Thomas learns the needs of patients

Rural Western Kentucky dairy and tobacco farm life seldom leads to a career in nursing — especially when other family members hadn’t set an example by venturing into the medical field. However, later on in life, ECU Health Chowan Hospital nurse Jennifer Thomas would ask the question whether it was nurture or nature, encouraging a career dedicated to others. It’s difficult for Thomas to pinpoint the aspiration for a nursing career, but she thinks it has something to do with her past. While attending nursing school Thomas, who is adopted, discovered the possible reason for her career choice. “I reconnected with my father only after I was in nursing school. Guess what? His mother was a nurse,” Thomas mused. “Her sister was a nurse. My aunt was a nurse and a nurse educator. So, I guess I am an experiment of nature vs. nurture. I found nursing school to be a natural fit.” Dedication to the patient is the first page of Thomas’ playbook. “My greatest pleasure is being there for my patients. Helping them during a vulnerable time,” she insists. “I want them to feel a little less scared and more like themselves. I focus on small victories. “When

Ceremonial check presented for new hospital

The distance to the emergency room may soon be getting shorter. A ceremonial check presented to the Martin County Commissioners last Thursday evening paves the way for a new Rural Emergency Hospital to be built in Martin County, restoring health care services lost when Martin General Hospital closed in 2023. N.C. Rep Dr. Tim Reeder was on hand to make the presentation. “My day job is an emergency physician. Well, my part-time job is in the general assembly representing part of Pitt County. I want to thank and recognize the work that we’ve been doing together, with ECU Health and Martin County,” explained Dr. Reeder. “As an emergency room physician, I know firsthand what happens and how good it is to have health care resources locally. And we’ve been working together over the last year on our budget to try to restore services here. “And we’re presenting a check tonight for $25 million to get that process started,” he said. “Now, this doesn’t mean that you’re going to see a bulldozer and shovels next week. There is still a process you have to go through. But I know, as an emergency physician — I know as a legislator — it

Warsaw faces nearly $16K penalty over wastewater violations

The Town of Warsaw faces nearly $16,000 in penalties after state environmental regulators found its wastewater treatment plant exceeded permitted fecal coliform limits multiple times in April of this year, according to a Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality issued the town...

Williamston Fire-Rescue-EMS receives check from an ECU hospital

Williamston Fire-Rescue-EMS receives check from an ECU hospital.

Public pushback on Cherry Point plan at the County Commission meeting

Increased jail repair costs, Health and Human Services report also discussed. Additional chairs had to be brought into the Sadler Room to accommodate everyone at this past Monday’s County Commission meeting. There was a public hearing on financing projects at the courthouse and jail on the schedule, but that was not what brought people out. People were there to learn more about a last minute addition to the agenda: discussion of new plans to expand the area used for training operations at MCAS Cherry Point.

Kinston hosts mobile mammogram clinic on Oct. 29

KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) — The City of Kinston’s annual Mobile Mammogram Clinic is scheduled for October 29. You do not need to be a City Of Kinston employee to participate. The clinic is open to women ages 35 and older. Insurance is accepted and self-pay option is also available. This event will be from 10 […]

Down to Business: Spring Arbor marks 30 years in operation

Spring Arbor of Wilson marks 30 years of assisted living and memory care, celebrating a home-like approach and long-time staff commitment.

North Carolina’s 1.3 Million Medicare Advantage Enrollees Are Heading Into Open Enrollment With a Network Disruption Already in Progress

CarolinaEast Already Left BCBS NC Medicare Advantage. It Exits UnitedHealthcare December 31. North Carolina Seniors Have Until December 7 to Act. The National Council on Aging has a consistent message heading into every open enrollment season: do not assume your Medicare Advantage plan is the same plan it was last year. Networks change. Drug formularies shift. And the seniors who get blindsided are almost always the ones who assumed no news meant no change.

Husband-and-Wife Team of Healthcare Professionals Open New Synergy Homecare Location in Eastern North Carolina

October 06, 2026 // Franchising.com // Tempe, Ariz. – SYNERGY® HomeCare has announced its newest location in the Tar Heel state, SYNERGY HomeCare in Goldsboro. The company is led by the husband-and-wife team of Justin and Ashley Ange, Eastern Carolina natives who combine for nearly 25 years of experience in both nursing and healthcare administration. After decades of serving eastern North Carolina families in healthcare settings and community pharmacies, where one of the most prominent needs among patients and clients was at-home care, the Anges decided to address the need themselves by opening their own in-home caregiving agency.

Northampton Home Health Agency marks 50th anniversary

JACKSON - Northampton County Home Health Agency marks its 50th anniversary this month, celebrating a half-century of delivering skilled medical care and compassionate support directly to residents across the county. First certified in 1976, the agency has spent the last five decades serving as a trusted lifeline providing services such...

New primary care in Nashville ready to welcome its first patients Tuesday

UNC Health Nash is expanding its primary care footprint in central Nash County with the opening of UNC Health Family Medicine at Nashville. The new medical office located at 540 Red Oak Road is scheduled to welcome its first patients Tuesday. A ribbon‑cutting ceremony held last month at the clinic marked the completion of the facility and the growth of the practice. The new building brings together eight family medicine and internal medicine providers, increasing capacity to serve both established and new patients in the Nashville area. Several UNC Health practitioners transitioning from the Eastern North Carolina Medical Group in Nashville will continue caring for their existing patients at the new location. UNC Health Family Medicine at Nashville will offer comprehensive primary care for patients of all ages, beginning at birth. Services include routine checkups, preventive care, chronic disease management and other essential health needs. “Nashville has long served as a central hub for families throughout Nash County, and caring for the people who live and work here is an important part of our mission,” said Dr. L. Lee Isley, president and CEO of UNC Health Nash. “This new facility gives our providers more room to care for established patients

Diabetes workshop covers what doctor visits can't

EDENTON — People with diabetes face tough challenges in managing their care. Living with the disease means making major lifestyle changes, but doctor appointments are often too brief to cover diet and exercise, the cost of care, changes in eyesight and a host of other concerns. A Sept. 26 program sponsored by the Edenton Lions Club and ECU Health Chowan Hospital was designed to help fill that gap. The program, held at Edenton United Methodist Church, covered diabetes basics, nutrition, mental health, physical fitness, eye health, Medicare, patient advocacy, continuous glucose monitors and insurance. Talks ran through the morning, followed by lunch and time to meet with experts at vendor tables. Cabe Speary opened the program and was scheduled to discuss continuous glucose monitors and other technology later in the morning. Katie Hall spoke on diabetes basics, Sara Foreman covered nutrition, Kelsey Dietrich addressed diabetes and mental health, and Sandra Taylor spoke on physical fitness. After a break, Sean Smolenyal discussed eye health, and Gail Spiewak addressed Medicare and diabetes. Ginger Griffin’s session covered patient advocacy, living wills and health care powers of attorney. Tyler Russel spoke about insurance policies for people with diabetes. The agenda moved from daily routines,

UNC Health Nash expands primary care services in Nashville

UNC Health Family Medicine at Nashville opens Tuesday, Oct. 6, expanding primary care access in central Nash County with eight family and internal medicine practitioners.

ECU Health joins effort to explore electric flight in health care

ECU Health is joining an initiative to use electric aircraft to bolster rural health care. The kickoff of the Electric Logistics and Integrated Flight Testing, or eLIFT-NC initiative, was announced Sept. 23. The eLIFT-NC initiative aims to explore how electric aviation can better connect hospitals, airports and rural communities to improve access to medical supplies, equipment and disaster recovery resources while maintaining strong safety and infrastructure standards. The process will begin with training and initial operations before expanding to additional routes and potential hospital-to-hospital missions. The program will also help inform the infrastructure and systems needed for long-term implementation. The initiative was announced Wednesday by Gov. Josh Stein, representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, N.C. Department of Aviation, BETA Technologies, Joby Aviation, Metro Aviation, ECU Health and other state healthcare organizations. One of the aircraft, built by BETA technologies, landed at the Pitt-Greenville Airport on Monday as part of a test flight from Raleigh to the Outer Banks. ECU Health provided lightweight cargo for the aircraft to carry during its flight. In March, the NCDOT Division of Aviation announced it had been selected to participate in the FAA’s Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program

Hospice patient fulfills final wish

Advanced Kidney Care NC to celebrate relocating to new office in Rocky Mount

The English Road Medical Center family is getting bigger. With the Advanced Kidney Care NC team moving in and celebrating the soft opening of their new Rocky Mount location at noon Thursday, the medical center is adding five physicians and one nurse practitioner to the roster. Advanced Kidney Care provides nephrology services to patients across eastern North Carolina. The practice, which also serves Roanoke Rapids and Tarboro, provides both inpatient and outpatient kidney care. For nearly 20 years, the group’s nephrology physicians have worked in Rocky Mount, Roanoke Rapids, Tarboro and in surrounding communities. What began as a small team focused on bringing specialized kidney care to rural areas has grown into a practice that now treats thousands of patients across multiple counties. Despite that growth, the organization says its mission remains the same: Ensuring rural residents have access to the same level of nephrology care available in larger cities. National research on kidney care in rural and underserved regions shows that specialist access remains a challenge. Studies consistently point to longer travel distances, delayed referrals and fewer available nephrologists outside major metropolitan areas. Workforce data reflects similar trends, with rural markets continuing to face shortages that can contribute to

For Your Health: Journey toward Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence Accreditation

Wilson Medical Center is pursuing SRC Center of Excellence accreditation in robotic surgery, with a Community Robotics Night in the works to explain the technology and process.

Murdock named UNC Health Johnston ambassador

UNC Health Johnston names behavioral health nurse Jack Murdock a hospital ambassador for his patient care, teamwork and mentorship.

NC Wesleyan helps nursing students chart new paths forward in careers

Wondering about the quality of nursing programs in the Twin Counties? Just ask Celina Hawkins. The registered nurse was recently named one of the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina for 2026. Hawkins serves as education coordinator at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital in Tarboro and was selected as part of an annual statewide recognition program that highlights 100 nurses for professional excellence and community contributions. She began her nursing education at Edgecombe Community College, earning an associate degree in nursing before transferring to complete her bachelor of science in nursing at North Carolina Wesleyan University. Her path is one of many available pathways N.C. Wesleyan’s team of faculty advisors and admissions counselors have outlined for nursing students as recent changes to regional nursing programs prompt many to reassess their educational plans. NCWU offers an online RN‑to‑BSN program for registered nurses. Hawkins has worked with ECU Health for 14 years, initially in the surgical unit at the Tarboro hospital before transitioning into nursing education. Another option that might appeal to those considering a career in healthcare is N.C. Wesleyan’s prelicensure bachelor of science in nursing program. The university recently admitted 29 students into its prelicensure BSN program, which emphasizes leading and

United States, NC file suit against Domtar

Almost 90 years of alleged water contamination, beginning in 1937, in Welch Creek, the lower Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound is the focus of a federal lawsuit recently filed by the United States against the Domtar Paper Company, located in Martin County. The United States, along with the state of North Carolina, filed the civil lawsuit against Domtar Paper Company on Sept. 16, seeking damaged for alleged harm to natural resources near the Weyerhaeuser mill site near Plymouth. According to the Department of the Interior’s website, the Weyerhaeuser Plymouth Mill facility (Mill) is an active wood and paper products company. “Since 1937, Welch Creek and the Roanoke River received wastes from the site containing contamination, including dioxins, furans and mercury. As a result of contaminant discharges from this and other sites in the area, Welch Creek and the lower Roanoke River have had a state-imposed fish consumption advisory due to dioxin since 1990,” the site sayss. “Western Albemarle Sound was added to this advisory in 1991. A fish consumption advisory for mercury was imposed for all state waters east of I-85 in 1997 and expanded to include all state waters in 2006.” The Plaintiffs in the case include the United