Medical Providers in the Triangle East Region of North Carolina Expand Access to Quality Care

Courtesy of CommWell Health

As Johnston County’s population and its needs have grown, local health care organizations have invested in expanding access to high quality, personalized and convenient care for all ages. Both CommWell Health and UNC Health Johnston have continued to add services and locations for Johnston County residents.

Meeting the Needs

CommWell Health, formerly known as Tri-County Community Health Council, was established in 1976 as an evening clinic in a small country store in Newton Grove, North Carolina. The Sampson, Harnett and Johnston County health departments established the clinic to provide primary medical care to the counties’ agricultural farmworker population.  

Nearly 50 years later, CommWell Health’s expansive footprint of 15 locations now spans five counties across southeastern North Carolina. 

“In 2009, we rebranded to reflect our mission of compassionate delivery of quality care in medical, dental and behavioral health services for all,” says Pamela Tripp, CEO. “We provide services for all payors – Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance – and for uninsured patients on a sliding scale fee.” 

The organization offers award-winning, patient-centric, team-based primary medical, dental and behavioral health services, psychiatry, OB-GYN, HIV/AIDS care, onsite and mail order pharmacy, WIC, lab, X-ray and care coordination. It also partners with the Johnston County school system to provide mobile dental services.

Courtesy of CommWell Health

Branching Out

Today, CommWell Health serves Johnston County in three locations: Smithfield, McGee’s Crossroads and a newer 12,000-square-foot, state-of-the art multispecialty office in Four Oaks. The new facility offers Four Oaks and the surrounding communities integrated family care medicine, dental, pediatrics, WIC and child and adolescent behavioral health care.

“Recent service enhancement has allowed for some Saturday urgent care clinics, online telehealth appointments and home delivery of medications with free shipping from our CommWell Health Discount Pharmacy,” Tripp says.  “The CommWell Health Eagle Foundation covers the shipping cost of all medications through our pharmacy’s Express Discount Meds delivery service.”

Embracing Excellence

CommWell Health has received multiple awards and recognitions at the local, state and federal levels and is accredited by The Joint Commission. It is ranked in the top 5% nationally for patient experience in behavioral health and in the top 10% for medical and dental services. 

“It is an honor to be recognized by The Crossroads Group as Employer of Choice and Provider of Choice among community health centers in the nation,” Tripp says. “Our colleagues’ commitment to deliver compassionate, quality care has earned CommWell Health quality awards for notable achievements in enhancing access, reducing health disparities, addressing social risk factors and advancing health information technology for quality.”

Bringing Care Close to Home

Other organizations are expanding to serve the region as well. UNC Health Family Medicine at Princeton recently brought primary care and preventative services to residents. The practice is part of UNC Physicians Network, an affiliate of UNC Health.

Physician assistant Ron Reese relocated from Omaha, Nebraska, to serve as the primary provider for the new clinic. 

“I was attracted to this area by UNC Health Johnston’s reputation as a quality health care organization,” Reese says. “The area of Princeton is a welcoming, friendly small town, and it is close to larger services and shopping if needed.”

Reese says the team at the practice provides care to the entire family from its newly renovated facility. “We do everything from physicals, to sick visits, to some minor office procedures,” he says. “There seems to be a shortage of primary care clinics in the rural areas, and we are fulfilling a much-needed service.

“The staff here are locals,” he says. “We try to provide a welcoming, family-like atmosphere. I feel the community has welcomed our clinic and me with open arms. There has been no family medicine clinic in the town for many years. The community response has been tremendous.”