Over the weekend the Centra Southside Medical Center wowed the public at its grand opening event.

The project had been ongoing for about two years in the shopping center where Roses used to be located.

Now, there is no sign of the old store; only a sharp-looking medical center that brings much-needed services to our community.

Not only is Farmville blessed with a hospital right in town, but now a medical center that will offer more options to patients. The $12 million 50,000-square-foot center will offer internal and family medicine, but also provide diabetes care, psychiatry, nephrology, digital X-rays, laboratory services and orthopedics and rehabilitation services.

Most importantly, the center will provide primary care for the Heart of Virginia.

This is a great opportunity for our community that will allow patients an extra option when seeking medical care.

The center will also be open for appointments or walk-ins until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and until noon on Saturdays. This will be convenient for working families or those suffering from an unexpected sickness.

Patients will no longer have to wait in the emergency room or until the next business day to be seen if their family doctor’s office is closed. Instead, they can head to the medical center and have their families treated in a more timely manner.

We commend Centra for working hard to bring the idea of a center to reality and bringing our community more timely and affordable healthcare.

The Heart of Virginia beats stronger and is healthier because of Centra.