Health News

AMC’s DAISY Award Winners

Congratulations to Angel Medical Center’s 2021 DAISY Award recipients Peggy Ramey, RN, CNOR, and DAISY Nurse Leader Award recipient Angie Oates, RN, CEN, CPEN. Peggy serves as a nurse in the hospital’s surgical services department and Angie is a nurse in the Emergency Department. Their awards were presented recently at a ceremony at Angel Medical Center. The DAISY Foundation is a national nonprofit that honors nurses and the amazing care they provide to patients and families.

Peggy Ramey Angie Oates

Health plans now more affordable

HealthCare.gov announces new more affordable health insurance eligibility through temporary unemployment provisions within the American Rescue Plan.

As of July 1, households with anyone who received at least one week of unemployment during 2021 are eligible to receive advanced premium tax credits that will qualify them for a $0 to $10 plan on the Marketplace exchange. People qualified for Medicaid (excluding family planning), Medicare, employer-based coverage, and VA benefits are not eligible. The deadline for this enrollment is Aug. 15.

This provision also applies to people in the Medicaid gap and people already eligible for subsidies, but who may want to update their application for a more affordable monthly premium. Apply now and you could have coverage starting Aug. 1.

Free in-person assistance is available in the seven western counties. Information can be found online at getcoveredwnc.org. Mountain Projects can be reached at 828.452.1447.

Preparing for school wellness

Harris Pediatric Care and Swain Family Care have partnered with McDonald’s of Sylva and Bryson City to celebrate back-to-school wellness.

McDonald’s is providing a free ice cream cone to children receiving an annual wellness exam at the practices. The ice cream coupon is valid during the month of August 2021. Only one coupon per child under the age of 18 is available for wellness exams.

After a year of remote learning, making an appointment with a pediatrician for an annual check-up or exam ensures a sense of health and safety for the start of the new school year.

When you have a long-term history with your pediatrician, it allows him or her to follow your child’s progress and development over time. It also helps your healthcare provider stay informed of your child’s health history like past illnesses, injuries and immunization records. Yearly checkups are also a great opportunity for parents to ask questions and for providers to help answer any concerns.

Schedule your back-to-school physical today by calling 844.414.DOCS or by scheduling an appointment online on the Find a Doctor page at myharrisregional.com or myswaincommunity.com.

Dogwood forms Impact Health

Dogwood Health Trust recently announced the establishment of Impact Health, a new entity formed to manage and oversee the Healthy Opportunities Pilot across Western North Carolina’s 18 counties.

The Healthy Opportunities Pilot is the nation’s first comprehensive program to test evidencebased, non-medical interventions designed to reduce costs and improve the health of Medicaid members. The program will create a systematic approach to integrating and financing services that address housing stability, transportation access, food security and interpersonal safety into the delivery of health care — with a goal of building the evidence base to identify which services are most effective at improving health and lowering health care costs.

Impact Health’s main function will be to provide resources, training and support to a consortium of human services organizations and providers delivering qualifying non-medical services important for improved health outcomes for eligible Medicaid members.

Robyn Hamilton, a seasoned leader with deep organizational and community building experience, has been selected to serve as the executive director for Impact Health.

To learn more about employment opportunities or Impact Health, visit Dogwood’s temporary webpage for Impact Health at dogwoodhealthtrust.org/healthy-opportunities.

Call for health project proposals

Nantahala Health Foundation has announced a call for project proposals from public agencies and nonprofit services providers seeking funding for their innovative plans to strengthen health and wellness outcomes throughout its service area.

The Collaborative Health Innovation Project, or CHIP, grant application window will remain open through Aug. 12. Awards will be capped at $50,000 and will require two or more organizations to work together to meet a regional need. Successful recipients will demonstrate how their innovative, problem-solving project will improve health and wellness outcomes for individuals living in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Swain, Macon and Jackson counties and the Qualla Boundary.

Three in-person demonstrations have been scheduled for those interested in learning more about the application process related to this grant opportunity. Sessions are set for Tuesday, July 13, in Sylva at Southwestern Community College; Wednesday, July 14, in Murphy at TriCounty Community College; and Thursday, July 14, in Robbinsville at Robbinsville High School. Registration is required with additional information available at nantahalahealthfoundation.org/grantmaking/ or by calling 828.634.1527.

Hospice House receives grant

Hospice House Foundation of WNC was recently honored to be among 27 Western North Carolina nonprofits and public service agencies selected by Nantahala Health Foundation for a 2021 Needs Immediately Met (NIMble) grant.

NHF’s 2021 NIMble grants totaled $204,000, of which HHFWNC received a $10,000 award in support of the purchase of appliances needed for the region’s new Hospice House now under construction in Franklin. The 2021 grant is the fourth grant Hospice House has received from NHF, bringing NHF’s total cumulative support of HHFWNC’s initiative to $82,500, including a $50,000 CHIP grant (Collaborative Health Innovation Project grant) in support of furniture and equipment for SECU Hospice House of WNC.

SECU Hospice House of WNC in Franklin will become the only free-standing inpatient hospice facility in North Carolina west of Asheville, serving the six far western counties of North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary, as well as northeast Georgia.

HCC nurses get pinned

The 2021 Region A Nursing Consortium Pinning Ceremony was recently held on the campus of Haywood Community College. Schools in the Consortium are Haywood Community College and Tri-County Community College.

“The pinning ceremony is a significant rite of passage for students, connecting them to the college they attended,” explains Dr. Lorene Putnam, Region A Nursing Consortium Program Director. “In addition, the candle lighting ceremony is symbolic and meaningful. It is the symbolic passing of the professional attributes and knowledge we value and have taught throughout the program that the graduates take out into their own professional practices.”

HCC’s class of 2021 nursing graduates include Madison Rose Brown, Katharine Cecilia Carmichael, Kayla Leigh Cothern, Zebulon Harrison Gentry, Geovanna Jane Lopez, Rebecca Ann Mathis, Carly Elizabeth McDaniel, Savannah Marie McKay, Suzanna Moen, Nicole Nelson, Chasydi Lynne Pressley, Brandon Shane Privett, Analeigh Marielle Pulver, Jessica Leigh Rathbone, Traci Roseanne Sanford, Honey Allyson Thomas, James Ray Trull, Edna Leanne Trull and Erin Joy Warren.

Venture capitalists invest in WNC

Hatteras Venture Partners, a North Carolinabased venture capital firm, recently announced the launching of the Pisgah Fund, a $50 million investment fund targeting new and existing high growth, healthcare-related businesses in the 18 counties of Western North Carolina.

The purpose of the Fund is to provide essential capital to help grow companies and create jobs in Western North Carolina. Hatteras closed on the fund in late April. Primary investors in the Pisgah Fund include Dogwood Health Trust and the HCA Healthcare Mission Fund, each with the goal of fueling economic development that in turn improves health and wellness within the region.

WNC native Lauren Pierce Flickinger will serve as the Fund Manager for the Pisgah Fund.

“We are eager to see this fund at work in Western North Carolina,” said John Crumpler, general partner and co-founder of Hatteras. “Our research indicates that this region is poised for post-COVID growth, particularly as individuals and companies move away from high-density regions. Additionally, Western North Carolina has a rich and diverse mix of businesses and entrepreneurs. We are excited to leverage that innovative talent and know-how along with the Pisgah Fund’s capital to help catalyze growth in the region.”

Companies interested in learning more about the Pisgah Fund are encouraged to visit www.pisgahfund.com.