Community partners offering resources to better behavioral health care in eastern North Carolina had a chance to connect with patients and one another during ECU Health’s 14th annual Behavioral Health Expo on Sept. 22.
The free event brought approximately 50 organizations to Eastern AHEC in Greenville, where community members could see what resources are available across the region. Stacey Greenway, service line executive director and event organizer at ECU Health, said education is invaluable to improve access to care for people who are affected by mental health.
“We work with our community partners year-round, and this is a wonderful opportunity to bring all of their various services together in one place to connect with patients across the region,” Greenway said. “
Attendance by the community and partner organizations continues to grow which is encouraging to see in rural areas where this kind of care is so important. Behavioral health is part of whole-body health, and we are glad resources are available to address it.”
The event featured three presentations on behavioral health, discussing topics such as autism, managing depression and more. Having experts from various fields under the same roof was helpful to let providers know where they can refer patients and collaborate to improve health across eastern North Carolina.
“It is very important to come together to see what resources we have available to help patients,” said Dr. Michael Lang, chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health. “No one group can provide for everything, so it is good to know where we can send patients who need specialized care or other resources specific to their unique situation and optimize outcomes for this population that we serve.”
To learn more about Behavioral Health at ECU Health, please visit ECUHealth.org/Behavioral.
ECU Health joined state and local partners on Monday for a free car seat check event aimed at helping families keep children safe on the road.
The event brought certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, Safe Kids Pitt County, Safe Kids North Carolina, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, local law enforcement and fire/rescue agencies together in Greenville to provide free car seat inspections, education and safety resources for parents and caregivers.
Safety experts said properly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent, but many families are unknowingly placing children at risk because their car seats are not installed or used correctly.
“Unfortunately, we know that a large percentage of child safety seats have some type of installation or usage error,” said Ellen Walston, Safe Kids Pitt County coordinator and an injury prevention coordinator at ECU Health.
“Sometimes it’s a simple adjustment, but other times it can be a major issue that could impact a child’s safety during a crash. Our goal is to make sure every child leaves safer than when they arrived.”
The annual event serves as the official kickoff of National Child Passenger Safety Week, observed Sept. 21-27. Throughout the week, communities across the nation will host car seat inspections and educational outreach efforts designed to increase awareness about child passenger safety and proper vehicle restraint use.
Mark Ezzell, director of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, said child passenger safety remains a critical issue across the state.
“Last year in North Carolina, 231 children under the age of 14 were killed in motor vehicle crashes,” Ezzell said. “A significant portion of those children were either not properly restrained or were not restrained at all. Events like this help educate parents and caregivers and can make a real difference in preventing serious injuries and fatalities.”
Certified technicians at the event checked car seat installations, demonstrated proper restraint techniques and answered questions about selecting the right seat based on a child’s height, weight and age. Families without an appropriate seat also had access to replacement seats.
“Car seats don’t last forever,” Walston said. “Most seats expire after about six years, and factors like heat, storage conditions and everyday wear can affect their performance. We also discourage people from purchasing used seats from online marketplaces or yard sales because you don’t know the seat’s history.”
Allan Buchanan, director of Safe Kids North Carolina, encouraged parents and caregivers to take advantage of free car seat inspection services available year-round throughout the state.
“A lot of parents think they’ve installed their car seat correctly, but there can be small mistakes that make a big difference in a crash,” Buchanan said. “Why risk it? We have permanent checking stations across North Carolina where certified technicians can help ensure children are riding as safely as possible.”
The most common mistakes include loose fitting straps, incorrect seat angles and LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) errors.
Safety experts also emphasized that choosing the right type of restraint is just as important as proper installation. Children should remain rear-facing as long as possible, transition to forward-facing seats with harnesses when appropriate and use booster seats until a vehicle seat belt fits them correctly.
For Walston and her team, the mission goes beyond a single event. The Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program at ECU Health has served families for more than 30 years and has checked more than 100,000 child safety seats since its inception. The program has also distributed more than 20,000 car seats to families in need.
“We’re proud of the work we’ve done over the years, but there’s still more to do,” Walston said. “Every ride matters, and every child deserves to be protected. If we can help one family avoid a tragedy, it’s worth it.”
Parents and caregivers interested in finding a permanent child passenger safety checking station can visit buckleupnc.org/locations or contact their local fire department or injury prevention program for more information.
Dr. Anthony Smith has had a front-row seat throughout ECU Health Medical Center’s evolution. When he began his medical career in 1998 through the Graduate Medical Education (GME) program at ECU Health Medical Center, he found a place he would call home for nearly 30 years.
“When I was finishing medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and applying for internal medicine residency programs, I wanted to find an academic program that was on the smaller side, one that felt like family. ECU Health fit that bill,” Dr. Smith said. “You will not find a hospital of this size in a community of this size anywhere else in the country.”
GME at ECU Health Medical Center began in 1976 with one residency program in family medicine. Over the past 50 years, the program has continued to grow and expand to develop the next generation of physicians across eastern North Carolina.
Today, the program features 38 residency and fellowship programs and trains approximately 460 residents per year. In 2025, the program saw 39 graduating resident physicians decide to continue practicing medicine in eastern North Carolina.
“We continue to see GME expand with new programs in electrophysiology, hospice and palliative care, neurology, ophthalmology and addiction medicine, specialties that we identified as needs now and moving forward that will train physicians to meet our community’s needs,” said Dr. Mary Catherine Turner, associate dean for GME at ECU Health Medical Center and the Brody School of Medicine. “Multiple factors are at play to support that kind of growth, but the most important guiding light is alignment with our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.”
Dr. Smith has witnessed that growth over the years, in residency, as a GME educator and continuing in his career practicing medicine as a hospitalist at ECU Health.
“The growth of GME that I’ve witnessed over the last 28 years has been tremendous,” Dr. Smith said. “The program continues to add residencies and fellowships, which means as a health system we are better able to serve eastern North Carolina by growing the physicians in our footprint and bring more specialized care to the area.”
Dr. Smith grew up in rural Alabama and spent four years in Atlanta before medical school. He appreciated that Greenville was quiet, with less traffic and more opportunities to care for patients on a more personal level. In GME, he found the atmosphere of learning, and the relationships he made along the way instrumental to his decision to continue practicing medicine in eastern North Carolina. Over the years, he has served as the Chief of Staff at ECU Health Medical Center and local director for the hospitals program.
“I remember that our program director, Dr. Peter Lichstein, took care of us,” Dr. Smith said. “Leaders created a schedule and an environment that was conducive to learning, one that let us balance our life. Finding out how to balance working, learning and living is a challenge for GME programs that ECU Health Medical Center addresses by putting people first.”
Dr. Smith sees GME as more than a foundational program to teach physicians — the program also addresses essential health care needs across ECU Health’s 29-county service area by giving resident physicians and fellows hands-on experience treating patients in clinical environments across the ECU Health system.
“It’s rewarding and exciting to see the program continue to develop,” Dr. Smith said. “It really goes back to the sheer impact it has had on eastern North Carolina. We know there are rural areas in this country that don’t have these resources. Eastern North Carolina is fortunate to have an internal medicine program and all the other various programs right here, close to home. Residents and fellows actively training, as well as the physicians who decide to stay after they complete their residency, are extremely beneficial to this region.”
Moving forward, Dr. Smith sees GME’s growth alongside ECU Health Medical Center and the region as a necessary step toward progress. Alongside East Carolina University and the Brody School of Medicine, Dr. Smith said the health system’s growth is a clear indicator of GME’s role in fostering a positive working relationship and environment for physicians across the region.
“Right now, the opportunity is to live our mission and vision as a system and determine ‘How do we better serve the rural places in eastern North Carolina?’” Dr. Smith said. “As we continue to grow, we must continue to be committed to reaching those rural communities.”
ECU Health Medical Center is proud to welcome the 12th class of Project SEARCH students to work in the hospital environment. The year-long internship program will empower the six students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to learn real-world work experience, develop valuable job skills and build the confidence needed to successfully transition from school to the workforce.
The Project SEARCH Class of 2027 includes Jaden Chamberlain, Marquell Jones, Mattie Breault, Tyler Frazer, D’Mari Clemons and Michael Dunbar.
“We are delighted to welcome another class of Project SEARCH students to ECU Health Medical Center and continue investing in opportunities that help young people build confidence, independence and career-ready skills,” said Doris Hill, workforce development coordinator at ECU Health.
“Project SEARCH creates meaningful pathways to employment by giving students hands-on experience in a real-world health care setting while allowing them to discover their strengths and talents,” Hill continued. “The program not only transforms the lives of participating students but also enriches our workforce and strengthens our commitment to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”
Project SEARCH is a partnership between ECU Health Medical Center, Pitt County Schools, McCloud & Associates, Inc. and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities.
During the program, students participate in internships across various departments at ECU Health Medical Center, including in hospitality, cafeterias, housekeeping and some clinical spaces. These experiences help students transition from classroom learning to professional environments, connecting their educational journeys to their next chapter in a workplace setting.
“Project SEARCH gives students the chance to learn and grow in ways that aren’t possible in a traditional classroom setting,” said Jay Cotton, Project SEARCH instructor. “Through internships and daily workplace experiences, students develop valuable job skills, gain confidence and learn how to navigate professional environments. I am excited to watch these students discover their potential and take important steps toward achieving their goals after graduation.”
The employment rate for youth with disabilities is about 60 to 70 percent less than youth without disabilities, according to the U.S. Office of Disability Employment Policy. Project SEARCH has proven results with a 65 percent employment and 90 percent retention rate nationally. Students who participate in the program are enrolled at various Pitt County high schools.
The Project SEARCH program at ECU Health Medical Center began in 2015 with the support of its founding partners: Pitt County Schools, RHA Health Services and the North Carolina Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. The program has become a beacon of hope and opportunity for participating students while also making significant contributions to the local community. Project SEARCH is instrumental in cultivating our ECU Health community into one that embraces diversity, inclusivity and shared success.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health has reached an agreement on a new multi-year contract with UnitedHealthcare, restoring in-network access to care for more than 100,000 UnitedHealthcare-covered patients and supporting rural health sustainability in eastern North Carolina effective Aug. 7, 2026.
The new contract covers patients with Commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid UnitedHealthcare plans, allowing patients to access care from the ECU Health providers, hospitals and clinics they know and trust.
Throughout negotiations, ECU Health’s priority was to protect and restore patients’ access to high-quality, affordable care close to home while ensuring the organization can continue providing essential services across the region.
After years without meaningful increases in reimbursements from UnitedHealthcare despite rising costs associated with delivering care, ECU Health successfully negotiated sustainable terms for the care we provide.
Importantly, this agreement supports:
- Full in-network access to all ECU Health providers, facilities and services for UnitedHealthcare members
- Reimbursement terms that better reflect the cost of care
- Reduced administrative burden
- Fewer barriers to care
- Preserves the relationships our providers have with patients covered by UnitedHealthcare
“Throughout this process, patients and families across eastern North Carolina have been our top priority,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO at ECU Health. “Meeting the mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina means ensuring the sustainability of the services we provide, particularly given the ongoing challenges rural healthcare will continue to face. This agreement ensures patients can access the care they trust at ECU Health, close to home, and allows us to move forward with UnitedHealthcare in a way that supports the long-term health of our communities.”
Patients with canceled or postponed appointments can reschedule with their provider on MyChart or call their provider’s office directly to resume care.
For additional questions or support, patients can visit ECUHealth.org/UnitedHealthcare.
For one week each summer, Camp Needles in the Pines transforms a traditional summer camp experience into something much more meaningful for children living with Type 1 diabetes. Located at Camp Boddie in Blounts Creek, campers spend their days kayaking, swimming, climbing, creating crafts and making lifelong friendships. Unlike most summer camps, however, every child at Camp Needles in the Pines shares a common bond: managing Type 1 diabetes.
Founded in 1985, Camp Needles in the Pines serves children ages 8 to 14, while older teens participate as counselors-in-training before eventually becoming counselors themselves. The camp is supported through a partnership between the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, ECU Health and ECU Health Foundation, with funding assistance from Children’s Miracle Network and community donors.
For Camp Director Mindy Saenz, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator with ECU Health Pediatric Specialty Care, the camp’s impact extends far beyond outdoor activities and summer fun.
For Camp Director Mindy Saenz, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator with ECU Health Pediatric Specialty Care, the camp’s impact extends far beyond outdoor activities and summer fun.
“A lot of the kids might be the only one in their whole school who has Type 1 diabetes,” Saenz said. “Here at camp, every single camper has Type 1 diabetes. Everybody counts carbs together, gets insulin together and understands exactly what everyone else is going through.”
This year, 51 campers from across North Carolina – and even one from Texas – attended camp. Throughout the week, they participated in activities including paddleboarding, archery, rifle and shotgun shooting, arts and crafts, STEM projects, ecology programs and a traditional camp talent show.
While camp looks like a typical summer camp on the surface, extensive planning ensures every camper can safely participate.
“The biggest thing is making sure we have enough medical staff,” Saenz said. “Each group has a medical staff person assigned to be with them at all times.”
Camp leaders also coordinate donated insulin, blood glucose testing supplies, glucose treatments and other medical necessities. Daily diabetes education and nutrition classes are woven into the schedule, helping campers build confidence in managing their condition.
Perhaps most importantly, campers are encouraged to celebrate milestones. Whether it is checking their blood sugar independently for the first time or changing an insulin pump site on their own, each achievement is recognized in front of fellow campers.
“We announce it and everybody cheers,” Saenz said. “It’s really about fostering independence and helping them realize they can do these things themselves.”
That sense of support and belonging is what keeps many campers coming back year after year.
Madelyn Sutter knows that feeling well. Now 18 and serving as a counselor-in-training, she has attended Camp Needles in the Pines since she was 8 years old.
“At home, my only experience was my sister also being Type 1,” Sutter said. “There was no one else in my school or sports. Being at camp, everyone is the same for once. Everyone has diabetes and everyone’s going through the same thing.”
Today, she enjoys helping younger campers navigate challenges she once faced herself.
“A lot of them have that same experience where there’s no one at home that’s going through the same thing as them,” she said. “I remember being their age, so I can help them get through whatever’s going on.”
Sutter said the community campers find at Camp Needles in the Pines is unlike anything else.
“It’s my favorite week of the year,” she said. “I count down the days.”
For 16-year-old counselor-in-training Kade McLawhorn, the relationships built at camp are the reason he returns every summer.
“It’s just the people,” McLawhorn said. “Year after year, having the same people you can hang out with and bond with. Sometimes we don’t get to see each other that much, but at least once a year we come together and make some great memories.”
In addition to supporting campers, Camp Needles in the Pines provides a unique learning environment for future health care providers. Dr. Caleb Oakley, a fourth-year Internal Medicine-Pediatrics resident at
ECU Health volunteered at camp this year while completing a pediatric endocrinology rotation.
“In the hospital, things are very black and white with protocols,” Dr. Oakley said. “When you come to camp, you get to see the art of medicine and how individualized diabetes care really is.”
Working alongside campers allowed Dr. Oakley to gain experience with insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors and the day-to-day realities of living with diabetes.
One of the moments that left the biggest impression on him was watching campers reach personal milestones.
“You can see how proud they are of themselves,” he said. “They’re away from home, outside their comfort zone, and taking big steps in managing their own care.”
Beyond the clinical experience, Dr. Oakley said camp also showed him the importance of community for children living with Type 1 diabetes.
“One thing I underappreciated before coming here was how different it can feel being a kid with Type 1 diabetes,” he said. “At camp, they’re not outsiders. This is the norm. They get to just be kids.”
For Saenz, that feeling of belonging remains at the heart of Camp Needles in the Pines nearly four decades after its founding.
“It’s really about being with other people who understand,” she said. “The friendships they build here last a lifetime.”
Children and seniors are at particularly high risk of heat-related injury if they are left in a hot car, even for a short time. ECU Health’s Center for Child and Family Wellness Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program, the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program, Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children and Safe Kids Pitt County gathered to demonstrate that parked vehicles and hot weather can be a deadly combination for people stuck inside.
“Children heat up three to five times faster than adults and cannot cool themselves down as quickly,” said Ellen Walston, injury prevention program coordinator and Safe Kids Pitt County coordinator at ECU Health. “Seniors’ body temperature also regulates slower. Cracking your windows or leaving them down does not help, despite popular opinion. That is why it’s so important that you never, ever leave a child or a senior in a vehicle unattended, even for a minute.”
Walston said that 50 North Carolina children have died in hot cars from 1998-2025. At the demonstration, pairs of children’s shoes were displayed on a table to illustrate that total.
Also on display was a police vehicle with a temperature gauge depicting the temperature inside and outside of the vehicle. On an unseasonably cool summer day in the mid-80s, even as the temperature outside dipped and rose the air inside the car continued a steady climb to eclipse 130 degrees. Walston said that on a hot day, temperatures inside a parked vehicle rise 20 degrees in a span of ten minutes and continue to rise.
Walston said nationwide more than 50 percent of child deaths in hot cars happen because kids are forgotten in vehicles. Leaving an item like a backpack, cellphone or something else you will remember can serve as a good reminder to check your backseat.
About 17 percent of deaths occur when children are intentionally left behind, Walston said. The remaining deaths come from children gaining access to, but being unable to escape from, a hot vehicle.
“No amount of time, whether it is a trip inside the store or the bank or whatever it may be, is a safe amount of time to leave a child unattended,” Walston said. “When you are at home, lock your vehicle so kids cannot play inside. Small steps can make a big difference when it comes to keeping our children safe.”
Expectant mothers now have more options at ECU Health when it is time to have their baby. That includes Certified Nurse Midwives, or CNMs, whose expertise lies in supporting those moms-to-be throughout their pregnancies, all the way to the delivery table. At ECU Health, qualified, experienced CNMs are now empowered to work within the full scope of their practice authority, a change that aims to improve health care outcomes for mothers and babies while better distributing provider workloads across maternal care teams.
As of April, independent CNMs at ECU Health with at least two years and 4,000 hours of clinical experience are now able to admit patients to the hospital, discharge patients from the hospital and write all notes and orders without the need for a physician’s co-signature or supervision.
CNMs deliver babies from “standard risk” pregnancies while consulting with physicians to identify cases that come with higher risks of complication or need procedures like C-sections. They continue to work in tandem with other members of the maternal care team like OB-GYN physicians.
“This was an incredibly important step forward to ensure that we are using our providers to their full scope of practice in order to improve access to care and broaden our services,” said Elaine Cudnik, executive director for Women’s and Children’s advanced clinical practice at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. “There is a nationwide shortage of OB-GYN providers and ECU Health is not immune to the challenges in recruiting that specialty. We continue to augment our services with advanced practice providers and independent certified nurse midwives who can support that critical maternal service here at ECU Health.
Added Cudnik, “I think allowing independent CNMs to work to the top of their license brings an incredible value to the community that we serve and will only expand the access that we’re able to provide.”
On the day the change went into effect two CNMs — Sarah Sears and Margi Reither — were granted independent CNM privileges at ECU Health. Reither called it a monumental step and the result of decades of advocacy. She is grateful that ECU Health now grants qualified CNMs more freedom in scope of practice.
“It is great, professionally, to be able to take care of our own patients,” Reither said. “That’s what we are truly grateful for. We have had wonderful support from our OB-GYN team who agree this is a good, professional decision. This was truly a team effort between midwives, physicians and administrators.”
Sears said the change is empowering, and that it shines a light on how midwives are crucial parts of an OB-GYN team.
“It makes us feel seen,” Sears said. “There is certainly a feeling of respect not just in being able to work with my patients in a new way, but from the health system recognizing what we do and making our roles more visible.”
More importantly, the change is good for patient outcomes. Sears said midwifery care is shown to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. When physicians and midwives collaborate, it allows providers to play to their own strengths. For midwives, that is recognizing and managing standard risk labor and delivery.
“Physicians really are needed for the high-risk things, the abnormal circumstances that can arise during a delivery,” Sears said. “As midwives, we are focused on the normal. It comes down to working together to make sure our approach fits each individual patient on a case-by-case basis.”
Dr. James Whiteside, department chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology, ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine, played a critical role in helping expand the scope of midwifery practice at ECU Health when he arrived at the health system in 2022. He said further expanding midwives’ scope of practice to include independent care is an important step toward addressing clinician shortages that continue to strain maternal care nationwide.
“We saw an opportunity to expand the role of midwifery across our region and leverage independent scope of practice for these integral members of our care teams,” Dr. Whiteside said. “More midwives will help us address the real challenges facing rural delivery, specifically when it comes to resources and the number of clinicians we have available to provide high-quality care and reduce risk associated with delivery.”
Dr. Dan Dwyer, chief medical officer, ECU Health Community Hospitals and an obstetrician, said he is excited for the positive impact the change will have on maternal services in some of eastern North Carolina’s most rural communities. CNMs will have reliable teams they can work with and the ability to transfer care to another clinician, or to another facility, as needed, in the most efficient way possible.
“Looking ahead, we are excited to introduce independent Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) into care teams throughout ECU Health’s rural community hospitals,” Dr. Dwyer said. “Teamwork is a cornerstone of our culture, and we are committed to recruiting and nurturing skilled CNMs whose dedication and values align with our mission. These professionals are essential to delivering the highest quality care in rural settings.”
Serving 29 counties and operating eight rural birthing locations, Dr. Dwyer said ECU Health faces a range of challenges — not least of which are recruiting and retaining talented healthcare professionals.
“To address these needs, it is imperative that every member of our health care team — including independent CNMs — practice at the top of their license. Creating an environment where everyone feels valued and welcomed is central to our approach,” he said. “The collaborative efforts of CNMs, family practitioners and obstetricians, supported by advanced digital technology and a robust network of sub-specialists, are critical to ensuring patients receive timely, appropriate care wherever they are. We take great pride in the strength of our teamwork and remain confident that, together, we can overcome future challenges and continue to provide exceptional care for our communities.”
ECU Health has maintained labor and delivery services at its rural hospitals. Midwives’ knowledge and skills play a prominent role in ensuring that quality care is available to even more patients in eastern North Carolina, Cudnik said.
“We strongly believe in midwives’ practice and their ability,” Cudnik added. “We strive to create a place where that expertise is valued and leveraged in a way that supports our unique rural academic mission. Not only will expanded access to care benefit community hospitals and rural communities, these midwives will also have a chance to teach students and residents at our ECU Health Medical Center. We’re excited to see the independent CNM program grow.”
In eastern North Carolina, summer can be a time of backyard cookouts or days spent at the beach. However, soaring temperatures and smothering humidity put residents at risk of heat-related illnesses that are even more dangerous for people with a heart condition.
Dr. Blase Carabello, ECU Health cardiologist and chief of the Division of Cardiology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, explained that the heart has to work overtime in extreme heat as the body tries to regulate its temperature.
“Most people are familiar with a car’s radiator, and they know that if the radiator does not work, they will be stuck on the side of the road with steam coming out of the hood,” Dr. Carabello said. “The human body’s radiator is the skin, and when you need to get rid of heat, your heart needs to pump extra blood to the skin to let that radiator work. Almost anyone with a heart condition who already has a weakened heart or some other difficulty is going to be stressed by the heat or have trouble regulating their body’s fluids.”
High temperatures put people at risk of heat exhaustion, which can cause symptoms such as lightheadedness, rapid pulse, low blood pressure, headache or nausea. Anyone who begins to experience those symptoms needs to get out of the sun and drink fluids, Dr. Carabello said. If you stop sweating in hot weather, or start shivering, that’s an indication your health is at risk.
Heat stroke, where the body reaches a temperature over 104-degrees, is a life-threatening condition that requires treatment.
“The body’s temperature can reach the point where it will shut down all activity unless you receive treatment,” Dr. Carabello emphasized. “If someone around you says they feel lightheaded or like they are going to faint in the heat, it is important to act. Check their pulse and, if that does not look right, call for help. It’s much better to have a false alarm than the alternative.”
Dr. Carabello said that when a heat advisory is issued, people need to use their best judgment and make the right decision for their health. When heat indices climb into triple digits, it’s very difficult for the body to regulate. He pointed out that at the World Cup, even some of the best athletes on the planet take heat breaks during their soccer matches.
“If some of the best athletes in the world need that, think about if you’re not on that level,” Dr. Carabello said. “People tend to think they can do anything, that they are super people, but the truth is that the kind of heat we can experience in eastern North Carolina can put your heart to the test. You don’t need to test your heart, so don’t do that. Just use plain, old fashioned, common sense.”
The North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards honor the true spirit of volunteerism in individuals and groups in the public, nonprofit and private sectors who make a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service. This year, Charmaine Reeder, on behalf of the ECU Health’s work with Pitt County Meals on Wheels, Traquavis Harris, Sara Gray Tingen and Angelina Brittle and were honored as award winners.
ECU Health’s Community Health team has worked with the Pitt County Meals on Wheels program for four years, something that began with now vice president of Community Health KaSheta Jackson. What began with a Wednesday/Friday route evolved to opening volunteer opportunities to all ECU Health team members.
Reeder, a Community Health engagement coordinator I, said as a Greenville native, she grew up seeing health care disparities. Now, she said she has the resources and knowledge to do something about it.
“Community Health can connect people to the information they need. We can educate them about chronic health conditions and advocate for them,” she said. “Some people are fearful of doctors or hospitals, but we can help them prioritize their health.”
Her work with Meals on Wheels, she said, has been one way to connect not only with fellow volunteers, but those very community members she hopes to help.
“Our volunteers come from all walks of life. They carve out time from their day to do something, and they show up rain or shine. And the people we visit – they look forward to it. Sometimes we’re the only people they see, and they enjoy the company,” she said. “It gives us a chance to ask them about how they’re doing and connect them with resources. It establishes a consistency in support and connects us to a population we might not otherwise see.”
Reeder said she didn’t know anything about the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award until she looked it up, and then she realized how prestigious it is.
“I was honored to accept on behalf of ECU Health,” she said. “We are making an impact on a population sometimes overlooked.”
The Community Health team is also using the Meals on Wheels program as a platform to pursue other ways to connect community members with the health care services they need.
“We’re working with the ECU Health to provide telehealth services to qualifying individuals on our Wednesday and Friday routes.”
Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities at ECU Health.