11/06/2025
🌟 Strengthening Rural Health + Community Recovery in Wilkes County 🌟
Thanks to quality training through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) and North Carolina Healthcare Foundation (NCHF), Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center has significantly improved patient care in ways that deeply resonate with our community. Since spring 2025:
• Over 20 patients supported with zero hospital readmissions through the community paramedicine program
• A Narcan dispenser now used 80+ times per month, preventing countless overdoses
• Peer support specialists have made 2,000+ connections and helped individuals secure housing, fostering lasting recovery
This initiative proves how professional development, innovative partnerships, and strategic training drive measurable impact in rural healthcare.
🤝 When healthcare systems and community-based organizations unite:
• Hospital-based paramedicine bridges gaps in post-discharge care
• Peer support specialists link patients to community resources
• Grassroots nonprofits like WRR amplify these efforts with wraparound services, healing the whole person
That’s the power of holistic, community-driven care—suited to rural North Carolina’s needs. 💪________________________________________
💙 A Huge Thank You 💙
To Jennifer Kreger Manager of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at Wilkes Medical Center, To Jennifer Johnson Hospital CPSS For Wilkes Recovery Revolution, and Community Paramedics Chad Moore and Chad Foster—your dedication, compassion, and leadership are transforming lives every day. We see you, we appreciate you, and we’re grateful for your service to Wilkes County!
The work accomplished through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP), alongside the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation (NCHF), is changing patient care in rural communities.