March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
“Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If everyone who is 50 years old or older were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.” Learn more here: http://www.cdc.gov/features/colorectalawareness/
It's Cold & Flu Season -
Do you know the latest information about antibiotics?
Click HERE to take a quiz and see.
Click HERE for information on how to relieve your symptoms.
Nov 12 - 18 is CDC Get Smart About Antibiotics Week -
click HERE for more information
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
-Are you 50 and older? If so, you need a mammogram every two years.
-Do you know a woman 50 and older? If so, remind her to get her mammogram
Remember: early detection saves lives
Rural Health Group would like to welcome:
- Brittany Blackburn, PA-C, Physician Assistant
- Brandy Hunt, PhD, Psychologist
- Justin Johnson, PA-C, Physician Assistant
August 1, 2012
Request for Qualifications for Architectural/Engineering Services:
Revised RFQ 2012-01
Questions from architectural firms & RHG answers:
Q: The due date is August 15, Tuesday. Please clarify if they are due on Wednesday the 15th.
A: The due date is Wednesday, August 15. This error has been noted and a revised RFQ has been published.
Q. The available funds are listed as “ total estimated construction budget” Please verify this means total project costs or are there other funds for items such as design fees, furniture, equipment.
A. Moveable equipment and furniture (i.e. exam tables) are separate and not included in the construction budget. The design fees ARE included in the total estimated construction budget.
Q. For the new stand alone site do you know if there are adequate site utilities available or will this project need to extend off site utilities such as water, sewer, or road work such as any widening, turn lanes, sidewalks to the site. And if so will those costs be a part of the $577,000.
A. Current infrastructure appears to be adequate and the costs associated with site prep/utilities are included in the $577,000.
Q. Is it possible to tour the existing clinic and to visit the new clinic site?
A. The evaluation of the RFQ is based upon the qualifications of the architect, not the Rural Health Group sites. If the architectural firm's proposal is responsive to the RFQ and meets Rural Health Group's evaluation criteria, Rural Health Group may, at its sole discretion, invite top ranked firms to visit the facilities.
Q. I was just curious how the furniture decisions would be handled regarding the new Norlina Medical Clinic and Roanoke Rapids interior renovation? Is that something that you will be choosing or will it be up to the architect? Also, what would be the best way to get involved in the furniture selection for these projects?
A. Rural Health Group will be doing a separate Request for Quote for furniture. The architectural firm is not involved in this part of the project. Since this new clinic is replacing a current facility the existing furniture will be used in the new facility.
December 1, 2011 is World AIDS Day
Have you been tested? Testing is available at all Rural Health Group medical locations.
In 1988, the World Health Organization created WORLD AIDS DAY to increase awareness of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic; to improve education; to support the millions that live with HIV/AIDS; and, to remember those who died. Since then, every year more than 190 countries around the world observe this day.
World AIDS Day provides an opportunity to remind people to get tested and protect themselves from HIV by learning the facts about HIV transmission and how to reduce it. It also highlights the reality that HIV is an ever present problem but there are many things that can still be done to help.
National Overview:
• Nearly 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the U.S., and one in five of those (20%) are unaware of their infections.
• Approx. 50,000 Americans become newly infected with HIV each year.
• More than 16,000 people with AIDS still die each year in the U.S.
North Carolina Stats from the 2010 epidemiological profile:
• An estimated 35,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS in NC as of 12/31/09.
• 19% of newly diagnosed HIV disease cases in 2009 were among adolescents/young adults, ages 13 to 24 years old.
• In 2009, 27.7 percent of newly diagnosed HIV disease cases also represented new AIDS cases, which means people were already very sick when they were tested and came into care.
The slogan for the World AIDS Day celebration is “Getting to Zero”. This represents the goal of “getting to zero” deaths and “getting to zero” new infections. Rural Health Group is committed to assisting in this effort by raising awareness, providing HIV testing/screening and educating the community about HIV/AIDS.
November 2011
See our Facebook page for photos of the open house that was held at RHG at Whitakers on November 12 to welcome Dr. Kristina Price.
October 2011
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
For more information about events, please contact Denise Belle at 252-536-5910.
September 2011
To have a better chance to beat some cancers, you have to spot them early. For a number of cancers, this is possible, through screening tests. And colorectal cancer is among these.
At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lisa Richardson says screening can find and remove problem cells before they can develop into colorectal cancer, and find cancers early, when they are easiest to treat.
``There are two types of tests. One test is done to look for blood in the stool, and the other test involves a lighted scope, which actually looks at the colon.’’
Richardson says that, if the cancer is caught early, the odds of being cured are 90 percent.
Ask your RHG provider about your colorectal cancer screening. All adults ages 50-74 should be screened at regular intervals for colorectal cancer.
August 2011
Rural Health Group is excited to announce that Friday and Saturday appointments are now available at Rural Health Group Dental at Roanoke Rapids.
Call 252-536-5880.
July 2011
Rural Health Group would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest providers. Also:
Gilberto Navarro, MD has transferred from our Rich Square location to our Roanoke Rapids family practice office.
Brooke Curry, PA-C is providing care at both our Scotland Neck and Whitakers locations through August.
June 27, 2011 is National HIV Testing Day.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one out of five people living with HIV in the U.S. are unaware of their HIV status.
In North Carolina only 42.3% of the population has ever been tested for HIV. In 2009 North Carolina was one of the top ten states for AIDS diagnosis. Roughly 1.8 % of North Carolinians have HIV/AIDS.
When people learn their HIV status, they gain knowledge to take control of their health and their lives.
Testing is available year round at all RHG medical offices-know your status!
May 2011
May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects about 1 in 4 Americans. It can lead to stroke, heart failure, or kidney damage. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute urges: "If Your Blood Pressure Is Not Lower Than 140/90, Ask Your Doctor Why." Lifestyle changes to control high blood pressure include losing weight (if overweight), being physically active, choosing foods lower in salt and sodium, and limiting alcohol intake. Medication may also be necessary to bring high blood pressure under control.
Please go to http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/index.html for more information about Hypertension/High Blood Pressure, and talk to your medical provider about it at your next visit.
For a booklet about high blood pressure and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), click here.
For some heart healthy recipes, go to http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/syah/index.htm
Para algunas recetas saludables para el corazón en Español e Inglés (for some heart healthy recipes in Spanish and English): http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov//health/public/heart/other/sp_recip.pdf
April 2011
April 4 - 10 is National Public Health Week sponsored by the American Public Health Association. The theme this year is Safety is NO Accident: Live Injury-Free. "Together, we can help Americans live injury-free in all areas of life: at work, at home, at play, in your community and anywhere people are on the move." See http://www.nphw.org/nphw11/first1.htm for more information.
March 2011
Friday March 4th is Dress in Blue Day for Colon Cancer Awareness. Dress in blue, tell people why, and encourage friends, family, and co-workers to get their colon checked. Click here for a flyer, or go to www.dressinblueday.com for more information. Go to http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ColorectalAwareness/ for more information about National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Why do we need to raise awareness of colon cancer? Because:
•Colon cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.
•Approx. 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer each year.
•Colon cancer often has no symptoms at all until it's at an advanced stage.
•Colon cancer is 80% preventable when detected early.
•You can reduce your risk through regular screenings.
•Beginning at age 50 (or earlier if you have a family history), everyone should get their colon checked.
If you are uninsured, please contact Rural Health Group to see if you
qualify (based on household size and income) for our Sliding Fee program. RHG has a program for uninsured, sliding fee patients which guarantees that they are screened appropriately for colorectal cancer. This program is available year-round.
March 2011
March is National Nutrition Month! National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Click here for games, resources, and more.
February 2011
February is National Children's Dental Health Month, sponsored by the ADA to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. See http://www.ada.org/2934.aspx for more information. Rural Health Group has three dental clinics - Henderson, Jackson, and Roanoke Rapids - call today for an appointment!
February 2011
RHG is hosting a FREE Chronic Kidney Disease Screening from 1 PM - 4 PM on Wednesday February 23, 2011. The screening is in partnership with the UNC Kidney Center and the Northampton County Health Department, and will be held at the Rural Health Group at Rich Square. For more information, call Hallie Peace at 252-534-5841 extension 631 or click here to view the flyer for this event.
February 2011
Friday February 4th, is “National Wear Red Day” to show support for women’s heart disease awareness. See http://www.goredforwomen.org/wearredday/ for more information.
January 2011
RHG is hosting a FREE Chronic Kidney Disease Screening from 10 AM - 1 PM on Thursday January 27, 2011. The screening is in partnership with the UNC Kidney Center and the Northampton County Health Department, and will be held at the Rural Health Group HOPE (Health Outreach and Patient Education) office in the Sallie R Jordan Memorial Health Clinic building in Seaboard, NC.
For more information, call Hallie Peace at 252-534-5841 extension 631 or click here to view the flyer for this event.
December 1, 2010
Today is World AIDS day. While much progess has been made fighting this disease, we still have a long way to go to reduce HIV incidence. HIV incidence in the US rose quickly and steeply in the early years of the epidemic, reaching its peak in the mid-1980s at an estimated 160,000 infections per year. Since that time, HIV incidence has declined significantly, but an estimated 56,300 new HIV infections still occur annually in the US. Over the last few years the HIV incidence has remained the same.
HIV testing is critical to the fight against HIV. An estimated 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the US. Of those, as many as 1 in 5 people are unaware of their HIV infection. HIV testing is important because finding new HIV infections means people can get lifesaving treatment early and can take steps to protect their loved ones from being infected.
HIV testing should be a routine part of healthcare. CDC recommends:
- Everyone ages 13-64 get tested at least once.
- People at high risk for HIV get tested more often. Those at the highest risk (including Injection-Drug Users and their sex partners, persons who exchange sex for money or drugs, sex partners of HIV-infected persons and Men who have Sex with Men) get tested at least annually.
- Women get tested during each pregnancy.
November 2010 is...
- American Diabetes Month
http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/programs/american-diabetes-month/?utm_source=WWW&utm_medium=DropDownIMC&utm_content=AmerDiabMonth&utm_campaign=ADM
- COPD Awareness Month
http://www.lungusa.org/about-us/our-impact/top-stories/november-is-copd-awareness_1.html
- Lung Cancer Awareness Month
http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/involved/lcam_month.html
- National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_nadam.asp
- Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
http://www.knowitfightitendit.org/
- National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
http://www.nostomachforcancer.org/
- Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month
http://www.phassociation.org/AwarenessMonth2010
Please check out any of the links above for more information about any of these topics. Please note: Rural Health Group is not responsible for the content of any of these sites.
June 2010
Rural Health Group congratulates Dr. James Perry on his retirement from medical practice. Best wishes!
June 2010
June is Men's Health Month! On average, men die almost 6 years younger than women in the US. Click here for a men's health fact sheet, and click here to visit the Men's Health Network website. Developing a relationship with a primary health care provider is a good idea!
May 2010
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Learn how to "Stop Stroke, Act F.A.S.T., and Spread Hope." Visit the National Stroke Association website at http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SAM for important information, including stroke risk management, symptoms of stroke, and recovery from stroke.
April 4, 2010
UpToDate is an online medical information resource where patients can go to learn about a medical condition, better understand management and treatment options, and find information to have a better dialogue with their health care providers. UpToDate provides in-depth, authoritative medical information, including recommendations based on the latest published evidence. Patients can view hundreds of free patient-level topics or subscribe to gain access to thousands of physician-level topics. UpToDate is the trusted resource of physicians around the world and is used by the majority of academic medical centers in the US. Visit them at www.uptodate.com/patients
March 2010
Rural Health Group Dental at Henderson is now open! Accepting new patients of all ages, including those with Medicaid and the uninsured. Call 252-438-3549, Option 3 to make an appointment.
February 8, 2010
February is National Children's Dental Health Month and many people are unaware of the important role early dental care plays in children's overall health. The ADA recommends that parents take action early to insure the health of their children's teeth because attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life.
See www.ada.org... for more information about...
Dental Visits
Early Childhood Caries (Baby Bottle Tooth Decay)
Mouth Protectors
Dental Emergencies
and more!
December 15, 2009
Rural Health Group wishes everyone Happy, HEALTHY Holidays. Holiday health tips are available from a variety of sources; here is a link to some from the Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/Features/HealthyHolidays/
November 30, 2009
Rural Health Group is happy to announce that all of our family practice offices have now trained on the electronic medical record (EMR) and practice management system, eClinicalWorks. Our two dental offices have also implemented a new EMR/practice management system, Dentrix. We are excited about the communication and quality improvements these systems are able to facilitate.
July 30, 2009
Rural Health Group is pleased to announce that our Henderson office will begin seeing patients August 3, 2009.
