Greenville, N.C. – June 1, 2021 – Vidant Health is proud to announce a new collaboration with Mayo Clinic Laboratories that gives Vidant access to Mayo Clinic’s extensive menu of primary reference laboratory tests and clinical expertise, adding to its state of the art laboratory capabilities. Through this collaboration, Vidant is furthering its mission by providing immediate, curated access to complex tests performed by Mayo Clinic to eastern North Carolinians.
Through its worldwide network of more than 4,000 clients, Mayo Clinic Laboratories enables hospitals, medical centers, and health care organizations around the world to send tests to the laboratories of Mayo Clinic, which are some of the most sophisticated in the world.
As a uniquely rural academic health care system, Vidant is constantly seeking new innovations to bring world class health care to eastern North Carolina. Vidant’s extensive laboratory services and locations will continue to perform the vast majority of tests. The collaboration with Mayo provides Vidant additional data and insights into certain tests and further strengthens the health system’s current advanced testing capabilities.
“This is an exciting time for both the present and future of health care in eastern North Carolina,” said Dave Harlow, vice president of operations – allied health, Vidant Health. “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us the importance of continuing to build our state-of-the-art lab infrastructure to ensure those we serve have access to the tests they need. This new collaboration with Mayo Clinic Laboratories will further enhance our already advanced testing services and will help inform the future of complex testing here at Vidant. This benefits all of eastern North Carolina.”
Vidant’s access to Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ test menu further strengthens Vidant’s ability to provide the highest quality laboratory testing for eastern North Carolina resulting in faster results for patients. Community members can continue to rely on Vidant’s enhanced testing capability for access to quality care close to home.
Specimens taken at any Vidant patient service center will be transported via air to Mayo Clinic Laboratories, with test results often available the following day through an interface. Additionally, Mayo Clinic physicians and scientists in every specialty laboratory will collaborate with the Vidant team regarding test selection, utilization and methodologies, and result interpretation.
“May 12 is National School Nurse Day, so there is no better time to celebrate the incredible work that our school nurses do in Pitt County Schools,” said Catherine Nelson, senior administrator of community health at VMC, and a founding member of the School Health Program. “They have helped us safely mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while getting our students back in school for in-person learning, and continued to excel in their daily case management among students.”
Vidant launched the program in partnership with the ECU College of Nursing, Pitt County Public Health and Pitt County Schools in 1996. The program has grown from six registered nurses at 19 elementary schools to 21 nurses at 39 schools. The School Health Program was recognized by VMC in March 2021 for having the most certified nurses in an ambulatory care setting. School nurses complete daily tasks from overseeing the administration of medications to performing life-saving measures.
“At Pitt County Schools we value our partnership with Vidant and consider ourselves fortunate to have the terrific team of nurses to serve our students throughout these past 25 years,” said Karen Harrington, Director of Student Services. “The demands on school nurses continue to increase annually but never before have we been challenged to this level. This year, our nurses never stopped working – even when the rest of the system was in quarantine – and their efforts and time this year have not gone unnoticed. Not only have our nurses supported student health but they are a valuable resource to our staff. Please take time to thank a school nurse this week. And thank you to Vidant for your continued partnership.”
The safety of wellness members and guests, as well as Vidant team members, is Vidant’s priority. As a health care organization dedicated to serving and caring for the community, we will continue to place safety at the forefront of all decisions.
Based on widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the communities where the centers are located, Vidant has made the decision to resume the Centers’ exercise and aquatics serves with strict safety guidelines in place.
Following safety and sanitation protocols, including screening, masking, distancing, disinfecting and hand washing, all those who enter the facilities will also be expected to follow the below guidelines:
- Complete COVID-19 screening upon entrance.
- Wear an approved mask at all times, covering nose and mouth, except when swimming or showering.
- Check in and out of each visit to track capacity and enable members to choose less busy times.
- Maintain a minimum of six feet social distancing throughout the center and classes.
- Observe and comply with the capacity limits posted throughout the facility.
- Wipe down equipment before and after use.
- Sanitize and wash hands often.
- Bring your own towel.
Vidant’s ability to keep Wellness Centers operational during the pandemic depends on all members following the above guidelines. Like all businesses and facilities, Vidant will pause operations in the event of suspected COVID-19 spread at a Wellness Center location. Visit VidantWellnessCenter.com to stay up to date on the latest information.
The Vidant Wellness Center in Greenville will reopen later this year as a destination facility for Vidant’s wellness and outpatient rehabilitation services, once renovations are complete.
New member enrollment for the Vidant Wellness Center in Ahoskie or Washington will be available starting June 1 at VidantWellnessCenter.com.
While Wellness Center members are not required to be vaccinated for COVID-19, Vidant Health strongly encourages all community members to get vaccinated to protect yourself and those around you. Schedule your vaccine appointment today at VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate.
The exercise opportunities and social support the Wellness Centers provide is vital to physical and emotional health. Together, we remain committed to meeting the health care needs of eastern North Carolina and improving the health and well-being of the region.
“The school nurses have been instrumental in getting their school staff trained and prepared for the use of Stop the Bleed kits,” Erika Greene, pediatric trauma program manager for Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center, said. “We have expanded our outreach to Wayne County Schools while working towards our goal of providing education and placement of Stop the Bleed kits at each public school within the 29-county Vidant Health region.”
One of the most common contributing factors in trauma-related events is preventable blood loss. Approximately 40 percent of trauma-related deaths worldwide can be attributed to bleeding or its consequence. The items in these kits help control the loss of blood, leading to positive outcomes for those who sustain injuries.
The Stop the Bleed Kits are funded by Children’s Miracle Network along with training in the use of a combat tourniquet provided by Maynard Children’s Hospital. They were distributed to Wayne County Schools with education to ensure schools are prepared in the event of a trauma incident.
The Pediatric Trauma Department of Maynard Children’s Hospital distributed 66 kits to cover the 33 public schools in Wayne County with the assistance of the VMC Trauma Outreach Coordinator.
“Vidant Health provided an awesome comprehensive Stop the Bleed training for the school nurses of Wayne County Public Schools,” said Kim Kennedy, manager of School Health Services for Wayne County Schools. “Thanks to Stop the Bleed and The Children’s Miracle Network, all WCPS campuses will be equipped with tourniquet kits that can be utilized in the event someone suffers severe bleeding. We thank Vidant Health and The Children’s Miracle Network for sponsoring this vitally important project.”
Vidant encourages all community members age 15 and older to complete the CHNA survey and provide meaningful feedback on how Vidant can continue to improve health and well-being in eastern North Carolina. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and all responses are confidential. Your feedback helps ensure health care needs are met in the 29 counties Vidant serves. The survey is open through June 18.
The full CHNA process involves collection and analysis of a large range of data, including demographic, socioeconomic and health statistics, and most importantly, feedback from community members. The completed CHNA analysis and results serve as the basis for prioritizing methods to meet the community’s health needs in order to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
The survey is in both English and Spanish and can be found at VidantHealth.com/CHNA.
Vaccinations will be offered at the Vidant/Pitt County Large-Scale Vaccine Clinic at the Greenville Convention Center and second dose appointments will be scheduled on-site at the time of the appointment.
There are currently a large number of appointments available, which can also be scheduled by any eligible community member. Appointments are required and available as supplies last, and can be scheduled at VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate.
College students should bring their student ID at the time of their appointment.
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.
After closing in June 2020, we spent several months diligently assessing how to best utilize the building, while also exploring how to improve access to patient services. Balancing both the community’s passion for the Greenville-based Wellness Center, as well as the need to expand patient services, the organization carefully redesigned the Wellness Center’s space and service model that is mission-focused and sustainable.
The Wellness Center in Greenville will re-open later this year as a destination facility for Vidant’s wellness and outpatient rehabilitation services. Additional details about timing, employment opportunities and memberships at the Wellness Center in Greenville will be shared in the coming months.
Fitness Center
Fitness Center offerings will include membership access to exercise equipment, pool and aquatic programs, group exercise classes, personal training and a KidZone. Services like the Café, CrossFit, children’s gym and camps will not be offered in the revised model.
Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
Vidant’s three Greenville-based outpatient rehabilitation clinics will all relocate to new space at the Wellness Center. This centralized location will improve convenience and accessibility for patients as well as team member collaboration. Vidant Outpatient Rehabilitation includes adult, children and aquatic programs; comprehensive speech, physical and occupational therapy; and many specialty services.
Lifestyle Medicine Clinic
The Lifestyle Medicine Clinic currently housed at the Greenville-based Wellness Center will continue to offer patient visits with medical providers for nutrition, weight loss, diabetes, tobacco cessation, exercise as medicine and other lifestyle treatments. The clinic will also provide wellness programs to Vidant team members.
Ahoskie and Washington Wellness Centers
Vidant plans to resume operation of the Wellness Centers in Ahoskie and Washington, which have been closed due to COVID-19. Outpatient rehab and cardiopulmonary rehab services remain open in the Washington Wellness Center. Children’s after school and upcoming summer camps also remain open in the Ahoskie Wellness Center. The timing for opening these facilities, along with the Greenville-based Wellness Center, is dependent on the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
Vidant remains committed to meeting the health care needs of eastern North Carolina and improving the health and well-being of the region.
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.