Residents of McDowell County now have a more convenient option for routine medical care through the Tug River Mount View School-Based Health Center, located at 950 Mount View Road, Suite 500, in Welch. The center offers primary care services to students and families connected to Mount View, aiming to make health care more accessible in a county where transportation and distance can be barriers.

School-based health centers like the Tug River Mount View facility connect clinical services directly to the school community, reducing the need for parents and guardians to travel long distances or miss work and students to miss class for appointments. This direct access is particularly meaningful in rural areas such as McDowell County, where gaps in transportation and sparse provider networks have long complicated access to timely care.

The center is positioned to serve both preventive and primary care needs for the Mount View community. Families and students seeking more information or wanting to confirm current hours and available services are asked to call 304-436-4798. Locating the center within easy reach of students helps reduce the logistical burdens that can delay vaccinations, chronic condition management, and early medical attention for developing concerns.

Local schools and health providers increasingly look to models like school-based health centers to close local access gaps. By offering care on or near school grounds, these centers can support consistent management of conditions such as asthma or diabetes, help with routine immunizations and screenings, and make follow-up visits less disruptive to learning. For families without reliable transportation or with parents juggling multiple jobs, having nearby care can mean fewer missed workdays and more stable school attendance for children.

While the center’s presence addresses practical access issues, it also ties into broader community health goals: improving preventive care uptake, catching conditions earlier, and relieving pressure on regional emergency services that sometimes serve as de facto primary care in rural counties. The local availability of primary care can have ripple effects for school performance, family stability, and overall community well-being.

For residents of Welch and the wider McDowell County area, the Tug River Mount View School-Based Health Center represents a local, tangible step toward more equitable access to health care. To learn current operating hours and the specific services offered, call 304-436-4798 before visiting the center at 950 Mount View Road, Suite 500.