Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Alzheimer’s Assoc. of Eastern NC Launches Direct Connect Referral Program

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-Press Release, Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter announced today the launch of its Direct Connect Referral Program.

This free service is designed to work together with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure that individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias receive the appropriate care and resources needed to improve their quality of life.

Developed in order to help provide a holistic approach to patient care, this program is the first of its kind in the Alzheimer’s community in all 51 Eastern North Carolina counties for which the Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter serves. Physicians and healthcare professionals at clinic offices, medical centers and hospitals throughout these 51 counties now have an opportunity to participate in the program.

Currently, only 33 percent of seniors age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease are aware of their diagnosis. Studies have found that one of the reasons physicians do not diagnose Alzheimer’s — or do not disclose a diagnosis — is a lack of time and resources to provide care planning. However, a disclosed diagnosis is necessary to implement care planning, a crucial element in improving outcomes for the individual.

Care planning has many benefits for the patient and their family, including:

  • Allows newly diagnosed individuals and their caregivers to learn about medical and non-medical treatments, clinical trials and support services available in the community — resulting in a higher quality of life for those living with the disease.
  • Leads to fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and better medication management.
  • Contributes to better management of other conditions that can be complicated by Alzheimer’s.

The Medicare billing code – known as 99483 – introduced in 2018, allows clinicians to be reimbursed for providing care planning to cognitively impaired individuals. In using this code along with the Association’s Direct Connect Referral Program, clinicians will have the time and resources to provide a comprehensive set of care planning services to people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. All that is involved is completing a one-page, HIPAA compliant form and faxing or scanning it to the Alzheimer’s Association.

“We are thrilled about launching our new Direct Connect Referral Program, which provides an easy way to connect a doctor’s patients with our organization’s care and support services,” said Lisa Roberts, executive director of the Eastern North Carolina Chapter. “We are deeply committed to supporting the family of people on their journey of diagnosis and treatment, while also adding value to the efforts of physicians’ offices. Our Direct Connect Referral Program is a win-win resource for all.”

Physicians and healthcare professionals interested in learning more about this program should contact Peggy Best at pbest@alz.org or at 919-241-5928.

Additional Facts and Figures: (https://www.alz.org/facts/)

  • Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.
  • Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s.
  • An estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with the disease, including 170,000 North Carolina residents, are living with Alzheimer’s, a number estimated to grow to as many as 14 million by the year 2050.
  • More than 16 million family and friends, including 473,000 in North Carolina, provide unpaid care to people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in the United States.
  • In 2018, friends and family of those with Alzheimer’s in North Carolina provided an estimated 538 million hours of unpaid care, a contribution valued at $6.8 billion.

For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, or the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern North Carolina Chapter, visit www.alz.org/nc or call 800-272-3900. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I Voted Sticker

Absentee By-Mail Voting Begins Monday for NC Primary Election

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, NC State Board of Elections

Beginning Monday, January 13, 2020, absentee by-mail ballots for the March primary election will be mailed to voters who request them. Any registered voter in North Carolina may vote absentee by-mail.

Primary Election Day – when voters select the political party nominees to appear on the ballot in the November 3 general election – is March 3, 2020.

“By-mail absentee voting officially launches the 2020 primary election,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “Any registered voter in North Carolina may request a mail-in absentee ballot for the primary.”

To vote absentee by-mail, voters must complete a 2020 State Absentee Ballot Request Form. For the 2020 primary, the form must be received by the voter’s county board of elections by 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

Voters who submit a valid request will receive a ballot from their county board of elections. The materials will include detailed instructions on how to complete and return the ballot.

For a one-page guide on how to vote absentee by-mail, go here.

Session Law 2019-239 made several changes to the absentee voting process. Changes include:

  • An absentee request form is now valid only if returned to the county board of elections by the voter, the voter’s near relative or legal guardian, or a Multipartisan Assistance Team (MAT);
  • The absentee request form must be mailed or delivered in-person to the voter’s county board of elections. Unlike past elections, request forms may not be emailed or faxed; and
  • If a voter needs help completing the request form due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write, and a near relative or legal guardian is not available, the voter may get help from another person, who must list their name and address on the form.

About the Primary Election

All five recognized political parties in North Carolina – Constitution, Democratic, Green, Libertarian and Republican – have primary ballots. Voters affiliated with a political party may only vote in their party’s primary. (For example, a voter registered as a Democrat may only vote the Democratic primary ballot.)

Unaffiliated voters may choose either the Democratic, Libertarian or Republican ballot, or a nonpartisan ballot, if available.

The one-stop, in-person early voting period for the March 3 primary begins Thursday, February 13 and ends Saturday, February 29.

 Uniformed or Overseas Citizens

Uniformed service members, as well as U.S. citizens living outside of the country, may request absentee ballots under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). For more information about UOCAVA absentee voting, visit FVAP.gov or ncsbe.gov/voting-options/military-overseas-voting.

 Multipartisan Assistance Teams (MATs)

Special assistance is available for voters living in care facilities, such as nursing homes. Upon request, county boards of elections will send a Multi-partisan Assistance Team (MAT) to help voters in facilities complete their 2020 State Absentee Ballot Request Form, mark their ballot, or serve as required witnesses.

Care facility coordinators or members of the public can contact their local county board of elections office to schedule a visit.

For more information about absentee voting, visit ncsbe.gov/voting-options/absentee-voting.

NC MedAssist Holding Free Mobile Pharmacy Event; Volunteers Needed

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-Press Release, NC MedAssist

NC MedAssist is holding a Mobile Free Pharmacy Event in Vance County, NC on February 21, 2020. The event, which is in collaboration with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, is open to any individual or family needing over-the-counter medications.

The event will be held at Shiloh Baptist Church (635 S. College St., Henderson, NC) from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Participants must be at least 18 years old to receive the medicine. No identification is required.

Pictured above, residents attend a mobile pharmacy event held in Warren County in 2019. (Photo courtesy NC MedAssist)

“Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is pleased to bring the Over the Counter Medicine Program back to Vance County,” stated Executive Director Val Short. “The OTC Give Away Day is expected to have a huge impact. Our goal is to improve the health of our community one person at a time. We know that even with insurance, many individuals cannot afford OTC products. The Give Away helps those individuals fill their medicine cabinets with needed items such as children’s Tylenol, cold medicine and even Band-Aids.”

“NC MedAssist is excited to host a Mobile Free Pharmacy event in Vance County,” stated NC MedAssist CEO, Lori Giang. She shared, “Together with our community partners, we are bringing free over-the-counter medications, like Tylenol and Band-Aids, to area residents. No one should ever go without medicine and the Mobile Free Pharmacy Program enables us to reach those who are unaware of our free resources.”

A sampling of the free medication offered at the mobile pharmacy events. (Photo courtesy NC MedAssist)

The Mobile Free Pharmacy events have served upwards of 800 people, at times. To ensure the event runs smoothly and that all participants are served by the end, many volunteers are needed. NC MedAssist is partnered with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation and other safety-net organizations to recruit community members to serve in volunteer roles such as pharmacy consultation, client ‘personal shoppers’, and sorters. However, the charitable organization is still actively seeking volunteers for the Mobile Free Pharmacy Event. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, contact Triangle North Healthcare Foundation at 252-430-8532.

At the event, information will also be available about enrolling in the NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy Program, which mails free prescription medications directly to a patient’s home. NC MedAssist’s overall goal is to help ease the burden for those in need; it is aiding people who are making the choice between buying food and purchasing life-saving medication.

Over the last fiscal year, NC MedAssist distributed over $74.4 million in free prescription and over-the-counter medication statewide. Of course, this would not be possible without the numerous, dedicated volunteers.

NC MedAssist is a statewide non-profit pharmacy, founded in 1997. The organization provides free prescription medication to low-income, uninsured North Carolinians. NC MedAssist offers three programs that address the needs of children and adults: the Free Pharmacy Program, the Mobile Free Pharmacy Program, and the Senior Care Program.

Learn more about NC MedAssist right now at www.medassist.org. You can also visit their Facebook and Twitter pages, or contact them to find out how you can help.

Reminder: Register Now for Chamber’s Jan. WOVEN Lunch & Learn

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and the VGCC Small Business Center welcome Roberta McCullough, executive director of the Women’s Business Center of NC to speak at the WOVEN (Women of Vance Empowered Networking) lunch and learn on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, at the VGCC Civic Center.

McCullough will present “Now That I Know,” discussing her experiences in non-profit/for-profit management as a woman and what she has learned from the experience. McCullough leads her team to empower women-owned/led businesses in 52 counties by offering tools to support and establish new businesses while generating sustainable profits and future growth.

The event begins at 12 p.m. and includes lunch.

The cost is $20 and registration is required by Tuesday, January 14, 2020. You do not have to be a Chamber member to attend, so bring a friend!

For more information and to RSVP, contact Sandra Wilkerson at sandra@hendersonvance.org.

Henderson Fire Dept

Henderson Fire Study Recommends Building Third Station

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

In a follow-up on the Henderson City Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting held Wednesday afternoon, City Manager Frank Frazier and Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell provided WIZS News with more details on the City’s recently completed fire study.

Henderson is currently served by two fire stations located approximately one mile apart: Station #1 at 211 Dabney Drive and the over 100-year-old historic Station #2 at 205 N. Garnett Street in downtown Henderson.

“After a fair amount of annexations over the last few years, we felt like it was time to review our station distribution and coverage areas,” Frazier said. “Years ago, we looked at a third station, but we felt like a study was needed to see what the data shows.”

The study, conducted by Management Solutions for Emergency Services based out of Greenville, SC, began in August 2019 with the pulling of station files dating back to 2010 – almost a decade’s worth of data.

According to Cordell, the study indicated that a third fire station was recommended for city coverage, with a suggested location around the Dabney Drive, 158 Bypass area.

“According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), engines are supposed to be able to respond within a mile and a half; that’s what they look at when they do ISO ratings. It is two and a half miles for ladder truck companies,” said Cordell. “A new station in that vicinity would give us 92% for a mile and a half engine coverage in the city.”

The ISO (Insurance Services Office) sets ratings for fire departments on a scale of 1 to 10 based on a number of factors that impact response time and safety, Cordell explained. The lower the department’s ISO number, the less risky your house seems to insurance companies. This can equate to paying less for your homeowners insurance in the long-run.

The City’s current ISO rating is a 2, a feat that Frazier said is owed to the hard work and dedication of the fire department.

“Eventually, building another fire station could help us get to a 1; that’s a goal,” Frazier said.

Getting a third fire station built would be quite the process as Cordell estimated a $2 million price tag for the land and building, with an additional $600,000 annual operations cost for the study’s 12 recommend department staff and equipment.

Frazier said it is a large expense and the City would need to look at additional ways to fund the project, including any available USDA or FEMA assistance.

“It’s a lot of information to be absorbed and you’ve got to look at all the parameters,” said Frazier. “Everyone involved needs to review this study in-depth and decide how to proceed moving forward.”

With Frazier set to retire from the City at the end of January, he said this will be a major task moving forward for newly hired manager Edward Terrell Blackmon.

Town Talk 01/09/20: District 3 School Board Challenger Sean A. Alston, Sr. On-Air

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Sean A. Alston, Sr., candidate for the Vance County School Board, and Jason Spriggs, Alston’s campaign manager and recently elected Henderson City Councilmember, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

Alston is running against incumbent Dorothy Gooche for the District 3 School Board seat in the March 3, 2020, primary.

Sean A. Alston, Sr. (pictured above) is running against incumbent Dorothy Gooche for the District 3 Vance County School Board seat in the March 3, 2020, primary. (WIZS photo)

“I’m running for the school board because I would like to be a bridge between the schools, the families and the teachers,” Alston said. “I want to be a part of a system that is already great.”

As the owner of Atwoz Bail Bonds and a bondsman for 20 years, a full-time student at NC Central University and a volunteer with the school system, Alston said he stays very busy.

“I go to school full-time, work full-time, am a husband full-time and father full-time,” Alston said. “I stay active.”

Alston received his associate degree in Criminal Justice from Vance-Granville Community College, an accounting degree during his time as a Material Control Accounting Specialist while in the military and is currently working towards a bachelor’s degree through Central.

Spriggs, who met Alston while campaigning for City Council, said Alston has what it takes and is making the right moves in his own campaign approach. “Sean is already in the school system. He’s been at the games and sponsoring different events in the school system for years now. He’s already doing the work of someone who cares about the children. Now, he’s trying to take it to a different level.”

Emphasizing his desire to be a bridge between Vance County youth and the board that enacts policy, Alston said, “I want to take my mishaps in life and let the kids know there is more to life than the streets, there is more to life than being a part; you have to make your own path.”

To hear the interview with Alston and Spriggs in its entirety, including discussion on recent events involving the school system, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

(This is not a paid political advertisement. Incumbent Dorothy Gooche is invited to participate in an interview of equal time with WIZS.)

VCS to Hold District-Wide Parent & Family Night at LB Yancey

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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

Save the Date! Tuesday, January 14, 2020, Vance County Schools will host District-Wide Parent and Family Night at LB Yancey Elementary School from 5:30 – 7 p.m. There will be snacks for all and childcare for those under 12.

Students will be performing, and two sessions will be offered. VCS is very excited about the sessions and hopes to see you there.

LB Yancey is located at 311 Hawkins Drive in Henderson.

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare

Cardinal Innovations, Baskerville Funeral Home to Offer Conflict Resolution Training

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-Information courtesy Cardinal Innovations Healthcare

Join Cardinal Innovations Healthcare on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, for a Conflict Resolution session to include discussion of the conflict and crisis cycle, positive communication strategies and ways to deescalate a conflict.

The session will be held at Baskerville Funeral Home, 104 S. Chestnut St. in Henderson, from 6 – 7 p.m.

For more information, please contact:

Baskerville Funeral Home, LLC – Charlie Baskerville, Jr. (252) 430-6824 or cbaskervillefuneralhome@gmail.com.

Monae Davis, Member Engagement Specialist, Cardinal Innovations Healthcare –Monae.Davis@cardinalinnovations.org.

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Water, Properties Committee to Meet Jan. 27

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Please be informed of the following Vance County committee meetings. Both meetings will be held in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

Water Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)

Monday, January 27, 2020, at 3 p.m.

–       Phase 1C refunds (Kittrell)

Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)

Monday, January 27, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. or immediately following the water committee meeting

–       Update from architects on Eaton Johnson building

–       Replacement of boiler in gym

VGCC Deans Recognized by N.C. State University

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

A pair of leaders at Vance-Granville Community College were recently recognized by North Carolina State University, where they are doctoral students in the College of Education.

Jeffrey Allen, VGCC’s Dean of Student Retention & Success, was named a Belk Center Fellow, while Angela M. Thomas, the Dean of Health Sciences, received the Edgar J. & Ethel B. Boone Adult & Community College Leadership Fellowship award.

Angela M. Thomas, VGCC Dean of Health Sciences (VGCC photo)

“I am excited about the opportunity to be a Belk Center Fellow,” Allen said. “I look forward to the opportunity to learn more about student success strategies from community colleges across the nation as the American Association of Community Colleges celebrates 100 years.”

Thomas was presented with her award by Associate Professor Dr. Tuere Bowles during a ceremony at the university in December conducted by the Belk Center for Community College Leadership & Research. Bowles described the leadership award, given to only one student per year, as “highly competitive.”

Thomas said she was honored and would “do her best to make the Boones proud.” The fellowship is named in part for Dr. Edgar Boone, the founding head of the Department of Adult and Community College Education at NCSU.

Allen, an Oxford resident, has been a member of the VGCC staff in various roles since 2012. In his current position, Allen provides leadership and oversight to the areas of advising, counseling, male success initiative, student activities and athletics, testing and tutoring. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at North Carolina Central University and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Western Governors University.

Jeffrey Allen, VGCC Dean of Student Retention & Success (VGCC photo)

Allen had a 14-year career in education at the K-12 level prior to joining VGCC. He is also the recipient of the 2016 Laura Thomas Award from the North Carolina Association on Higher Education and Disability (NC AHEAD). Earlier this year, Allen was named one of eight DREAM Fellows by NCSU.

A resident of Hillsborough, Thomas started her association with VGCC in 1997 as a part-time Radiography instructor, later becoming the program’s full-time clinical coordinator and then head of the program. Thomas was named VGCC’s Faculty Member of the Year in 2011.

As dean of health sciences since 2013, she leads a division that includes the Histotechnology, Nursing, Human Services Technology, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology and Radiography programs.

Thomas earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in Radiologic Technology from Pitt Community College, a bachelor of arts in Forensic Science from Guilford College and a Master of Science degree in Health Care Management from Ashworth College. Thomas is a graduate of the North Carolina Community College Leadership Program and completed the Executive Leadership Program through the College of Education at N.C. State University. She is also a recipient of the VGCC President’s Leadership Award.