Robbinsville – Local residents can finally circle a day on their calendars for the return of urgent-care services to Graham County.
Months of meticulous planning has paved the way for the Hendersonville branch of AdventHealth to enter into an agreement with the board of commissioners, which will open the doors of the left wing on the county-owned building at 21 South Main Street back up for a wide array of imaging, family medicine and even limited emergency care for those who do not wish to travel for such services to be rendered.
Operating hours were revealed at the March 19 commissioners meeting; Tuesday’s gathering officially unveiled Thursday, Aug. 1 as the opening date.
AdventHealth and Graham County have entered into a 10-year agreement, which hopes to bring an end to a tumultuous 18-month span that saw the facility close in January 2023, following a decision rendered at the end of a lawsuit; as well as a failed six-month attempt by another provider to run the practice from February-August 2023.
In the case of the latter, credentialing played a significant role. Simply put, the overwhelming desire to keep urgent-care services as readily available for such a remote county led to the facility re-opening in a rushed, 2 ½-week sprint. Credentialing usually takes anywhere from 90-180 days to be completed, so that major insurance providers can be properly billed – and in turn, provide revenue to keep a medical facility afloat.
It was a lesson learned for all involved, but the established AdventHealth knows to mind its P’s and Q’s and wants to make sure everything is aligned before starting up.
The facility is tentatively scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
A sixth day will be established after 120 days of service.
Since the closing of Graham County Urgent Care & Family Practice on Aug. 24, Appalachian Mountain Community Health Center (formerly Tallulah Health Clinic) and the Graham County Health Department have been the only local options for countywide medical care.
Dr. Scott Bjerkness has continued to operate Smoky Mountain Chiropractic inside the front entrance of the building Mondays and Thursdays; the other half of the structure is dedicated to the county’s dental practice.
The deal with AdventHealth was first publicly revealed Feb. 25.