Health

Free health screenings offered at Whiteville Family Health Festival

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Saturday, June 2nd, 2012, 5:03am

Free health screenings offered at Whiteville Family Health Festival

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The fourth annual Whiteville Family Health Festival will take place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 2.

The event, sponsored by the Columbus Regional Healthcare System and the Whiteville Downtown Development Commission, will be held at the Vineland Station Depot.

Free health screenings will be offered, along with a child passenger safety clinic and tours of the Carolina’s MED-1, a mobile hospital.

For more information, call 910-641-3673.

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13K gallons of wastewater spilled into Cove Canal

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Friday, June 1st, 2012, 1:33pm

LAKE WACCAMAW, NC (WECT) – Part of untreated wastewater spilled into the Cove Canal Wednesday and reached Lake Waccamaw.

According to the town, an estimated 13,000 gallons of wastewater spilled from Lift Station #11, located near the beginning of Cove Canal.

The Division of Water Quality was notified of the event on June 1 and is reviewing the matter.

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Single-incision robotic surgery could help with recovery time for patients

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012, 6:11pm

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – It's estimated each year more than 500,000 Americans have gallbladder surgery, but now, patients in Columbus County could have a faster recovery.

A surgical team in Whiteville was the first in the region to perform a single-incision, robotic-assisted gallbladder removal surgery, according to a press release from Columbus Regional Healthcare system.

The team was led by Dr. Hugh Daniel and Dr. David Greco. They removed gallbladders of four local patients May 17 through robotic surgeries through a belly button incision of less than an inch.

While robotic surgery and single incisions are not new, Columbus Regional CEO Henry Hawthorne the new technique of combining the two to remove the gallbladder "requires special training and equipment."

The equipment used is called the da Vinci SI machine, which was approved by the FDA in January.

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Free emergency preparedness training offered in Whiteville

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Monday, May 28th, 2012, 3:56pm

Free emergency preparedness training offered in Whiteville

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – Local residents are encouraged to attend a free emergency preparedness training day on June 16 in Whiteville.

The Cape Fear Chapter of the American Red Cross, in partnership with the Eshelman Foundation, will offer adult, child and infant CPR/AED training, as well as first aid courses, according to a news release.

The course will take place at the Northwood Assembly, located at 2672 James B. White Highway North, from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Participants should remember to bring a bagged lunch for their 30-minute lunch break.

The course is free for those who meet these qualifications:

Live in a household considered “low-income,” as defined by the Wilmington MSA HUD Program
Resident of Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover or Pender county

Courses are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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Local hospital first in the region to remove gallbladder with a robot

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Thursday, May 24th, 2012, 6:13pm

Local hospital first in the region to remove gallbladder with a robot

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The region’s first single-incision, robotic-assisted gallbladder removal surgery was performed at Columbus Regional Healthcare System recently, according to a news release.

The surgical team, led by Dr. Hugh Daniel and Dr. David Greco, reportedly removed the gallbladders of four local patients through a belly button incision of less than one inch. The procedure, known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, was perfomed on Thursday, May 17.

“While robotic surgery and single incisions are not new, combining the two to remove the gallbladder requires special training and equipment,” Columbus Regional CEO Henry Hawthorne stated in a news release. “We are pleased to be the first hospital in the region to offer this technically advanced surgery and are proud of these surgeons for their leadership in providing our community with the latest, minimally invasive surgical options.”

Less than 10 surgeons in the state have reportedly received special training to perform the surgery.

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SCC pins nursing graduates

Submitted by Justin Smith, Southeastern Community College Director of Marketing and Public Affairs

Thursday, May 24th, 2012, 8:37am

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The Southeastern Community College Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Class of 2012 recently held its pinning ceremony at the Lawrence R. Bowers Cultural Arts Center on the campus of Whiteville High School.

Al West, director of nursing, pinned the graduates and Amy George, nursing instructor, presented each student with a Florence Nightingale lamp. Instructor Penny Horne presented the roses.

The ADN class officers were Wes Gray, president; Kim Taylor, vice-president; Shareeka Brunson, secretary; Amber Grainger, treasurer; Hannah Herring, historian; and Melanie Canty, chaplain. Instructor Catherine Cook presented the Student Government Award to Jacqueline Beck, who earned the highest grade point average. Nursing Instructor Cathy Frye was the speaker for the event.

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98 out of 100: Columbus Co. very low in recycling ranks

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Monday, May 21st, 2012, 1:12pm

98 out of 100: Columbus Co. very low in recycling ranks

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Recycling data showed that North Carolinians throw away less than they have at any other time in nearly 20 years, largely due to recycling efforts and economic conditions.

The 2010-2012 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Report showed that plastic bottle recycling increased significantly since the state’s disposal ban became effective on Oct. 1, 2009, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The report broke down recycling rates by county and Columbus County ranked No. 98. Columbus had a recycling rate of 8.77 pounds per capita.

Rankings of other area counties: