Environment of Care New Horizons Healthcare, Bradley Free Clinic, and the G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic for the Homeless are now providing services on-site. And the Catawba Regional Partnership was established to strengthen the continuum of care in the Roanoke Valley. The Roanoke Valley has seen improvements in the health status of its residents. The teen pregnancy rates are declining and access to early prenatal care is improving. There is increased access to affordable medications, in large part due to Medication Assistance Programs offered by the safety net as well as due to the expansion of Medicare Part D. Although the Health District has faced cuts in its primary care, dental, lab and pharmacy services, it has strengthened its immunization, Emergency Preparedness and Surveillance and Investigation Program. There has been a greater focus on wellness and health promotion programs, including access to local foods and nutrition education in the schools. There is a broader range of stakeholders addressing health in the Roanoke Valley beyond the traditional medical providers. The United Way has identified health as one its strategic priorities and the Alleghany Regional Commission’s “Partnership for a Liveable Roanoke Valley� is linking the health of the community to economic development and growth. The City of Roanoke is improving the built environment of impoverished neighborhoods in the Hurt Park and West End areas, ensuring they are safe and accessible for those who live there. The availability of data at the census tract level is allowing community stakeholders to pinpoint health, demographic, and economic indicators in neighborhoods. Despite these successes in the past 10 years, the Roanoke Valley, and in particular the city of Roanoke, are faced with overall economic indicators that are more depressed and health disparities that are pronounced, especially among minority populations and the poor. Prescription and designer drug use is on the rise and impacting the population at an earlier age. There is an increased demand for safety net services but limited resources to support these services, including an erosion of the Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement system. There has been a shift in the use of the ED for primary care by uninsured and low-income residents.
Visitors Entering Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
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