RHA Behavioral Health Urgent Care Celebrates One Year of Success

April 6, 2026

On April 1, 2026, RHA’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) in Lenoir, NC, reached its one-year anniversary! To celebrate the occasion, RHA staff hosted an open house with catering and refreshments. Local partners joined to tour the facility and celebrate our shared accomplishments.

In its first year, the BHUC served 820 individuals from more than 35 counties. The top service counties comprised Caldwell (297 people served), Catawba (109 people served), Burke (108 people served), and McDowell (89 people served). This accomplishment demonstrates the importance of access to crisis behavioral health care in rural Western North Carolina. Click here to see more data.

Behavioral Health Regional Director Laura McIlvaine says, “We’re so proud of BHUC staff for providing the compassionate care that has made this first year a huge success! This milestone inspires us to stay committed to providing life-changing support when people need it most.”

The BHUC, located in RHA’s Comprehensive Care Center, offers a 24/7/365 walk-in solution for people experiencing behavioral health crises. After an assessment with a behavioral health professional and registered nurse, RHA connects individuals with the right treatment, support, and resources for them. If a person needs inpatient stabilization, staff may transfer them to RHA’s Facility-Bases Crisis (FBC) center, which is in the same building as the BHUC. The FBC provides services for individuals withdrawing from alcohol and/or drugs or needing mental health stabilization.

If you or someone you know needs behavioral health services, find care near you at rhahealth.org/bh.