Need for Increased Workforce Among Hot Topics at The Vance County State of Healthcare Forum
By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer for Hire
Community leaders and state health officials met Tuesday, January 23 in the Civic Center of Vance-Granville Community College for an early morning breakfast and to share updates on the state of healthcare in Vance County. One common theme amongst the speakers was the urgent need of an educated workforce to meet the demands of healthcare in both the local area and in the state of North Carolina.
The forum, titled The Vance County State of Healthcare, was hosted by Maria Parham Health and included opening/closing remarks and guest introductions from Robert F. Noel, Jr., MD., a general surgeon in his eighteenth year of practice at Maria Parham.
Bert Beard, the chief executive officer of Maria Parham Health, was introduced by Noel as the first speaker. “Healthcare is something that effects everyone and has been in a constant state of change, which can cause confusion and concern for the people we serve. Our goal for the State of Healthcare program is to bring important information about the healthcare industry and those industries that work with and impact healthcare to our community. We value our partnerships in our community and in our industry and appreciate help in getting important information to our communities,” said Beard.
Beard spoke about population health, the shift in healthcare trends from a hospital-centered focus to a community-centered focus. He explained that hospitals could no longer focus solely on what was happening inside the hospital building, but must expand the focus to the health of the entire community.
Beard also shared updates on Maria Parham’s acquisition of the former Franklin Medical Center, which will be known as Maria Parham Franklin. The emergency department will be one of the first areas to reopen with a slated date of summer 2018. Imaging services including CT, MRI, ultrasound, x-ray and mammography are also scheduled to reopen along with the outpatient lab and a 13-bed geriatric behavioral unit. A new 20-bed unit is scheduled to open in 2019.
Stephanie McGarrah, vice president for public policy for the North Carolina Hospital Association, provided an overview of the healthcare industry in NC, the economic impact on NC health systems and NC workforce challenges.
McGarrah explained that while NC’s population continues to increase rapidly-the state was the ninth most populous in 2014-it ranks an abysmal thirty-second in the nation in terms of overall health. According to McGarrah, sources show that Vance County is considered amongst the most vulnerable of populations in the state with higher levels of poverty and higher levels of citizens without a high school diploma.
North Carolina hospitals and health systems have the unique challenge of serving all people, including the most vulnerable. “The health care industry is trying to determine how to address all health factors, including social determinants of health,” said McGarrah.
Another major issue facing the healthcare industry is that the demand for healthcare workers is outpacing the supply. McGarrah stated there are several contributing factors to this problem including the maldistribution of healthcare workers across the state, high level of worker burnout and new occupations being created by the emerging population healthcare model.
Vance-Granville Community College President Dr. Stelfanie Williams and Dr. Levy Brown, the vice president of academic affairs at VGCC, addressed the college’s role in helping educate the next generation of healthcare workers. According to Brown, VGCC currently offers 15 programs in curriculum and continuing education related to various aspects of the healthcare industry with the majority of graduates finding employment at Maria Parham Health or other local healthcare systems.
Williams acknowledged the unique challenge VGCC faces in keeping up with rapid changes in the healthcare industry, but cited Maria Parham Health and Vance Co. newcomer Mako Medical Laboratories as valuable partners in training an educated workforce.
Mark Benton, the deputy secretary for health services for the Department of Health and Human Services addressed the issue of Medicaid and the impact of North Carolina not expanding the joint federal-state insurance plan.
According to Benton, the state has since sought a revised waiver to the federal oversight agency to transform the Medicaid program. The goal is to have the first phase implemented by July 2019.
Benton also addressed social determinants of health and the devastation of the opioid crisis and stated that the DHHS “envisions a North Carolina that optimizes health and well-being for all people by effectively stewarding resources that bridge our communities and our healthcare system.”
The buffet style breakfast was provided by Triangle North Healthcare Foundation. Beard emphasized the importance that Triangle North Healthcare played in making The Vance County State of Healthcare possible and thanked Executive Director Val Short for being instrumental in the planning of the forum.
VGCC schedules leadership series for nonprofits
— courtesy VGCC
The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center is offering a new series of free seminars that provide essential management skills for leaders of nonprofit organizations. The “Packing Your Toolbox for a Strong Nonprofit” series is presented in partnership with the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, a regional grant-making organization that was established in 2011 as the successor to the Maria Parham Healthcare Foundation.
The six seminars include “Leadership Development for Nonprofit Organizations,” on February 8; “How to Write a Business Plan — The Most Important Part of Starting a Nonprofit,” on February 22; “Financial Management for the Nonprofit Organization” on March 8; “Developing Your Nonprofit Board” on March 22; “Fundraising 101 for Your Nonprofit” on April 5; and “Finding & Writing Grants” on April 19.
Each session will begin with lunch at 12:30 p.m. and will end by 3 p.m. The series will be held in room 7109 (Building 7) on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation will cover all costs of this series, including tuition, lunch and reading materials.
Melissa Driver Beard of Driving Force Relations, who has served as executive director for several nonprofit organizations, will be the instructor for four of the sessions. Ed Ormsby, former director of the Small Business Center at Edgecombe Community College, will teach “How to Write a Business Plan,” while Karen Kennedy, Community Development Manager for the City of Sanford, will teach the final session on grants.
Participants in the leadership program will be required to become clients of VGCC’s Small Business Center, which is free of charge.
Small Business Center Director Tanya Weary said that these seminars will be particularly helpful to new executive directors or new volunteer leaders for nonprofit organizations. Space is limited for each seminar. The deadline to register is Jan. 31.
For more information, contact Tanya Weary at smallbusiness@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3240.
Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/schedules/small-business-center.
–VGCC–
(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS. This is not a paid advertisement.)
McGregor Hall’s 2017-18 Season: Increased Ticket Sales & Exciting Performances
By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer for Hire
The weather outside may be cold and frightful, but inside the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center located on Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson an exciting 2018 lineup is bringing the heat.
The 2017-18 season began last fall with country music legend Lorrie Morgan, and the Center has been on a roll with great performances and exciting opportunities since. Ticket sales have been increasing and the support from both the public and the business community has been encouraging.
According to Mark Hopper, Vice Chair of the Board for the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation and McGregor Hall, individual tickets sales as of June 1, 2017 through mid-January of 2018 are up just over 50% when compared to the same time period in 2016-2017. Similarly, ticket revenues are up over 65% in the same time period comparison. Hopper believes this increase in ticket sales and revenue shows that the county and region are buying into the vision of making downtown Henderson a destination again.
In addition to increased sales, McGregor Hall is proud to have entertained over 6,000 students in educational programming in the past year. The Center has also partnered with Vance County Schools to bring Arts Alive! to the community. Arts Alive!, a talent showcase for students and employees of Vance County Schools, features dancing, singing, acting and the playing of musical instruments. According to McGregor Hall’s online calendar of events, the next Arts Alive! showcase will be held Saturday, March 24.
In February, the Center has a blockbuster schedule, including hit-maker Al Stewart, best known for the chart-topping songs “Year of the Cat” and “Time Passages.” Stewart will be charming audiences on Saturday, Feb. 17 and Southern Gospel legend Karen Peck and New River will be performing on Friday, Feb. 23.
McGregor Hall will also present “Masters of Soul” on Saturday, March 3, a top-quality Motown revue show that will feature the classic songs that made the Motor City sound famous. Hotel California, the original tribute band to The Eagles will also be delighting music lovers on Friday, March 16 with classic hits such as “Life in the Fast Lane,” “Desperado” and many more.
Tickets are on sale starting this week for the second annual Music at McGregor classical and chamber series, a set of three intimate concerts where patrons are seated onstage close to a talented lineup of performers. This year, McGregor Hall welcomes home John Noel, a Fulbright scholar concert pianist who grew up in Henderson; Michael Stephenson, a world-class soprano saxophonist and a founding member of the New Century Saxophone Quartet who is also a Henderson native, and vocalists Tiffany and Terrance Brown, whose gifted singing has filled both Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.
For patrons’ convenience, tickets for all performances are available for purchase in three ways: online via Etix, by calling the box office at (252) 598-0662 or in person at the box office. McGregor Hall recently announced a change and expansion to box office hours with the office now being open Monday through Friday, 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM, as well as one hour prior to show times. Ticket prices vary by show.
In addition to entertaining the community with performances, the Center’s hall and theater are also available for rental. Please contact the box office for current availability, facility specifications and rates.
McGregor Hall is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit and welcomes your tax-deductible contributions. According to Hopper, ticket sales account for less that 30% of operational revenue, and the Center receives no county or city funding. “Grassroots support keeps the dream alive, as over 50 business partners and numerous individuals generously showed with their contributions for the 2017-18 season,” said Hopper.
The gift of your time and effort are also welcomed. Volunteers to help with ushering, promotion, backstage assistance and other areas are needed and always appreciated. Please email info@mcgregorhall.org or call the box office to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Additional information on scheduled performances, including dates and ticket prices are available at www.mcgregorhall.org.
(WIZS contracted with the writer of this article Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer for Hire for publication here and on the air.)
(This is a news article, not a paid advertisement.)
HPD Search Yields Two Arrests 1-25-18
Press Release – January 26, 2018
On January 25, 2018 members of the Henderson Police Department Special Response Team and Vice-Narcotics Section conducted a search warrant at 1031 Maple Street, Henderson after receiving complaints of drug sales. During the execution of the search warrant 48.8 grams of cocaine, 104 grams of marijuana, three handguns, and U.S. currency was located and seized.
Kacey Hicks
Kacey Hicks, 33, 410 Julia Street, Henderson was arrested and charged with Manufacture Schedule VI Controlled Substance, Trafficking in Cocaine (2 Counts), Felony PWIMSD Cocaine, Felony PWIMSD Marijuana, Possession of Firearm by Felon, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He received a $300,000 secured bond and remains in the Vance County Jail pending a court hearing on February 5, 2018 in Vance County.
Vincent Hicks
Vincent Hicks, 29, 410 Julia Street, Henderson was arrested and charged with Manufacture Schedule VI Controlled Substance, Trafficking in Cocaine (2 Counts), Felony PWIMSD Cocaine, Felon PWIMSD Marijuana, Possession of Firearm by Felon, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He received a $300,000 secured bond and remains in the Vance County Jail pending a court hearing on February 5, 2018 in Vance County.
Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow
Vance County Judicial Redistricting Resolution Meeting Tuesday, Jan 30, 2018
According to a press release issued by Vance County, there will be a special called meeting of the Vance County Commissioners on Tuesday, January 30. It will take place at 8:45 a.m. in the Perry Memorial Library Farm Bureau Room located at 205 Breckenridge Street.
The press release continues that the purpose of the special meeting is to “approve a resolution regarding judicial redistricting.”
The importance of the resolution, if it passes, will be a demonstration on the part of Vance County that it wishes to remain in the 9th Judicial District and keep Mike Waters as District Attorney for the County.
The 9th Judicial District is comprised of Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin Counties presently.
Vance County Commission Chairman Tommy Hester called the special meeting here in Vance County.
Hester told WIZS News, “(Waters) has done a great job. We have a lot in common with those counties. We look at economic development, Boys and Girls Clubs, hospitals, there’s a lot of things involved.” He said having to go with a district attorney in a far away county “is not going to be as good as being able to have someone close by who you can work with, who’s worked with this county and done a great job for this community.”
He said he could not speak for the board because it had not voted yet but said “personally I’m against us being moved.”
It’s unclear at this time if the other counties involved will call special meetings also, not to mention local municipalities like the City of Henderson.
H-V Crime Stoppers HPD Crime of the Month Jan 2018
The Henderson Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying individuals involved in an armed robbery that occurred on January 15, 2018 at the Sweepstakes Casino on South Beckford Drive, Henderson. Suspect vehicle is described as a black in color four-door vehicle. One of the suspects was described as a white male wearing a half skull mask displaying a handgun. One of the suspects wore a distinctive backpack that we are asking to public’s help in identifying. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Zachary Phillips at 252-431-5170 or via email at zphillips@hendersonncpd.org. Callers may also call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or by using the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device. Callers may remain anonymous.
Authority: Chief Marcus Barrow
Please review the HPD photos below.
Connect NC Bond renovation projects at VGCC planned for 2018
— courtesy VGCC
Vance-Granville Community College is gearing up to begin renovations that will improve masonry rooflines, walls and bridges at the Main Campus using the funds allocated by the Connect NC State Bond.
Renovations to restore, repair and waterproof masonry will be placed out for bids in April with work scheduled to begin in May, according to a report delivered to the VGCC Board of Trustees at its bimonthly meeting on Monday, Jan. 22.
Trustee Donald C. Seifert, Sr., chair of the board’s Building Committee, reported that funding will come from $1 million of the funds allocated by the Connect NC Bond passed by North Carolina voters in March 2016. A remaining balance of $69,000 from county resources that has been used for structural renovations to roofs and masonry will also be available for the project.
Bids will be going out in March for the renovation of 3,200 square feet of space in the college’s newest building, Building 10, to accommodate a practical simulation lab for the Basic Law Enforcement Training, Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Services programs housed there. Connect NC bond money will be combined with a private donation to complete the project. The renovation may provide an opportunity for the college to expand the training it offers for public services.
At the Franklin Campus in Louisburg, the Welding Technology lab is being renovated to add eight welding booths with plans to complete that project this month. A demonstration area in a Welding classroom, adjacent to the lab, will be renovated and ready for use this summer. This project is being funded with Connect NC bond money.
In a general discussion on the college’s services to the community, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, VGCC’s president, cited efforts to help area business and industry.
For example, she noted, the college met with leaders of a new industry, Mako Medical Laboratories, to address their educational needs.
The college will begin meeting the needs of the newly announced industry through its Histotechnology and Medical Assisting curriculum programs, she said, with plans to add a Medical Laboratory Technology curriculum.
Mako, a Wake County-based medical diagnostic testing company, announced in November a decision to expand with the location of a facility in Henderson and the eventual creation of more than 150 jobs. The company is locating in the former Harperprints building with an initial 30 to 50 jobs, according to the announcement last fall.
“Our Histotechnology and Medical Assisting programs will be a great start for them,” she added. “We’ve been able to sit down with them. We had about 10 of our employees with the college meet with their senior leaders and talk about how they are going to grow and how Vance-Granville can serve them.”
“It’s a great company,” she added. “I think we are very fortunate to have them.”
In other action:
• In her report to the board, Dr. Williams highlighted recent accomplishments and opportunities at the college, citing in particular recent efforts of VGCC’s Pharmacy Technology students leading service projects to provide relief to people in the Caribbean who were affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and a partnership with police and a pharmacy in Creedmoor for a drug collection event for people to dispose of outdated and unused prescription drugs. Similarly, Dr. Williams noted, college students collected school supplies and books for children affected by domestic violence, citing a service project by the Alpha Sigma Chi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
• The board gave approval to Mid-Year Amendments to the 2017-2018 Budget as presented by Trustee Abdul Rasheed, chair of the Budget Committee. The adjustments were made to account for $1,834,568 in carryover funds from the previous year and grant funding.
• In the reports of the Curriculum Committee, chaired by Trustee Barbara Cates Harris, approval was given to a course to be offered at correctional facilities in Butner, Bunn and Manson, and an Accountability and Integrity Plan for Workforce Continuing Education was approved by the board.
• Trustee L. Opie Frazier, Jr., chair of the board’s Investment Committee, reported on continued growth of the college’s investments.
• An informational report on new employees, retirements, resignations and changes in positions was provided by Trustee Sara Wester, chair of the board’s Personnel Committee.
Board of Trustees Chair Danny W. Wright presided over the meeting.
The Board of Trustees will hold its next regular meeting on March 19 at the Main Campus.
— VGCC —