Roanoke Rural Health Clinic holds open house

Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center held an open house to welcome the community into the new facility at the corner of U.S. 431 north and Main Street Oct. 3.

Visitors streamed into the new building, checking out the new offices and machines. They also enjoyed snacks under a tent.

Roanoke Rural Health Clinic had outgrown its former location on Price Street, purchased in 2011, so a new facility was constructed to house all the providers as well as a lab and imaging equipment.

This includes Dr. Mel Holmes and his staff from their offices below the old Randolph Medical Center.

Regional Medical Center serves as the primary healthcare provider for five counties, including Randolph County.

The board and administrative leadership realize the importance of quality healthcare close to home. “It’s our mission to provide quality healthcare to all the citizens of the area.” says J. David McCormack, president and CEO of Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center. “Not only will we continue providing quality family and general medicine, we will also have specialist physicians rotating through the clinic to make it more convenient for our patients.”

A ribbon cutting was held in conjunction with the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. Speaking were John E. Blue II, representing the Regional Medical Center board, Mike Fisher, mayor of Roanoke, and Joe Weaver, chief operating officer at RMC.

The center will have two physicians, Dr. Mel Holmes and Dr. Michael Robinson, and four nurse-practitioners. Specialists, such as a cardiologist, will come in on certain days.

The facility has a CT scan machine for situations such as concussions, kidney stones and problems with the gall bladder. Ultrasounds and x-rays will also be available.

April Anthony, one of the nurse-practitioners who conducted a tour, said they will take any walk-ins on the urgent care side. She believes the facility will be open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and 1-6 p.m. on Sunday starting in November. Labs can be done in-house and results quickly obtained, she said.

Dr. Michael Robinson, a general practitioner, said he has been traveling back and forth to Anniston and is glad to see the center open.

Blue said the Regional Medical Center is excited to be in Randolph County.

“We purchased the Rural Health Center when the hospital closed. Here we are going to have x-ray, labs, state of the art equipment,” he said, as well as great employees. He said he thinks the community is going to be well pleased.

They have an excellent relationship with the ambulance services and the aero medical service. If staff sees someone needs to be transported they have that pre-set up for the helicopter or ambulances, he said. During the open house activities a helicopter landed.

As a member of the Regional Medical Center Board of Directors for more than 20 years he is excited for the people of Roanoke who will  have their medical needs met, Blue said.

They will have immediate feedback through the labs. Some tests, just like in a hospital, have to be sent out for further study,” he said.

RMC has made it a mission throughout the years to branch out in other areas.

Fisher said  it was a great honor to be at the dedication. He has been working with RMC for a couple of years on this project and it will be a shot in the arm for Roanoke and he is so pleased they are there.

Weaver said he remembered seeing many in the crowd at the groundbreaking, which seems like it just happened. He thanked the board for the opportunity to bring the project to fruition.

Local ambulance owner Matt Knight said he has been dealing with them since they were at the Rural Health Clinic. The urgent care center will give them a lot more choices and equipment.

“I think it is a win-win for patients in the community to have this. I just hope citizens will realize it and utilize it and take the burden off our ERs,” Knight said.

The clinic sees patients Monday through Friday from 8 a.m until 6 p.m.