What Separates Blue Ridge Health from Other Providers?

With each patient, we strive to provide comprehensive and compassionate healthcare, fueled by our mission, vision, and values. We believe that everyone has the right to quality healthcare, no matter what their insurance or income status is. Part of establishing a healthier community is providing access to excellent healthcare to those in need. We won’t stop until everyone has an equal opportunity to lead a healthy and sustainable life.

Mission

To improve Health, inspire Hope, and advance Healing through access to Compassionate, Affordable, and Quality Care.

Vision

To be a community-focused leader for health, education, and innovation by providing integrated whole-person care, advancing healthy lifestyles, and training an exceptional workforce while promoting workplace excellence.

Values

Everything we do is guided by the following values:

  • Compassion – we provide person-centered, trauma-informed care
  • Quality – we continuously focus on care improvement and the impact of our services
  • Integrity – we act honestly, ethically and make thoughtful decisions about the use of our resources
  • Education – we promote the education and development of healthcare professionals and serve as a health information resource for our communities
  • Recovery – we believe that hope and recovery are essential and unique to each individual
  • Diversity – we believe that dignity, inclusion, and respect strengthen our team and our communities
  • Workplace Excellence – we understand that skilled, committed, and passionate staff are indispensable assets
  • Collaboration – we expand our community support through linkages with schools, churches, and community organizations

How it Started

Blue Ridge Health is not just a health center. It’s a community  health center with roots in compassionate care for ALL of our region’s most vulnerable populations.

FQHC Status Information

This means that we are a non-profit, community-based health organization. FQHCs like Blue Ridge Health provide comprehensive primary care, as well as dental and mental health services to patients right in the community.

FQHC guidelines require over half of Blue Ridge Health’s Board of Directors to be actual Blue Ridge Health patients. This means that our organization and the care it provides to WNC is directly impacted by real patients and members of our communities.

As an FQHC, Blue Ridge Health offers the same high-quality healthcare services to the uninsured and underinsured populations of Western North Carolinas it offers to those with insurance. Blue Ridge Health prides itself in providing accessible, affordable healthcare for all.

FQHCs are not free clinics, but they do provide services to all people regardless of their ability to pay. Sliding-fee scales are available for all service types, including medical, dental, and more. Patients will be qualified for discount services based on family size and documented income.

Annual Reports

Among our Blue Ridge Health values is integrity. We strive to be transparent in our administration of services and our stewardship of funds. We are grateful for the trust placed in our organization in neighborhoods and communities across Western North Carolina. Our Annual Reports highlight our values, our roots, the services we provide, and the people we serve, in addition to information provided about revenue and operating expenses. In short, they are not just financials. They are the story of Blue Ridge Health across the years.

Governing Board

Barnett-Lorna-1
Lorna Barnett
Secretary
Cochran-Robert-1
Robert Cochran
Dillon
Jean Marie Dillon
Chair
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Karen Penny Gash-Pearson
Cheryl-Harbin
Cheryl Harbin
Joshua-Kennedy
Joshua Kennedy
Vice Chair
Renee-Kumor
Renee Kumor
Carrie-McBane
Carrie McBane
Ramirez-Juan
Juan Ramirez
Spiro-James
James Spiro
Treasurer
Weldon-Linda
Linda Weldon
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This could be you!

Are you interested in having a direct impact on healthcare in Western North Carolina? Volunteer to become a board member! Our organization is led by people who live and work in the areas they serve, offering unique insight into the concerns of our rural populations and allowing us to pivot at any time to meet the ever-changing needs of our patients. Contact info@brchs.com to find out more.

Leadership

Richard Hudspeth, MD
Chief Executive Officer
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Don Buckner, MD
Chief Behavioral Health Officer
Tammy Greenwell
Chief Operating Officer
Michelle Hogsed
Director of Quality Management
Brian Morton
Chief Financial Officer
New-Aaron-Ratliff
Aaron Ratliff
Director of Human Resources
MaryShell Zaffino, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Blue Ridge Health: Not just a health center.
A community health center.