More than a dozen former employees say understaffing at Brynn Marr Hospital contributes to what they describe as a dangerous place for patients and employees. Hospital officials say allegations of violence, sexual assaults, overmedication and lack of mental health therapy are unfounded.

Former employees say short-staffed NC psych hospital rife with violence, abuse

Brynn Marr Hospital

It's that time of year when your child will be taking end-of-grade tests or EOGs. What are EOGs and how can you help them be better prepared?

End-of-grade tests: Everything you need to know about these annual exams

Student testing 

All assets associated with the tag: OB/GYN

OB/GYN Coverage

Thousands of women in North Carolina found themselves without an OB/GYN after their providers and insurers failed to reach an agreement on coverage.

WERE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OVERPAYMENT OCCURRED. >> THOUSANDS OF WOMEN IN NORTH CAROLINA FOUND THEMSELVES WITHOUT AN OBGYN. IT COMES AFTER THEIR PROVIDERS AND INSURERS FAIL TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON COVERAGE AS WRAL, SHELLEY JACKSON SHOWS US THESE WOMEN WERE SEEMINGLY CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE INSURER AND U UNIFIED WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE. >> MEGAN HENNESSEY FOUND HERSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLE BETWEEN HER INSURER. CIGNA AND HER OBGYN. WE STARTED GETTING LETTERS IN THE MAIL IN DECEMBER. FROM CIGNA, SAYING THAT THEY COULDN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT. THIS TO DOCTORS AND THEN WE GET LETTERS FROM THE DOCTORS SAYING THAT THEY COULDN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT EITHER. THE CIGNA AND SHE ISN'T THE ONLY ONE THEY WERE PRETTY. AGGRESSIVE FROM BOTH SIDES. THERE'S A LOT OF FINGER POINTING. BOTH WOMEN USE PROVIDERS WHO ARE PART OF THE UNIFIED WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE YOU WH IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE IN THE CAROLINAS. TENNESSEE GOES TO ONE OF THEIR PROVIDERS. ARBOR. >> SHE'S 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND WAS ABLE TO GET SIGNATURE, AGREED TO CONTINUITY OF CARE SO SHE COULD STAY WITH HER DOCTOR THAT THEY ARE ONLY COVERING THE BASICS AND SHE WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES AND JUST PAYING OUT OF POCKET. SO EACH APPOINTMENT >> IS LIKE WHEN I MEET WITH A NUTRITIONIST OR DIETICIAN. BUT WEINER SAYS AND THAT'S LIKE TWICE A WEEK. JULIA BRINTON IS IN HER SECOND TRIMESTER. >> SHE WAS ALSO ABLE TO GET A CONTINUITY OF CARE EXCEPTION FOR HER PROVIDER, CAPITAL AREA. OBGYN. IT'S STANDARD PRACTICE FOR A PREGNANT PATIENT TO SEE ALL PROVIDERS THERE. BRITAIN SAYS CIGNA DENIED THAT. >> AND CIGNA SAYING UNLESS YOU SEE DOCTOR RICHARDSON, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE COVERED. AND THEN NETWORK PROVIDER WRAL HAS LEARNED THE STICKING POINT IN NEGOTIATIONS IS NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA COVERAGE IS COMBINED. >> AND IT'S BEEN TOUGH. NEGOTIATING ONE RATE FOR 2 VERY DIFFERENT STATES, UNIFIED WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE SAYS IT IS AN ACTIVE TALKS WITH CIGNA, A SPOKESPERSON SAYS WE'RE DISAPPOINTED THAT CIGNA HAS CHOSEN TO PUSH OUR PATIENTS AND PHYSICIANS OUT OF ITS NETWORK FOR CRITICAL OBGYN SERVICES. WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE COME TO A RESOLUTION SOON. CIGNA TELLS ME THAT YOU WH TERMINATED THE CONTRACT JANUARY 1ST, A SPOKESPERSON SAYS THERE ARE UNREASONABLE DEMANDS INCLUDED SIGNIFICANT RATE INCREASES THAT WOULD RAISE COSTS BETWEEN 10 TO 50% FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE WITH UNIFIED WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE OF THE CAROLINAS TO REACH A FAIR, AFFORDABLE AGREEMENT SO THEY CAN RETURN TO OUR NETWORK. BUT TENNESSEE SAYS THAT COULD BE TOO LATE FOR HER. AND HER FAMILY WERE MOVING. >> IN THE FALL AND PART OF THE REASON WE'RE CONSIDERING MOVING IS BECAUSE OF THIS THAT. IT'S JUST SUCH A PAIN TO NOT HAVE COVERAGE. IT'S SO EXPENSIVE TO JUST EXIST.

Thousands lose coverage for OB/GYN care in NC

Thousands of women lose OB/GYN coverage with Cigna

Thousands of NC women lose insurance coverage for gynecologist visits

Betsy Johnson Hospital was the only hospital in Harnett County to provide labor and delivery services.

Betsy Johnson Hospital to stop labor and delivery, creating 'maternity desert' 

Betsy Johnson Hospital 

Betsy Johnson Hospital announced Wednesday it will no longer provide labor and delivery services starting in October.

<p>ME IT WAS MY FULL DOSE. &gt;&gt; NEW THIS MORNING IN THE WRAL LIVE CENTER BETSY JOHNSON HOSPITAL IN DUNN WILL NO LONGER BE PROVIDING LABOR AND DELIVERY SERVICES STARTING OCTOBER 15TH. THE HOSPITAL IS PART OF HARNETT HEALTH AND THIS DECISION COMES AFTER CONSIDERING A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING RECRUITMENT, CHALLENGES, FINANCIAL REALITIES AND THE DECLINING DEMAND FOR MATERNITY SERVICES. NOW, HOSPITAL OFFICIALS SAY ANY EXPECTANT MOTHERS WHO HAD PLANNED TO GIVE BIRTH AT THEIR FACILITY WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CARE AT CAPE FEAR VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER. THEIR OBGYN PRENATAL CLINIC. AT THAT SEE, JOHNSON WILL REMAIN OPEN AS WELL AS INPATIENT GYNECOLOGICAL SERVICES. WE'LL STAY</p>

Betsy Johnson Hospital eliminating labor & delivery services

Medical professionals worry young doctors may avoid North Carolina, hurting already short-staffed medical centers in smaller towns. WRAL's Shelle Jackson found out Duke University is already seeing effects on its OB/GYN training program.

The new 12 week abortion ban in our state could affect much more than just abortion procedures. Medical professionals worry young doctors may avoid North Carolina hurting already short staff medical centers in smaller towns. Wrl Shelley Jackson found out Duke University is already seeing the impact on its OB Gyn training program. North Carolina's new 12 week abortion ban is less than two weeks away from taking effect. But some local doctors worry this new law could keep young doctors away. That was not an appealing option. Kristen Caro Campus is entering her final year as an OBGYN resident at Duke. When I was looking at residency programs, I specifically was looking at places that would provide comprehensive OBGYN training that includes abortion care. Caro campus says she avoided states with more restrictive abortion laws. I didn't want these four really critical years of high volume high acuity training to be limited by laws. She's not alone. A recent survey found 77% of medical students say abortion access would influence where they apply for residency. Another study found applicants to residency programs in states with abortion restrictions are down 10% since Roe V. Wade was overturned it's too soon to say how North Carolina's new abortion ban will impact residency applications at Duke. But students may need to go out of state for training that includes abortion care. We've been busy working with our colleagues and my colleagues in the obstetrics Department. Starting to think about how we will provide training opportunities that are required for our residents in other states. Says North Carolina's new law could discourage residents in other programs from applying in the state. This legislation has the impact, the potential to impact their decision to choose to train in a state that has restrictive um abortion practices. Caro Campus says practicing in another state with more abortion access is an option than not just thinking about me. I'm thinking about my family. I'm thinking about, you know, my spouse who would be moving with me, that was Shelley Jackson reporting the 12 week abortion limit goes into effect on July 1st. And our NC capital team has been looking into all the impacts of the new law and the legal challenges it faces. You can search abortion on WRL dot com to learn more.

Duke University sees effects on its OB/GYN program after NC passes 12-week abortion ban

Dr. George Clyde Debnam, who was known as one of the most prominent Black physicians in Raleigh, died last week at the age of 95. 



Raleigh doctor who delivered 10,000 babies, fought for integrating health care, dies at 95

Dr. George Debnam

A Duke doctor warns of the wider health risks for women who don't have access to legal abortion.

<p>WILL SEE LESS SAFE ALTERNATIVES TO ABORTION CLINIC. WE'RE A BUNCH OF ABORTION USING IF THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE THINGS WITH COMPO GUIDANCE. SO I AM VERY WORRIED PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ABORTION AND DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TO TAKE A CLINICAL GUIDANCE THAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE SAFEST THINGS THAT WE DO IN MEDICINE. IT WILL THEN START A LESS A THINGS AND END UP HURTING THEMSELVES. &gt;&gt; YOU KNOW, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE MYTHS ABOUT ABORTION CARE AND ACCESS OF READ SOME OF IT. IT'S REALLY INTERESTING. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON ONES? MAYBE YOU'VE EVEN HEARD ECHOED TODAY. &gt;&gt; WELL, THANK YOU. YEAH, I'M THE ONE OF THEM IS REALLY AROUND SAFETY. AND SO PEOPLE COMMONLY BELIEVED THAT CHILDBIRTH. IS IT SAFE OF AN ABORTION? IN FACT, CHILDBIRTH IS 14 TIMES MORE LIKELY TURN WITH RESERVE TO RESULT IN DEATH IN AMERCIAN SAFER THAN CHILDBIRTH. IT'S ALSO SAFER THAN DRIVING A CAR. ABORTION DOES NOT MAKE WOMEN IN THE ABORTION DOES NOT CAUSE CANCER DOES NOT CAUSE INFERTILITY AND THE PREVAILING EMOTION AFTER AN ABORTION IS NOT THE NEXT A LOOK AT THAT AND SAYS SHOW US THOSE THINGS, SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD MENTION TODAY ARE IN TERMS OF WHEN PEOPLE GET ABORTION, THE VAST MAJORITY OF ABORTIONS OR EARLY IN PREGNANCY, PEOPLE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM NEED ABORTION CARE AND SEEK ABORTION CARE. SO IT'S A VARIETY PEOPLE. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION ARE ALREADY HAVE CHILDREN HOME AND ARE PRIORITIZING PARENTING FOR THE CHILDREN THAT THEY ALREADY</p>

OB/GYN: If abortion is illegal, women's health suffers

Most abortions performed in NC involve residents of other states

Embryologist Alease Daniel wants to talk about sperm, eggs and reproductive health. And she has attracted millions of views on TikTok for her explanations of everything from how IVF transfers work to how frozen embryos are stored.

Meet the local embryologist taking over TikTok

Embryologist Alease Daniel 

We tend to put doctors on a pedestal and often feel overwhelmed as we head in for our 10 precious minutes of solo time with our healthcare provider. I thought it would be helpful to ask a few doctors what it is they wish their patients knew. 