Since 1976, Wood River Health has served as a steady presence in Rhode Island’s southwestern Washington County and southeastern Connecticut, ensuring that rural communities have access to comprehensive, affordable health care close to home.
Over the last 50 years, Wood River Health has grown from a small clinic into a full-service Community Health Center. Today, Wood River Health serves more than 10,000 people each year, many of whom - including members of the Narragansett Indian Tribe - live in the area’s small mill villages, farming communities, and coastal towns.
In rural regions, access is often the first barrier to health. Transportation limitations, workforce shortages, and fragmented services can delay care and worsen chronic conditions. Wood River Health has responded by building an integrated, team-based model designed to remove obstacles before they become crises. Wood River Health offers comprehensive primary care, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and community resources, utilizing strategic collaboration to provide a wide range of services to its rural communities. Primary care at Wood River Health is enhanced by Express Care same-day appointment services for non-emergent needs, and proactive, team-based chronic disease management initiatives.
Oral health, including preventative and restorative dentistry, and integrated behavioral health are an important part of Wood River’s commitment to ensuring access and “physical, emotional and social well-being” for the community. In 2023, the health center participated in the National Network for Oral Health Access Integrating Diabetes and Oral Health Learning Collaborative, Wood River Health, strengthening collaboration between medical and dental teams and enhancing strategies to integrate dental and primary care services, helping patients to improve diabetes control and reduce long-term complications. Wood River Health’s care model includes integrated behavioral health services team and a collaborative partnership with Washington County’s Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC), to provide coordinated, comprehensive support for those with complex mental health or substance use treatment needs. Peer support, group therapy, and community health worker navigation reinforce continuity and recovery.
Wood River Health’s commitment to rural communities extends beyond the exam room. The Community Resources Team assists with access to coverage, housing support, SNAP, WIC, prescription assistance, and other benefits. The Housing Work Group is dedicated to addressing the challenges of affordable housing in Washington County. A new facility, opened in late 2023, allowed the health center to better serve its patients and increase community access to comprehensive health and supportive services under one roof, connecting geographically disparate communities with high-quality full-service care.
For fifty years, Wood River Health has provided essential care to ever-expanding rural communities with unique barriers. By integrating care, addressing social needs, investing in expansive care, and maintaining deep community roots, Wood River Health ensures that healthcare and social services truly meet people where they are.
This story was published in 2026.
