CLAYTON, Ga. — MedLink Georgia has officially opened a new, consolidated healthcare facility in Rabun County, bringing expanded services and improved access to care for residents in the region.
The new clinic, located in Clayton, replaces several smaller offices and brings multiple services under one roof — a move leaders say will improve convenience and patient outcomes in a rural area where access to care can be limited.
“For me and the community, it means they’re now able to access more rural healthcare locally, where they’re at,” said Dave Ward, CEO of MedLink Georgia.
The facility consolidates five previous locations and adds new services, including imaging, pharmacy, expanded mental health care, women’s health and pediatrics. Ward said the organization also plans to continue adding specialty services that are not consistently available in Rabun County.
“We saw a need, and we met the need,” Ward said. “My vision is to continue to add more specialty services that the community doesn’t have here.”
MedLink, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has grown significantly since its founding in 1976. The organization now operates 34 locations across 22 counties in Northeast Georgia, serving about 70,000 patients and providing roughly 250,000 office visits annually, according to Ward.
The new Rabun County facility is already operational after a soft opening in late February.
For staff and patients alike, the consolidation marks a major improvement.
“It’s very difficult to put into words,” said Erika Olvera, assistant practice manager for MedLink in Rabun County. “But having everybody under one roof is amazing — not just for our benefit, but for our patients.”
Previously, services were spread across multiple buildings, making coordination more difficult for both patients and providers. Now, patients can see a primary care provider, receive imaging, visit specialists and fill prescriptions all in one location.
“It makes a huge difference,” Olvera said. “Patients can go see a provider, then go get imaging or see a specialist right here.”
The centralized facility also helps address barriers such as transportation and affordability, which can prevent patients from seeking care.
“Where people were limited by transportation or other situations before, this allows us to guide them through their care,” Olvera said.
MedLink offers services to insured, uninsured and underinsured patients, including a sliding fee scale based on federal poverty guidelines. Visits can cost between $40 and $65 for qualifying patients, covering services provided in-house.
In addition, the clinic includes an on-site pharmacy and participates in the federal 340B program, which provides discounted medications.
Ward said MedLink is also preparing to launch a mobile optometry clinic within the next 30 to 45 days. The unit will travel across the region, including Rabun County, to provide eye exams, prescriptions and glasses — particularly for patients who may not otherwise have access to vision care.
The new facility is expected to serve more patients as services expand.
“It gives them greater access to services they didn’t have before,” Olvera said.
The clinic is open Monday through Friday, with extended hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays.
