(Left to right) ORHP’s Heather Dimeris and Sahira Rafiullah are led on tour by Benson Area Medical Center CEO William Massengill.
The United States Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) visited the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Rural Health and Community Care last week.
The Office of Rural Health Policy coordinates activities related to rural health care within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As part of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), ORHP has department-wide responsibility for analyzing the possible effects of policy on residents of rural communities.
While in North Carolina, ORHP Deputy Director Sahira Rafiullah and Associate Director and Senior Advisor Heather Dimeris visited a variety of collaborating agencies that have been instrumental in linking research, philanthropy, community, and government entities. They also attended a DHHS Initiated Care Steering Committee meeting which is attended by providers from across the state.
“We are excited to have them here,” said Chris Collins, director of the Office of Rural Health and Community Care (ORHCC). “Our state has done an amazing job networking across agencies. So, we are excited to be able to put that on display and show the impact of collaboration on improving care in rural communities.”
They visited Benson Area Medical Center, a rural health center sponsored by the N.C. ORHCC. Founded in 1979, the Benson Area Medical Center serves more than 11,000 patients, including participants of the North Carolina Farmworker Health Program (NCFHP) that operates a mobile clinic through a federally funded program.
Benson Medical Center participates in National Health Service Corp activities to promote medical careers to rural high school students. Medical students, physician assistant and clinical pharmacy students from Campbell University are provided hands-on training experience.
Benson uses ORHCC recruitment services combined with federal and state loan repayment programs. State appropriations assist Benson’s efforts to care for vulnerable populations. Benson has worked with Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) on the adoption of electronic health records and attaining Medicaid meaningful use. Medicaid funds a Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) care manager to assist their Medicaid patients.
Benson is a model rural health center that serves the entire community. It provides innovative services on-site such as a trauma room for urgent needs, a food bank to provide fresh produce, hands-on nutrition classes with the Cooperative Extension Office, diabetes group visits, and plans are under way to add financial counseling classes. Understanding the importance of linking with non-traditional partners, Benson’s senior management sits on the boards of local public health, mental health and the housing authority.
“We had such an amazing experience on the NC rural health tour,” said Heather Dimeris. “We met with so many people across such a variety of programs. I have to say that our trip to North Carolina was one of the best site visits I have been on in my 11-year federal career.”
For more information on these organizations, please visit the North Carolina Office of Rural Health website.
*The NCFHP is a primarily federally funded program and administered by the North Carolina Office of Rural Health and Community Care for farmworkers.