Since its inception in March 2022, the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) initiative has worked to mitigate the effects of food insecurity, housing instability, interpersonal violence/toxic stress and lack of access to transportation.
Spanning multiple counties, including Pitt, Beaufort, Chowan, Edgecombe, Hertford, Martin, Halifax, Northampton and Bertie, the Access East HOP consists of a network of community-based organizations, called Human Service Organizations (HSOs), which provide essential services. By leveraging resources and expanding local economies, HOP ensures that critical support reaches those in need.
HSOs play a vital role in bridging the health care gap. By working alongside Medicaid, they offer non-medical services that directly impact health outcomes.
Programs target individuals with chronic conditions, addressing socioeconomic needs for all age groups. Access East acts as the HOP lead for eastern North Carolina, building the HSO network and coordinating insurance claims.
“Eligible Medicaid Managed Care enrollees receive these services to help manage non-medical factors that improve health outcomes,” said Tina Dixon, vice president of Healthy Opportunities at Access East. “For example, if someone does not have food security, they aren’t able to consistently eat healthy meals with fresh fruits and vegetables that play a large role in preventing conditions like diabetes and hypertension.”
One HSO, Good Shepherd Food Pantry of Bertie County serves about 1,200 families per month in Bertie County, ensuring anyone in need has access to food. Good Shepherd Food Pantry of Bertie County provides large-scale food distributions to residents in Bertie County, including delivering about 150 food boxes per week through the HOP program. Deborah Freeman, executive director of Good Shepherd Food Pantry of Bertie County, uses fresh produce from local farms, which not only generates steady revenue for local businesses like the farm but also provides employment opportunities, contributing to economic stability.
In 2022, Good Shepherd was among the first agencies to join the Access East HOP Program, a decision that has allowed them to hire eight new employees, many of whom are seniors, to help with food delivery, with additional staff packing food boxes and supporting operations through a senior employment program. These positions provide not only financial stability for older adults but also an opportunity for them to give back to their communities. Ninety percent of their drivers are over 70 years old, with additional staff packing food boxes and supporting operations through a senior employment program.
HOP has also helped fund their backpack program, an initiative that provides children with two breakfasts, two lunches, milk, juice, and fresh fruit to ensure children have access to nutritious food. They delivered 9,600 backpack meals to elementary and middle school students in Bertie County during the past school year. Reimbursements from HOP food boxes deliveries provided over $70,000 to fund the backpack program.
“There are so many babies who go to school hungry,” said Freeman. “Teachers know which children are struggling when they come back on Monday. We allow schools to identify those in need, provide a count, and we ensure that backpacks are delivered every Thursday.”
Freeman says her team has witnessed firsthand how HOP has transformed the lives of many people in her county.
“There are just so many stories that come back from my drivers,” said Freeman. “When they go to certain homes, they really get to know the families over months, even a year sometimes, because they keep getting recertified. At first, you have to face the reality of the conditions people are living in, but then you witness the transformation. We provide food, but then other HSOs step in to repair homes and offer more support. One of my drivers shared that, at the beginning, you could see the ground through one person’s house, but by the end of six months, the house had been repaired, food boxes were coming in, and HOP was really helping improve lives.”
While Good Shepherd Food Pantry’s work has helped address food insecurity at the local level, the broader impact of HOP extends beyond individual communities. By supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and providing essential services, HOP helps improve the health and well-being of recipients while adding to local economies.
“HOP not only offers these services to improve the lives of Medicaid patients, HOP also greatly benefits local economies,” said Dixon. “Local businesses are growing and flourishing because of the funds from HOP. It provides a steady income for these businesses, and they’re able to provide services for those in need and even expand their services outside of HOP recipients.”
Since its inception, Access East’s HOP has enrolled 12,190 clients and served 10,396 individuals, ensuring access to essential services. With a total of more than 220,000 contracted services provided, the initiative has had a significant impact on the community. The value of services delivered amounts to $44,454,724, with 223,283 invoices submitted for payment. Access East HOP’s invoicing specialists carefully review each invoice, ensuring accurate payments are made to the HSOs. These funds have been instrumental in supporting both local residents and the HSOs dedicated to serving them, improving access to critical resources.
ECU Health has long been dedicated to improving health care access and outcomes in eastern North Carolina, and its latest initiative aims to build a sustainable health care solution for Martin County. At a public hearing in front of a standing-room only crowd at the Martin County Board of Commissioners meeting on June 4, ECU Health CEO and Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Dean Dr. Michael Waldrum outlined the vision to re-establish essential health care services for Martin County and the surrounding communities.
ECU Health’s proposal would create the state’s first Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) in Martin County, initially located in the existing medical facility. The proposal outlines the organization’s commitment to advocating for a $70 million investment from the State of North Carolina to build a new Rural Care Center in Martin County that would serve as the future home of the REH with the potential to expand outpatient services including preventative care.
REH is a new Medicare designation designed to sustain essential health care services in communities that may otherwise be unable to support a traditional hospital. REHs offer emergency room care, observation services, and other outpatient health services. These services are limited to short-term care, with patients staying an average of less than 24 hours.
Importantly, because REHs cannot provide inpatient services except in very limited situations, ECU Health is also advocating for $150 million to expand inpatient capacity at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, a campus of ECU Health Medical Center. ECU Health Beaufort Hospital is a Hill-Burton Act hospital built in 1958, highlighting the importance of investing in modernizing the facility to support the regional system of care.
“Solving the rural health challenge means pursuing transformative solutions that create sustainable heath care access,” said Dr. Waldrum. “ECU Health’s expertise is rural health care, and our proposal reflects our unwavering commitment to our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. In my conversations with State leaders, it is clear there is a shared desire to support rural communities like Martin County. The State investments we’re seeking are critical to support the development of a regional system of care which is central to creating sustainability in and around Martin County.”
Like many rural regions, eastern North Carolina faces high rates of chronic illnesses and socioeconomic disparities. Martin County is one of North Carolina’s least healthy counties, according to a study by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. With high rates of obesity, smoking and premature deaths, the county’s health challenges underscore the need for local access to high-quality care.
Multiple Martin County residents provided public comments during the meeting with many thanking ECU Health and Martin County leaders for their commitment to supporting the community.
The Martin County Board of Commissioners will consider ECU Health’s proposal and public input before determining next steps.
Greenville, N.C. – Project SEARCH, an educational program offered at ECU Health Medical Center, is proud to announce six students recently graduated from the program: Keon Cox, Nasir Gardner, Kalasiah Forbes-Paige, Cameron McKenna, Daniel Sparrow and Johntevius Walker-Aytch. Project SEARCH is a one-year internship program for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities during their last year of high school with the goal of providing real-world practical skills and increasing the chances of competitive employment.
“At ECU Health, we are proud to support Project SEARCH and help students gain essential career skills that empower them and prepare them for their future,” said Doris Hill, Project SEARCH coordinator at ECU Health. “This program not only equips students with hands-on experience but also strengthens our workforce and community. Witnessing their growth and success is truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing them thrive in their careers.”
The Project SEARCH program at ECU Health Medical Center began in 2015 through partnerships with Pitt County Schools, RHA Health Services and Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. Students complete internships in various departments at the hospital, including the ECHO Lab, Gastrointestinal Lab, Central Services, hospital cafeterias, Hospitality, Shipping and Receiving and the Neuroscience Intermediate Unit.
This year’s students who participated in the program are enrolled at various Pitt County high schools including Farmville Central High School, Ayden Grifton High School, North Pitt High School and South Central High School.
“Project SEARCH empowers students with the skills and confidence they need to transition successfully into the workforce,” said Lyndsey Joyner, Project SEARCH instructor. “Watching them grow, gain independence and achieve their goals is incredibly rewarding. I have no doubt that these graduates will make valuable contributions to their communities, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.”
The employment rate for youth with disabilities is about 60 to 70 percent less than youth without disabilities, according to the Office of Disability Employment Policy. Project SEARCH has proven results with a 65 percent employment and 90 percent retention rate nationally. The Project SEARCH program began in 1996 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and was developed as a means to meet entry-level employment needs at CCHMC, support their diversity initiative and partner with schools and community services agencies. Project SEARCH is now an international program with over 716 program sites in 48 states and 11 countries.
Windsor, N.C. – ECU Health Bertie Hospital was recently named, for the second time, one of the top 20 critical access hospitals (CAHs) for patient satisfaction in the country.
The top 20 CAHs, including ECU Health Bertie Hospital, earned the highest scores among CAHs as determined by the Chartis Center for Rural Health for patient perspective/satisfaction. The recognition was recently announced by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). An awards ceremony will be held during NRHA’s Critical Access Hospital Conference in September in Kansas City, Mo.
A Critical Access Hospital (CAH) is a classification assigned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to qualifying rural hospitals across the United States. These facilities play a crucial role in enhancing health care accessibility for rural communities by delivering essential medical services and receiving cost-based reimbursement for Medicare-covered treatments.
The top 20 CAHs have achieved success in overall performance based on a composite rating from eight measures of strength: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and finance. This group was selected from the Chartis Center for Rural Health’s 2025 top 100 CAH list, which was released earlier this year.
The top 20 CAH best practice recipients have achieved success in one of two key areas of performance:
- Quality index: A rating of hospital performance based on the percentile rank across rural-relevant process of care measures.
- Patient perspective index: A rating of hospital performance based on the percentile rank across all 10 HCAHPS domains.
“ECU Health Bertie Hospital is proud of the efforts of the physicians and team members who have contributed to our hospital achieving this designation,” says Brian Harvill, president of ECU Health Bertie Hospital. “Our results as a top 20 critical access hospital for patient satisfaction means our community can count on us to deliver the services they need now and in the future. This recognition highlights our deep commitment to serving our rural mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.”
“In a Critical Access Hospital, every patient touchpoint is an opportunity to make a profound impact,” said Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert, chief experience officer, ECU Health. “Excellent patient experience is not just a goal; it’s the manifestation of living our values and our commitment to safe, highly reliable, human-centered care, ensuring that every individual feels valued, heard, and feels that we have created a caring environment that helps them heal. The team at ECU Health Bertie Hospital consistently delivers on the ECU Health mission, vision and values in service to our patients and communities every single day.”
Chris Norman, PA-C and medical director of ECU Health’s Transfer Center, said he always knew he wanted to work in health care. “My family had a lot of health issues when I was growing up, and I thought I’d be a doctor,” he shared. “Then as an undergraduate, I was introduced to the physician assistant (PA) role. What really drew me in was the idea of doing what I wanted without being in school for so long, and the flexibility to swap specialties.”
After working elsewhere, Norman found his way to ECU Health through the recommendation of a colleague. “She made the switch from our former employer to ECU Health, and she recruited me with her talk about the growth she made as a provider, the team cohesiveness and the overall way PAs are treated,” he said. That professional support has kept Norman in eastern North Carolina for 20 years and has offered pathways to advance his profession, which now include Norman’s work with the NCAPA as president.
The North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA) aims to, “strengthen the PA profession in North Carolina through advocacy, education and support to improve healthcare for all patients.” Norman helped write that mission statement, something he’s proud of. “If PAs want to advance our profession and help our patients, we have to advocate for ourselves,” he said. “The NCAPA is the only organization solely dedicated to the advancement of the PA profession in North Carolina, and our mission statement resonates with my personal values. We all have one goal for our efforts; our ‘why’ is singular, and that’s my life’s work.”
While Norman learned about the NCAPA in school, he said he didn’t fully appreciate the organization’s significance early on. “If you’re interested in your profession and leadership, you should get involved,” he said. “Once I stepped in, I was all in.”
Initially, Norman got involved by joining work groups and subcommittees, but when he wanted to do more, a colleague suggested he run for a board seat. “This is my fourth year on the Board of Directors, and from there I’ve continued to become more involved, including advocacy in the state legislature and the Leadership and Advocacy Summit with the American Academy of PAs – that is a national conference and you go to Congress. This has been my third year of doing that.” Because of his service and hard work, Norman was then approached about running for president of the NCAPA, a three-year commitment; he is now in his second year of service in that role.
In March, Norman participated in the state Lobby Day, where he, along with many PAs from across the state, advocated for bills that remove obstacles for the PA profession in the state and improve access to care, especially for the rural areas in eastern North Carolina.
“I enjoy my work in Raleigh,” he said. “I get to talk to and advocate with the legislators to have an impact on our mission. And if we keep having these conversations, we will impact the profession.” It’s important that PAs get involved because, he said, “no one tells your story better than you, and no one else understands your needs and concerns.”
Getting bills passed and increasing PA participation in the process have been Norman’s major goals. “Last year we had over 150 PAs and PA students participate in Lobby Day,” he shared. “This year, we had more than 200. A lot of the students came from East Carolina University’s PA program.”
Making this type of difference wouldn’t be easy without the support of ECU Health. “I have a deep-seated drive to learn and tackle new challenges,” Norman said. “ECU Health provides opportunities and encourages my desire to learn and contribute in new ways. Paired with being laser-focused on our mission and values, I love getting up and coming in to work every day, knowing we’re all focusing on the same mission.”
Norman also wants other PAs to get involved. “We need someone to do the work,” he said. “Getting involved with the NCAPA shows a passion that your profession should be the best it can be. Use your own voice, because you are a part of the solution. If you’re a PA and interested in furthering your profession, your first step is to become a member.”
To learn more about the NCAPA, visit their site here.
Each day in hospitals, clinics and other clinical settings across ECU Health, nurses take on roles beyond the medical care they provide – they’re a support person, a patient advocate, offer a hand for food services and help keep rooms clean all while bringing high-quality, compassionate care to patients in eastern North Carolina.
On May 6, to mark the start of National Nurses Week, ECU Health nurses invited board members, executives and other leaders to take part in “Walk-a-Mile with Nursing” to offer the opportunity to shadow a nurse and experience all the different roles that nurses play each and every day at ECU Health hospitals.
“Many of us have experienced the hospital setting through the eyes of a patient or a loved one, but today we got a chance to experience it through the eyes of the people who make high-quality, compassionate care possible at ECU Health: our nurses,” said Chief Nursing Executive Dr. Trish Baise during the roundtable discussion immediately following the three-hour shadowing session at ECU Health Medical Center. “I hope this experience to walk alongside nurses across our hospitals provides an even deeper appreciation for the work they do and the incredible difference it makes in the lives of so many.”
Bob Greczyn, chair of the ECU Health Board of Directors, was one of the guests on the hospital floor during “Walk-a-Mile” and he shadowed nurses on the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at ECU Health Medical Center.
He said taking part in the event gave him the best morning he’s had in a long time. He was most impressed with the way teams – doctors, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists and more – worked together to care for patients on the unit.
“I’ve heard about doing rounds on patients and how the teams work together, but I’ve never actually been able to see it happen. Now I know what happens, and I know they didn’t just do it for my benefit,” Greczyn said. “I want to thank all the nurses who choose to work here for what you do, because it’s really important.”
Walk-a-Mile with Nursing was also held at community hospitals across ECU Health, where participants captured a glimpse of the community-centered care that makes rural hospitals unique. There, they witnessed team members treating neighbors, family and friends – a testament to the power of hands-on nursing in rural communities.
Gary Stanley, ECU Health Chowan Hospital Development Council Board Member and Lead Chaplain for ECU Health Bertie and Chowan, reflected on his experience with the Walk-a-Mile with Nursing event.
“It was truly an incredible experience,” Stanley said. “Nurse Konner Mims exemplified attentiveness, compassion, and respect, fully embracing the ECU Health model of patient- and family-centered care. This experience was profoundly impactful—I am a different chaplain because of it.”
Dr. Michael Waldrum, ECU Health chief executive officer and Dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, and Donette Herring, ECU Health’s chief information officer, both had the opportunity to return to their clinical roots prior to their leadership roles.
Dr. Waldrum shadowed Carolina Pena, staff nurse III, on the Medical Intensive Care Unit at ECU Health Medical Center. As an intensivist for many years, he said it was great experience to be back at his “home.” He was grateful for the opportunity to shadow Pena and see the heart of ECU Health nursing on display with care, compassion and excellence.
Herring visited the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Medical Center. It was a fitting return for her as she said the intensive care unit was her last unit in a clinical role before she transitioned to leadership. She said she wasn’t sure what to expect for the day, but she was grateful to be welcomed in by the unit and have open, honest conversations with the team. She said her biggest takeaway from the day was the importance of taking time to listen to the experiences of nurses and understand their needs.
Pena said she felt this event was important to connect nurses with leadership and non-nursing team members to have their voices heard.
“This was so important to have, because as a nursing staff we go through a lot with patients, doctors, family members and everyone. We never really know if anyone is going to hear our concerns,” Pena said. “I know Dr. Waldrum has been an intensivist before, he knows what happens in our unit, but just having him there, hearing our concerns, seeing our patients, asking questions, it really gives us a sense that we’re being listened to and that we matter. I think that’s very important for our nurses.”
Overall, the event served as the perfect way to kick off National Nurses Week. Other events focused on celebrating nurses and their contributions to high-quality care unfolded throughout the week, and the Walk-a-Mile experience provided a first-hand understanding of just how powerful nurses are in a patient’s life.
“Today has far exceeded my expectations in terms of turnout and the genuine desire to connect, understand and walk a mile with nursing team members,” Baise said. “I’ve done this in previous roles, and there is more enthusiasm today than I’ve seen before, and I think it speaks to the authentic nature of everyone in this system. I’m so grateful for the nurses and units who hosted everyone today and sharing their work with everyone here.”
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For Melissa and Jimmy Worrell, their love story started with a horse. Melissa, a horse trainer and riding instructor at the time, met Jimmy when he brought his horse to the barn where she worked. That chance encounter led to marriage in 1988, a move from New Jersey to North Carolina and a life filled with love, adventure and raising their quadruplets.
But in recent years, their journey took an unexpected turn. Jimmy was diagnosed with kidney disease and placed on the transplant waiting list. For nearly eight years, he waited, knowing that each passing day brought him closer to dialysis—a life-sustaining but time-consuming treatment that filters waste from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do so.
“Dialysis is a lifeline for many patients, but machines just cannot do the work of an organ that works automatically, 24/7,” said Dr. David Leeser, professor and chief of transplantation at ECU Health Medical Center. “We know that when a patient is transplanted, they gain a tremendous boost to their quality of life, and they will live longer as well. Transplantation is by far the best available renal replacement therapy available to patients with kidney failure.”
Throughout the process, doctors frequently asked if he had identified a potential donor. Jimmy never asked Melissa to consider donating, but she made the decision on her own.
“I knew I was O-negative, so I figured I’d at least get tested,” Melissa said. “I thought, well, I had to at least try.”
The couple was shocked to learn she was a perfect match.
Throughout the process, Melissa was supported by a donor advocate at ECU Health—someone who had been through the experience and could provide firsthand insight. She believes this kind of support is crucial for potential donors.
“When you’re thinking about doing this, it’s good to talk to someone who has been there,” Melissa said. “It’s reassuring to know that life goes on and that we’ll both live normal, healthy lives.”
Their transplant surgery was successfully completed Nov. 12, 2024. Melissa, now a recreational therapist and volunteer with Team River Runner in Wilmington, which provides veterans and active-duty military with healing opportunities on the water, specifically outrigger canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and rowing, took time off to recover. Jimmy returned to work earlier than expected, eager to get back to normal life. More importantly, the transplant has given them back their active lifestyle.
“Before, if I asked him to go for a walk, he’d say, ‘I can’t do that,’” Melissa said. “Now, we can do things together again. It’s a big change.”
The couple enjoys boating along the Intracoastal Waterway, dining out, going for walks and simply spending time together. Beyond her personal experience, Melissa hopes to raise awareness about living kidney donation.
“It’s amazing how something so small can make such a big difference in someone’s life,” she said. “People are often surprised when they hear what I did, like I was risking my own health. But the doctors wouldn’t have allowed it if I wasn’t okay. I think if more people heard these stories, they might consider donating. I especially want to thank the friendly and caring transplant team at ECU Health, who provided great pre and post care.”
For the Worrells, this journey has deepened their bond and given them a renewed appreciation for the simple joys of life. Now, with Jimmy’s health improved, they’re looking forward to many more years of adventure together.
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In 1984, Jaimie Yahnker faced a decision: move to North Carolina with his parents or stay in Long Island, New York.
“Here I was fresh out of high school,” Jaimie recalled. “I went to a school for individuals with cerebral palsy, which incorporated physical therapy and the like into your education, so I graduated when I was 20. After graduation, I decided to move with my parents to North Carolina, which was the best decision I could have made.”
Jaimie was one of seven children, and three of his other siblings also lived in North Carolina. In November of that year, Jaimie was hired by ECU Health Medical Center, then Pitt County Memorial Hospital, and he’s never looked back.
Jaimie’s first job with the system was at the Information Desk, but when that didn’t work out, his connection to what was then called the Education Department through his sister, who also worked at the hospital, landed him a position putting together orientation packets for new team members on a part time basis.
“That went well, and I stayed in that role until I lived in North Carolina for a year and achieved my residency,” he said. At that point, Jaimie knew he wanted to go to school, so he attended Pitt Community College in the morning while working in the education department during the afternoons. “That’s how I got my degree in human services,” Jaimie said.
After graduation, Jaimie applied and interviewed for several different jobs. “No one was hiring,” he said. It was about that time, also, that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, something ECU Health’s then human resources (HR) director Charles Fennessy and the hospital’s HR department knew about and supported.
“He [Charles] was determined to help me all he could,” Jaimie said. “He saw the fire in me. He knew I was trying hard to find work and not getting offers, so he found a full-time position in the Insurance Department under Financial Services, and I worked in that department for nine or 10 years.” During this time, Jaimie also went back to Pitt Community College to get his degree in human resources.
Jaimie enjoyed his work, but he didn’t enjoy being in a cubicle all day. “I’m a people person,” he said. At the same time, Jaimie tore both of his rotator cuffs after walking with forearm crutches for years, an injury that required surgery to repair the damage.
“I knew Dave McRae [the chief executive officer at the time], and I told him I wasn’t sure how my recuperation would go, but that if I could return to work, I didn’t want to be in a cubicle,” he said. After Jaimie’s surgery, McRae helped him find a clinical support position at the front desk in the Rehabilitation department, where he worked first under Martha Dixon, and later with Wanda Bennett.
“Later I worked in hospitality (now called experience) where I stayed for a few years and through COVID,” Jaimie said. “The new rehab director, Dr. Felicia Collins, asked me to come back to their department and I’ve been here ever since.”
While he’s served in several positions across the hospital, Jaimie said he likes his current role because, “I am a good role model for the patients and their family members. They see me do what I am doing, and they think they can also be successful.”
Jaimie also enjoys the people he works with. “They are a great team, very supportive,” he said. “I saw one of our recreational therapists here as a patient, when she had Guillain Barre, and just like me, she had therapy here and was inspired to come back and work. I’m very happy in rehab.”
While he gets asked from time to time when he plans to retire, he has no intentions to leave anytime soon. “Working gives me a reason to get out of bed. I have responsibilities, and I’m comfortable here. It’s the best for my personality.”
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ECU Health recently hosted the Provider Patient Choice Awards at a luncheon honoring more than 200 ECU Health providers.
The Provider Patient Choice Awards recognize ECU Health providers who rank in the top 10% in the nation in the Watson Human Caring[1] question for “Creating a caring environment that helped me heal.”
Attendees, both in-person and virtual, heard from ECU Health leadership as they thanked the winners for their work and discussed how compassionate care impacts patients, families and the health system. ECU Health CEO and Dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Dr. Michael Waldrum said there is no greater honor than being recognized by the patients and community members a provider serves.
“We teach medical students and nurses about all of the technicalities and the hard work that it takes to take care of other humans,” Dr. Waldrum said. “However, one of the most important elements of excellence in providing health care is connecting with other people and caring. We know the data is very clear, it’s been shown many times that the better connection you have with that patient, the better they do. They’ll take their medications, they’ll follow your advice and their outcomes are better.”
He also noted that with expanding technologies and societal changes, the connection aspect in health care is needed now as much as ever and acknowledged a shift toward even more compassionate care in recent years. He expressed deep gratitude for the care teams making caring environments for patient and their families a priority.
Dr. Jason Foltz, chief medical officer with ECU Health Physicians, shared that the morning of the event, he had multiple visits with patients who did not have medical needs, but just needed someone to talk to about anxieties around medications or upcoming procedures. He said these interactions with patients and families are just as important, if not more important, than the medical care he provides.
“These are our patients and what they need is what you all provide them, which is a listening ear and the fact that you choose to care,” Dr. Foltz said. “At the heart of all this, everything we do—we’re just people serving people. That’s what today is about, to recognize and highlight that amazing spirit you bring and what really makes ECU Health, ECU Health.”
Dr. James Powell, a Patient Choice Award recipient, agreed with Dr. Foltz about the heart of a provider’s work. He said his team makes all the difference by starting each visit with a warm smile and a helping hand for patients.
He said he was excited to share the award with his team and recognize them for going above and beyond and developing positive patient relationships, which he uses for the foundation of each visit.
“We’ve been truly blessed, because we have a wonderful head nurse who has really created a good vibe among the staff as they go through day-to-day work. I’m sure a lot of you feel the same way about your staff,” Dr. Powell said. “When patients are calling, they’re calling because they need something. The something that they get is an answer to that question but a lot of times, it’s also just something that helps to calm them down and to make them feel good about things. I think that we’d really be remiss on a day like today if we didn’t think about the staff with whom we work, who really allow us to do what we do every day.”
ECU Health Chief Experience Officer Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert served as Master of Ceremonies for the event and encouraged providers to take their award boxes – filled with a plaque, stickers, star pins and more – and share them with their teams who support them every day.
She said during the event that the awards are truly special because they come from the patients these providers serve.
“The patients really showed us that you create a caring environment,” Dr. Oehlert said. “As much as you love them, they love you right back. We just want to thank you all for everything you do every day and recognize that the patients think you are amazing.”
About ECU Health Patient Choice Awards
Established in 2023, Patient Choice Awards recognize and honor ECU Health team members and providers for their dedication, effort and support to eastern North Carolina and the patients and families ECU Health serves. Winning teams and providers are chosen based upon commentary and feedback collected from patient surveys. Recognition events are held throughout the system in the fall and winter to showcase the people and teams who go above and beyond in support of our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
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Teams across ECU Health recognized by patients with Patient Choice Awards
[1] Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is a foundation of patient care and focuses on the importance of the interpersonal relationship between a caregiver and care receiver. The theory states that this relationship helps not only the person receiving care, but the caregiver as well.
Zach Martin served as a North Carolina state trooper, and after dealing with pain in his leg that began in August of 2022, he went to the doctor to find out what was going on. “The doctors did several rounds of steroid injections, but by December of 2022, he couldn’t walk and they did more tests,” said Ginny Martin, Zach’s wife. “It showed a large tumor in his left femur.”
Zach was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone or soft tissue cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. Zach was 33 at the time of his diagnosis, and his cancer progressed rapidly. “You think someone our age shouldn’t get cancer,” Ginny said of Zach’s illness. “He had his whole career ahead of him. He should have watched our kids grow up. Sometimes life isn’t fair, but he gave it one heck of a fight.”
On Feb. 10, 2024, just after his 35th birthday, Zach Martin passed away at the Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice, an ECU Health hospice house with eight beds, private rooms, a health garden and a chapel/meditation room. “From the moment we walked in the door, they treated us like they’d treat their own family,” Ginny said.
A difficult road
Zach was a High Point, North Carolina native, and he and Ginny met when he moved to Belhaven to work in law enforcement. “Zach was a jokester, and he never met a stranger,” Ginny recalled. “He was always making people laugh.” They married in 2014 and had their first son, Greyson, in 2015. Their second son, Lawson, was born 6 years later.
After Zach’s surprising diagnosis, he began chemotherapy as soon as possible. Yet, his recovery wasn’t easy. At one point, he rolled over in bed and snapped his femur; he required surgery to replace 40 percent of the bone with a titanium rod. He was in the hospital for 10 days, and after returning home, he went through intense physical therapy from January to May of 2023. “He had to learn to walk again, and all during this time he was having chemo,” Ginny said. This was followed by radiation, during which time the family temporarily relocated to High Point so Zach’s family could help watch the boys. In August, Zach completed radiation, but later that month, scans showed the cancer was back and spreading rapidly. He began another type of chemotherapy, but he didn’t react well to it. “Between October and December, we were in the emergency department at least four times a month because of his pain,” Ginny shared.
Just before Christmas, Zach was in a great deal of pain, but no medication helped. He was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 2 in the hopes they could control his pain and to administer inpatient chemotherapy, but he again didn’t respond well to the treatment. “He had neurological toxicity, where he slept for days, didn’t eat or drink and didn’t know me or his mother or our kids,” Ginny said. “They started talking about hospice then, but thankfully he came out of it.”
Zach was able to go home on Jan. 20, but after a week at home, he was readmitted to the hospital for uncontrolled pain. “We knew at that point that his cancer was spreading like wildfire. He started having blurry vision, so we asked for a scan of his head and brain to be done, and the scan revealed that the cancer had spread to the lining of his brain. At that point, there was nothing they could do, and they suggested we discharge to hospice,” Ginny said.
Ginny said she knew there was the option to have in-home hospice, but she had been Zach’s caregiver for the past 18 months and she didn’t want her kids to see their dad so sick at home. “I told Zach I would rather we go to an inpatient hospice with nursing care 24/7 so I could be his wife for his remaining time.”
A home away from home
Zach was brought to the ECU Health inpatient hospice house via ambulance, accompanied by an escort of state troopers. “The first person I met when we arrived was the chaplain,” Ginny recalled. “And Dr. Clifton was his doctor. I can’t say enough great things about the hospice house.”
Marilyn Davis-Okubudike, the bereavement coordinator at the inpatient hospice house, recalled meeting Ginny for the first time. “I met her at the door, and when she came in, I had my arms out and hugged her,” Marilyn said. “I felt her need and the connection. There were others there for Zach, but I wanted her to know we were also there for her. I took a special interest in her and the children, as well as Zach’s mother.”
Marilyn said doing this sort of work is a calling, and not one that everyone can do. “It’s a beautiful service to take care of people. I feel rewarded by this experience because it’s all for the patients and their families. We’re called to care for each other.”
Dr. Margaret Clifton is the hospice medical director, and she also feels a close connection to the patients and families she serves. “It can be really emotionally challenging, but it’s meaningful work,” she said. “I enjoy getting to know the patients and their families. For me, there is a lot of meaning in making death a little less awful. If I can do that, I feel like I’m making the world a little softer.”
Ginny remembers Dr. Clifton – and all of the hospice staff – as being very supportive. “They listened and were nurturing through the whole thing,” she said. “If we didn’t understand something, they explained it. I got to bring the kids there, and his state trooper friends came to visit. The night he took his last breath, I came down the hall crying and Dr. Clifton was crying too. They all cried with us. One nurse came in on her day off just to be with us. You don’t find people like that – they are angels on earth.”
“Zach’s time at the hospice house will be something I carry around forever,” Dr. Clifton shared. “The thing that stands out is the community involvement. When he arrived here, he was escorted by the highway patrol. They shut down the road and there was a firetruck with a flag and highway patrol cars lining the ambulance bay. There were always officers here to visit, and they even brought his patrol car and parked it outside his room so he could see it. And when he died, they escorted his body to the funeral home in Washington, and there’s a picture of his oldest son with all of the highway patrol saluting Zach’s casket.”
After his passing, the Memory Bear program made bears not only for Zach’s boys, but also his mother, brother and sister. “They made the bears from his uniforms because I wanted the boys to have bears with the actual uniforms he wore,” Ginny said. “They were very accommodating as to what I wanted.” She also wanted a recording of Zach’s voice, but when they realized he was unable to speak, Dr. Clifton suggested they record his heartbeat instead. “Now it’s something sitting on the boys’ shelf that they can have forever, and they can press that bear and hear their dad’s heartbeat,” Ginny said.
While Zach and his family were at the inpatient hospice house for just six days, their experience was memorable. That’s because it’s like a home away from home, said Marilyn, a place where every team member works to meet the needs of the patients and their families. “A lot of people haven’t heard of us, but this is one of the best things ECU Health can offer the community and the 29 counties we serve. We need people to see what a beautiful jewel this place is.”
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ECU Health Home Health & Hospice
