To help with the growing need for accessible healthcare in Patrick County, Connect Health + Wellness, a Henry County-based medical service provider, is preparing to open a permanent location at the former BB&T building in Patrick Springs.
Effective immediately, all mobile clinic services will be available at its new Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located onsite at 22121 Jeb Stuart Highway, according to the company.
Brittany Anthony, the agency’s marketing director, said additional healthcare access is a top concern in the county.
“Patrick County is a rural area, and residents are faced with various barriers to accessing healthcare, such as living in a medically underserved area, insurance status, and/or transportation,” she said in an August 16 release.
Connect Health + Wellness began coming to the county with its mobile clinic earlier this year to offer dental care and medical visits. Anthony said the organization will continue operations inside the building on a schedule similar to its mobile clinic, with dental visits on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and medical visits on Wednesdays from. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We will offer a full range of comprehensive medical and dental services. This includes not only general medical and preventive care but also lab services, referrals, health education, chronic disease management and more. Dental care including diagnostic and preventive services, fillings, root canals and extractions, etc. will also be offered,” she said.
Additional days at the clinic will be added to the schedule as demand grows, as building renovations are completed, and personnel are in place.
Anthony said renovations are not yet complete for the entire facility. However, it has completed the initial phase that will allow Connect Health + Wellness to open and begin serving the community.
“We also plan additional renovations in the near future, which will allow us to grow with the demand of services. This phased approach has allowed us to initiate needed services quickly, while also accommodating future plans for growth. We are also working on recruiting/reassigning additional clinical personnel and using a portion of the clinic that has been uplifted with the proper medical/dental equipment,” she said.
Currently, staff from Connect Health + Wellness’ other sites and mobile clinics are assisting with opening the new clinic where different numbers of staff are required for dental and medical services.
As the clinic and demand grows, Anthony said the organization plans to grow staffing accordingly.
Any open positions for its health centers will be posted on its website at www.connecthealthhva.org.
New patients are welcome, and all insurance as well as Medicare and Medicaid are accepted, but not required.
“The clinic operates on a sliding fee discount program, which is based on household income. Our goal is to provide high-quality, affordable and accessible care to meet the diverse needs of the community,” she said.
According to a release from U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, this project was included in the U.S. Senate’s Fiscal Year 2025 draft funding bills. The two successfully secured $772,000 for Martinsville Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness to expand access to medical, dental, and behavioral health services in Patrick County.
“We’re thrilled to see the Senate move forward on government funding legislation that includes essential funding to support our service members and military families, implement our seismic investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, promote public safety, invest in affordable housing, curb fentanyl trafficking, improve customer service at the IRS, and much more,” said Kaine, D-Richmond, and Warner, D-Alexandria. “We’re also very glad this draft legislation includes $125 million for communities in every corner of the Commonwealth to carry out community-based, high-impact projects that grow our economy and benefit Virginians. We are looking forward to advocating for these priorities and working with the House of Representatives to provide robust funding bills that address the needs of Virginia and the country.”
Connect Health + Wellness CEO Marcus Stone said expanding into Patrick County represents a significant step forward in the company’s mission to bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility.
“We’re excited to offer our comprehensive services at a brick-and-mortar location in this community and are committed to offering additional access to healthcare and improving outcomes for residents in the community,” he said.
County Administrator Beth Simms said the county is thrilled to welcome Connect Health + Wellness to the Patrick community.
“This development represents a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance additional access to essential healthcare services. By establishing a permanent presence here, they will not only provide consistent and reliable care, but also contribute to the overall health and well-being of our residents. This is a crucial step toward ensuring that everyone in our community has the opportunity to receive the care they want,” she said.
Anthony said the mobile clinic will still be used in Patrick and Henry counties as well as the City of Martinsville “in multiple different aspects – we will continue mobile medical and dental days throughout our region along with attended health fairs and other community outreach events to provide health screenings, etc. this mobile clinic program will continue to help us increase access to healthcare services,” she said.
Connect Health + Wellness was initially funded in 2005 through a five-year, $4.5 million grant from the Harvest Foundation as the Martinsville-Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness.
For more information, go to www.ConnectHealthVa.org, call (276) 638-0787, or via email at info@connecthealthva.org.
