By Lisa Newsome

Director of Marketing

& Community Relations

Vidant Roanoke-ChowanHospital

AHOSKIE – If you don’t have health insurance, it can be a real challenge to get specialized health care, such as surgery for a hip replacement.

Just ask Larry, who was working part-time, but did not have any health insurance.

He read about the new Hertford Health Access program in the R-C News Herald, and contacted the Executive Director Weyling White for some information.

He was referred to Dr. Lawrence (Sonny) Larabee at Northeastern Orthopedics in Ahoskie and that just might have saved his life.

“I went to Dr. Larabee to see about the pain in my hip and leg that had been bothering me for a long time. I thought I might need a hip replacement,” explains Larry. “Mollie Boone Perry (family nurse practitioner at Northeastern Orthopedics) examined my leg and called Dr. Larabee in there.  Sure enough they found that I had a blood clot in my leg.”

Larry was sent straight to VidantRoanoke-ChowanHospital for an ultrasound and follow up treatment for the blood clot.  He was then transferred to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville where specialists could provide the treatment he needed to eliminate the blood clot. He is now back at home on medication to ‘thin his blood’ and waiting to have that hip replacement in the coming months.

“The doctors at Vidant Medical Center said, ‘Larry, let’s take care of your leg before any hip replacement’,” he states.

This is exactly what Hertford Health Access was developed to do, according to White, who met with Larry along with Sonya Ashe, patient navigator for the program.  Larry was one of the first patients enrolled in HHA to be referred to a specialist physician.

Hertford Health Access, based at Roanoke-Chowan Community Health Center, is funded through a grant from The Duke Endowment, a private foundation in Charlotte.  Hertford Health Maintenance Alliance, a group of health and community organizations, oversees the program.  Sue Lassiter, president of Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, serves as chairperson for the Alliance.

“We connect patients with specialists, including Dr. Larabee, who donate a certain amount of their time and services for patients in our program without health insurance,” explains White.  “As a result of this referral, Larry not only got the life- saving treatment he needed for a blood clot, but he will also receive the services he needs to get back on his feet and back to work in the future.”

An additional benefit is the large amount of medical expenses that have been avoided for Larry by finding the blood clot and treating it before it got worse.  HHA was also able to help him apply for Medicaid services for which he is eligible.

“I am so glad we were able to see Larry and make this diagnosis before it had progressed any further,” stated Dr. Larabee.  “The medical community came together to help get him back on that leg and we look forward to seeing him again for a hip replacement.  After that he should be able to return to his normal activities, including work.”

Larry, who used to referee ballgames, says he is looking forward to getting back into the game. He has made some life changes, including losing weight, eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and exercising twice a week.

“I don’t have but one life and I feel so much better now,” he says. “My primary doctor at Roanoke-Chowan Community Health Center says I am really doing well.

“If it had not been for Hertford Health Access, Mollie, and Dr. Larabee, this might not have been possible.  I really appreciate all they have done for me,” Larry added.

Dr. Larabee is an orthopedic surgeon at Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital who specializes in knee and hip replacement surgery.  The hospital offers a Joint Replacement Program that has been recognized for quality and low infection rates.

For information about orthopedic surgery or to schedule an appointment at Northeastern Orthopedics, call 332-3699.

For questions or more information about how to enroll in Hertford Health Access, contact White at (252) 209-0237, ext. 7138 or Email: wwhite@rcchc.org.