Rural Health Services

What Rural Health Services does

Rural Health Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) headquartered in Aiken, South Carolina, founded in 1971 to deliver primary and preventive healthcare to underserved populations in Aiken County. The organization operates three fixed clinical sites (Clyburn Center for Primary Care in Aiken, Women & Children's Health Center in Aiken, and Margaret J. Weston Community Health Center in Beech Island) supplemented by mobile units serving partnered schools and seven named agricultural farms. Service lines span adult medicine and geriatrics, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dental, behavioral health, optometry, podiatry, on-site pharmacy (with 340B pricing and drive-thru windows), and ACR-accredited imaging (X-ray, mammography, ultrasound), plus community programs including a CDC-funded Sexual Health Clinic at two locations and a Remote Patient Monitoring offering.

The technology stack consists of standard, off-the-shelf healthcare IT rather than proprietary platforms: athenahealth for the patient portal, RxLocal for pharmacy management with a mobile refill app, and ACR-accredited imaging modalities on-site. All locations hold Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition and the organization earned a Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) designation from NACHC in 2024—one of only 66 health centers nationally to hold this distinction.

RHS is funded primarily through patient services revenue (all insurance types accepted), federal FQHC grant funding under 42 U.S.C. 254b, 340B pharmacy program economics, and program-specific grants (notably CDC funding for the Sexual Health Clinic). The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and operates a sliding fee scale that ensures no patient is denied access due to inability to pay. Distribution is direct: fixed clinical sites, mobile units dispatched to schools and farms, walk-in and scheduled sexual health appointments, and a dedicated Facebook presence (@RuralHealthServices; @RHSexualHealthClinic). Patient acquisition is community-led, driven by FQHC mission, word-of-mouth referrals, and programmatic partnerships with schools, farms, and community organizations across the Central Savannah River Area.

Name

Rural Health Services

Legal name

Rural Health Services, Inc.

Website

https://ruralhs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rural Health Services is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center in Aiken County, South Carolina, founded in 1971, operating three clinical sites plus mobile units that deliver comprehensive primary, specialty, and community-based healthcare to underserved, uninsured, and agricultural populations under a sliding fee scale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Center Services

NAICS

Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Offices of Physicians (6211), Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (6219)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

School-Based & Community Women’s/Children’s Health Clinics (HLAFAJAO), Community-Based Preventive & Health Promotion Clinics (HLAFAGAO), Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB)

Keywords

• Community health center
• Federally qualified health
• Primary healthcare services
• Sliding fee scale
• Pharmacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Aiken

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Patient Services Revenue: Rural Health Services generates revenue through patient care services across multiple specialties (adult medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dental, behavioral health, optometry, podiatry, pharmacy, imaging). The organization accepts all insurance types and serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
2. Federal FQHC Grant Funding: As a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, RHS receives federal HHS funding and has PHS deemed status. This provides a base of grant funding supporting operations.
3. 340B Pharmacy Revenue: The 340B program allows RHS to purchase drugs at discounted prices and provide them to all patients at discounted rates. Savings generated are reinvested into health center operations and services.
4. CDC Sexual Health Clinic Funding: The Sexual Health Clinic is funded by the CDC, providing HIV testing, STI testing/treatment, Hepatitis C testing/treatment, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, and mpox vaccination services to the community.
5. Sliding Fee Scale / Self-Pay: Patients without insurance may be eligible for a discount based on household size and income through the sliding fee scale program. Free medications are provided to uninsured patients for certain conditions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rural Health Services is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center operating three clinical locations in Aiken County, South Carolina, providing comprehensive primary and preventive healthcare across nine patient service lines (Adult Medicine & Geriatrics, Behavioral Health, Dental, Imaging, OB/GYN, Optometry, Pediatrics, Pharmacy, Podiatry) plus community programs including a Sexual Health Clinic, School-Based Healthcare Services, Agricultural Health Program, Early Childhood Development, and Remote Patient Monitoring. Services are delivered regardless of ability to pay via a sliding fee scale, with 340B-funded on-site pharmacies offering 25-50% prescription savings.

Product overview

Rural Health Services is a private, non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) providing comprehensive primary healthcare services through a multi-location network in Aiken County, South Carolina. The organization operates a main facility (Clyburn Center for Primary Care) and satellite locations, offering patient services including Adult Medicine & Geriatrics, Behavioral Health, Dental, Imaging Services, OB/GYN, Optometry, Pediatrics, Pharmacy, and Podiatry. Community services include a Sexual Health Clinic, School-Based Healthcare Services with mobile units, an Agricultural Health Program for farm workers, Early Childhood Development programs, and Remote Patient Monitoring. All locations hold Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition, and imaging services are ACR-accredited.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sexual Health Clinic (SHC): Provides accessible, stigma-free sexual health care to community members of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), including STI testing, HIV services, and education.

Products and services

• Adult Medicine & Geriatrics Adult medicine and geriatric primary care delivered at all Rural Health Services clinical locations, including preventive care, chronic disease management, employment/school/DOT physicals, and same-day appointments for adult patients.
• Behavioral Health Behavioral health counseling services at Rural Health Services, providing encouragement, support, and guidance for patients making positive life changes, including treatment for ADD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders.
• Dental Comprehensive dental services including screenings, fillings, extractions, and periodontal therapies, delivered with a sensitive and compassionate approach at Rural Health Services.
• Imaging Services On-site imaging services at Rural Health Services including X-ray, mammography, and ultrasound, accredited by the American College of Radiology for image quality and patient safety.
• OB/GYN Obstetrics and gynecology services at Rural Health Services including ultrasounds, prenatal care, inpatient and outpatient gynecological procedures, and deliveries.
• Optometry Comprehensive optometry services at Rural Health Services including eye exams, eye health assessments, treatment and management of eye diseases, and therapeutic and cosmetic eyeglasses and contact lenses.
• Pediatrics Pediatric care at Rural Health Services for children from infants to adolescents, including well-childcare, sick care, sports physicals, immunizations, and chronic condition management.
• Pharmacy On-site 340B-funded pharmacies at all three Rural Health Services clinical locations, providing prescription drugs at 25-50% savings, free medications for uninsured patients with diabetes/mental health/antibiotic/heart health/blood pressure conditions, drive-thru windows, and the RxLocal mobile app for refills.
• Podiatry Podiatric medicine at Rural Health Services providing expert care for feet, ankles, and related structures in the legs, with a focus on diabetic foot complications.
• Sexual Health Clinic CDC-funded stigma-free sexual health care at two Rural Health Services locations (Aiken and Beech Island), providing STI testing and treatment, HIV testing and linkage to care, Hepatitis C testing and treatment, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, mpox vaccination, and sexual health education to residents of the Central Savannah River Area regardless of insurance status.
• School-Based Healthcare Services High-quality medical care and dental screenings delivered to students at partnered schools in Aiken County through mobile health units parked on school grounds with parental consent.
• Agricultural Health Program Mobile health program providing accessible and high-quality primary medical, dental, behavioral, pharmacy, optometry, OB/GYN, podiatry, and in-house lab care to seasonal and migratory agricultural workers at farms across Aiken County, including Titan Peach Farms, Costa Layman, Dixie Belle, Gurosik's Berry Plantation, J.W. Yonce & Son, Jerrold A Watson & Sons, Three Star Vineyard, and Walther Potato Farm.
• Early Childhood Development Comprehensive support and education program that fosters the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional growth of young children in the Aiken County community.
• Remote Patient Monitoring Healthcare monitoring service that allows Rural Health Services patients to be monitored outside of clinical settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25-50% prescription savings through 340B pharmacy program
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) / Health Center Advocacy NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRHS collaborates with NACHC and the Health Center Advocacy Network to advance the Community Health Center Movement and address the needs of patients and communities served. Through the ACE (Advocacy Center of Excellence) program, RHS integrates advocacy into its organizational mission and operations to ensure its community has a voice in critical policy decisions.
• South Carolina Department of Public HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by Carsyn Zambrano and Catherine Rudnick on the Sexual Health Community Advisory Committee, contributing to the SHC program serving the CSRA region.
• Aiken Youth EmpowermentsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by Tiiu Goode on the Sexual Health Community Advisory Committee, supporting SHC community outreach.
• Umoja VillagesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by Donna Wesby on the Sexual Health Community Advisory Committee, supporting community-based sexual health outreach.
• Aiken Center – Alcohol and DrugssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by Catherine Vance on the Sexual Health Community Advisory Committee.
• USC AikensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by Cheryl Virginia Harrison on the Sexual Health Community Advisory Committee.
• Community Medical Clinic of Aiken CountysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by Orion Jeter on the Sexual Health Community Advisory Committee.
• American College of Radiology (ACR)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRHS Imaging Services is ACR accredited. The ACR gold seal represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety, awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards through peer-review evaluation.
• Titan Peach FarmssupportingOthersOne of the farms served by the RHS Agricultural Workers Program, providing accessible healthcare to agricultural workers.
• Costa LaymansupportingOthersAgricultural farm served by RHS Agricultural Workers Program.
• Dixie BellesupportingOthersAgricultural farm served by RHS Agricultural Workers Program.
• Gurosik's Berry PlantationsupportingOthersAgricultural farm served by RHS Agricultural Workers Program.
• J.W. Yonce & Son (Big Smiles Peaches)supportingOthersAgricultural farm served by RHS Agricultural Workers Program.
• Jerrold A Watson & Sons (Watsonia)supportingOthersAgricultural farm served by RHS Agricultural Workers Program.
• Three Star VineyardsupportingOthersAgricultural farm served by RHS Agricultural Workers Program.
• Walther Potato FarmsupportingOthersAgricultural farm served by RHS Agricultural Workers Program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Augusta University Health: Regional academic health system headquartered near Aiken, providing acute care, specialty services, and physician practice across the CSRA — overlaps geographically with RHS and competes for some specialty referrals.
• Atrium Health (Advocate Health): Large regional health system with extensive primary care and rural health presence across the Carolinas — competes broadly for primary care patients and payer relationships in RHS's catchment area.

Direct peers

• Affinity Health Center: South Carolina-based FQHC offering primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy across multiple locations with sliding-fee access, sharing RHS's nonprofit, community-health-center operating posture.
• Carolina Health Centers: Federally Qualified Health Center operating multiple sites across rural South Carolina, providing primary care, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to underserved populations — directly comparable in scale, mission, and FQHC operating model to RHS.
• Lone Star Circle of Care: Texas-based FQHC with multiple sites providing primary care, behavioral health, dental and pharmacy with sliding-fee scale and mobile outreach — closely comparable FQHC model serving a similar patient mix to RHS.
• CareSouth Carolina: Non-profit FQHC serving rural South Carolina counties with a multi-site model, sliding-fee scale, 340B pharmacy, and comprehensive primary care specialties — a near-direct operational analog to Rural Health Services.
• Piedmont Health Services: Multi-site North Carolina FQHC delivering primary care, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy with mobile and school-based programs — comparable in FQHC structure, multi-specialty model, and community outreach approach.
• HealthPoint: Multi-site FQHC serving rural and underserved communities with comprehensive primary care, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy — comparable in mission, FQHC funding reliance, and patient access model.
• CommUnityCare Health Centers: Large multi-site FQHC serving Central Texas with comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy — comparable in operating posture, FQHC framework, and underserved-population focus to RHS.
• Coastal Family Health Center: Federally Qualified Health Center operating multiple rural sites across Mississippi with primary care, dental, behavioral health and enabling services — a direct peer in size, rural focus, and FQHC operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ruralhs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rural-health-services

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rural Health Services