United Community Bank makes $25,000 donation to CommWell Health

By RANDY CAPPS

FOUR OAKS — House calls used to be commonplace, as your friendly neighborhood doctor would drop by, medical bag in hand, to check on his patients.

Thanks to a recent $25,000 donation from United Community Bank and grant funding from Direct Health, CommWell Health is bringing that kind of up-close-andpersonal medical care to the residents of Johnston County and the surrounding area.

The funds helped purchase and equip a new mobile medical unit which can be converted for medical, dental and COVID-19 related treatments — as well as disaster relief efforts.

The new vehicle stood tall in the background recently as CommWell held a ceremony to award United Community Bank with the Eagle of Community Health Award for the donation, and for the other ways in which the two entities have partnered.

“We would not be here if it were not for United Community Bank,” CommWell Health CEO Pamela Tripp said. “We were able to purchase this property (from them), move our operations here and add on a nice facilities building. But it did not just stop there, our partnership with UCB. ... Our partnership helps us meet our community’s needs, and we have behind us today, a brandnew, right off the floor mobile medical unit that will service six counties and our school systems with medical, dental and behavioral health services.

“When we entered into getting a new mobile unit, we had to equip it. We had to make sure we had the right equipment on board to serve the clients that we have. Our foundation at CommWell Health developed a campaign for the mobile unit, called Miles for Smiles, because we needed to buy the dental equipment for the unit. Again, United Community Bank partnered with us and donated a gift of $25,000 to help us equip the dental part of the unit. I just want to thank them so much for being true Eagles of community health.”

CommWell has made plenty of changes to the property, both inside and out, on U.S. 301 since acquiring it from UCB. Jeff Pope, Johnston County President of United Community Bank, walked through his former administration building after the ceremony, praising the new look and layout of the property.

“I’d like to welcome CommWell, and thank them for allowing Four Oaks to be their home,” he said. “I don’t think the Town of Four Oaks could have a better corporate partner than what I’ve seen out of CommWell, and we’re very fortunate to be able to partner with this group on a process that will make a true difference in a lot of people’s lives. We’re just honored to be a part of it.”

The organization has big plans for the unit, according to its leadership team.

“From a behavioral health standpoint, we just value what this mobile unit can do for us,” Christy Hawley, director of behavioral health, said. “This unit will allow us to go deeper into our communities to provide services to those who need them.”

Tiffany Horne, senior director of nursing and infectious disease control, echoed those sentiments.

“I just want to say that the medical mobile unit is going to provide an invaluable contribution to our community,” she said. “With the pandemic, we are dedicated to serving our clients where they are, and dedicated to providing COVID care, COVID testing and COVID vaccinations and because of United Community Bank, we will be able to go into those communities and support patients in their setting.”

CommWell has had a mobile dental unit since 2017, so Dr. Rachel Locey knows just how valuable it can be to bring quality dental care to communities.

“We can really offer a full scope of dental services, especially to children in schools who otherwise would not have access to care,” she said. “We’re looking forward to more opportunities to serve the community.”

So, it’s a throwback to a simpler time. But instead of bringing a small leather bag, CommWell’s bringing a mobile medical unit the size of a RV to meet the needs in the community.