For many individuals in 
our community, accessing 
primary care is not as 
simple as scheduling an 
appointment. Barriers such 
as transportation, housing 
instability, limited health 
literacy and reduced access 
to providers often lead 
individuals to seek care in 
emergency departments for 
non-emergent needs.
The Cone Health 
Congregational and 
Community Nurse Program 
(CCNP), established in 1998, 
is working to reduce these 
barriers to health care through a nurse-led, community-based 
model. CCNP nurses provide screenings, health assessments 
and education in trusted community spaces across Alamance, 
Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham counties. 
To expand access to primary care, CCNP partnered with 
Cone Health’s Virtual Primary Care (VPC) team to bring 
telehealth services directly into community settings. Using 
clinical judgment, nurses connect individuals with primary care 
providers in real time, often establishing their first connection 
to ongoing care.
In one encounter at the Interactive Resource Center in 
Greensboro, an unhoused individual was referred to a CCNP 
nurse for blood sugar evaluation and assistance obtaining 
insulin. Through a virtual visit with a nurse practitioner, the 
patient received immediate care, medication access through a 
Cone Health Community Pharmacy and ongoing nurse support. 
This ultimately prevented an emergency department visit.
By combining trusted relationships with innovative care delivery, 
CCNP is improving access to care, advancing health equity 
and demonstrating the essential role of nurses in transforming 
community-based care.
Transforming Community-Based Care
CCNP Partners With Virtual Primary Care Team 
(Left) Vicki Williford, Rockingham 
County Nurse Manager; (Right) 
Raven Welch, Congregational & 
Community, Guildford County 
Nurse Manager 
OUR COMPASSION IN ACTION
10
NURSING IMPACT REPORT 2025
In 2025, the Congregational 
and Community Nurse Program 
supported more than 20,000 
nurse encounters.

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