By LES ATKINS

Adkins Ad Group

AHOSKIE – ncIMPACT, a program produced by UNC-TV, will feature Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center employees and the many barriers to transportation in rural parts of the state during an upcoming segment airing next month.

UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina is partnering with the UNC School of Government, with sponsorship by Civic Federal Credit Union, for this compelling new series.

Episode 13 of ncIMPACT will cover the barrier of rural transportation and how innovative programs in the Roanoke Chowan area are addressing these issues. Programs and services included in this episode are the HHMA TRIP pilot program and CPTA (Choanoke Public Transportation Authority).

The episode is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 on UNC-TV.

HHMA TRIP (Transporting Residents with Innovative Practices) pilot program was designed to increase the “health, wellness, and general well-being” of patients by implementing a “patient-centered” transportation model. TRIP was developed for a target population of high-risk patients who face transportation barriers preventing them from adequately accessing medical care. This program serves identified patients that reside in Hertford and Bertie counties and ensures that each patient has an opportunity to access locations that are directly related to their medical conditions, recovery needs, and overall well-being.

“Every person should have the right to access quality healthcare and the resources they need to survive. My team and I developed this program to ensure that transportation will no longer be the source for people having to suffer because they simply cannot find a ride to places that are essential to their health, and we are planning to expand to serve more people”, says Weyling White, TRIP Program Manager.

HHMA TRIP is funded by the Roanoke-Chowan Foundation and operated out of Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center.

The television news program is also looking at the services provided by Choanoke Public Transportation Authority. CPTA serves the citizens of Bertie, Halifax, Hertford and Northampton counties. For over 40 years, CPTA has provided transportation needs for any person in the four county area who is in need of a ride, whether it be to local community colleges, shopping centers, medical offices, senior centers, day cares, human service agencies, etc.

“I would like to say a big thank you to all our riders, partners, and communities for allowing CPTA to provide their transportation needs. We most certainly enjoy you giving us the opportunity, and we look forward in continuing to serve you. That’s what we’re here for. Just give us a call and “Hop A Ride”, says Pam Perry, Executive Director of Choanoke Public Transportation Authority.