Carilion Clinic Opens Family and Community Medicine Practice in Bluefield, Virginia

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Carilion Clinic celebrated the opening of its newest Family and Community Medicine location in Bluefield, Virginia, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony with clinical teams and community leaders on Friday, Sept. 22.

The Carilion Family and Community Medicine practice (3 Westwood Medical Park in Bluefield) is a new primary care location with options for virtual connection to specialty care. Virtual visits will connect patients to General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Urology and Pulmonology Services.

Sheila Patel, M.D., transferred from the Carilion Tazwell practice to the Bluefield location. Dr. Patel is joined by a new team of experts, including a nurse practitioner, nurses and additional clinical staff. The Bluefield practice opens on Monday, Sept. 25, and new patients are welcome. 

The 2,931-square-foot space includes five patient exam rooms, with four dedicated to primary care and one to virtual visits with General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Urology and Pulmonology specialists. As a virtual care site, the practice houses two telemedicine carts featuring Tytocare technology. Clinical staff can connect Bluefield patients to specialists in Roanoke, permitting follow-up with providers without traveling far from home. The telehealth component was assisted by $363,000 in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds provided by Tazewell County in late 2020. The Tazewell Community Foundation donated the practice building.

“This new location will allow us to grow our services in rural locations and continue providing high-quality patient care to the region,” said Alicia Bales, senior director for Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital. “Patients can avoid extra drive time while receiving care close to home.”

The practice also includes a large workroom for orthopaedic casting and similar services. A lab and X-ray services are also on-site.

"This practice signifies improved primary care access close to home for our communities," said Michael Jeremiah, M.D., senior vice president and chair of Family and Community Medicine. "What’s really exciting is the opportunity to expand primary and specialty care offerings in an efficient, convenient way for patients."

"Expanding access to trusted primary care experts and specialists continues to be a priority for our teams," said Roger Roper, vice president of Family and Community Medicine. "With this project, we were able to customize a rural practice to benefit from virtual care flexibility to best meet the needs of our community. We look forward to welcoming patients onsite."

Practice hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more or schedule an appointment, patients can reach the practice at (276)322-6900 or visit CarilionClinic.org.