By: Erin Smith
The Bladen County Board of Commissioners met on Monday and heard from Eastpointe Chief Executive Officer Sarah Stroud.
She told the board that Eastpointe serves a 12 county region providing mental health services. Bladen County is one of the counties served by the group.
Stroud said the company employs 308 people, nine of which are Bladen County residents. Stroud said there are five locations throughout the 12 county region and the closest office to Bladen County is located in Lumberton.
She told the board that Eastpointe operates with a $325 million budget of which $278 million is from Medicaid and $53,725 is from Bladen County which makes up 3 percent of the total funding from all of the counties.
There are 10 provider agencies and one independent provider and one hospital in Eastpointe’s network.
Stroud said that Eastpointe has increased rates by 7 percent. She said there are 23 providers of innovation members and they have served 49 Bladen County residents. She said they have increased their rates to hospitals.
Stroud also said that Eastpointe is in the process of placing Kiosks in local health departments that will contain and iPad and a telephone Stroud said that patients can walk into the kiosk and take an assessment on the iPad and use the telephone to receive a referral or make an appointment.
Stroud said that Eastpointe has also conducted Anti-bullying and Anti-stigma events in the Bladen County Schools. She added that about 25 members of law enforcement have received anti-gang and anti-violence awareness training.
Eastpointe will be hosting the 10th annual Eastern Gang Awareness Conference.
Stroud was asked about the potential merger with Trillium and she said the company is not only looking at merging with Trillium but also other companies as well.
Commissioner Charles Ray Peterson questioned the funds. He asked Stroud to give an accounting of what Eastpointe does with the money in the general fund. Peterson wanted to know what services Eastpointe provides to Bladen County residents and where the funds are used.
Stroud said that Monarch and RHA are located in Bladen County and many providers are doing tele-psychiatry.
Stroud was asked where the home office of Eastpointe is located to which she replied it is located in Beulaville.
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