About Us

A Legacy of Independence and Comprehensive Care

Founded in 1978, The Family Health Centers is the largest physician-owned family practice in Western North Carolina.

We’re proud to provide patients with individualized primary care without the complexity of a traditional healthcare system.

We meet our patients where they are physically, emotionally, and, at all stages of life. This means specialized medical care for childhood, the teenage years, adulthood, and services tailored for men and women, transitioning people, aging patients, and those managing chronic diseases.

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Services & Care Options

  • Annual Physicals
  • Chronic Disease Management
  • Immunizations
  • Wellness Exams & Well-Child Exams
  • School, Sports, Corporate and DOT Physicals
  • Medication Reviews with in-house Pharmacist
  • Headache Clinic
  • Behavioral Health Consultations
  • Lifestyle Medicine Program

On-site, ancillary services include:

  • Laboratory Testing Services
  • Diagnostic Radiology (X-Ray)
  • Bone Density Screenings
  • Diagnostic Ultrasound
  • Cardiac and Pulmonary Diagnostic Testing

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Why establish with a family physician?

Unlike physicians who specialize in treating one particular organ or disease, your family physician is uniquely trained to care for you as a whole person, regardless of your age or sex. In addition to diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses, we provide routine health screenings and counseling on lifestyle changes in an effort to prevent illnesses before they develop.


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The Family Health Centers Difference

There are reasons why The Family Health Centers has a reputation of being there for our community. Our culture revolves around quality and innovation. Our practice was one of the first physician groups to improve patient care by converting from paper records to a full electronic medical record. We were the first NCQA-certified “Patient Centered Medical Home” in Western North Carolina. Because we are smaller than a healthcare system, we can typically spend more time with patients than most other practices.


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If you need to see a Specialist

Your Family Health Centers provider will first evaluate your situation in-person. Next your provider will refer you to someone they know and with whom they have a collaborative relationship. If you have concerns about choosing a specialist, your doctor can help you sort through and prioritize your options. This is another way that The Family Health Centers serves as your “Medical Home.” Your family doctor not only manages your care at The Family Health Centers, she or he also keeps track of the care provided to you by specialists.

Bruce Elliston

Bruce Elliston, MD founded Asheville Family Health Center in 1978, now The Family Health Centers of Asheville, Arden & Hominy Valley. Dr. Elliston was one of the first attending physicians in the new specialty of Family Practice at the MAHEC Residency Program in 1976.