Urgent care facilities in western North Carolina have started to reopen after being closed due to Hurricane Helene, providing much-needed medical care to residents who were without access to food, water, and electricity. FastMed Urgent Care locations in Candler and Asheville have opened their doors, using temporary water systems and generators to operate. Other urgent care centers in Boone and Wilkesboro have also reopened. The clinics have seen an increase in patients seeking treatment for various ailments and emergency prescription refills. Mission Hospital in Asheville, the primary hospital in the area, is slowly recovering after the storm, with more food and water infrastructure being restored. The reopening of these urgent care facilities has provided a crucial lifeline for local residents, allowing them to access medical care quickly and easily without having to wait in long emergency room lines. The focus for these clinics is on providing accessible and convenient health care to those in need during the recovery process. Elena Gherasim, a resident of West Asheville, expressed gratitude for the reopening of the urgent care facilities, as it allowed her to quickly seek medical attention for her son and avoid the long wait times at the hospital.
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