Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center's patient based Board of Directors, Congressman G.K. Butterfield, and other community representatives plan to cut the ribbon June 1  at 2pm on the new Creswell Primary Care in Creswell.  The clinic opened April 11 off Highway 64 in the former Washington County Medical Clinic building.  "This grand opening celebration is our way of saying 'thank you' to the many people who helped make this possible," said Kim Schwartz, CEO, Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center.  "We've had tremendous community support."

The Creswell clinic was funded by a $200,000 Golden LEAF grant which covered opening and operations, as well as a $25,000 planning grant by the Kate B. Reynolds Trust.  

Creswell Primary Care and RCCHC are part of North Carolina's Community Health Center Association.  Serving federally-designated medically underserved areas and populations, community health centers provide coordinated primary and preventive services that promote reductions in health disparities for low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities and other underserved populations.  There are currently 38 centers serving more than 450,000 patients in 70 North Carolina counties.  

"We've received countless positive comments from residents in Creswell and the surrounding area since opening in April.  I strongly believe having a primary care provider available 5 days a week so people can schedule appointments and walk in the clinic when they're sick is vital to the health of this community.  We want them to make us our medical home for their entire family," said Guy Simmons, Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center, Board Chair. 

RCCHC, an FQHC since May 2005, provides comprehensive primary care and pediatric services with locations in Ahoskie and Murfreesboro (Hertford County) and Colerain (Bertie County) North Carolina.  As a designated community health and migrant center, RCCHC's mission is to provide comprehensive care that reduces health disparities for the Roanoke Chowan area.  The Hertford County Student Wellness Center which operates during the school year and allows students to seek behavioral health services without having to leave campus, reducing absenteeism and in turn keeping kids in the classroom giving them a greater chance to successfully complete curriculum requirements.

Creswell Primary Care is open Monday thru Thursday 8am.-5pm. and on Friday, 8am-4pm. Call 252-797-0135 for more information or to make an appointment.  Walk-In appointments are available.

This health center is a HRSA Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b.