On August 2, a new, Roper-Saint Francis mission-based facility opened its doors at 5133 Rivers Avenue in North Charleston. The center will offer both the critical health and social needs of underserved and uninsured people.
One of the facility’s goals was to connect people to more preventative medical care and social services, rather than have them seek care through local hospital emergency rooms. In 2015, hospital officials set up a Transitions Clinic at RSF’s downtown hospital to help patients begin routine preventive health care. To-date, the program prevented more than 2,500 emergency room visits (about $5 million in the health care system).
The new, dedicated North Charleston RSF facility provides patients access to preventative health care, a clean, hot shower facility, a computer lab where they can apply for jobs and check email, a Success Closet, filled with clothes donated by RSF teammates, where patients can “shop” for an outfit for job interviews. Services at RSF Rivers Avenue are available by referral and appointment only. Other services include:
- AccessHealth Tri-County Network
- Primary care
- OB/GYN services
- Mental health counseling
- Social workers
- Routine labwork
- Paramedicine
CARTA provides convenient service right to the front door of Roper St. Francis Rivers Avenue.