NC Telehealth Network Association

“Somehow we have fiber service restored to Collettsville Medical Center? I am truly stunned. We are operating that clinic on a generator and I don’t anticipate having electricity restored for several weeks. The office you visited is destroyed…” This is a real quote from one of our members in Western North Carolina just five days after we’d seen them in person for an annual member visit, and just two days after Hurricane Helene hit WNC. In late September, we visited with one of our valued members, WestLife Wellness in Collettsville, NC. WestLife Wellness was established in 1977 to bring medical services to residents of the rural northern area of Caldwell County. They went live on our network this past May, and during our visit we learned that they were enjoying their greatly improved broadband connectivity (made affordable by the Healthcare Connect Fund discounts!) Five days after our visit, Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on the Western part of the state. Over that weekend, we were able to get in touch via email and thankfully, the WestLife team was safe and all accounted for. Though there is a long road ahead for Western North Carolina, we couldn’t be more thankful that our members are safe, connected, and all dedicating themselves to continuing to provide care for their communities. This speaks to the people and providers behind the healthcare sites we serve. WestLife Wellness, thank you for being a local hero to so many, and thank you for being a member of the NC Telehealth Network Association. WestLife Wellness #NCTNA #NCCHA #NCFQHC #caldwellcounty #Helene #WNC #Collettsville #NCHealthcare #Broadband #NCBroadband

As we continue to assist our western NC neighbors after Hurricane Helene, the NC Department of Health and Human Services is connecting with communities and partners across the state to provide support, resources and care. Important recovery information is available online at ncdhhs.gov/helene. Our Hurricane Helene Recovery Resources webpage includes both provider guidance and health information for the public. View more at https://lnkd.in/es_ddkib and https://lnkd.in/eSSRNGQx.

Welcome to episode two of our #VitalCyber blog series, Cybersecurity 101: Securing Your Digital Environment. In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that doesn’t always get the spotlight—Enterprise Asset Management (EAM). Sure, it may not get the same recognition as the latest threat detection tools or firewalls, but EAM is one of the three foundational topics of your cybersecurity program. The other two? Software Asset Management (SAM) and Data Management (DM), but we’ll discuss those later. Without EAM, your organization could be open to risks like data breaches and compliance failures. Mastering EAM is essential to securing your environment. Read the full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/ezdEHDwd #Cybersecurity #Firewalls #EAM #SAM #DataManagement #Blog #MCNC #DigitalEnvironment #BlogSeries

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! One of the key security benefits NCTNA offers is access to unshared, direct-connection fiber broadband—which provides a truly private dedicated network for healthcare organizations. This minimizes exposure to cyber threats, enhances data protection, and ensures secure, high-speed access to connectivity and critical health information. To learn more about our network, visit NCTNA.org. #CyberSecurityAwarenessMonth #TelehealthSecurity #ProtectHealthData #HealthcareCyberSecurity #SecureTelehealth #HealthITSecurity #DataProtection #CyberSafeHealthcare #TelehealthTech #DigitalHealthSecurity #HIE #NCHealthConnex #NCTNA #MCNC

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those experiencing the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. If you are an NCTNA member and are having connectivity issues, please contact our integrated services provider, MCNC, at the Network Operating Center (NOC) at 919-248-1111, Dial Option 1 or via NOC@NCREN.NET to submit a ticket. For Members on the DIT Network, please Call (919)754-6000, Dial Option 1 If you are unable to make a phone call or have any issues/questions about submitting a ticket, please contact Jordan Rogers at Jordan.rogers@NCTNA.org or Angel Vanover at Angel.vanover@nctna.org . Our valued partners, the NC Rural Center and the North Carolina Community Health Center Association have both begun compiling lists of resources for those impacted—and ways to help. For general resources, please visit this link: https://lnkd.in/egkhH224 For healthcare-specific resources please visit this link: https://lnkd.in/eaFmi3zT

Our NCCHCA Helene Recovery Daily Digest is updated as of Oct. 1 with resources and news for impacted communities and CHCs: https://lnkd.in/eaFmi3zT We're holding Western NC residents and health centers in our thoughts during this unprecedented natural disaster. photo credit: Blue Ridge Public Radio

With conditions remaining dire in many parts of Western NC, we are thankful to those who are coordinating resources and relief. 🙏 This PDF (updated Oct. 3) includes info on accessing prescription refills, dialysis, food, and water in Western NC, provided by our member Mountain Area Health Education Partnership (MAHEC): https://lnkd.in/eJDdvMep

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Helene. Our team has been working endlessly to make sure these communities in western North Carolina have the resources they need during this challenging time. If you're looking to help out those in need, there are many ways to do so. We have included those options here: https://lnkd.in/ewMvwZWc

With the approaching hurricane, please remember that NC HealthConnex (the North Carolina Health Information Exchange) connects to neighboring state and regional HIEs. This allows providers to access the records of patients evacuated to NC, and ensures providers in other states can access the records of displaced North Carolinians.

How does broadband connectivity impact healthcare providers? In our latest Direct Connection blog, Mike Plesh, NCTNA Board Chair and Director of IT at UNC Health, shares his insights on the vital role of technology in ensuring equitable and accessible patient care. Discover how NCTNA's member-led broadband services empower UNC Health to serve communities across the state. Read the full interview at https://lnkd.in/eMKZWnYW #NCTNA #NCHBC #NCTechnology #NCTelehealth #HealthcareIT #BroadbandForHealthcare #DigitalHealth #Telehealth #HealthcareInnovation #HealthEquity #PatintCare #NCTNA #HealthcareLeadership #ConnectedCare #UNCHealth #HealthTech #HealthcareAccess