Greenville, N.C. – March 1, 2021 – Vidant Health has opened COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling for eligible Group 3 community members – child care and PreK-12 school workers – from across eastern North Carolina. Appointments are required, as Vidant will not be able to accept walk-up or drive-up vaccinations. Importantly, Vidant is still vaccinating community members 65 and older, and encourages those eligible to receive their vaccine.
Eligible community members can view appointment availability by conveniently visiting VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate or by calling 252-847-8000 — available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. The online appointment scheduler is the fastest and most convenient way to view and schedule an appointment. If internet access is not available or special assistance is required, community members may call 252-847-8000.
Vidant serves a region of 1.4 million people and appointments are expected to fill up quickly. The public is encouraged to be patient as it is expected to take months to vaccinate eligible community members.
Although the vaccine offers great hope, Vidant encourages everyone to do their part to keep communities in the region safe from COVID-19: wear a mask, social distance and wash hands. Those who receive the vaccine should still practice these important safety measures. Importantly, COVID-19 patients are relying on Vidant for care and our team members are not immune from community spread. Please do your part to protect yourself and those around you.
Community members can visit VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate to view appointment availability, stay up to date on Vidant’s vaccine efforts and sign up for email updates.
Appointment information for eligible community members:
Beginning 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22, community members can view appointment availability by conveniently visiting VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate. The online appointment scheduler is the fastest and most convenient way to view and schedule an appointment. If internet access is not available or special assistance is required, community members may call 252-847-8000 — available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.. Due to large call volumes, community members are encouraged to only use this number if necessary.
Appointment information for those on the Pitt County Health Department Wait List:
A majority of the appointment slots in the initial phase will be allocated for the more than 8,000 people on the Pitt County Health Department wait list. Those already on the health department’s wait list will be directly contacted in the coming days and weeks by either email or phone. Individuals who are on the wait list are encouraged to check their email regularly and answer calls from a phone number beginning with 252-902. The Pitt County Health Department will stop accepting new wait list submissions effective today, Thursday, Jan. 21.
Vidant serves a region of 1.4 million people and appointments are expected to fill up quickly. The public is encouraged to be patient as it is expected to take months to vaccinate eligible community members. The initial goal is to administer more than 4,000 vaccines per week depending on the state’s vaccine allocations. Vidant and Pitt County will adjust appointment slots as needed, depending on vaccine allocations and other resources.
Vidant is also collaborating with other health departments and ECU to rapidly open more vaccine clinics across the region.
Although the vaccine offers great hope, Vidant encourages everyone to do their part to keep communities in the region safe from COVID-19: wear a mask, social distance and wash hands. Those who receive the vaccine should still practice these important safety measures. Importantly, a high number of COVID-19 patients are relying on Vidant for care and our team members are not immune from community spread. Please do your part to protect yourself and those around you.
Community members can visit VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate to view appointment availability, stay up to date on Vidant’s vaccine efforts and sign up for email updates.
Vidant Health and the Pitt County Health Department will open a large-scale vaccine site on Monday, Jan. 25 to eligible community members as defined by the state of North Carolina.
The large-scale vaccine site will be open to eligible community members throughout eastern North Carolina at the Greenville Convention Center on Monday, Jan. 25. Appointments will be required for eligible community members and scheduling details will be announced in the coming days.
The public is encouraged to be patient as it will take some time to get all of those eligible vaccinated. The initial goal is to administer more than 4,000 vaccines per week depending on the state’s vaccine allocations.
“This is a historic moment for Vidant, Pitt County and eastern North Carolina, as we work together to bring hope to our community,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, chief executive officer of Vidant Health. “Vidant has spent the last year responding to this pandemic in tremendous ways and this is the next chapter as we bring safety and healing to the East. Vidant has full confidence in the vaccines and we are fully committed to working with our partners to launch and operate the largest vaccine effort in the history of the region. We are also committed to continuing our efforts to get the vaccine to all of the communities we care for and serve.”
Although the vaccine offers great hope, Vidant encourages everyone to do their part to keep communities in the region safe from COVID-19: wear a mask, social distance and wash hands. Those who receive the vaccine should still practice these important safety measures. Importantly, a high-number of COVID-19 patients are relying on Vidant for care and our team members are not immune from community spread. Please do your part to protect yourself and those around you.
Community members can visit VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate to stay up to date on Vidant’s vaccines efforts and sign up for email updates.
Starting Friday, Jan. 8, Vidant began vaccinating community members 75 and older in Phase 1b, group 1, as outlined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). Vidant continues to identify and directly contact eligible high-risk individuals through community partners, as well as its patient database MyChart, in the initial launch of Phase 1b, group 1.
This initial approach is only the first step in making the vaccine more broadly available to eligible community members. Though the first wave of community vaccines are being administered in Greenville, Vidant will announce its plans to expand its efforts to vaccinate high-risk individuals throughout the East in the coming weeks.
As a reminder, NCDHHS provides allocations to local health departments and health systems with requirements to vaccinate eligible groups per its COVID-19 vaccine plan. The amount Vidant receives will determine the number of individuals we can vaccinate; so please know that efforts to vaccinate community members could take months.
As a leader in the East, Vidant is working collaboratively with our community partners throughout the region, including local health departments, ECU and area providers to ensure we can efficiently serve our community.
Vidant has full confidence in the vaccines. Before receiving FDA emergency use authorization approval, the COVID-19 vaccines went through rigorous testing and trials to prove they are safe and effective prior to distribution.
The vaccine offers great hope in the fight against COVID-19; protect yourself and your loved ones and #HelpUsENC by getting vaccinated when eligible, continuing to mask, social distance and wash hands.
For updates on Vidant’s community vaccine efforts, please visit VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate.
As Vidant Health continues to respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic across North Carolina, we are taking steps to ensure the safety of all. Vidant remains vigilant with its screening process for all visitors, entry requirements and visitor restrictions by department.
In anticipation of increased community spread across the country and here in eastern North Carolina throughout the holiday season, Vidant is proactively adjusting its visitation restrictions at Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.
These new restriction are effective 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27 at Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.
Click here for a full list of restrictions by department.
As people plan their holiday season, Vidant encourages all community members to celebrate safely. Before you plan a traditional holiday gathering, consider setting up a virtual celebration with apps like Zoom or Google Meet instead to ensure the safety of those you love.
If you do plan to attend an in-person gathering, consider setting it up outside. Additionally, be sure to keep these holiday safety tips in mind: limit the number of people at gatherings, avoid out of town travel and practice the 3 Ws: wear a mask, wash hands often, wait 6 feet apart from others.
This is an evolving situation and Vidant continues to monitor the spread and examine local data, including COVID-19 cases in our region and in hospitals, and will adjust visitation restrictions accordingly.
Vidant still recommends and supports virtual connectivity to help loved ones safely interact with patients, especially in facilities where patients are at an increased risk for complications such as long-term nursing facilities.
Vidant Health is pleased to announce that Chief Executive Officer Dr. Michael Waldrum has been named as chair-elect of the Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems (COTH) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). As chair-elect of COTH, Dr. Waldrum will also serve on the AAMC Board of Directors.
More than ever, rural communities in America are in need of a strong advocate to help shape the future of health care delivery by strengthening academic hospitals and health systems. As the leader of a nine-hospital, not-for-profit, rural health system, Dr. Waldrum will work to ensure that the unique challenges and opportunities in rural communities are at the forefront of the association’s work.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as COTH chair-elect and work alongside the great academic health care leaders in our country,” said Dr. Waldrum. “At Vidant, our vision is to become a national model for rural health delivery, and we have accomplished this in close collaboration with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. As a staunch advocate for rural health, I look forward to collaborating on solutions that will help overcome one of the most pressing issues of our time: delivering rural health in underserved communities and strengthening academic institutions throughout the country.”
The COTH membership includes CEOs, presidents and other executives who lead the AAMC’s nearly 400 members. The purpose of COTH is to hone in on issues specific to academic medicine, financing graduate medical educations and partnerships with community providers.
The AAMC serves and leads the academic medicine community to improve the health of people everywhere. Founded in 1876 and based in Washington, D.C., the AAMC is a not-for-profit association dedicated to transforming health through medical education, health care, medical research, and community collaborations.
“Dr. Waldrum has for many years been a valuable and hard-working member of COTH, and I appreciate his willingness to take on a leadership role at this critical time,” said Janis M. Orlowski, MD, AAMC chief health care officer.
ECU Health Medical Center restricts visitation in response to anticipated increased community spread
As Vidant Health continues to respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic across North Carolina, we are taking steps to ensure the safety of all. Vidant remains vigilant with its screening process for all visitors, entry requirements and visitor restrictions by department.
In anticipation of increased community spread across the country and here in eastern North Carolina throughout the holiday season, Vidant is proactively adjusting its visitation restrictions at ECU Health Medical Center.
These new restriction exceptions are effective 8 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22 at ECU Health Medical Center.
For a full list of visitor restrictions by department, see VidantHealth.com/Alerts
As people plan their holiday season, Vidant encourages all community members to celebrate safely. Before you plan a traditional holiday gathering, consider setting up a virtual celebration with apps like Zoom or Google Meet instead to ensure the safety of those you love.
If you do plan to attend an in-person gathering, consider setting it up outside. Additionally, be sure to keep these holiday safety tips in mind: limit the number of people at gatherings, avoid out of town travel and practice the 3 Ws: wear a mask, wash hands often, wait 6 feet apart from others.
This is an evolving situation and Vidant continues to monitor the spread and examine local data, including COVID-19 cases in our region and in hospitals, and will adjust visitation restrictions accordingly.
Vidant still recommends and supports virtual connectivity to help loved ones safely interact with patients, especially in facilities where patients are at an increased risk for complications such as long-term nursing facilities.
For more information on Vidant’s visitor restrictions, please visit VidantHealth.com/Alerts
Vidant Health and GT Medical Technologies, Inc., a company dedicated to improving the lives of patients with brain tumors, announced the first patient has been enrolled into its registry trial of GammaTile®, a FDA-cleared, Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy (STaRT) for newly diagnosed malignant and recurrent brain tumors. The study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of GammaTile Therapy in a real-world setting in up to 50 brain tumor centers across the United States.
“GammaTile Therapy was created with the goal of elevating the standard of care, and this registry will help demonstrate how it is making a measurable impact on patients diagnosed with brain tumors,” said Matt Likens, President and CEO of GT Medical Technologies. “We have been encouraged by previous studies showing that GammaTile Therapy delays recurrence and may extend survival, which led to FDA clearance. This registry will shed further light on the real-world benefits of STaRT for people with brain tumors.”
The multicenter observational study will enroll 600 patients with brain tumors of any pathology who have received treatment with GammaTile Therapy. Data will be collected before and after surgery and implantation of GammaTiles and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months, then every 6 months through 5 years. Primary and secondary endpoints will include local tumor control, overall survival, quality of life, physical function, and safety. This will be the first observational registry study of resection plus GammaTile. Data from the study will be used to benchmark clinical outcomes for GammaTile Therapy and allow for comparisons to existing standard-of-care treatments for patients with brain tumors.
Over 700,000 Americans are living with a brain tumor today. Despite the efforts of the most skilled brain tumor specialists in the world, outcomes for patients with brain tumors have improved little over the past 30 years. GammaTile is the latest FDA-cleared treatment for newly diagnosed malignant and recurrent brain tumors, and recently announced data show promising clinical outcomes for patients diagnosed with high grade gliomas, brain metastases, and aggressive meningiomas.
“As a neurosurgeon, I am always looking for treatments that help give my patients more time and a better quality of life, and from what I have seen in my patients to date, GammaTile Therapy offers both,” said Dr. Stuart Lee, Chief of Neurosurgery at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina. “It is an honor to have treated and enrolled the first patient in this registry. My hope is that the insights gleaned from this study will give us information to continue improving the standard of care for patients with brain tumors.”
In addition to the registry trial, two additional studies evaluating GammaTile Therapy in patients with brain metastases were announced at the 2020 Society of Neuro-Oncology Virtual Meeting on Brain Metastases in August. Those studies, which are led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, are expected to begin enrollment in Q4 2020.
Vidant Health, The Outer Banks Hospital and Medical Group are proud to announce that Dr. Christina Bowen, medical director of The Outer Banks Hospital Center for Healthy Living, was selected by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) to represent North Carolina and will appear in the 2020 edition of Community Stars.
Each year on the third Thursday of November, NOSORH leads National Rural Health Day, an annual day of celebration that shines a light on the vital health needs of an estimated 57 million people living in rural America.
In eastern North Carolina, National Rural Health Day is an important moment for Vidant to reflect on its service to the region and its commitment to its mission to improve the health and well-being of those it serves and loves. This National Rural Health Day, Vidant is proud to honor Dr. Bowen and the 13,000-plus team members that make a difference in the lives of the 1.4 million people we serve.
In 2015, NOSORH put out a nationwide call to nominate individuals, organizations and coalitions making a positive impact in rural communities. Soon after the stories started to arrive, the book of National Rural Health Day Community Stars was created. This year, nominations came in from 48 states, a record for this annual inspiring recognition program.
Dr. Bowen’s focus on patient-centered care and healthy lifestyle education makes a difference in the lives of those she serves. In 2019, Dr. Bowen helped organize a community education event called “Power Over Cancer: Creating an Action Plan to Prevent Breast and Other Cancers” to educate and motivate attendees on the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and how that affects health and well-being.
“I am truly humbled and honored to have been selected to receive the Community Star recognition,” Dr. Bowen said. “Having grown up in eastern North Carolina and then attending ECU’s Brody School of Medicine, I count practicing in eastern North Carolina a gift. I am thankful for my community, my team and my amazing patients.”
Outer Banks Hospital President Ronnie Sloan, FACHE, added: “Dr. Bowen’s passion, engagement, and positivity are infectious. We are fortunate that she lives and works here on the Outer Banks and the region is blessed that she has the heart and drive to spread her passion for wellness throughout the 29-county region of eastern North Carolina that Vidant Health serves.”
In addition to her role at the Center for Healthy Living, Dr. Bowen also serves as the medical director of Vidant’s Office of Experience, medical director of Integrative Medicine at ECU Health Cancer Care and medical director of the Dare County Health Department.
“Dr. Bowen has been an invaluable addition to The Office of Experience as Medical Director, and we are grateful for the vision of The Outer Banks Hospital and Medical Group to expand her influence throughout the region,” said Vidant Chief Experience Office Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert. “We are so fortunate to have a practicing Integrative Medicine provider at Vidant Health, who is capable of leading integrative medicine thought leadership for our patients and our team members. She is a tireless role model and advocate for compassion and love as essentials for health care.”
This National Rural Health Day, Vidant and The Outer Banks Hospital and Medical Group would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to Dr. Bowen and all Vidant team members for their commitment to serving eastern North Carolina.
To celebrate World Kindness Day, Vidant Health and the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program (ECIPP) at Maynard’s Children Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center would like to recognize the students in the Pitt County Students Against Destructive Decision (SADD) program for their work bringing kindness and education to area schools.
Since its inception in 2016, Pitt County SADD has positively impacted more than 25,000 students, parents, and community members through school club meetings and events, community-based initiatives and social media interactions. Students have presented on destructive decisions at local and state conferences and been recognized on countless local, state and national platforms for their work promoting positive decision making in Pitt County.
While there have been obvious activities such as Kindness Campaigns, leaving sticky notes with positive messages and the painting of a rock with the motto “Be Kind. Be Strong. Be Smart.”, every activity, event,or engagement coordinated through Pitt County SADD carries the same overarching message of just “Be Kind”.
A highlight of SADD’s 2020 campaign for kindness included a brand new website, PittCountySadd.com, designed by The Oakwood School student and SADD Student Leader Ellie Osborne. The website currently covers five main content areas: Mental Health, Road Safety, Know Your Ws, Vaping, and Social Media Safety.
“As a part of my Girl Scout Gold Award, I created a website for all of Pitt County SADD,” Osborne said. “I am so excited and grateful that the website has officially launched, and hope that it remains a great resource for youth of all ages regarding physical and mental well-being and support.”
Pitt County SADD is funded by Children’s Miracle Network, Vidant Health Foundation, Pitt County ABC Board, and Pitt County Schools, and is in partnership with the Safe Communities Coalition and ECIPP. Pitt County SADD is a peer-led program that empowers young people to successfully confront the risks and pressures that challenge them throughout their daily lives. The mission is accomplished by creating, equipping, sustaining a network of student-run chapters in schools and communities.
“It is student leaders like Ellie and our countless other SADD members that have been the driving force behind some of our strongest prevention efforts,” Sue Anne Pilgreen, program manager for ECIPP, said. “As a leader in children’s health care for eastern North Carolina, the partnership that we have with the schools and community is crucial and these students are making a positive impact on making the world more kind.”