In August, Cabin Creek Health Systems (CCHS) opened a comprehensive medical center on the Westside of Charleston offering multiple healthcare and community services. The building, which was originally a Kroger and then a post office, is located at 303 Ohio Ave. 

CCHS was established in 1973 by “coal miners who wanted healthcare close to home by providers who understood their needs.” In addition to the clinic in Cabin Creek, there are now health centers in Clendenin, Sissonville, Kanawha City, and Charleston’s Westside which is CCHS’s most substantial center. CCHS also has locations in multiple Kanawha County schools and the local health department.

The Westside facility provides primary care and dental services, behavioral healthcare, and medicated assisted treatment (MAT) for substance abuse disorders (SUD). Vision treatment will be available after more development. Throughout November, CCHS is establishing its on-site pharmacy so patients can have their medical appointments and prescriptions in one visit.

The primary care office has 11 fully equipped exam rooms and a procedure room for things like basic stitches and skin tag removals. The dental wing has four rooms for oral hygiene care, plus a room for root canals, fillings and other non-complicated procedures. The building has a main waiting room, smaller waiting areas for each care department, and two non-binary bathrooms.

In August, the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Program (CARP) moved from the Kanawha City annex to the Westside location. The CARP space has a separate outside entrance and treatment area at the clinic. The goal is to give patients a sense of privacy while getting support managing their substance use and related health issues. CARP patients attend three-hour appointments involving MAT, group therapy, individual counseling, peer support and vital checks. Many program participants are one, two, three, or more years sober.

One of the numerous benefits of the Westside facility is that clients can receive multiple health services on the same day if it best fits their schedule. Understanding that complete wellness has various aspects, CCHS has other resources at the clinic and is adding more. Jamie Lawhon, CCHS Certified Professional Coder, says this is part of the integrative model that staff follow. For example, hot meals are provided to patients who are there for extended periods or need food.

“Whether it is medical or whatever, we do not want anybody to be lacking in any way,” Jamie says. “So if we need to feed you, we are going to feed you. If you need something, we are going to give it to you. We just want to make sure that everybody always has what they need.”

There are plans for a physical therapy room with equipment and floor space for community members to use, and a free market will be set up for patients to access fresh produce. CCHS is also in the process of seeking daycare staff to watch the children of people at appointments. For individuals experiencing homelessness, financial problems, or other life struggles, additional resources may be available once speaking with a provider.

CCHS offers in-person appointments and telehealth. Patients needing financial assistance may be eligible for sliding-scale fees based on income. Anyone can start a financial assistance application by inquiring and presenting a few pay stubs.

Westside resident Scott McMillian used to travel to CCHS in Sissonville for his dental treatment. He is now excited to have his trusted provider available just a few blocks from home. He plans to use other medical services there to get multiple types of care in one place. Scott says he is impressed by all the resources offered at the center, especially with the daycare CCHS is working on.

“My kids are grown, but I remember—as a single dad raising a kid all on my own—bringing my two-year-old to a doctor’s appointment because there was nobody to watch,” Scott says.

“When parents live 750 miles away, they are not going to fly in to watch my kid to go talk to the doctor about something I am having. So, I would have to take my little guy in with me. They are going to have somebody to watch kids like while you go talk to your doctor about sensitive medical stuff. That is huge!”

CCHS Communications Director Travis Stephens says the Westside facility was planned with consideration of social factors like travel, health disparities, and community needs. According to Travis, many Kanawha City clinic patients were traveling from the Westside. Bringing a health center to the neighborhood would mean residents would no longer need to drive or take the bus across town.

When providers studied the community closer, they found disparities in public health data that showed a need for further care. The new building features a meeting room where leaders and organizations can host events or share resources.

Travis says he attends the quarterly Westside Collaborative Meetups where he learns more about movements CCHS can potentially work with to help better the lives of community members.

“I have been going to several of these Westside meetings and really getting to know a lot of these folks that are the drivers of the Westside,” Travis says. “I love the vision they have and how they come together, collaborate, and elevate each other.”

CCHS brings essential benefits to communities throughout Kanawha County, and the new Westside location expands access to vital healthcare services for the neighborhood. This location strengthens the ongoing efforts of numerous organizations working to improve healthcare access on the Westside, offering more options for both physical and mental health care. Stay connected with Westside Together to learn about the growing network of clinics dedicated to serving the Westside community.