02/18/2026
This afternoon, we hosted a very productive and forward-looking meeting with leadership from Centra Health to discuss the present and future of healthcare services in our community. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Mayor Laprade for taking part in the meeting, and I regret that she was unavailable when we took our group photo afterward.
We made it clear throughout the discussion that continued investment in the Brookneal clinic remains one of our top priorities. CMG Brookneal is a critical asset to the Town and serves a very real and ongoing need for our citizens. As I have said many times, people choose to live and raise their families in communities that offer strong schools and dependable healthcare. We are proud of our school system here in Brookneal, and it is just as important that our healthcare access remains strong, modern, and reliable.
Here are some of the major points we covered in more detail:
🔹 Recruiting additional providers for the Brookneal clinic
We strongly emphasized the need for more medical providers physically serving patients at the Brookneal clinic in order to expand appointment availability and reduce scheduling delays. Centra acknowledged this concern directly and shared that they are actively recruiting rural-focused healthcare providers. They indicated that conversations are already underway with potential candidates and that rural placement incentives are part of their strategy. They also noted that the provider shortage is a nationwide issue, but affirmed that Brookneal is absolutely a priority site for future placement.
🔹 Technology improvements: AI charting and telehealth expansion
Centra outlined how newer technologies are already improving patient care at the clinic. AI-assisted charting is helping reduce provider paperwork time and allowing clinicians to spend more time focused directly on patients instead of administrative tasks. Expanded telehealth services are also increasing access — patients can be evaluated remotely when appropriate, reducing travel burdens and speeding up care. When needed, providers can still order labs, imaging, and other diagnostic tests to be completed locally, keeping care anchored in our community.
🔹 Better public education on where and how to seek care
We discussed the importance of helping the public better understand the different types of care available — primary care, urgent care, emergency care, and specialty services — and when each is most appropriate. Better public guidance helps patients receive the right level of care faster while also easing strain on emergency departments. Centra plans to increase community education and outreach so residents have a clearer picture of available services and provider options.
🔹 “Walk-with-a-Doc” and preventive health outreach
Centra shared plans to introduce a “Walk-with-a-Doc” style program locally. This program connects medical professionals with residents in informal community settings to walk, talk, and discuss preventive health topics. The goal is to make healthcare conversations more approachable, build relationships, and encourage healthier lifestyles through early awareness and prevention.
🔹 Emergency Room wait times
Long Emergency Room wait times were openly acknowledged as a challenge. Contributing factors include high patient volumes and ongoing staffing pressures. Centra is reviewing workflow improvements, triage methods, and staffing approaches aimed at improving efficiency and reducing delays. We stressed how important timely emergency care is to our citizens and will continue to monitor progress in this area.
🔹 Support for our local pharmacy
We emphasized the critical role our local pharmacy plays in day-to-day healthcare delivery. Rising medication costs are placing increased pressure on independent and small-town pharmacies — often more so than on large national chains. Centra recognized this reality and committed to reaching out directly to our local pharmacy to offer support, coordination, and operational guidance where possible. Our local pharmacy is fantastic, provides personal service you simply cannot replicate at big-box chains, and it is an important part of our healthcare infrastructure that must be protected and supported.
🔹 Upcoming community Town Hall on healthcare needs
Centra agreed to host a Town Hall meeting so residents can directly share concerns, needs, and suggestions regarding local healthcare services. This will give the community an opportunity to ask questions, provide feedback, and hear directly from healthcare leadership about plans and capabilities.
While meaningful progress has been made, this conversation is ongoing. The Town will continue maintaining open dialogue, advocating for our community’s needs, and exploring additional or alternative healthcare service options where appropriate including medical, dentistry, and optical services. Centra reaffirmed its commitment to our community, and we will continue working to ensure our citizens receive the level of care they deserve.
