Northwest AHEC hosted the 41^st Annual Gravidas at Risk Conference on November 15-16, 2023 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in Hickory, North Carolina. A diverse group of 150 healthcare professionals, including nurses, educators, providers, and care managers, from all corners of the state, came together to participate in the enriching two-day conference.

The partnership of Northwest Piedmont Region and Piedmont Region is a valuable partnership and pathway to the future health professional in our high schools. These programs are an annual Fall Leadership and the Regional Conferences for Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) members in the Northwest Regional Chapter and Piedmont-Triad Regional Chapter of North Carolina.

The annual Share the Health Fair (STHF) was held at the Downtown Health Plaza on November 4, 2023 from 8-2 pm. This event provides free screenings and services to the underserved populations in Winston-Salem community.  

During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to our partners who have made our success possible. It is in this spirit that we say thank you and best wishes for the holidays and New Year!

Northwest AHEC would like to welcome Megan Mills Anderson, who joined our department in October as the Talent Pipeline Management Project Manager.

We are seeking a Community Health Worker (CHW) to join our team and play a crucial role in creating content for an e-learning course focused on motivational interviewing and coaching for tobacco cessation. The course aims to equip CHWs with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support the communities they serve. 

How many people in Forsyth county North Carolina are homeless each night? What are the main causes of homelessness? How is the community serving the homeless population? What are the needs in the community for serving the homeless population?

Katie Passaretti, MD, is vice president and enterprise chief epidemiologist at Atrium Health. Dr. Passaretti is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. She is a member of the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

As our population ages, addressing fall risks among the elderly becomes increasingly crucial for maintaining their well-being. Falls are a prevalent concern among older adults, leading to severe consequences such as injuries, hospitalizations, and decreased quality of life. Recent studies have shed light on the correlation between fall incidents and health status among the elderly, as well as the effectiveness of wearable technology in detecting and preventing such events.

Despite advancements in technology, preventing falls entirely remains a challenge. However, wearable devices equipped with fall detection capabilities offer a proactive approach to mitigate risks. By alerting caregivers or emergency services immediately after a real fall occurs, these devices facilitate prompt medical intervention, potentially reducing injury severity and improving outcomes for the elderly population.

Not all wearables are finding success, however as comfort, privacy, practicality, and user experience affect usage rates.

Listen to this episode of Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina with special guest, Richard Hirsh, Chief Marketing Officer for UnaliWear, a wearables tech company and producer of the Kanega watch for fall prevention.

The DEA has new training requirements for renewal of a prescriber’s DEA registration - As of June 23, 2023, anyone with a DEA license must attest that they have had 8 hours of education focusing on OUD.