Hospitals in Action >> Case Examples

UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS OF EASTERN CAROLINA, Greenville, NC
Partners in FUN, FUN for Kids, and Gettin' Started

What is it?
ViQuest is a d/b/a of HealthAccess, Inc, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina. The ViQuest Center is a medically modeled wellness center built in 2000. ViQuest weight management programs have continued to evolve from serving only a few teenagers to a multibranched, multidisciplinary series. The age-appropriate programs - Partners in FUN, FUN for Kids, and Gettin' Started - include physical activity, nutrition, and lifestyle management. Since 2001, support from the Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation has allowed the ViQuest programs to reach underserved populations and expand into the community schools.

Who is it for?
Children 2-18 years old who place in the 85th percentile or greater on pediatric growth charts for Body Mass Index (BMI). Parents of children age 2-4 receive individual training. Children 4-14 receive family-centered attention. Children 15-18 receive education without their parents.

Why do they do it?
Eastern North Carolina has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the nation. Unless there is significant intervention, these children are at risk for the many health conditions associated with childhood obesity as well as the long-term health consequences of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke. 

Contact: Allison Spain
Wellness Program Specialist
Phone: 252-847-7914
Email: aspain@pcmh.com