Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center

A physician in a white coat is sitting in front of a computer to do a virtual appointment via telehealth

COVID breathes life into North Carolina’s rural telehealth, but broadband remains an obstacle

May 14, 2020 by Liora Engel-Smith

COVID breathes life into North Carolina’s rural telehealth, but broadband remains an obstacle - North Carolina Health News

The coronavirus pandemic forced providers to see many of their patients virtually. In rural North Carolina, where the broadband infrastructure is lacking, that transition can be challenging.

By Liora Engel-Smith Though he doesn’t see patients face-to-face these days, Dr. Charles Sawyer still carries his prescription pad. The 87-year-old doesn’t often write prescriptions by hand anymore, but there’s something about the familiar feel of the pad in his coat pocket, he said. Sawyer, a primary care physician at Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center, […]

Test for coronavirus (COVID-19) in padded box. Aside from handwashing and social distancing, there aren't many specific measures for coronavirus.

NC health centers ramp up COVID-19 outreach to vulnerable patients

March 9, 2020 by Liora Engel-Smith

NC health centers ramp up COVID-19 outreach to vulnerable patients - North Carolina Health News

As coronavirus spreads across the nation, health centers across the state are racing to educate some of their most vulnerable patients.

By Liora Engel-Smith As the state contends with its second COVID-19 case, this one in Chatham County, North Carolina’s community health centers are stepping up their outreach to some of the most vulnerable members of every community: the uninsured and medically fragile. By recent count, more than a million North Carolinians lacked health insurance. About […]

A doctor and patient in a community health center

Community health centers are again on the brink of federal funding lapse

December 11, 2019 by Liora Engel-Smith

Community health centers are again on the brink of federal funding lapse - North Carolina Health News

The federal budget -- and with it funding for community health centers -- is set to lapse on Dec. 21.

By Liora Engel-Smith Across North Carolina, community health centers are contending with what has become an unpleasant tradition: planning for a potential federal funding lapse. The nation’s safety net clinics — 250 of which are in North Carolina — serve thousands of uninsured and underinsured patients and enjoy bipartisan support. But a battle between Congress […]

shows signs advertising rural broadband at a lonely rural crossroads

Rural Broadband Needs Highlighted at Legislature

March 22, 2018 by Rose Hoban

Rural Broadband Needs Highlighted at Legislature - North Carolina Health News

Rural mayors argue that broadband access is needed to improve education, economic development and healthcare access. They're asking legislators to make it easier for them to partner with telecom companies to get broadband to more areas of the state lacking services.

By Rose Hoban When William Pitt gets an EMS call, it comes to his phone in the form of a readout printed in red lettering on a black background. “This is actually showing me which station is responding to the call, where the location is, the cross streets,” said Pitt, who’s been a volunteer first […]

red barn on a hillside, next to a field of grass. It's an analogy for rural health or the rural-urban divide.

CDC report details health disparities between rural minorities

November 28, 2017 by Taylor Knopf

CDC report details health disparities between rural minorities - North Carolina Health News

Health disparities exist between all types of demographic groups, with many contributing factors such as ethnicity, income, education and where you live.

By Taylor Knopf For years, studies have pointed out the gaps between rural and urban communities when it comes to health outcomes. But there are also significant health divides between ethnicities within rural America, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. Though urban areas still have more diverse populations, the study […]

“Distracted” Lawmakers Overlook Clinic, Children’s Health Bills

September 25, 2017 by Rose Hoban

“Distracted” Lawmakers Overlook Clinic, Children’s Health Bills - North Carolina Health News

Although all the action on Capitol Hill in Washington seems to be about repealing the Affordable Care Act, there are a number of vital health care bills on a short deadline.

By Rose Hoban Even as health care advocates worry about whether the most recent Obamacare “repeal and replace” legislation moving through Congress has a chance at passage, leaders at the state’s community and rural health centers are worried about the absence of bills that could seal their fates. Kim Schwartz, CEO of the Roanoke Chowan […]

photo of crowd holding signs with the US Capitol in the background

Rural Providers, Advocates Worry Over Graham-Cassidy

September 25, 2017 by Rose Hoban

Rural Providers, Advocates Worry Over Graham-Cassidy - North Carolina Health News

Clinic leaders in rural North Carolina say the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare repeal bill could sink them and they’re doing everything they can to push back.

By Rose Hoban North Carolina’s Medicaid advocates like Pamela Tripp have spent a lot of time in their cars this past week. Tripp, the CEO of CommWell Health, a community health center headquartered in Sampson County, drove back and forth to Washington, DC this past week to advocate for the defeat of the newest attempt […]

Safety Net Clinic Providers Make Their Case at NCGA

February 23, 2017 by Rose Hoban

Safety Net Clinic Providers Make Their Case at NCGA - North Carolina Health News

Clinic leaders walked the halls on Jones St. looking for help in this year's state budget.

By Rose Hoban Across North Carolina, more than 1.1 million working-age people lack health insurance and access to care. And across North Carolina, there’s a patchwork of community health clinics, rural health clinics and free clinics that provide a safety net for those folks. Many of the folks served by those clinics are rural people, […]

Community Health Centers Partner with Docs, Managed Care in Reform Plan

January 11, 2017 by Rose Hoban

Community Health Centers Partner with Docs, Managed Care in Reform Plan - North Carolina Health News

As the state prepares to reform Medicaid, providers are scrambling to find ways to survive and even thrive. By Rose Hoban In a move designed to safeguard their survival, the state’s community health centers have agreed to a partnership with one of the nation’s largest for-profit managed care companies to provide and coordinate care to […]

talking to a psychiatrist over the web while in the emergency department, telehealth

Removing Barriers to Virtual Doctor Visits

July 2, 2015 by Editor

Removing Barriers to Virtual Doctor Visits - North Carolina Health News

In the digital age, telehealth should be a no-brainer. But barriers have slowed adoption by doctors and patients. Telehealth enthusiasts are looking for some help from the legislature to lower some of those barriers.

By Rose Hoban When Cody Hand’s 3-year-old daughter fell and chipped her front tooth, he took her to the emergency department at WakeMed Hospital. But the doctor there was unsure what to do about her tooth, so Cody dialed up a friend who’s a pediatric dentist. The doctor, dentist and Hand then did a FaceTime […]

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