WCU plans for medical building to improve education, expand health care access

WCUStudents pursuing health careers at Western Carolina University will soon have ample chance for hands-on learning right on campus if plans for a new medical office building on Little Savannah Road move forward as expected. 

EMS costs throw a wrench in Jackson budget talks

jacksonAmbulance service in Jackson County could more than double in cost to taxpayers if commissioners decide to fund the full $1.4 million budget requested by Harris Regional Hospital.

Animal shelter estimate tops $5 million

fr shelterWhen a report estimating cost and space needs for a new animal shelter came back with a staggering price tag — the report estimated a cost of $5.4 to $6.6 million — Jackson County commissioners had to catch a breath and start rethinking their planned timeline of capital construction. 

New CEO in the cards for Haywood Regional

haywoodThe CEO of Haywood Regional Medical Center stepped down suddenly last week, effective immediately.

Towns preach health message to hold down insurance rates

fr healthfairEric Messer only has one complaint about the health and wellness initiatives the town of Waynesville has been pushing with its employees. The fitness tracking bracelets passed out by the town weren’t designed with sewer plant workers in mind.

Cherokee implements full-circle rehabilitation for drug recovery

fr snowbirdIt’s been a while since the old Mountain Credit Union building in Cherokee saw foot traffic from people looking to deposit checks or get financial advice, but its doors still swing open and closed with regularity — though for a much different purpose.

Community collaborates to help Jackson’s uninsured, groom future medical professionals

fr goodsamaritanWhen someone shows up to a medical clinic, sick and suffering, the hardest words to say can be, “Sorry, but you’ll have to wait three months for an appointment.” 

Major renovation planned for Harris’ New Generations Birthing Center

fr maternityA $5.5 million renovation and expansion of the New Generations Family Birthing Center at Harris Regional Hospital will soon be underway.

Harris brings OB doctors under one umbrella

fr obgynHarris Regional Hospital is a powerhouse when it comes to delivering babies in the mountains, a legacy it has pledged to maintain with the symbolic merger of the hospital’s OB doctors into a single practice under the hospital’s umbrella.

Free clinic to serve uninsured in Swain County

fr freeclinicDr. Frank VanMiddlesworth is on a mission to bring free medical care to the uninsured in Swain County and improve the overall health of its residents.

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