RIDGE SPRING – In spite of a cold, driving rain, a warm and cozy Peach Tree Medical Center opened its doors to enthusiastic patients on Monday morning following an official ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by staff physicians, Edgefield County Hospital board members and local dignitaries.

In fact, patients were ready to be seen even before the building’s ribbon was even cut, a positive sign even during less than encouraging weather outside.

“It’s beautiful in here,” said Dr. Beth Gordineer, one of the center’s physicians. “And we already had patients coming in this morning so that’s great. We have three exam rooms and at first we’ll be open two and a half days a week and then as the business increases we’ll go to four and a half days. We’re really excited to be here.”

Residents of Ridge Spring, including Town Councilwoman Geneva Harris, share her enthusiasm.

“Oh my goodness it’s so wonderful,” she said. “This was something we really needed here. This will help to bring more people into the town as well. This is so nice.”

That community aspect of having hometown care was all a part of what the opening of Peach Tree medical center was all about according to Nurse Practitioner Anne Geddes, who will be one of two nurse practitioners (along with Nurse Practitioner Laura Gunder) working out of the center initially.

“Giving people a medical home is what this is all about,” she said. “That’s what we’re excited about. We are also looking to bring over the free medical clinic we offer in Edgefield once each month to Ridge Spring as well.”

Not all those who walked through the doors were on hand for the ribbon-cutting or even to be seen – at least not yet anyway.

One gentleman came in and stated that he was there simply to “check things out” before adding that if he could be seen at Peach Tree Medical Center instead of driving out of town that it would suit him just fine.

“Well, that’s why we’re here,” he was told by a staff member. “That’s why we’re here.”