A Month Later: How North Carolina’s Public Community Health System is Bringing Care and Compassion to Western North Carolina After Hurricane Helene

As western North Carolina marks one month since Hurricane Helene’s impact, stories of resilience and dedication have emerged from the teams at Partners Health Management and Vaya Health, the region’s LME/MCOs. From ensuring life-saving medications reached those in need to providing targeted support for families with special needs, their efforts reflect the power of community-focused care amid washed-out roads, disrupted communication, and power outages.

Throughout the past month, Partners and Vaya’s coordinated efforts created a lifeline for many North Carolinians. In response to an urgent FEMA assistance request, Vaya’s Provider Network Operations Department flagged a case for immediate action. Leaders across several departments quickly mobilized support, and a Vaya care coordinator tracked down a displaced member’s family in need of essentials. Through an internal hurricane donation drive, Vaya’s team gathered necessary supplies and made a special trip to secure foods suited to the member’s specific dietary needs related to autism.

Partners’ team was equally mobilized to address urgent needs. In the days following the storm, a care manager identified a diabetic member who had lost their insulin supply and was at risk of serious complications. The Partners team acted quickly, locating replacement insulin at a nearby pharmacy and coordinating a rapid delivery to ensure it reached the member in time. This swift action exemplifies how Partners went above and beyond to meet individual health needs as the region recovered from the hurricane’s devastation.

Looking ahead, North Carolina’s LME/MCOs continue to be committed to maintaining this high level of support, recognizing that the recovery from Hurricane Helene is just at the beginning. With unwavering compassion and responsiveness, the public community health system is dedicated to supporting the health and dignity of our communities, no matter the challenges that lie in the long road to recovery in western North Carolina.

For more information on resources and recovery from Hurricane Helene:

·         Partners Health Management

·         Vaya Health

·         North Carolina Department of Public Safety

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NC Public Health Plans