WNCCHS McDowell Health Center Expands Access with New Pharmacy and Services
📰 View the McDowell News article about the McDowell Health Center expansion here. 📰
MARION, N.C. — Western North Carolina Community Health Services (WNCCHS) has completed a major expansion at WNCCHS McDowell Health Center, the county’s only community health center.
This expansion, which began in April, includes a new pharmacy that will allow patients to conveniently fill prescriptions on-site.
“We are so pleased to introduce pharmacy services at McDowell Health Center,” said Joe Blizzard, PhD, WNCCHS’s Chief Pharmacy Officer. “This addition means we can work closely with the health care providers at this location and offer eligible patients discounted prescription prices, especially on select brand-name medications.”
In addition to the pharmacy, the expansion includes new offices for behavioral health and care management services, which will allow WNCCHS to provide more comprehensive care under one roof. Behavioral health services address a range of concerns that can impact a person’s daily life and overall health, such as anxiety, depression, and substance use. Services include counseling, medication management, family therapy, and support for conditions like ADHD and chronic medical issues.
“We are just a phone call or visit away from the first step of getting support for yourself or your child,” said Jessica Parsil, WNCCHS’s Chief Behavioral Health Officer. “Our team is here to help you in a judgment-free and safe environment.”
Care management services help patients address the social factors that affect their health, such as food insecurity, housing challenges, and transportation needs. Care managers connect patients with necessary resources, provide health education, and help with the management of chronic conditions, ensuring that patients have the support they need to maintain overall well-being.
“We’re excited to provide care management services to residents of McDowell County,” said Jamie Ferguson, WNCCHS’s Chief of Quality and Population Health. “As research shows, only 20 percent of health is determined by the medical care someone receives. The other 80 percent depends on factors like where they live, their income, social connections, and access to resources. Our team is here to help bridge those gaps.”
Made possible by grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), The Cannon Foundation, the Gateway Wellness Foundation, and the Philip L. Van Every Foundation, the project was managed by RYSE Construction, a local firm specializing in health care and industrial projects.
WNCCHS McDowell Health Center provides primary care, behavioral health, and care management services to patients with and without insurance, including those on Medicaid and Medicare. A sliding fee program makes health care affordable for patients at different income levels.
To celebrate the expansion, WNCCHS hosted an open house breakfast on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at McDowell Health Center, located at 136 Creekview Court in Marion. Click the video below to watch remarks from the event. Remarks were given by Kim Wagenaar, WNCCHS CEO; Joe Blizzard, PhD, RPh, Chief Pharmacy Officer; Jamie Ferguson, Chief of Quality and Population Health; and Jessica Parsil, Chief Behavioral Health Officer — as well as WNCCHS BOD member and Centro Unido Latino Americano (CULA) Associate Director Laura Zapater.
For more information, visit www.wncchs.org/mcdowell-health.
Click the video above to watch remarks from the event.