Black River Health Services expansion brings hope, access, and training to Burgaw

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Black River Health Services in Burgaw Friday afternoon. 

The expansion of a clinic in Burgaw aims to bring better health care services to uninsured or underinsured patients. 

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the expansion of Black River Health Services clinic in Burgaw. 

Doctor Bailey Minish is the associate program director for the rural track of the family medicine residency program in Wilmington with Novant Health.  

Dr. Minish says they serve everyone who walks through the door. 

“Black River sees the majority of Pender County’s uninsured patients. We also see all commercial pairs including Medicare and Medicaid who sometimes have difficulty getting in to see other care providers. So, we are really a safety net for the community,” Dr. Minish explained. 

Part of the goal with the transformation is to train the next generation of physicians in rural communities. Which Dr. Minish says is made possible through a $1.5 million grant. 

“In preparation for our new rural family medicine residency track. We got a generous donation from the Golden Leaf Foundation and have been fortunate enough to be able to increase our capacity of seeing patients here at this building,” Dr. Minish said. 

Hannah Hulshult is one of the first rural residents out of the facility. 

“It’s beneficial to have learners and new doctors and new residents coming. Just new perspectives and more access to care in the number of providers that are here,” Hulshult explained. 

Hulshult says the community will have access to more services.  

“To be able to provide more pre-natal services. We’re gaining an ultrasound and some other kind of technology that we can use to provide more services than they were able to provide here before,” Hulshult informed. 

What is Hulshult looking forward to most with the new opportunity? 

“I’m just looking forward to continuing to develop relationships with patients and developing my own way of practicing medicine and doing that here in the new facility,” Hulshult answered 

The inaugural class of residents has already begun their rotations, providing hands-on care to patients while gaining practical experience in rural family medicine.