Health Archives

Pause to Give Life at Watauga Medical Center April 3rd at 8:01 a.m. for Flag Raising

March 28, 2024 UNC Health Appalachian is among dozens of hospitals that will partner with HonorBridge to simultaneously host a statewide Donate Life Flag-raising ceremony and moment of silence. This event promotes the mission of organ, eye, and tissue donation and honors donors, donor families, recipients, and those waiting for a life-saving transplant in North Carolina.The Pause to Give Life event kicks off the start of National Donate Life Month and will be held Wednesday, April 3, at 8:01 a.m. at the Watauga Medical Center Campus outside of the Heart and Vascular Center by the flagpole. The event is open to the public with parking available in the main hospital parking lot.

March 20, 2024 Many people travel to the High Country seeking mountain adventures. Likewise, the people who call Boone and the surrounding areas home leave our mountains in search of adventures beyond Western North Carolina. One of those adventurous neighbors is Nysie Hurst, a longtime resident of Boone and local artist. This March, Nysie takes to the air to realize a 30-year-old dream of landing in Spain to join others from around the world taking part in a 3- month-long pilgrimage across Spain and France on the famous Camino de Santiago.

AMOREM Will Offer “Good Mourning Children’s Grief Camp” for Grieving Children This Spring

March 19, 2024 It’s hard to recognize a child’s grief because they tend to express their emotions differently than adults. When children experience death, they may think that they are the only ones in the world who have lost a mother, father, grandparent or other loved one. At Good Mourning Children’s Grief Camp, children will learn that they are not alone, their feelings are normal and it is okay to remember and honor their loved ones. For more than 20 years, children ages 6 through 12 who are grieving the loss of a loved one have been invited to spend a day devoted to remembering and healing through grief-related activities. Through age-appropriate activities, children will gain a better understanding of loss and grief.

March 19, 2024 UNC Health Appalachian Watauga Medical Center announced an innovative treatment option for patients with severely calcified coronary artery disease living in the High Country. The new technology is an enhanced application of lithotripsy, an approach that uses sonic pressure waves to safely break up kidney stones. It is widely used to treat problematic calcium in the coronary arteries that can reduce blood flow in the heart.

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is Hosting the 2nd Annual LocalFAM Summit on March 7

March 1, 2024 On average, one in six people in the High Country are food insecure, despite the deep agricultural roots in the region and abundance of locally produced food. Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) operates a Local Food as Medicine program which helps bridge this gap by redistributing healthy, local food to those most in need, while also providing a new market channel for local farmers and producers. Local Food As Medicine(LocalFAM) is a grant-funded food access program, which enables community organizations to provide their neighbors with fresh, nutritious food, supplied by local producers. The food is free to recipients, but producers are paid full retail price for their products. The LocalFAM program is composed of multiple food access programs that often operate at the same time, impacting 7 counties in the High Country.

Watauga Parks and Recreation Center Hosting Health Fair Friday, March 1 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m

February 26, 2024 It’s all about health and fitness every day at the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Center in Boone, but the folks there are taking it all one step further on Friday, March 1. Partnering with about three dozen area agencies and healthcare organizations, the Rec Center is hosting the High Country Health Fair from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on location at 231 Complex Drive in Boone. According to Laura Hawley and Janie Prewitt, volunteer coordinators who have been working closely on this project with Parks and Rec Director, Keron Poteat, the fair promises to be “a unique healthcare event.” By Sherrie Norris

January 22, 2024 Cases reflected in Watauga County data are categorized by the reporting county, and have been updated to include both confirmed and probable cases. Confirmed and probable cases are classified based on case definitions for the respective disease according to the NC Communicable Disease Manual and as classified in the North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System. Cases not reported include sensitive cases that may be identifiable due to low numbers and concerns for patient identity and privacy. Cases are categorized monthly based on their earliest date of their symptoms, or if unavailable or not relevant, their test date. Due to delays in reporting, data in recent months may be incomplete, and data in prior months may change as cases are reported.

January 18, 2024 BOONE — Health begins where we live, learn, work and play and starts long before any illness. The opportunity to improve health begins in our families, neighborhoods, schools and jobs. These areas can be viewed as building blocks to create a society where everyone can thrive. The STABLE Workplaces initiative officially launched on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. STABLE stands for Staff Training and Business Leadership for Evolving Workplaces and is an initiative focused on filling in some of the gaps to create a healthier workforce and community.

October 4, 2023 The High Country Breast Cancer Foundation is excited to announce the 5K Run for Breast Cancer Awareness, scheduled to take place on October 28, 2023. This event is a significant step in our ongoing mission to raise awareness and to provide support to local breast cancer patients and their families.The High Country Breast Cancer Foundation has been serving our community for 7 years, supporting individuals and families affected by breast cancer. Our commitment to this cause is unwavering, and the 5K Run is a testament to our dedication to making a difference.

July 14, 2023 Boone, N.C. – From mountains to lakes, ski slopes to waterfalls, and everything in between, the High Country has always drawn us to explore, experience, and to be immersed in the beauty of nature. Our rolling mountains welcome people from far and wide and provide endless opportunities for adventure. Unfortunately, more opportunities for adventure can translate to higher incidences of injuries, illnesses, and traumas.

July 10, 2023 Boone, N.C. – Watauga Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke: Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

June 26, 2023 Find women doing outstanding work in their field via Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, a female-led organization dedicated to fostering a sustainable and fair food scene in the High Country. To do this, the organization bolsters local producers and creates connections among the community that contribute to knowledge and excitement of eating farm-grown food—ultimately upping the local demand and desire for local fare. By Anna Beth Adcock

May 24, 2023 Jefferson, NC– If you are looking for a fun filled day with family and friends, while learning about safety and interacting with emergency personnel and law enforcement, this is the event for you! The Ashe County Safety Day is an educational event that is free and open to all ages – families included! The event will be held Saturday, June 3rd from 10am to 2pm at the Ashe County High School.

April 27, 2023 Rob Hudspeth, senior vice president for system advancement at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, has responded to some of the concerns and controversy arising from last week’s packed county commissioners meeting where many community members voiced anger and sadness at the Broyhill Wellness Center ending memberships to community members. By Zack Hill

April 24, 2023 Screeching sirens generally cause one of four reactions for those within earshot. People may initially look to find out in which direction the sirens are coming from and then if they are being emitted by ambulances or fire trucks, checking to see if they’ve got to stop and allow emergency vehicles to pass or, finally, glancing quickly in the rear view mirror to see if they’re
being pulled by law enforcement. By Peter Morris

April 6, 2023 In the High Country of Western North Carolina, it seems as if veterinary clinics are everywhere, on main throughfares, side streets and throughout the three-county region of Watauga, Ashe, and Avery. However, these statistics aren’t quite what they appear. With the exception on one veterinary clinic, Dr. John Lang’s Linville Animal Hospital, in Banner Elk, all other such services cater only to small animals ranging from Dachshunds and Pomeranians to the larger breeds of Labradors and English Mastiffs, to many of the 42-71 recognized breeds of cats that inhabit homes from Vilas to Deep Gap to Meat Camp. By Peter Morris

March 30, 2023 Boone, NC: Boone Drug at Deerfield, located at 345 Deerfield Rd, Boone, NC, is now listed with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Yellow Fever Vaccination Center. Boone Drug Pharmacist, Emily Miller, PharmD, has worked diligently with providers and government organizations to bring this service to Watauga County and surrounding areas. “This service will be a tremendous help to traveling patients in the community in need of this vaccine, which can be challenging to find in our region of the state.” says Boone Drug Vice President, Spencer Hodges.

February 16, 2023 Raleigh, NC – Today Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Guilford, Majority Whip) filed HB 98 – Medical Freedom Act – which prohibits state and local government from issuing COVID vaccine mandates.
The bill would prohibit any state and local government agency from issuing COVID vaccine requirements on private citizens and government employees. It would also prohibit government agencies from requiring proof of COVID vaccination records of any person. State and local government agencies or political subdivisions of the state will be unable to discriminate against a person’s refusal to provide proof of COVID vaccination or submit to a COVID vaccination when seeking employment.

November 16, 2022 From the beginning of the pandemic, Boone Drug has worked to adapt and provide innovative services to the communities of patients which they serve. Originally COVID-19 testing was a major need and scarce resource and Boone Drug stepped in to assist with those efforts. Today, patients are looking for testing and treatment options that are fast, affordable, and convenient for many other illnesses. Boone Drug is partnering with MakoRx Care Connect to fill this need.

October 26, 2022 Boone, NC: Area residents are encouraged to visit their local Boone Drug location and register to receive free vitamins for every member of their household. A 30-day supply of Good Neighbor Pharmacy Complete Multivitamins for children, adults, seniors and pre-natal customers, are available free of charge from the only locally owned and independent drug store in the area. Your neighborhood Boone Drug pharmacist can assist you in getting started with this free program. While it does seem too good to be true, there is never a cost to the customer and insurance is not required.

September 30, 2022 VALDESE, NC – AMOREM welcomes Jake Benfield as its new director of development. “We are thrilled to have Jake join AMOREM,” said Kerri McFalls, vice president of community engagement for AMOREM. “Jake recently completed his internship with AMOREM as a student with Appalachian State University. We knew right away that we wanted to retain him. He brings energy, enthusiasm and passion for AMOREM’s mission. Jake is a valuable resource not only to AMOREM but to those that we serve.”

August 24, 2022 To say 2020 was challenging is an understatement. Among the many lessons learned that year, most people were reminded that life is precious and fragile. Laneece Trivette of Matney probably learned that lesson better than most that year. She also learned that she has a compassionate team of healthcare providers fighting in her corner at Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center

March 7, 2022 “Get Pickled” – Pickleball Tournament in honor of Bruce Comer on March 26-27. The Doubles Pool Play Tournament is open to anyone 18+ and costs $50.00 per team.

January 31, 2022 Positive COVID-19 tests continue to rise in the High Country due to the omicron variant. According to the latest data from AppHealthCare, 26% of all covid tests from January 16-22 returned a positive test, among the highest numbers reported in the area since the pandemic began. Over the last month, the positivity rate has increased from 6.3% (December 12-18) to 26% (January 16-22). In the last five days, Watauga County has reported 628 new cases while Ashe County has reported 227 new cases and Alleghany County has reported 122 new cases. Since the pandemic began, AppHealthCare has reported 17,788 cumulative cases and 138 deaths in the three-county district. Ashe County has reported 75 deaths while Watauga County has reported 51 and Alleghany County has had 12 deaths from the virus. By Nathan Ham

January 28, 2022 AppHealthCare announced on Wednesday that through a collaboration with numerous agencies as well as surveys and data collection, a community health report was put together for each of the three counties (Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany) in the AppHealthCare district. The report for each county is put together every three years. The Watauga County report was compiled through partnerships with Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, the Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative, Appalachian District Board of Health and AppHealthCare. As part of the community health report, multiple factors are included in determining what the greatest needs and concerns are for the county. Several of those data points include household income, poverty level, food insecurity, unemployment data, community safety, affordable housing and mental/behavioral health. According to the report for Watauga County, the three biggest areas to focus community resources on are mental health, housing and family/social support systems. By Nathan Ham

+ More Articles

Pause to Give Life at Watauga Medical Center April 3rd at 8:01 a.m. for Flag Raising

Local Artist, Nysie Hurst, Heads to Spain to Conquer the Camino de Santiago This Month

AMOREM Will Offer “Good Mourning Children’s Grief Camp” for Grieving Children This Spring

Watauga Medical Center Offers Patients an Improved Treatment for Heart Disease

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is Hosting the 2nd Annual LocalFAM Summit on March 7

Watauga Parks and Recreation Center Hosting Health Fair Friday, March 1 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m

Watauga County Communicable Disease Situation Update from Appalachian District Health Department

STABLE Workplaces Aims to Create a Healthier Workforce; Seeks to Bring Resources Together

High Country Breast Cancer Foundation Announces the 5K Run/Walk to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Resident Doctors to Host Wilderness Medicine Conference in the High Country

Watauga Medical Center is Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Providing High Quality Stroke Care

Farm Fresh: Organic organization cultivates community and fresh fare from the farm

Fun for All Ages at Ashe County Safety Day

ARHS Responds to Concerns About Wellness Center Ending Memberships to Public

High Country EMT Ride Along

Dr. John Lang: Caring for Animals Small & Large

Yellow Fever Vaccine Now Available at Boone Drug

Rep. Jon Hardister files bill prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

Boone Drugs, Inc. Announces Partnership with MakoRx to provide Clinical Testing & Treatment

Boone Drugs Inc. Announces Free Vitamin Program

AMOREM Welcomes Director of Development, Jake Benfield

Stage IV Breast Cancer Tests Laneece Trivette’s Resilience, Strength and Faith

Get Pickled at Watauga County Parks and Recreation in Honor of Bruce Comer

COVID-19 Update: Positivity Rate of Tests in Watauga County Continue Rising

AppHealthCare Releases Community Health Report for Watauga County