James D. Bernstein Community Health Center.

Eastern Carolina families who struggle to afford quality health and dental care need look no further than the James D. Bernstein Community Health Center just north of Greenville. The $2.8 million, 15,000 sq. ft. center is a state-of-the-art facility where low-income, uninsured or medically underserved rural families can receive services tailored just for them with sliding-scale fees. Dedicated to the memory of James D. Bernstein, who was the founding director of the North Carolina Office of Rural Health and who led that office for over 30 years, it houses a medical clinic, dental clinic, full-service pharmacy with a comprehensive selection of low-cost or free medications, and an education center for educating and training center clients as well as health and human service professionals. The center is fully equipped with 16 medical exam rooms, eight dental operatories and areas for audiology, X-ray, social work and other services, many of which aren’t available at local health departments. With a 50% English-Spanish bilingual staff, services are available to all regardless of ability to pay, county of residence, or citizenship status. The building is owned by an independent 501-C (3) hospital-based charity, Access East, of which ECU Associate Vice Chancellor for Rural Health Services Dr. Thomas G. Irons is board chairman.

The program has enabled faculty and students from Medicine and Nursing, ECU Physicians Pharmacy Services, Medical Family Therapy, Health Psychology, and Social Work to work and learn side-by-side both in the center and in a robust partnership with Pitt Community College, which teaches classes from its health and life-skills curriculum and will coordinate all educational programs. Center activities are overseen by the Eastern Carolina Community Health Collaborative, which is co-chaired by Dr. Irons and A. Doug Smith, CEO of Greene County Health Care. Other members include the Pitt County Health Department and Department of Social Services, Pitt County Medical Society, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Pitt County Transportation Services, and Access East. All partners benefit from this unique collaboration in an environment where responsibilities can be shared and synergy created.