FEBRUARY 6, 2023 – GREENSBORO, NC – Cone Health Heart & Vascular Center hosted its second annual Women’s Heart Symposium on Friday, Feb. 3. Hundreds of women attended the event, which was open to the public in person and streamed online for virtual attendees.
One in three women dies of heart disease and stroke every year, most of which are preventable. Prevention begins with education.
“At Cone Health, we are passionate about good health and having a healthy community,” says Dr. Mary Jo Cagle, chief executive officer of Cone Health. “We know that women make 80% of the health care decisions in their family’s lives. Today, we offer information to help women make more informed decisions about their own health and in the service of others who they love.”
Cone Health physicians and pharmacists took the podium to share more about heart disease, common symptoms and risk factors for women, and how important it is to implement heart-healthy habits into daily life.
Key takeaways included:
● Establishing a health care team is the first line of defense for heart-related events and diabetes.
● While some risk factors for heart disease (like age, family history, and ethnicity) cannot change, other risk factors can be managed and dramatically impact health, including nutrition, physical activity and taking medicines as prescribed.
● Some heart diseases display no symptoms, especially in women, so it’s essential to schedule health screenings at least once a year.
● Every heart-healthy habit counts, no matter how small. For example, adding a 10-minute walk to a routine or replacing a soda with water can reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol.
The event ended with free health screens for attendees on-site and an opportunity to ask questions with presenters and staff.
“A future with fewer heart attacks is possible,” says Dr. Kardie Tobb, cardiologist, who led planning for the women’s heart forum. “We at the Cone Health Heart & Vascular Center are committed to supporting communities across our region through health education and world-class care.”
To learn more about the Heart & Vascular Center or find a physician, visit www.conehealth.com/services/heart-vascular-care.
JANUARY 17, 2022 – Educational partnerships across the state are creating pathways for students. One of those collaborations is taking place at the Union Square Campus in Greensboro. ncIMPACT gets a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art campus that is training nurses for the future.
Click below to view the video, which aired on PBS on January 17, 2022.
APRIL 25, 2018 – DURHAM, NC – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) announced today that it is investing $1 million in North Carolina A&T State University’s School of Nursing. This is the second investment in a Triad HBCU nursing program by Blue Cross in the last two weeks. The investment is part of Blue Cross NC’s commitment to contribute $50 million toward community health initiatives in 2018. The investment is partially funded through $40 million in tax savings generated through the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
A&T will use the investment for scholarships to address access to care and nursing shortages, to update equipment and technology, and for student development.
“Over the past month, Blue Cross NC has made it a point to invest in our state’s outstanding HBCU nursing programs,” said Dr. Patrick Conway, President and CEO of Blue Cross NC. “We’ve done this because of the central role that nurses play in creating a higher-quality, more affordable health care system. We are excited to be able to help North Carolina A&T admit and train new nurses, especially from underserved and rural populations. As a practicing physician, I understand that in order bring costs down and increase quality, we have to think more broadly about what it means to invest in health.”
According to a recent study by Georgetown University, North Carolina is projected to have the second-largest shortage of nurses in the nation – a deficit of 12,900 nurses. The shortage is especially challenging in rural North Carolina. The state’s metropolitan areas have 32 more nurses for every 10,000 people than rural counties. Seventy of North Carolina’s 80 rural counties are classified as “medical deserts” due to their lack of primary care. Additionally, nurses play a central role in increasing the value of health care, both in terms of improved outcomes and lower costs.
“We appreciate Blue Cross NC’s continued support of North Carolina A&T. These investments are demonstrative of the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing complex challenges in our communities,” Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr., said.
A&T’s School of Nursing is a part of the College of Health and Human Sciences and offers the bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) through three entry options which include:
Traditional BSN entry option for new freshmen and transfer students
Accelerated BSN second degree option for those with a non-nursing bachelor degree
BSN completion option for registered nurses with an associate degree
The School of Nursing prepares students to become professional nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality patient-centered care in a dynamic healthcare environment, assume leadership roles in nursing, and pursue graduate education. A&T nursing faculty use state-of-the art technology to educate nurses based on current theory, research and evidenced based practice. The School of Nursing currently has 195 students enrolled in the pre-nursing and nursing major.
The school will use the investment from Blue Cross NC to provide student scholarships, to support student development and program initiatives, and to upgrade equipment and technology within the School of Nursing.
The $1 million will be invested into the following areas:
Scholarships
There is a significant need for scholarships and financial aid, especially to students from poor, rural areas. These funds will be used to provide scholarship support to students who are nursing majors at A&T. The school anticipates providing 300 nursing students with $2,000 scholarships over the next 2-3 years, and plans on graduating as many as 245 nursing students with their BSN into the state’s workforce.
Equipment and Technology
A&T will also use the funding to support the purchase of new equipment and technology and update existing equipment and technology as needed.
Student Development
Students who earn a nursing degree must pass the NCLEX exam before they are allowed to practice. A&T will use funding from this investment to help prepare students for the NCLEX, and cover fees associated with the test.
Funding will also be used to support faculty development initiatives such as providing opportunities for School of Nursing faculty to engage in professional development initiatives and trainings.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities through innovative health care products, insurance, services and information to more than 3.8 million members, including approximately 1 million served on behalf of other Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at bcbsnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
On Tuesday January 19th, the Union Square Campus Inc. (USCI) Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution in support of the 2015 Connect NC Bond Referendum. The $2 billion bond referendum includes $1.3 billion for higher education capital construction, repair, and renovation.
If the referendum passes in March, $90 million dollars would fund North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s construction of a new engineering facility, $105 million dollars would fund The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s construction of a facility for both undergraduate nursing and other sciences, and $9.5 million would support new construction, repairs, and renovations at Guilford Technical Community College.
It has been 15 years since the last general obligation bond was authorized to upgrade our state’s infrastructure. The USCI Board asserts that these facilities will educate graduates with the skills to meet Guilford County’s job growth where there are not qualified candidates today
Members of the Union Square Campus Board of Directors are: Harold Martin, Chancellor, NCA&T; Frank Gilliam, Chancellor, UNCG; Randy Parker, President, GTCC; Tim Rice, retired President and CEO, Cone Heath; Therence Pickett, VP/General Counsel, Volvo Trucks / Mack Trucks; Jim Bryant, Bryant and Associates; Carole Bruce, Partner, Smith Moore Leatherwood; Ed Kitchen, COO, Joseph M. Bryan Foundation; Pat Danahy, retired President and CEO, Greensboro Partnership; and Rosalind Fuse-Hall, President, Bennett College.
