What is a Community Health Center?
A Community Health Center is much more than a doctor’s office, it is a cornerstone of community well-being. Community Health Centers are nonprofit organizations created to ensure that every person has access to high-quality, affordable healthcare, regardless of their income, insurance status, or ability to pay. Their mission is rooted in the belief that healthcare is a fundamental human need, not a privilege.
Unlike traditional healthcare organizations, Community Health Centers focus on the whole person. They provide comprehensive primary care alongside preventive services, dental care, behavioral health, chronic disease management, pharmacy assistance, health education, and care coordination. They work to remove barriers that often prevent people from receiving care, including transportation challenges, financial hardship, language differences, and lack of insurance.
Community Health Centers are uniquely connected to the communities they serve. Their services are guided by local needs, allowing them to respond quickly to emerging health concerns and create programs that improve the overall health of the population. By emphasizing prevention, early intervention, and long-term relationships with patients, Community Health Centers help reduce emergency room visits, improve health outcomes, and strengthen the quality of life for entire communities.
At Kinston Health, this mission means caring for our neighbors through every stage of life while building healthier families, stronger communities, and a brighter future for Eastern North Carolina.
How Has Kinston Health Positively Impacted Our Community?
For decades, Kinston Health has been more than a healthcare provider—we have been a trusted partner in improving the health and well-being of our community. Every day, our team works to ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation or background. By providing compassionate, patient-centered care, we help thousands of individuals and families receive the medical, dental, and behavioral health services they need to live healthier lives.
Our impact extends far beyond the walls of our clinics. Through outreach events, school partnerships, community education, mobile health services, health fairs, and preventive screenings, we bring healthcare directly into neighborhoods where it is needed most. These efforts allow us to identify health concerns early, connect people with essential resources, and reduce barriers to care before they become larger challenges.
Kinston Health also serves as an economic and community leader by creating local jobs, partnering with businesses, nonprofits, schools, faith organizations, and civic leaders to address the social factors that influence health. We invest in programs that promote healthy lifestyles, support children and families, improve maternal and chronic disease outcomes, and ensure that every member of our community has the opportunity to thrive.
Every patient treated, every child vaccinated, every dental screening completed, every behavioral health visit provided, and every community event hosted represents another step toward a healthier Eastern North Carolina. Our commitment goes beyond treating illness—we are building healthier communities, empowering individuals to take control of their health, and creating lasting change that will benefit future generations.
At Kinston Health, our purpose is simple but powerful: to improve lives by making compassionate, high-quality healthcare accessible to everyone while strengthening the communities we proudly call home.
Do you offer telehealth appointments?
Yes we do, depending on the appointment
Advantages of Telehealth Visits
Less Chance of Catching a New Illness
Where can you be sure to find a lot of sick people? At the doctor’s office of course. While everyone does their best to prevent one patient from catching something from another, it is always possible, especially in crowded waiting rooms. By staying home, you get the care you need while avoiding the risk of exposure and the chance that you’ll pass your illness on to someone else.
Less Time in the Waiting Room
If you choose a video visit via telemedicine technology, you’ll eliminate all that time spent looking at old magazines in a doctor’s office. Even if you don’t use telemedicine, choosing a practice that offers it will reduce your wait time by letting other patients be seen from home.
Better Health
When you are able to see your doctor as often as you need to, without the challenges of getting into the office, you can practice better management of your medication, lifestyle, and any chronic conditions you might have.
No transportation time or costs
When you see your doctor on your mobile device or computer, you can save money on gas, parking, and public transportation. Even better, you don’t waste time traveling or risk running into a traffic jam that makes you late for your appointment, or worse, late getting back to work.
No need to take time off of work
Speaking of work, video visits largely remove the need to take time off. You can simply schedule your visit during a break, or before or after work. You can be anywhere that offers sufficient privacy. You can comply with your doctor’s follow-up instructions and maintain your health without missing a day of work or wasting your precious paid time off.
Eliminate child or elder care issues
Many of us have the responsibility for caring for children or older adults. Finding alternative care so that you can see the doctor can be difficult and expensive. Bringing them along can be stressful or impractical. Fortunately, telemedicine solves this challenge by allowing you to see your doctor while upholding your family responsibilities.
How do telehealth appointments work?
What you need to know:
Telehealth visits use your video camera and microphone on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. This is similar to FaceTime and Google Duo video phone calls.
- We send you a link by text message or email.
- You will click the link to be taken to the webpage for the visit and you will then click the Join button to begin your appointment.
- After you click Join, you are in the “waiting room” until your Provider is ready to begin your appointment.
- When your Provider joins you will see your provider via your camera on your device and your provider will see you.
Additional Telehealth Information
You will need to respond to any messsages that pop up on your screen that ask you to allow your video camera and microphone to be used for the visit. This gives permission for the video camera and microphone to turn on.
It is important to know that not every situation is right for a video visit. Your provider and staff know when it is safe and effective to conduct a visit using telemedicine.
Visits that are done via telehealth have no difference from in person care in the ability of a provider to gather necessary information, make an accurate diagnosis, and develop a plan for treatment.
Video visits can be used to replace in-office visits in a number of ways. Examples include:
Follow-Up Exams
Providers often recommend a follow up visit after beginning a course of treatment. These visits are important to the ultimate resolution or management of the problem. Doing them remotely makes it easier for you to comply with the doctor’s recommendations.
Urgent Care
Both traditional practices and stand alone clinics are starting to offer telemedicine as an option for urgent care needs. Conditions such as the flu, sinus infections, urinary tract infections, and more can be effectively treated without an in-office visit.
How to schedule an appointment via telehealth:
When you contact us for an appointment, depending upon the reason for your visit, we will offer you the option to have your visit via telehealth.
If you already have a visit scheduled, depending upon the reason for your visit, we will contact you and offer a telehealth visit.
- Call to schedule a telehealth appointment
- Receive email or text appointment confirmation
- Click on “Join Link” from the appointment email or text
What do I do if I have a question for billing?
For Billing questions call (252) 522-9800 and ask for the Patient Billing Department.
What is Patient Access?
New patients must meet with a Patient Access Representative to complete the registration paperwork or complete the forms online via our website. Patients must bring their picture ID, insurance information if applicable, and any patient medical records they may have.
To apply for the Slide Fee Discount Program you will need to bring the following:
Identification for all those in the household and current household income. A recent copy of the 1040 Tax forms are preferred, however patients should contact the center to inquire about other acceptable forms of income documentation.
Can you explain your prescription assistance program?
Prescription Assistance
340B Program
As a patient of Kinston Community Health Center, Inc., we are able to assist you in obtaining medicines at a significantly discounted price. All patients of KCHC are eligible to participate, with the exception of those patients covered by Medicaid. Patients that have commercial/private insurance will continue to pay their normal co-pay; however if your prescription is not covered under your plan, the 340B program, made available through a partnership with Rx Strategies, could be a viable option for you.
In order to get your prescription filled, you must use the Realo Discount Drug Store (Queen Street Location Only), which is conveniently located next door to KCHC. KCHC’s partnership with Realo Discount Drug Store enables us to provide the $4.00 prescription plan available at other retail outlets.
Prescription Assistance Program
KCHC has provided more than 500 patients free medications. The prescription assistance program (PAP) is funded through a NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission grant. Uninsured patients who meet certain financial criteria may qualify to be enrolled in this program and receive free medicine.
PAP is a separate program from 340B and is also referred to as the medication assistance program. Pharmaceutical companies write off a substantial volume of medicines to assist patients who are at or below poverty level.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your care will cost. A Good Faith Estimate is not a bill. A GFE lists expected charges for items or services from Kinston Community Health Center. The GFE will not include any unknown or unexpected costs added during your treatment since the estimate is based on information known at the time KCHC creates the estimate. Generally, the estimate must include expected charges for the primary item or services and any other items/services you’re reasonably expected to get as part of the primary item/service. You can get a list of each item or service (with the provider or facility) and specific details, like the health care service code. You have the right to receive the estimate in the manner that’s best accessible to you. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you may be eligible to dispute the bill. Keep your Good Faith Estimate in a Safe Place.
For more information, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call Patient Accounts at 252-522-9800 option 6.
Can I get after hours clinical advice?
KCHC’s Nurse Advice Line provides healthcare advice when our offices are closed. To speak with a nurse after hours please call (252) 522-9800.
Do you offer walk up appointments?
- Dental-Walk in’s accepted Monday thru Friday 8am and 1pm
- Medical-Walk in’s are worked into the existing schedule. Note: Appointment availability may be given anytime during that day.
- The outreach department offers walk up appointments for all moblie clincs
Non-Urgent Needs:
We offer same day appointments and suggest that you wait until the next business day for your care to be provided by the provider who knows you best. However, should your provider not be available, then the treating provider will easily have access to your office records, which includes medical history, allergies and current medications.
Your Center offers multiple services, but I only need to be seen for one. Do I have to register for all of it?
No, you do not have to register for all our services.
Is this a free clinic?
No, our Center does not provide free services. However, anyone can apply for our Slide Fee Discount Program.
What type of insurance do you accept?
We accept most insurances. You can call your insurance company for information regarding where and by whom your insurance is accepted or call our center for more information.
Do you have a discount program?
Yes, the sliding scale discount program is available for all services provided at Kinston Community Health Center Inc. Identification for all those in the household and current household income are required to apply. A recent copy of the 1040 Tax forms are preferred; however if none of these are applicable to you, contact the center to inquire about other acceptable forms of income documentation.
What kind of doctors do you have at your health center?
We employ Board Certified Physicians as well as Dentists, Family Nurse Practitioner’s, Certified Nurse Midwives.