Definition
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Story Behind the Curve
Duplin County has seen a significant rise in the number of children served from 2021 to 2023, almost doubling. The overall lack of physicians within the county and an increased population of uninsured citizens have contributed to an increased need for child health care within the county.
What's helping:
- Partnering with community based organizations and other providers to complete annual physicals
What's hurting:
- Lack of pediatric providers within the county
- Overall growth of population
- Cost of healthcare, especially to those without insurance
Partners
ECU Health Duplin
Goshen Medical Centers
Duplin County Schools
Duplin County DSS
Duplin County EMS
Duplin County Services for the Aged
What Works
- providing and billing for services utilizing a sliding fee scale to help better serve uninsured citizens and citizens with low income levels
- community outreach events
- Increased workforce development for pediatric providers
Action Plan
- continue operating the Primary Care and Child Health Clinics five days a week
- work with community partners to increase community awareness of the services available at the Health Department
- Increase initiatives to bring in more pediatric providers-continue rural residency program through ECU Health Duplin Hospital
- Continue "Back-To-School" events after hours to reach more patients
Progress in 2022-2023
2022:
Goshen Medical Center partners with the Duplin County Health Department to help complete children's annual physicals
2023:
The health department continues to partner with Goshen to complete physicals and immunizations.