- CDC unveils strategic plan aimed at combating rural health issues
By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org The Office of Rural Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled a new strategic plan last week aimed at combating health issues in rural areas across the country. The new plan, which was developed alongside local partners like the N.C. Office of Rural Health, outlines a vision for the next five years to combat health issues like obesity, …Read more - Rural North Carolina hospitals say recruiting surgeons is key to long-term success
By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org Rural hospitals across the country often struggle to recruit doctors. Recruiting surgeons is even tougher. In southeastern North Carolina, the hospitals in Scotland and Robeson counties are investing in surgical programs that health care experts say are vital to the survival of rural hospitals. Scotland Health in Laurinburg built new operating rooms and renovated the hospital’s surgical services department as part …Read more - HIV and syphilis are on the rise in Robeson County
By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org When Brenda Hunt helped start the Borderbelt AIDS Resources Team in 1996, the small nonprofit was the only place in Robeson County for people living with HIV or AIDS to get support and connect to resources. Hunt, who now serves as the BART director, would drive clients to Laurinburg or Chapel Hill to receive a cocktail of medications. She would deliver …Read more - Fighting back against prostate cancer in Scotland County
By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org Greg McMillan’s barber shop in the northeast corner of Scotland County is more than a place to get a fresh lineup and a clean shave. It’s a community space where people share everything from tall tales to heart-to-hearts. McMillan’s shop in Wagram, Next Cuts, hosted Cuts and Conversations on Saturday in partnership with the Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina. The …Read more - UNC Health Southeastern improves safety grade. What about other local hospitals?
By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton improved its safety grade to a B in the latest report from a nonprofit group that advocates for patient safety at medical centers across the country. “This grade marks tremendous improvements the health system continues to make, not only in safety and quality, but also in the overall availability of expert medical care not available elsewhere …Read more