Health News

HRMC recognized for maternity care

Haywood Regional Medical Center has been recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina with a Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

Racial and ethnic disparities are persistent and widespread across maternal healthcare, primarily driven by socioeconomic status, geographic location, and implicit provider bias. Compared to similarly developed countries such as Canada, Germany, and Australia, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate at approximately 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, with the MMR steadily increasing since 2000. According to the CDC, non-Hispanic Black women are two to three times more likely to die from preventable or treatable pregnancy-related complications compared to white women.

To help address these gaps in care and to help ensure the better health of mothers, The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association enhanced its quality evaluation for the Maternity Care program to address key factors driving the United States’ maternal health crisis, such as preventable or treatable pregnancyrelated conditions, high utilization of Caesarean sections, and racial and ethnic disparities in maternal healthcare.

For more information, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

Andria Smith, (left) director of Women’s Care Services and Rachel Hyatt, childbirth educator, at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

Harris hires nurse midwife

Harris Regional Hospital recently hired certified nurse midwife Emilee Lazo to Harris Women’s Care with locations in Jackson, Swain, and Macon counties.

Lazo completed her master of science in Midwifery at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing after receiving a bachelor of arts degree in French and International Studies at Berry College. She is fluent in Spanish. Most recently, Lazo practiced at Alivio Medical Center in Chicago.

Harris Regional Hospital is the only facility in the counties west of Jackson providing labor and delivery services. Lazo also serves as the women’s care provider at the Macon County Health Department for high-risk OB and OB patients.

For an appointment with Lazo or any of the providers, contact Harris Women’s Care at 828.631.8913 or visit www.myharrisregional.com.

New family provider at HRMC

Haywood Regional Medical Center recently hired Dr. Benjamin Stepp to join its staff. He will be offering services in family medicine to patients throughout Haywood County and beyond.

Stepp has been providing care in Western North Carolina for the last seven years and is now part of a great team of hospital-affiliated caregivers. He joins HRMC from Asheville, where he served a variety of patients and families.

“As a family practice physician, I get to do a bit of everything,” he said. “I enjoy working with elderly patients and managing chronic health conditions such as hepatitis C, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and more. On the flipside, I also enjoy seeing pediatric patients as they grow and develop.”

Stepp graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, then completed his residency at the Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville.

Stepp will be seeing patients at his offices at Haywood Family Practice – Canton beginning in February. Appointments may be made by calling 828.235.3023.

Health foundation updates priorities

Nantahala Health Foundation’s Board of Directors recently announced a comprehensive update to the organization’s funding priorities.

With these newly defined priority areas in place, Nantahala plans to launch its next grantmaking initiative on March 1. Nonprofit and local government leaders working to build a healthy, thriving community are encouraged to share their ideas by applying at NantahalaHealthFoundation.org.

Nantahala’s priorities include Access to Healthcare, Education priority area and Employment and Economic Security.

To that end, Nantahala Health Foundation has voiced a commitment to support organizational and community capacity building as identified by nonprofit and governmental service providers facing and/or addressing these focus areas.

For more information about Nantahala Health Foundation’s mission to work with nonprofit service providers and governmental agencies and their effort to improve social determinants of health throughout the region or to offer input about regional needs related to social determinants of health, visit nantahalahealthfoundation.org or connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.

ACA enrollment begins Feb. 15

Individuals throughout Western North Carolina have a new opportunity to enroll in health insurance for 2021 on HealthCare.gov, but only for a limited time. This new COVID-19 open enrollment period starts Feb. 15 and ends on May 15.

With job losses continuing to mount amid the COVID-19 resurgence, and millions of people having lost their job-based health insurance since the start of this public health and economic crisis, the Biden Administration has opened up HealthCare.gov to give people who need health insurance a new opportunity to get covered, but they must act quickly.

Individuals enrolling in a plan on HealthCare.gov are guaranteed to receive comprehensive coverage with no preexisting condition exclusion or markups. All of the plans available through ACA cover essential benefits, including doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, behavioral health treatment and maternity care. Consumers who sign up for coverage also receive free preventive care services such as immunizations and health screenings. Testing and treatment of COVID-19 are considered essential benefits and are covered by all HealthCare.gov plans.

People can get free help to assist them in choosing coverage that fits their needs. Call Blue Ridge Health at 828.692.4289 and schedule an appointment with a Certified Application Counselor before the May 15 deadline.

Gastroenterology services expanded

Haywood Regional Medical Center welcomes Amanda Morgan, MSN, NP, and Andy Steele, MSN, AGACNP-BC, who have joined its staff and will be offering gastroenterology services to patients throughout Western North Carolina.

Specialties include gastrointestinal disorders, constipation and diarrhea, liver disease, pancreatitis and more.

Morgan received her master of science in nursing from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She’s happy to move back home and serve the patients here in Haywood County.

Steele received his master of science in nursing, specializing as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Morgan and Steele are now accepting patients at Mountain Medical Associates. Appointments may be made by calling 828.452.0331.

Hospice hires new Haywood coordinator

Stephanie Jones, RN, is the new care transition coordinator for Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care.

“We are excited to have Stephanie into this new role, stated James “Chip” Wheat, Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care’s Executive Director. “Having the Hospice (comfort care) conversation is never easy. Stephanie has worked in comfort care for over three years, and now she is working with our hospitals and physicians to assist their patients dealing with chronic and terminal illnesses.”

Both Hospice and Palliative Care are comfort plans of care, meaning they are not intended to cure but to provide physical, emotional and spiritual comfort in the last stages of life. However, studies show that most Medicare beneficiaries do not utilize hospice until the last possible moment and so they do not benefit from the entire hospice team.

Jones is hoping to change this mindset.

“My goal is to give our physicians, patients, and their families a better understanding of the Hospice Comfort Care program. So many caregivers today do not know where to turn for help with their loved ones. I can help triage patients and find the best plan of care to keep them at home with their families at end of life,” she said.

To find out more or to schedule a consultation, contact Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care at 828.452.5039.