Community Collaboration Completes Blue Ridge Health’s 7th Ave Practice Expansion

Blue Ridge Health (BRH), with support from Community Foundation of Henderson County (CFHC) and Hendersonville Rescue Mission (HRM), has completed construction on a significant expansion to their 7th Avenue practice in Hendersonville.

Representatives from CFHC and HRM recently visited the location to tour the facility’s newly expanded patient care space. At the event, Dr. Richard Hudspeth, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer for BRH, presented a plaque to CFHC’s board Chairperson, Cindy Causby, which recognizes CFHC’s integral role in the expansion project.

“Without the generosity of the Community Foundation of Henderson County and the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, we would not have the necessary space and equipment needed to care for a growing patient population,” said Hudspeth. “At Blue Ridge Health we are dedicated to making sure that a healthy life is accessible to everyone, and it is thanks to strong community partnerships that we are able to fulfill this mission at our 7th Avenue location.”

When it opened, the practice was originally intended to direct patients to a more appropriate setting for their healthcare while creating a medical and behavioral health home for residents living near downtown Hendersonville and in the 7th Avenue District. Later, the location transitioned to a primary care medical home and began to quickly outgrow the available patient care space.  Thanks to a generous $25,000 grant award from CFHC and the opportunity to expand the practice’s footprint within HRM’s existing Life Center, renovations began in late 2017. Now complete, the practice features a larger waiting area, multiple exam rooms, a lab, a procedure room for more complex issues, a nurse’s station, and a dedicated behavioral health counseling room.

Like all BRH practices, the 7th Avenue site accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, and no one is turned away for an inability to pay. Patients without insurance, as well as those with a high deductible (over $1000), pay on a sliding scale based on family size and household income. The site is staffed by BRH Medical Providers and Teaching Health Center Faculty and Residents, as well as a Behavioral Health Counselor who makes psychiatric referrals as needed. New patients and walk-in’s are welcome, and appointments can be scheduled by calling 828.696.8263.

The presence of a BRH practice in the 7th Avenue District has drastically improved access for residents in the area experiencing barriers to accessing care, like affordability.

Anthony McMinn, Hendersonville Rescue Mission’s Chief Executive Officer said, “The Hendersonville Rescue Mission’s partnership with Blue Ridge Health has increased the well-being of many of our community’s most medically vulnerable people by offering an array of mental health services, medical screenings and medical resources. We are grateful for their creativity and responsive care. They are passionate advocates for people who have very little visibility or resources and we are proud to be a part of this collaborative effort to offer healing to people in this community.”

Visit www.brchs.com for additional information.