North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai traveled to western North Carolina this week to meet with health care and social services partners to learn more about the status of Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and discuss the impacts of staffing shortages and other challenges they face. Together, we are committed to recovery efforts and supporting staff as we continue to create a healthier North Carolina for all.
Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center
Secretary Sangvai began the first day of his trip on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in Buncombe County for a site visit and informational meeting with staff at the Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center (BMNTC), one of three state-operated facilities in North Carolina that serves adults with chronic and complex medical conditions that co-exist with neurodevelopmental and/or neurocognitive disorders and/or a diagnosis of severe and persistent mental illness.
Secretary Sangvai was led on a tour of the facility, including one of the residential units, to learn more about the quality care received by patients both during and after Hurricane Helene. He also visited the third floor of the Gravely Wing at BMNTC to assess the status of renovations that were planned prior to Helene and are estimated to be completed by July 2025.
Secretary Sangvai met with the BMNTC Executive Committee to discuss the successes and areas of concern among staff members. The facility has largely recovered from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, returning to normal operations with all evacuated residents returning to BMNTC. Employees shared concerns regarding staffing shortages as well as recruitment and retention challenges, particularly in nursing positions. BMNTC has ramped up recruitment efforts this quarter as unemployment in the region has spiked due to business closures in the wake of Helene.
Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center
Following the visit to BMNTC, Secretary Sangvai continued his travels through Black Mountain to the Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center (JFK). There, he met with staff to learn more about the facility and services offered as well as the status of recovery efforts. He also went on a tour to get a more comprehensive look at the various services JFK staff provide their patients.
Secretary Sangvai heard from JFK staff about their continued work to recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene, all while battling staffing shortages, closures to the facility and increased mental health challenge among the community they serve. JFK staff cared for and assisted in the evacuation of patients during Hurricane Helene, standing up a detox unit at Broughton Hospital to provide a place of respite for those unable to seek care at JFK. A huge win for JFK staff recently came in the form of the treatment center reopening their kitchen after a seven-month long closure .
"I am so grateful for the work being done at our facilities as recovery continues from the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene," said Secretary Sangvai. "These teams have worked tirelessly to provide life-changing care. This commitment matches what I have seen across the department, as we work to improve access to care and ensure people receive the care they need no matter where they live or how much money they make."
Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Secretary Sangvai traveled to Cherokee, NC, to meet with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA). EBCI has contracted with NCDHHS to participate in NC Medicaid, thereby providing access to Medicaid managed care services for federally recognized Tribal Members and other individuals eligible to receive Indian Health Services. Through this partnership with NCDHHS, EBCI is the first Tribal-led Medicaid managed care entity in the country, aligning Medicaid services with Tribal health priorities and providing care for enrolled EBCI members.
During his visit, Secretary Sangvai learned about the status of NCDHHS and CIHA’s multiple partnerships, including the development of a Child Crisis Stabilization Unit on the Qualla Boundary, the location of CIHA’s main hospital. The new unit will provide emergency mental health stabilization services for youth experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis. A revolutionary care model for western North Carolina, the unit will serve both tribal and non-tribal youth, ensuring that all children in the region have access to these critical resources.
Secretary Sangvai saw first-hand during his trip that CIHA has also been battling recruitment difficulties, struggling to address rural health care workforce shortages and retention issues. Despite these challenges, CIHA is a pillar of health care excellence for the EBCI, working diligently to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care that honors and integrates the rich heritage of Cherokee culture.
Broughton Hospital
Later in the day, Secretary Sangvai visited Broughton Hospital, one of three psychiatric hospitals operated by the NCDHHS Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities, to tour the facility and learn more about the hospital’s priorities as western North Carolina moves forward from Hurricane Helene. He spoke with staff as he toured the patient care center, gym, chapel and treatment mall.
Broughton staff emphasized their struggles to recruit and retain staff with a high number of vacancies in full-time positions at the facility. These staffing shortages directly impact the hospital’s ability to serve more patients, limiting the number of beds that can be filled and increasing wait times prospective patients may face before receiving care. Hospitals are growing increasingly reliant on temporary employees, especially for nursing and medical staff, due in part to salaries that struggle to compete with others on the job market.
"The staff at our state operated psychiatric hospitals work incredibly hard to provide critical support to their patients every day," Secretary Sangvai said. "I will continue to advocate for the resilient staff that serve our state and support NCDHHS’ efforts to strengthen the health care workforce in order to improve capacity limitations, so more patients are able to quickly access needed care."
J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center
On Thursday morning, Feb. 26, Secretary Sangvai traveled to Burke County, making his first stop at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center (JIRDC), one of three State Developmental Centers which provides services and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), complex behavioral challenges and/or medical conditions whose clinical treatment needs exceed the supports currently available in the community. He toured JIRDC, making a visit to one of the homes at the facility to greet staff and residents.
Facility leadership voiced concerns regarding recruitment, including filling key positions at JIRDC. Despite recent measures taken to increase Direct Support Professionals and Registered Nurses salaries, JIRDC still struggles from a 23% vacancy rate, impacting staff’s ability to serve more patients.
In addition to staff’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, JIRDC housed approximately one-third of BMNTC residents during local infrastructure repairs. As many employees face burnout amidst an unprecedented crisis, Secretary Sangvai pledged to continue to prioritize the well-being of the health care workforce in North Carolina and to ensure the sustainability and functionality of state operated healthcare facilities for patients and staff.
Burke County DSS
The Secretary then traveled to the Burke County Department of Social Services, where he toured facilities and met with local social services staff. Staff at Burke County DSS worked to quickly respond to issues as Hurricane Helene hit their community. Their team had to navigate a total loss of communications systems, staffing shortages, burnout and the increased stress of managing a large-scale recovery operation in the wake of the storm. Today, Burke County DSS has fortunately largely returned to “normal” operations. This is partially because as a county on the eastern edge of Helene’s path, Burke County saw fewer individuals permanently displaced than some other counties impacted by the storm.
Secretary Sangvai spoke with Burke County DSS Director Korey Fisher-Wellman to form a better understanding of the issues facing their office and other county DSS offices across the state. The Secretary reinforced NCDHHS’ ongoing commitment to support recovery efforts as western North Carolina continues to recover and rebuild.
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital
Secretary Sangvai concluded his trip on Thursday at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, which has served as a Critical Access Hospital for the people of western North Carolina since 1955. The Secretary was joined by CEO and Chief Nurse Tonia Hale, and the Vice President of Government Relations for HCA Healthcare Lori Kroll , for a tour of the hospital and a presentation on workforce development and Hurricane Helene recovery. The team highlighted the hospital’s efforts to bounce back from the hurricane, and Secretary Sangvai shared NCDHHS’ commitment to work with hospitals across the state to address the impacts of staffing shortages and support recruitment and retention efforts.
Please see more photos from Secretary Sangvai's visit.