Despite a few storm clouds overhead, Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) officially broke ground today on a new healthcare facility in Raceland, Kentucky—offering a much-needed boost to medical access in Greenup County and the broader rural Appalachian region.
The new SOMC Raceland Family Practice & Specialty Associates is set to open in 2026 on a four-acre plot purchased from the site of the old Raceland racetrack. The 15,000-square-foot facility will offer:
- Primary Care, Orthopedics, and General Surgery appointments
- Walk-in visits
- X-ray and Lab Services
- A community pharmacy with a drive-thru
This development is especially welcome in light of the ongoing healthcare access crisis in Appalachia. Since the 2020 closure of Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Greenup County has been without a full-service hospital. Residents have had to travel significant distances for even basic care, putting stress on both patients and regional emergency services.
Earlier this year, King’s Daughters Health System announced plans to invest $3.5 million into expanding outpatient services at the former Bellefonte Centre and budgeted an additional $7 million to construct a new medical office building—another step toward bridging the healthcare gap, though neither King’s Daughters nor SOMC have plans for a full-service hospital at this time.
The new SOMC facility aims to fill critical service gaps for local families, offering both routine care and specialized treatment options in a convenient location. It’s a step forward—but for many in rural Kentucky, it also highlights how far the region still has to go when it comes to accessible, comprehensive healthcare.
As one Raceland official put it, “This isn’t just a medical facility—it’s a lifeline.”
