bryson City-based Smoky Mountain Urgent Care closes its Robbinsville practice at the end of this month.
Along with urgent care project manager Juanita Colvard, the commissioners met with Booth in closed session at the Graham County Transportation Department conference room Jan. 9, after which the board introduced Booth to the public.
Lora Booth, David Booth’s wife, established a private, invitation-only Facebook group called Graham County Urgent Care and Family Practice late Monday evening and posted that there is a Tuesday, Feb. 14 tentative opening date.
“We are now accepting applications for providers, lab tech, medical assistants, receptionist, radiology tech, and medical coder,” she said in a post. “Please send resume to: grahamcountyurgentcare@gmail.com.”
Smoky Mountain Urgent Care, owned by Dr. David Castor, had three contracts with the county – urgent-care services with weekend and late hours, imaging services and inmate care at the county jail. In the end, Castor was providing only urgent-care services with weekend and late hours that fell short of contractual expectations.
Colvard has been in communication with other medical professionals about providing both urgent care and imaging services in the county’s building at 21 S. Main St. in Robbinsville.
The Graham County Board of Commissioners has been seeking urgent care and imaging services to the county to facilitate convenient and reliable care for county residents and visitors, according to the county’s statement.