#medicalartspharmacy

TownTalk: Granville-Vance Health Dept. Director Lisa Harrison Pleased with Cohen Visit

November 9, 2023/by Bill Harris

When it’s added altogether, Granville Vance Public Health is getting $9 million in federal and state funds to be used to improve access to mental health resources and battle substance abuse disorders through a variety of programs for young people and families.

For GVPH Director Lisa Harrison, that’s a big deal.

“Our dream is that this is ‘difference-making’ money,” Harrison said on Thursday’s TownTalk.

Specifically, the health department has received $4 million – $1 million each year for the next four years – in federal money to provide behavioral health programs to the school districts in Vance and Granville counties to combat drug use and substance abuse. The $5 million award comes from the General Assembly that will create spaces within the Emergency Department at Maria Parham Health to safely provide care for patients in mental health crises and intensive outpatient services at Maria Parham’s Franklin campus in Louisburg.

“I could not be more excited about all of these opportunities to address these issues. It’s definitely an interesting and exciting time to be in this work.”

Part of the excitement comes from a special group of visitors that spent most of a day last week in Granville and Vance counties. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were the main attraction at Medical Arts Pharmacy Friday afternoon to discuss the importance of access to health care and more in rural America.

“It was such a wonderful opportunity” to host the two high-profile health professionals in Henderson and Oxford, Harrison said. “It was such an amazing visit and so much fun.”

Becerra and others stopped in at the Oxford health department for a roundtable discussion, during which Harrison said Becerra asked good questions of the local representatives and seemed engaged in the dialogue.

Then it was on to Medical Arts Pharmacy, where Becerra, Cohen and others offered remarks about health care equity and the importance of providing adequate health care in rural areas.

In health departments like GVPH, Harrison said there’s always more need than money to satisfy that need, at least from local and state funding sources. Under Harrison’s leadership, GVPH has been awarded federal grants totaling more than $6 million since 2015.

The networking and partnerships across agencies – local, state and federal – are key to providing the very best care in the two counties, she said.

As governmental agencies, hospitals, schools and others all work together for a common goal, Harrison said she believes it will make a difference in the overall health outcomes for youth and families in the community.

Hear the complete interview with Harrison at www.wizs.com

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WIZS Radio · TownTalk: Granville-Vance Health Dept. Director Lisa Harrison Pleased with Cohen Visit

U.S. DHHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Makes Stop In Henderson To Talk About Health Care In Rural Communities

November 3, 2023/by Laura Gabel

The secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, made a stop at Medical Arts Pharmacy this afternoon on behalf of his boss – President Joe Biden. Becerra was joined by, among others, Dr. Mandy Cohen, whose reminder during the COVID-19 pandemic to “Wear, Wash, Wait” became second nature for many North Carolinians. Cohen, who during COVID was secretary of the state DHHS, became the new director of the Centers for Disease Control earlier this year.

Chocky White’s pharmacy on Ruin Creek Road provided the backdrop for Becerra and others to talk about access to health care in rural communities and how Medicaid expansion in North Carolina will help to close a gap for those who need access to health care.

In brief remarks to the gathering, Becerra said independent pharmacies like Medical Arts do so much more than dispense medicine. “You’re dispensing love and care and family” to patrons who come in seeking advice and consultation, he said.

Medical Arts is among other pharmacies that participates in the billion-dollar Bridge Access Program that provides COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to people on Medicare, which falls in line with Biden’s pledge to lower prescription drug costs including a $35 cap on monthly insulin for diabetics.

Today’s stop is part of an effort to share with the American public “what we’re trying to do to let rural communities…know that they’re included,” Becerra said. He said the President wants to make sure that, in rural America, you do have access to health care.

And he praised Gov. Roy Cooper’s efforts to get Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, which Becerra said would mean an additional 600,000 on the health care rolls. He said rural communities in states that don’t have Medicaid expansion are 50 percent more likely to lose their rural hospitals.

But it’s not just access to health care, he said. In independent pharmacies like Medical Arts, pharmacists and staff treat clients with respect and dignity.

When White opened Medical Arts in 1971, he was the sole employee in a 600-square-foot space just a short distance from the present location. Now he has five full-time pharmacists, one part-time pharmacist and 27 other employees that work every day to meet the needs of clients across a six-county area.

There are two immunization areas within the pharmacy, and White said folks are welcome to just drop in and get immunized, which surely got Cohen’s attention.

Her persistence in suggesting that North Carolinians stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations has been elevated to the national level as CDC director. And now she wants to make sure that everyone get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, influenza and RSV.

“Right now is the right time,” Cohen said. With Thanksgiving just three weeks away, she encourages everyone to be immunized to protect yourself and others.

Mako Medical & Medical Arts Raise Over $1K for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

June 19, 2018/by Kelly Bondurant

With the recent hot, summer temperatures, Medical Arts Pharmacy and Mako Medical Laboratories picked the perfect time to partner together and hold an ice cream fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis.

Held at Medical Arts Pharmacy, 235 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson, on Friday, June 15, the group raised $1,100 in funds, with all proceeds benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Ice cream was provided by FRESH. Local Ice Cream, a mom and pop ice cream shop based out of Raleigh, NC.

“Medical Arts Pharmacy was excited to team up with Mako Medical Laboratories for an ice cream fundraiser to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Brandon McEachern and Brett Ross of Mako Medical Laboratories scooped ice cream, while guests enjoyed taking pictures with Mikey Mako,” said Cara White Kirby, vice president of marketing for Medical Arts Pharmacy.

“The City of Henderson was very supportive – from the Health Department to Rose Oil, we had a ton of people come out last Friday,” said McEachern.

“Business leaders from Charles Boyd Chevrolet, Rose Oil, Phillips, Dorsey, Thomas, Waters, & Brafford CPA Firm, Mayor Eddie Ellington, Henderson Councilwoman Sara Coffey and many others stopped by to support this great cause,” Kirby said.

Mako and Medical Arts’ mutual connection with Cystic Fibrosis made this focus an obvious choice according to Kirby, “Mako has a personal connection with Cystic Fibrosis and our pharmacy takes care of several patients from the community. Medical Arts is committed to providing the best pharmaceutical care for the people of Vance and surrounding counties, and we were delighted to be able to give back to our community in this way!”

“We are working hard to make a lasting impact in Henderson; this was one step in the right direction,” McEachern said.

Photos courtesy Cara White Kirby