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

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 Wednesday. 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 (eIPP)

ECU Health celebrates nine years of ventricular assist device program

GREENVILLE, N.C. — ECU Health marked nine years of its Ventricular Assist Device program at ECU Health Medical Center on Sept. 23. The health system hosted its ninth “VADiversary,” bringing together patients, families, care team members, vendors and community members. A ventricular assist device, or VAD, is...

Craven County Community Health Center cuts ribbon on Havelock expansion, adds VA clinic and pharmacy

HAVELOCK, N.C. (WITN) — A new community community health center expansion is bringing essential medical, pharmacy, and behavioral health care closer to home for Craven County residents. The Craven County Health Department hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Craven County Community Health Center’s 2,000-square-foot expansion Monday morning. The...

Moore County health center, Wilson County Health Department among recipients of $1.25M in federal funding

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A health center based in Moore County and the health department in Wilson County are among the recipients of $1.25 million in federal funding, state officials said. According to officials, the Pinehurst-based First Health of the Carolinas and the Wilson County Health Department received funding...

Greenville's $265M Brody Center Rises Ahead of Schedule, Set to Open Next Summer

Construction crews hoisted the final steel beam atop a seven-story medical education building in Greenville in June, marking a milestone that puts the $265 million project ahead of schedule. East Carolina University's new Brody Center for Medical Education is now expected to open ahead of the 2027-28 academic year, according to ECU.

Beyond the Headlines: Don Davis discusses health care, rural needs and District 1 race

What is the $25 million funding for Martin County health care?. U.S. Rep. Don Davis sat down with News 12 for a wide-ranging Beyond the Headlines interview about issues affecting North Carolina's 1st Congressional District and his campaign for another term in Congress. Davis, the Democratic incumbent, discussed efforts to...

Fixing North Carolina’s Troubled Hospital Approval System

Written by Lucas Thomae, Carolina Public Press. Ophthalmologist Jay Singleton has performed more than 30,000 eye surgeries in his career. For more than 20 years he’s run a vision center in New Bern, where patients receive routine checkups and treatments for eye disorders. But for most of his career, Singleton performed his surgeries inside the local hospital, CarolinaEast Medical Center.

Havelock Health Center Adds Pharmacy, VA Clinic Space in 2,000-Square-Foot Expansion

Craven County Community Health Center — Health Center Expansion Project Site. The Craven County Community Health Center in Havelock is set for a 2,000-square-foot expansion that will add exam rooms, an in-house pharmacy and space for a VA Behavioral Health Clinic. County leaders plan to mark the project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this coming Monday.

Bertie County Senior Center continuing to grow

When Rebecca Stapleton became Bertie County’s Council on Aging Director in January 2024 her sights were set on raising the senior center bar and working towards achieving an excellent rating on the state’s Senior Center Operations and Program Evaluation (SCOPE) system. Currently, the state has halted the program while they analyze revamping the criteria. The importance of the program is directly associated with additional senior center funding. While the state program has been halted, Stapleton’s eye on excellence remains and the report she presented to the Bertie County Commissioners at the Sept. 8 commission meeting highlighted those accomplishments The center’s growth also highlighted the future need for more space. In 2025-2026, the Bertie County Senior Center delivered 5,780 meals to 36 county clients. The number increased for the congregate meal program where seniors enjoy lunch together along with other activities. Stapleton reported 6,108 meals were served to 82 clients. The senior center also provides home improvement for the needy in the form of accessibility. The HCCBG funded 14 ramps while other grants contributed funds for four other ramps, installed by the CoA. A total 18 ramps were constructed and installed last year by the council on aging. The council on

Fixing North Carolina’s Troubled Hospital Approval System

Written by Lucas Thomae, Carolina Public Press. Ophthalmologist Jay Singleton has performed more than 30,000 eye surgeries in his career. For more than 20 years he’s run a vision center in New Bern, where patients receive routine checkups and treatments for eye disorders. But for most of his career, Singleton performed his surgeries inside the local hospital, CarolinaEast Medical Center.

Expanded Havelock health center adds exam rooms, pharmacy and VA behavioral clinic space

What new facilities are included in the Havelock health center expansion?. What is the purpose of the VA Behavioral Health Clinic at the Havelock center?. HAVELOCK, Craven County — Craven County leaders will cut the ribbon Monday on an expansion of the Craven County Community Health Center in Havelock.

Chamber celebrates Agape Health Services with ribbon cutting

The Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce was pleased to celebrate the newest location of Agape Health Services with a ribbon cutting on Sept. 14. Their new facility is located at 1201 Carolina Avenue in Washington. Community members, chamber representatives, and supporters gathered to congratulate the Agape team, tour the new...

The number rural counties cannot afford to ignore on hospitals

The opinions expressed in this piece are solely the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carolina Journal or its publisher. In the spring of 1997, Martin County had a hospital and a choice. Martin General in Williamston was a 49-bed county-owned hospital with three primary-care clinics and...

County receives funding for school-based clinics

Wilson County Health Department is among five state organizations receiving federal funding to expand school-based physical, preventive and behavioral health services.