NCMS Preceptor Hub is partnership with Manteo Community Health Center in Manteo, Engelhard, and Ocracoke (photo: The Coastland Times)
Improved Healthcare Coming to Dare County
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) in conjunction with the Town of Manteo Healthcare Task Force is happy to announce the formation of a Preceptor Hub in Dare County. Initially, the Hub will be a partnership between the Manteo Community Health Center in Manteo, Engelhard, and Ocracoke, the town of Manteo, and the NCMS. Additional medical practices with preceptors will be added in the future. UNC-Chapel Hill, Campbell University, Elon University, and Wake Forest University will send students to the Hub.
A Preceptor Hub is a community of experienced medical practitioners who supervise medical students, providing training and clinical education. They provide the experiential part of the curriculum by helping student physicians gain clinical medical knowledge by caring for real patients.
The Preceptor Hub in Dare County comes after Outer Banks Medical Group told more than 2,400 patients that it would no longer provide services due to practitioner retirements, resignations or temporary providers not renewing their contracts.
NCMS Vice President Franklin Walker has been instrumental in the formation of the hub, working for more than two years to bring help to the people of Dare County.
Walker says, “The North Carolina Medical Society takes its commitment to the health of North Carolinians very seriously. This Preceptor Hub is a chance for us to bring our expertise and experience to a part of the state that needs quality healthcare. Through our Community Practitioner Program (CPP), we place physicians and PAs in underserved areas and improve access to care. We are very excited to help the people of Dare County.”
NCMS CEO Chip Baggett is also excited about what NCMS is doing for the area. “For over two years, Franklin Walker and the CPP team have dedicated their efforts to enhancing healthcare in Dare and its neighboring counties. The establishment of this Preceptor Hub reflects the commitment of NCMS to always lead toward improved healthcare for North Carolinians. We take pride in our robust partnerships with Manteo Community Health Center and the Town of Manteo Healthcare Task Force. We are also excitedly anticipating the arrival of students from UNC-Chapel Hill, Campbell University, Elon, and Wake Forest, the NCMS to see their contributions to assist the residents of this region.”
Joe Rockenstein, CEO of Manteo Community Health Center adds, “We must preserve the future of healthcare by embracing the precepting of the present. With this program, we hope to do that for all the communities we serve in eastern North Carolina.”
Town of Manteo Healthcare Task Force Chairman Malcolm Fearing stated, “Nearly two years ago, our community was in a state of crisis because we had thousands of community members who lost their access to healthcare. We cast a wide net looking for resources to assist our community. Mr. Walker and the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation have been alongside us in the trenches helping to find sustainable solutions to build our provider network for patient care. This preceptorship program will allow students to hone their skills here on the Outer Banks. We are confident that we will prove to them that we all know this is an amazing place to live, work, and raise a family. We are tremendously grateful to have this kind of program coming to Dare County.”
NCMS Community Practitioner Program is helping underserved communities across the state. If you have questions about a Preceptor Hub in your area, please contact Franklin Walker at [email protected].
Some photos from today’s meeting:
