Page 51 - Robeson Living Summer 2020

SeHealth faith-based transportation program awarded grant

J

Dean Carter Alisia Oxendine Sissy Grantham

Southeastern Health’s U-Care Connections program, which provides male and female, ranging from middle age to early retirement, come
D transportation to local health services, got a boost in the form of a from multiple racial backgrounds and geographical areas of the re-
gion.
r $550,000 grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
. The Connections program is part of SeHealth’s Compassion for U “While the drivers are from a variety of different spiritual back-
L initiative, which is led by SeHealth Coordinator of Pastoral Care Ser- grounds, faith is an asset we would like to see in every driver,” added
a vices Chaplain Dean Carter. Carter.
u “Studies show that people who have access to a vehicle or to friends Alisia Oxendine is the director over the Pastoral Care Services depart-
r and family with a vehicle are more likely to use health care services ment at SeHealth and has watched the Connections program thrive.
a than those without vehicle access,” said Carter. “Modes of transpor- SR
M tation affect health care access too. People with reliable access to “This program is true to its name in that it connects our faith com- M By Roxana Ross
munity with those who are facing challenges related not only to their
u private transportation are more likely to go to a medical appointment physical health, but, in many cases, also related to their spiritual
than those who rely on public transportation.”
s health,” said Oxendine. “Placing these volunteers in their path pro- C The field of neonatal
s According to Carter, time and distance burdens are frequently cited vides them with a solution to their transportation issues to improve therapy is relatively
e by patients as a barrier to health care utilization. For vulnerable popu- their health, while providing them with a listening ear and a resource NI new, and Southeastern
for encouragement and support.”
l lations, transportation can be unaffordable. Vehicle ownership, cost Health’s Southeastern
of insurance, fees, and taxi fares can be expensive. Individuals vul-
w nerable to transportation barriers are more likely to have low incomes SeHealth is collaborating with Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and CU Regional Medical
h and high expenses associated with comorbidities. the North Carolina Healthcare Association to research the findings Center is very proud to
i of U-Care Connections for possible adaptation of a best practice to off have two therapists
answer transportation disparities in other health care settings across
t “In local context, Robeson County is the largest rural land mass area the state. who can work in the
highly
in the State of North Carolina, coupled with no public transportation
specialized
e offerings,” said Carter. ers environment of the
“The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust has been a huge supporter of Neonatal Intensive
U-Care Connections volunteer drivers, also referred to as Connec- our programs through grant awards for many, many years,” said SeH- Care Unit (NICU).
tors, undergo a criminal background and driving records check, an- ealth Foundation Executive Director Sissy Grantham. “It is through rar
nual drivers’ safety training, and visually inspect their own vehicles grants, like this one, that we are able to provide support to our com- Since 2016,
on a monthly schedule. These volunteers fall under the Pastoral Care munity to expand access to much-needed health services which, in e Occupational Therapist
Services department of SeHealth, providing volunteer hours and a turn, greatly impacts efforts to improve our overall health.” and Inpatient Rehab
vehicle, receiving gas mileage reimbursement only. Services Coordinator
The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust was established in 1947 and ne Jyutika Zope and
“The difference in our program is the encouragement given from the is now one of the largest private trusts in North Carolina. The Trust’s Physical Therapist
driver,” said Carter. “It is a wonderful service and missions’ oppor- mission is to improve the health and quality of life of residents with on William Hunt have
tunity for the driver to show compassion, caring and empathy to the low incomes in North Carolina. The Health Improvement in North
breat transportation disadvantaged, helping those who have healthcare is- Carolina program area supports community-wide health solutions been working with
he sues and are vulnerable to those needs remaining unmet. Our effort across the state. The Local Impact in Forsyth County program area ata full-term and
bette saves lives that would have faded away unnoticed.” fosters equitable and sustainable solutions to ensure everyone in premature babies at
r in Forsyth County thrives. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as the sole l SRMC. Their work is
his Some Connectors are pastors, many are not. Connectors are both trustee. aided by upgrades
slee Page 51 the made in 2017 to the
p. unit, which can care
for babies born up to
rap 10 weeks early.

work y “Not a lot of therapists
in the go into the NICU,”
highly
special Hunt said. “It requires
additional training and
ized mentorship, and
enviro
nment because it’s so
specialized, it can be
of the hard to find people to
Neona
tal mentor you in this
We
conduct
area.
Intensi evaluations, develop
ve
Care treatment plans, and
Unit as they gress to go
home, we integrate the
(NICU SeHe
). Since family into that plan.”
2016, alth
Occup
ational anno
Thera
pist unce
and
Inpatie s new
nt
Rehab walk-
Service
s
Coordi in
nator
Jyutika clin
Zope
and
Physic
al
Thera
pist
Willia
m
Hunt
have
been
workin
g with
full-
term
and
premat
ure
babies
at
SRMC.
Their
work is
aided
by
upgrad
es
made
in
2017
to the
unit,
which
can
care
for
babies
born
up to
10
weeks
early.

“Not a
lot of
therapi
sts go
into
the
NICU,
” Hunt
said.
“It
require
s
additio
nal
trainin
g and
mentor
ship,
and
becaus
e it’s so
special
ized, it
can be
hard
to find
people
to
mentor
you in
this
area.
We
conduc
t
evalua
tions,
develo
p
treatm
ent
plans,
and as
they
progre
ss to go
home,
we
integra
te the
family
into
that
plan.”

Kayla
White,
of
Lumbe
rton, is
a nurse
at
SRMC
who is
also a
parent
of a
child
who
went
throug
h the
NICU.
Her
son,
Harris
on,
who
turns 1
this
weeken
d, was
born
six
weeks
early
but is
now
thrivin
g.