Ahoskie, NC — Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center (RCCHC) Pediatrics is now accepting patients at its state-of-the-art comprehensive care facility in Ahoskie.

RCCHC Pediatrics is led by two pediatricians, Dr. Jamande Jones and Dr. Darlene Keene, who work full-time at the RCCHC Comprehensive Care Center, adjacent to Bearfield Elementary School in Ahoskie. Dr. Jones, a graduate of East Carolina University’s School of Medicine, wanted specifically to serve the health needs of children in this region of North Carolina.

“I was led to pursue a position as a pediatrician at RCCHC because I wanted to serve the children and families of this underserved area of North Carolina,” said Jones. “I realize that regardless of where you live in this state that there are children with health issues and families that need health education; however the demographics of this area add additional barriers to receiving adequate healthcare services.”

Those barriers will be broken down by RCCHC, whose mission is to provide quality, doctoral care for adults and children alike to reduce health disparities in the region. Dr. Darlene Keene has a specific passion for the region, given she was raised in the Ahoskie area.

“This place is home to me, and I am so pleased to be back and providing pediatric care to the area,” said Dr. Keene.

Dr. Keene is not a newcomer to pediatrics, having graduated from the East Carolina University School of Medicine in 1989 and serving Martin County through pediatric care for over 15 years.

Primarily because of its highly-qualified staff, RCCHC maintains that the pediatric care it provides rivals the very best in eastern North Carolina.

“We want people to realize that what we are offering is nothing shy of the finest pediatric care in our area,” said Kim Schwartz, chief executive officer of RCCHC. “As a non-profit and a federally-qualified community health center, our pediatric care is unmatched and we are ready to serve the children of eastern North Carolina.”

Pediatric services are offered at RCCHC’s Ahoskie Comprehensive Care Center Monday through Friday, with evening hours available on Monday and Thursday. Services are also provided at the Hertford County Student Wellness Center, which operates during the school day and allows students to seek medical treatment without having to leave campus. The Student Wellness Center is on the campus of Hertford County Middle School

RCCHC Pediatrics is located on the second floor of the Ahoskie Comprehensive Care Center. Patients are encouraged to make an appointment, but do not need an appointment to be seen by one of the two full-time pediatricians.

Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center (RCCHC), a federally-qualified health center since May 2005, provides comprehensive primary care and pediatric services with locations in Ahoskie, Murfreesboro, and Colerain, North Carolina.

Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center is a not-for-profit organization, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, committed to providing quality service and comprehensive healthcare to meet the needs of the rural community, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. RCCHC offers a sliding fee scale for their patients, as well as medication assistance programs. Evening clinics are available at all locations.

The pediatric care center is largely funded by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, which was established in 1947 and is now one of the largest private trusts in North Carolina. Its mission is to improve the quality of life and health for the financially needy of North Carolina. The Health Care Division promotes wellness statewide by investing in prevention and treatment. The Poor and Needy Division of the Trust responds to basic life needs and invests in solutions that improve the quality of life and health for financially needy residents of Forsyth County. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as sole trustee.

For more information about the services provided by RCCHC, visit www.rcchc.org.