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North Carolina

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North Carolina is a state that embraces you with gorgeous mountains and hills, hundreds of lakes and rivers, waterfalls, and a very desirable climate. North Carolina covers 48,711 square miles, with a 2006 estimated population of 8,856,505 people – with 2,703,195 people living in rural North Carolina (USDA-ERS). Raleigh is the state capital. The state’s largest cities are Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro. According to the 2006 Census, 74% of the state’s population is white, 21.7% is Black/African-American, and 6.7% is of Hispanic/Latino origin.

There are 116 hospitals in North Carolina, 60 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, 2007). The state has 24 hospitals currently identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals. There are 109 Rural Health Clinics in North Carolina, and 24 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 106 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2004). Fifteen percent of North Carolina residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2004-2005).

According to the Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all North Carolina residents in 2005 was $31,041, although rural per-capita income lagged at $26,447. Estimates from 2004 indicate a poverty rate of 15.6% exists in rural North Carolina, compared to 13.8% in urban areas of the state. 2000 data reports 27.3% of the rural population has not completed high school, while 19.2% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural North Carolina is 5.5%, while in urban North Carolina it is 4.8% (USDA-ERS, 2006).

For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.

Data Sources:

U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts

USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets

North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center

Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts

Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List

State Contacts

Directory of Rural Health Contacts: North Carolina
Contact information for people and organizations in North Carolina with an interest in rural health.

Organizations

Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services
State government
Provides people with, or at risk of, mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse problems and their families the necessary, prevention, intervention, treatment, services and supports they need to live successfully in communities of their choice.

Employment Security Commission of North Carolina (ESC)
State government
Provides online unemployment information and filing, searching job opportunities, career planning, submission of job openings, and resume searches.

HUD Community Development Block Grants: North Carolina
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region (NN/LM-SE/A)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health care providers, librarians and the public in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia.

North Carolina Community Action Association (NCCAA)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Serves as an advocate for the poor, assuring their voice is heard in matters of public policy at the federal, state and local levels. Dedicated to helping the low income, disadvantaged, elderly and working poor citizens of North Carolina achieve economic self-sufficiency. Provides training and technical assistance.

North Carolina Community Health Center Association (NCCHCA)
State/regional organization
Works to promote and support community-governed health care organizations and the populations they serve.

North Carolina Department of Commerce
State government
Acts as the lead agency for economic, community and workforce development in NC. Recruits and encourages the expansion in NC of high-value, technologically competitive industries and companies.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
State government
Protects the public health, fosters self-reliance and helps the vulnerable. Provides human service needs for fragile populations like the mentally ill, deaf, blind and developmentally disabled, and helping people achieve economic independence.

North Carolina Division of Social Services Child Support Enforcement
State government
Works to ensure that both parents are responsible for the financial support of their children to the best of their ability. Helps locate noncustodial parents, establish the paternity of the child(ren), and petition the court to order child support payments.

North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
State government
Assists citizens with disabilities in achieving independence and employment. Provides an Independent Living program, and an Assistive Technology Program, both of which help people achieve more independent lifestyles.

North Carolina Hospital Association (NCHA)
State/regional organization
Promotes improved community health status and delivery of quality healthcare through leadership, information, education, and advocacy in members' interests and for public benefit.

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
State government
Creates affordable housing opportunities through federal and state tax credit programs, the federal HOME Program, the state Housing Trust Fund, and other programs.

North Carolina Office of Research, Demonstrations, and Rural Health Development
State/regional organization
Provides technical assistance to small hospitals and community health centers in rural and medically underserved communities, recruits health care providers to work in rural and medically underserved communities, and provides grants for community health centers.

North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center
State/regional organization
Develops, promotes, and implements sound economic strategies including resources to improve the quality of life for rural North Carolinians.

Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO)
State government
Enables individuals, families and communities to be healthy and secure, and to achieve social and economic well being. Helps poverty-stricken families to achieve economic independence.

Public Schools of North Carolina: Exceptional Children Division
State government
Assures that students with disabilities and those who are academically or intellectually gifted develop mentally, physically, emotionally, and vocationally through the provision of an appropriate individualized education in the least restrictive environment.

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (Southeast RCAP)
State/regional organization
Helps rural communities in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to improve community infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: North Carolina
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.

USDA Rural Development North Carolina State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.

Tools

ERS State Fact Sheet: North Carolina
Web site
Statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service

National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: North Carolina
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

NCcareLINK
Web site
Provides up-to-date information about programs and services across North Carolina for families, seniors, and youths.
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

North Carolina QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau

North Carolina Community Level Information on Kids (CLIKS)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Sponsoring organization: Annie E. Casey Foundation

North Carolina Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.

North Carolina Health Professions Data
Web site
Collects and disseminates timely and reliable data on selected licensed health professionals in North Carolina.
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)

North Carolina Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compile 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Workforce Analysis

North Carolina Nutrition Services
Web site
Provides information on the Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals in communities across the state for children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals at school, or who live in communities where the majority of children qualify.
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Publications
Web site
Publications from one of eight federally funded Rural Health Research Centers. Lists finding briefs, working papers, articles, reports, and research. Focuses on Federal insurance programs (Medicare and Medicaid) and their effect on rural populations and providers.
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)

North Carolina State Data Center
Web site
Works with the U.S. Bureau of the Census to provide the public with data about North Carolina and its component geographic areas.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau

North Carolina State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation

North Carolina State Medicaid Profile
Web site
Provides data on Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for the state.
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)

State Profiles- North Carolina: Health Information Technology (HIT)
Web site
Profiles the state’s health information technology (HIT) issues. Contains sections on demographics, HIT legislation, telemedicine, Health Information Exchanges (HIE) & Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO), grant funded HIT projects, and HIT survey information.
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Resource Center

See also: Resources for All States: Tools

Maps & Map Collections

North Carolina Rural Definition Maps
Geographic coverage: North Carolina
Set of maps showing the geographic coverage provided by 9 different rural definitions for the state.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service

North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Cartographic Archive
Geographic coverage: United States
Offers a list of maps in PDF that define rural and characterize Rural America. Thematic maps cover demographics, health status, critical access hospitals, rural hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and health workforce supply.
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)

See also: Resources for All States: Maps

Funding

BJ’s Charitable Foundation
Funding for safety, security and well-being of children and families, education and health programs, community service opportunities, and hunger and disaster relief.

North Carolina Weatherization Assistance Program
Funding to help low-income citizens save energy and reduce expenses through the installation of energy conservation materials, the implementation of energy efficiency measures in their homes and energy education.

Ribbon of Hope Mini-Grants Program
To support activities that establish or expand local programs in health, science, and education to serve identified needs of local communities.

Rural Capital Grant Program
Funds to assist transportation systems that serve the general public and human-service agency clients in North Carolina's rural areas.

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Loan Fund Program
Provides low-interest loans to low-income rural communities for predevelopment costs, system upgrades and new construction of water and wastewater services and facilities.

Inactive Funding

Inactive Funding Opportunities - Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.

Documents, Reports and Other Publications

Allied Health Job Vacancy Tracking Report
Author(s): Erin Fraher, Phillip Summers, Katie Gaul, Stephen Rutledge
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)
Quantifies workforce demand for selected allied health professions in North Carolina, tracks job vacancy advertisements in print and online sources, summarizes vacancy advertisements by profession, region, and employer type, and describes the types of sign-on bonuses offered by employers.
Date: 04 / 2007

Blue Ridge Backbone: Western North Carolina Data Link
Author(s): Chuck Appleby
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
Describes a RHIO (regional health information organization) in western North Carolina that includes four hospitals exchanging patient data and plans for an electronic medical record for every resident.
Journal citation: H&HN's Most Wired Magazine
Date: 09 / 2006

Demographic and Economic Profile: North Carolina
Author(s): Kathleen K. Miller
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Presents demographic, economic information and statistics on Iowa. Includes charts, maps, and graphs.
Date: 06 / 2006

North Carolina Health Professions 2006 Data Book
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)
Draws on data from the HPDS and describes the supply and distribution in 2006 of licensed individuals in nineteen health professions by county and selected regions in North Carolina.
Date: 2007

Small Business Profile: North Carolina
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2006

State Profiles - North Carolina: Reforming the Health Care System
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Detailed profile of the state's health care system. Covers demographics, expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, health care providers, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance coverage, and key trends.
Date: 12 / 2005

Trends in Licensed Health Professions in North Carolina, 1979-2005
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)
Brings together 27 years of data on the supply and distribution of practitioners in 17 categories of health care professions in North Carolina.
Date: 06 / 2007

Trends in the Supply of Dentists in North Carolina, 1996-2005
Author(s): Erin Fraher, Katie Gaul, Jennifer King, Hazel Hadley, Claire de la Varre, Thomas Ricketts
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)
Highlights workforce supply, distribution, professional shortage areas, demographics, and practice characteristics and training.
Date: 02 / 2007

See also: Resources for All States: Documents

Success Stories

Albemarle Hospital Foundation, Inc. Consortium
The Albemarle Hospital Foundation, Inc., and its four consortium members are focusing on providing expanded services to medically indigent, uninsured and underserved adult populations of a six county catchment area of northeastern North Carolina: Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Pasquotank and Perquimans.

Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance
Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance (CCHA) used a common broker for group, life and LTD insurance products.

Community Oriented Mapping and Addressing/Enhanced Telecommunication (COMET)
Consortium to establish an address database that identifies the exact location of every structure in the county for the purpose of enhanced emergency medical response.

Hertford Northampton Farmer Market (North Carolina)
The Hertford Northampton Farmer Market is a local venture to provide alternative markets for former tobacco farmers.

Hydra Outreach Demonstration Project
The Hydra Outreach Demonstration Project was designed to address the endemic levels of substance abuse, tuberculosis, and HIV/STDs in the farmworker population in Johnston, Harnett and Sampson Counties, North Carolina.

Remanufactured Medical Devices and Infectious Waste Disposal in the Carolinas
The Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance (CCHA) negotiated a regional agreement for remanufactured medical devices, as well as for the disposal of medical waste.

Rockingham County Student Health Centers
Morehead Memorial Hospital of Eden, North Carolina, has collaborated with existing county services to establish a student health center in each of the county's four high schools.

Rural Health Outreach Grant, North Carolina
A consortium of public and private health care providers, together with the local Board of Education, has established a school-based health clinic at Hoke County High School in the small, rural community of Raeford, North Carolina.

Rural Health Services Outreach Grant Program (Asheville, NC)
The primary goal of this program was to improve access to health care by recruiting and retaining primary care providers to set up practice in underserved areas and to increase the ability of local communities to address their unique health care problems.

WAGES Medication Management and Prescription Assistance Program
The WAGES program educates low-income seniors in North Carolina about their medications, checks for interactions and duplication, and helps them manage their prescription costs.

WAGES Medication Management and Prescription Assistance Program
The WAGES program educates low-income seniors about their medications, checks for interactions and duplication, and helps them manage their prescription costs.

WNC Data Link Health Information Exchange
The 16 independent hospitals serving western North Carolina wanted to develop a system to allow physicians and other authorized users to access patient electronic medical records across the region via the internet.

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Page last updated 6/30/2008
State last reviewed 8/02/2007

Events
Aug 4 - 5, 2008
American Cancer Society Cervical Cancer Conference
American Cancer Society
Sheraton Imperial Hotel
Durham, NC
Contact:
  Diana Harrison
  304.746.9950
  diana.harrison@cancer.org


Nov 11 - 12, 2008
Small and Rural Hospital Conference
North Carolina Hospital Association
Renaissance Suites
Charlotte, NC
Contact:
  919.677.4142


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