Connect Health + Wellness will expand its medical and dental services in Patrick County after receiving $785,000 in congressionally directed federal funding.
The funding will allow the federally qualified health center to renovate its Patrick Springs clinic, purchase additional medical equipment, and recruit more healthcare providers to meet growing demand.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Alexandria, presented the ceremonial check during a June 30 event attended by representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Richmond, U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, and local officials.
Since opening the Patrick Springs clinic in August 2024, Connect Health has treated about 3,000 patients, according to CEO Marcus Stone.
“This is about a 3,000-square-foot building, and we’re currently using about 1,500 square feet,” Stone said. “We’re going to renovate the building so we can use the entirety, and we may actually add a little bit of space, if available.”
The clinic also plans to purchase equipment to increase capacity and recruit additional providers to expand available services.
“When we started this, it was mainly to improve access to care,” Stone said. “We were able to accomplish that in a small space and on a small scale, but now that we’ve seen the need here, we’re ready to improve on that and increase the capacity of the building.”
Stone said access to healthcare remains one of the biggest challenges facing rural communities.
“Transportation is one of the biggest challenges residents in rural Southwest Virginia continue to face,” he said, adding that provider shortages, long travel distances and financial barriers also make it difficult for people to receive care.
“For about seven years, people in this very community had to travel in multiple directions to get healthcare, but not today. At Connect Health + Wellness, we believe everybody deserves equal access to quality healthcare, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. Our vision is that this investment will strengthen our Patrick Springs clinic and move us closer to creating a trusted healthcare home for the community.”
Connect Health currently offers dental services on Mondays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A dentist and dental hygienist provide routine cleanings as well as procedures such as fillings.
“They can do most everything here, but if we can’t get it done here or time’s going to be a constraint, we also have a dental clinic in Martinsville and one in Bassett,” Stone said. “Sometimes we may refer people there to get more advanced work if needed, but most everything we can handle here.”
The clinic also has a nurse practitioner who provides primary care and accepts walk-in patients.
“One of the benefits of being a federally qualified health center is we provide walk-in visits because we realize that people, if you walk in and you’re sick, may not have a primary care doctor,” Stone said. “Those are the people we want to see because we know we can make a huge impact on their health.”
Stone said the clinic provides sick visits, annual physicals, immunizations, and vaccines while treating chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
“Those are two of the biggest concerns for health across the country, and those are things that we can certainly treat and help with here,” he said.
Although Connect Health offers behavioral health services, Stone said the Patrick Springs clinic collaborates closely with Piedmont Community Services rather than duplicating existing services.
“Sometimes they’ll send patients to us for medical care, and sometimes we refer patients to them for behavioral health,” he said. “Sometimes it’s easier to work through that referral network than it is to try and create another wheel.”
Warner said the funding reflects cooperation among Virginia’s congressional delegation.
“The three offices have to work together and prioritize this. We are very happy to provide these resources,” he said.
Warner noted he visited Patrick County about three years ago to help support efforts to restore local hospital services. While that group did not reopen the hospital, Warner said the county did not give up.
“My understanding is the hospital has now reopened,” he said. “You’ve got to have all parts of healthcare, and what we’re doing with Connect Health is part of the emergency immediate care.”
Patrick County Economic Development & Tourism Director James Houchins said the investment extends beyond healthcare.
“A strong local economy depends on a healthy workforce,” Houchins said. “When our residents have access to quality healthcare close to home, they’re better equipped to succeed in school, remain productive in the workplace and contribute to the continued growth and prosperity of their community.”
Houchins said expanded healthcare services also help attract new businesses, employees, and families to Patrick County.
“This investment will have a lasting positive impact on our citizens for years to come,” he said.
