When Rawlings Warren was born in December of 2024, she seemed like a healthy baby. Lacey and Ross Warren took their daughter home from the hospital to begin their life as a family of three, but at 12 days old, Rawlings began to show signs of not feeling well. By Jan. 3, Lacey knew something wasn’t right, and she and Ross took Rawlings to the ECU Health Emergency Department (ED). “We thought we’d get some medications and be sent home,” Lacey recalled. “But that ED visit turned into a 27-day stay in the hospital.”
Rawlings was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital, where she received quick and comprehensive care. “As a first-time mom, I was scared to death. No one knew what was wrong, and we were terrified,” Lacey said. What turned that day around were the nurses on the PICU team, one of whom was Corbin Martin, a staff nurse III.
“Ross and I had stepped out of the room for a minute, and when we walked back in, Corbin was singing You are My Sunshine to Rawlings. We knew we were in the right place, and they were going to take care of our baby,” Lacey affirmed. “First-time parents spending the first weeks of their child’s life in the hospital can be an all-too-common story for our unit,” shared Corbin. “I connected with the Warrens through laughter to bring a lightness to their dark time.”
What Lacey, Ross and the PICU team didn’t know but eventually discovered was that Rawlings was born with a late onset bloodstream infection. That infection turned into sepsis, with additional diagnoses of meningitis, failure to thrive and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). “You have this 13-day old, and you can’t ask her what’s wrong,” Lacey said. “Finding out what was going on was the main thing, and the PICU team did everything they could to find that out.” Candace Guy, a staff nurse IV in the PICU, recalled the experience: “They were going through one of the most difficult things in their lives, and there was some uncertainty at the beginning of what the treatment plan would be, but the family was never unkind to us even though they were understandably frustrated. You can’t not be friends with them, and they are great parents.”
During their stay, Lacey said either she or Ross were at Rawlings’ bedside every minute. “We took shifts,” she said. “One of us would go home to take a shower and do a load of laundry, and then the other one would go. We were there 24/7, and these people became our family.” Lindsi Ahern, a nurse practitioner who responded to Rawlings’ Rapid Response and facilitated her transfer to the PICU, witnessed the Warren’s dedication. “They are so special to our team!” she said. “They quickly became great advocates for their child and a vital part of our team in caring for Rawlings. As a mom, I cannot imagine going through what they did in their child’s first month of life, and they did it with grace.”
Jonanna McGee, a staff nurse III, reinforced that feeling. “The family was very good at communicating with our team members, and it made it easier for us to advocate for Rawlings because we could speak to her and the family’s wishes,” she said. “They truly trusted our judgement and that formed a deeper relationship.”
The PICU team made sure the Warrens felt more comfortable during their daughter’s hospital stay, often in unexpected ways. “They would come in and talk to us, just to say hello,” Lacey recalled. “They always asked us what we needed, even in the middle of the night. If we cried, a nurse was there to cry with us. When the doctor came in, we’d hold our breath, but she would talk to us about dinner, books or whatever. We have a whole new set of friends.”
She also appreciated the staff’s concern about her own needs as a freshly postpartum mom. “There was never a day a nurse didn’t ask how I was doing postpartum,” she said. “They were the sweetest people,” said Dr. Anna Hamanjian, one of the attendings who cared for Rawlings during her stay. “Being a new mom and postpartum and being scared to death because their newborn was having all these issues – I can’t imagine. The most heartbreaking thing Lacey said was hearing about other new moms complaining about late nights or feeding, and she just wanted to be home and do those normal things. But even when they were frustrated, they were understanding.”
The team also did little things that, to Lacey and Ross, meant everything. “It snowed during our stay, and the team made sure we got to take Rawlings outside to see the snow. She was 20 days old, but it was important to us, and they made it happen.” Lacey also recalled that when the team learned about her and Ross’s tradition of going to Chicos every Friday night, a tradition now upended by Rawlings’s hospitalization, the PICU team ordered Chicos takeout. “These people who didn’t know us were picking up on things we were missing out on and bringing joy to a scary situation,” Lacey said. “They did it because their hearts are big and the have so much love to give.”
Another resource for the Warrens was their child life specialist, Chelse Smith. Certified child life specialists provide support and resources to help decrease the stress and anxiety of a hospital stay for children and their families, and they work alongside the medical team to meet the mental, emotional and social needs of the patients and their families. “Chelse was assigned to us in the PICU, and she is a gift from above,” Lacey said.
“I was able to build a relationship with the Warrens through conversation – although nurses and doctors rotate shifts, a child life specialist is a constant at the bedside,” Chelse said.
During those conversations, Chelse learned about the Warrens, including that their beloved golden retriever had recently passed away. “We are dog people,” Lacey laughed. “Our golden retriever died just before Rawlings was born, and that’s the theme of her nursery.”
“I was able to decorate Rawlings’s room with items similar to her nursery theme to provide normalization. We took several pictures of Rawlings and her family throughout her admission and I posted those pictures in the room,” Chelse said. Chelse is also the secondary handler for the hospital’s facility dog, Sam.
“Sam was a huge part of coping and support for Lacey and Ross,” Chelse said. “When we found out that Sam likes to sit in laps, that was great,” Lacey shared. “We now have a stuffed animal version of Sam in Rawlings’s nursery. It’s those little things that truly helped us in ways we can’t explain.”
Chelse also realized through her conversations with the Warrens that Rawlings hadn’t had her newborn photos taken yet, something that had been planned the day she went to the ED. “We have a program called Little Wishes that grants patients a wish during their hospitalization,” Chelse explained. “Lacey and Ross talked about missing out on normal baby milestones, including a newborn shoot.” So, Chelse arranged for the photo shoot to come to the hospital. “I got to be there every step of the way and celebrate the small wins.”
When Rawlings was discharged, Lacey and Ross couldn’t forget the compassionate care their family received, which is what prompted Lacey to invite the PICU team to Tie Breakers in Greenville a few months later. “We weren’t going to let them go,” she said. “They saved our baby’s life. The staff doesn’t get to always see what happens to their patients after they leave, and it was important to them see that we now have a healthy baby. They deserve to see the good side of things.”
The PICU team enjoyed seeing the Warren family again, including a healthy Rawlings. “It was so special to see both Lacey and Rawlings outside the hospital; to hear that she was thriving at home was heartwarming,” said Lindsi. “It’s nice when you can make those kinds of connections with families,” Candace reiterated. “We couldn’t wait to see the Warrens again,” Corbin said. “When we arrived, it was so refreshing to see Rawlings growing, off all her medications, and just being a healthy baby. We also got to see Lacey being a mom and finally ‘breathing’ as a first-time mom. It just validates why we do what we do – seeing a healthy, happy baby with her mother thriving and no longer needing our intensive services is rewarding.”
None of that would have been possible without the high-quality care Rawlings received while in the PICU. “When I think of what we get families through – it’s incredible,” Dr. Hamanjian said. “From the shortest admission to the kids who are here for weeks or months, we work together to communicate and advocate in the patient’s best interest. Everything we do is for the kids, and that’s what I love about working here.”
“We love our patients hard, and we love our team hard,” Candace added. “We’re super passionate about our patients and their families, and we are supportive of each other on our team. I’ve been here almost 20 years and the teamwork is strong here.” Lesley Smith, the PICU manager, spoke highly of the team. “We make an impact on patients, and they make a big impact on us,” she shared. “The Warrens are a prime example of how far our team goes for our patients and their families. It’s more than a nursing relationship – it’s genuine care.”
Lacey said now Rawlings is four months old and doing well. “She would not be here if not for the doctors and nurses in the PICU. Every single nurse, and I could name all of them, were all great. That’s why Ross and I are advocates for the PICU. They will forever be our friends because of how they treated us and continue to treat us.”
Beard-Linton named president-elect of North Carolina chapter of American Case Management Association
As a case manager at ECU Health Medical Center, Sara Beard-Linton described her role – and the role of all case managers – as the mortar that helps piece bricks together.
She works with patients, physicians, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, insurance providers and more to help come up with a care plan, both in the hospital and after discharge, that works for everyone.
She’s also taking on an important role to help case managers across North Carolina and the country to bring best practices to the work she and her colleagues do each day.
Recently, Beard-Linton was named president-elect for the North Carolina Chapter of the American Case Management Association (ACMA) and will take over as president in 2026.
She said she’s excited for the opportunity and has appreciated learning from other board members in the state and nationally. She’s especially appreciative to represent ECU Health, share what she believes is working well for the system and hear from others about opportunities for growth.
“It’s nice to put us on the roadmap of making changes and being a part of that change for case management as a whole,” Beard-Linton said. “It’s really important to put any egos aside and not saying ‘We’re doing this better.’ It’s all about what we can all do better together to advocate for patients and their families.”
Since joining the board three years ago, Beard-Linton said she’s seen tremendous growth in the North Carolina chapter as its membership rose from about 200 to more than 1,000 today. The chapter includes representation from 64 organizations and even includes retired case managers taking the opportunity to give back to their profession.
Beard-Linton is one of three ECU Health team members on the North Carolina ACMA board, with Amanda Hargrove, executive director of Care and Utilization Management at ECU Health Medical Center, and Tracy Simerson, system manager of Care Management at ECU Health Medical Center, serving as Members-at-Large.
Hargrove has been a board member for North Carolina’s ACMA for five years. She said that seeing ECU Health on a national stage and in a position to influence positive change has been an exciting step for the department.
“I’m so proud of our case management team and being able to represent ECU Health on the board, at the conferences, doing podium presentations, and poster presentations, really getting ECU Health out there over the last couple of years,” Hargrove said. “I’m very proud of the work the team has done and now being able to help lead the North Carolina chapter of ACMA.”
Beard-Linton said one of her favorite parts of participating in the board is the opportunity to be a voice for the patients and families the health system serves. She shared that her background as a social worker made her a passionate advocate for people and she’s grateful to take a larger role in that work with North Carolina’s ACMA as president.
“We have a committee that looks at government policies on a state and federal level and actually goes to Washington, D.C. to meet with Senators and members of Congress to talk about things that are impacting our patients, whether negatively or positively, so our voices can be heard,” she said. “To me, this is a great opportunity to give back and encourage others to give back and advocate for changes for the communities we serve.”
She said she would encourage other team members to get involved in similar groups related to their field, take opportunities to learn from others and be a leader even if they’re not serving in a leadership role with the system.
Nancy Keith, Hargrove present at national conference
During the ACMA National Conference in April, Nancy Keith, system manager for Case Management at ECU Health Medical Center, and Hargrove had the opportunity to present some of their recent work to attendees in Denver, Colorado.
Their poster presentation focused on nearly three years of work to develop and implement a system-wide case management leadership model. In 2022, the team piloted a shared leadership model with three ECU Health community hospitals in an effort to better share resources and support team members across the system.
Keith and Hargrove said the pilot program was a runaway success and lead to implementation across the system. Keith said the work helped reduce the average length of stay for patients while getting them the care they needed more efficiently, improved team member satisfaction and alleviated time-consuming tasks for case managers, allowing for more interaction with patients.
“The biggest takeaway from the project for me was the change in team member morale. I think case managers in the community hospitals realized the amount of support and additional resources we could provide by coming in and redesigning the leadership model,” Keith said. “I’m glad to see the program has helped them along the way and the support has remained and carried forward as we’re moving along.”
Hargrove said she is grateful to have teams believing in the process and she’s proud of the growth she’s seen across the system. While she said they’ve received positive feedback from team members and from attendees at the conference, the team is constantly evaluating and refining the program to best fit the needs of team members and patients in the system.
These efforts are just a few examples of how ECU Health team members go above and beyond their daily roles to share their expertise and learn from others in their fields while serving on state and national boards. These opportunities help drive innovative solutions to help the system meet its mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health and Lung Cancer Initiative (LCI) are proud to announce a partnership to launch a pilot of the Screening Saves program in eastern North Carolina. This collaboration focuses on reducing lung cancer incidences by promoting awareness, education and increased accessibility to screenings for communities and health care providers across the region.
“We are honored to collaborate with Lung Cancer Initiative on this vital program,” said Phyllis DeAntonio, executive director, Cancer Service Line, ECU Health. “Together, we aim to engage our community and health care providers to break down barriers to lung cancer screening, ensuring better outcomes and healthier futures for the people of eastern North Carolina. This partnership represents a critical step in reducing lung cancer rates and improving health outcomes in the region.”
Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., accounting for one in five of all cancer deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. The incidence rate of lung cancer cases in North Carolina is much higher than the national rate at 62.9 per 100,000 compared to 53.6 per 100,000, according to the American Lung Association’s State of Lung Cancer 2024 report. While lung cancer rates are high in eastern North Carolina, over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate of lung cancer in North Carolina improved by 10 percent, which can partially be credited to an increase of lung screenings. ECU Health completed 5,274 low dose CT screenings in 2023 and 6,151 screenings in 2024.
“With lung cancer rates in eastern North Carolina surpassing state and national averages, expanding education and access to screenings is vital,” said Dr. Misbah Qadir, regional oncology medical director, ECU Health. “Early detection through programs like Screening Saves can significantly improve survival rates and empower our region to tackle this critical health challenge. By increasing the availability of low-dose CT screenings, we can detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, ensuring more timely and effective treatment for our community.”
Screening Saves is a state-wide initiative launched by Lung Cancer Initiative in 2024, which aims to raise awareness and leverage partnerships with health care providers like ECU Health to improve lung cancer screening rates through community engagement and health care provider education. The program is being piloted in eastern North Carolina to increase awareness among area residents who are at high risk. ECU Health and LCI will host community education events promoting lung screening awareness and educational sessions for primary care providers, along with additional community engagement events across eastern North Carolina.
“LCI and ECU Health share a common goal with Screening Saves—to expand access to lung cancer screenings and improve early detection rates in eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Aundrea Oliver, thoracic surgeon and assistant professor at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, LCI board member and co-chair of the Screening Saves program. “We know early detection is crucial, as it significantly increases survival rates and allows for timely, effective treatment. Through this partnership, we can reach more individuals at high risk, break down barriers to screening and ensure that life-saving resources are readily available to our communities.”
In support of this initiative, LCI is providing a $10,000 grant to assist ECU Health with data collection, planning and other program-related activities. ECU Health will analyze lung screening data from 2023 to 2025, providing quarterly updates to monitor progress and address barriers. Regular review meetings will allow both organizations to strategize improvements and develop tailored solutions for the local community.
Blue and silver Pinwheels for Prevention adorned yards, clinics, daycares and other businesses in Greenville, eastern North Carolina and across the country throughout National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. The pinwheels, meant to represent childlike whimsy and lightheartedness, are a signature display during the month-long campaign to raise awareness around a difficult and important topic.
For team members and supporters at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University’s Tender Evaluation, Diagnosis and Intervention for a Better Abuse Response (TEDI BEAR) and Mt. Olive Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs), the tireless effort to prevent child abuse in eastern North Carolina is a year-round endeavor.
“We’re proud and honored to do this work every single day,” said Noemi Rivera, director of TEDI BEAR & Mt. Olive Children’s Advocacy Centers.
“April helps us bring awareness and then we try to keep that energy throughout the year because the services provided at CACs are so important. Here at the TEDI BEAR and Mt. Olive centers, we’re constantly striving to meet the needs of patients and families across eastern North Carolina. I am incredibly proud of everyone involved in this service-driven work.”
The statistics around child abuse are sobering. It affects millions of children, leading to long-term emotional, psychological and physical harm. In eastern North Carolina, the TEDI BEAR and Mt. Olive centers serve nearly 1,000 children annually, providing free and confidential services in a child-friendly setting for victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse or children who are witnesses to violence.
Children turn to CACs in North Carolina with new allegations of abuse, seeking help and a way forward after the trauma of child abuse. CACs foster hope and facilitate healing for traumatized child victims of physical and sexual abuse, child-trafficking, neglect and exposure to drugs and violence.
“Evidence shows that the CAC model greatly improves outcomes for children and families that have experienced abuse,” said Deana Joy, executive director of Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina (CACNC). “We are committed to developing, training and sustaining high-quality CACs and multidisciplinary teams so they can provide vital services in a coordinated manner to help victims of child abuse in more efficient and effective ways to optimize positive outcomes.”
The services provided within the walls of the CACs – which are considered safe havens for children who have experienced abuse – are multidisciplinary and include close collaboration with clinicians, support staff, law enforcement and other community-based groups who all share a vision of providing compassionate care during extremely difficult situations. The services include child advocacy, a forensic interview, a medical examination and therapy, if needed. The medical examination identifies any signs of physical trauma, ensures that any lab work or other tests are performed and evaluates the child’s overall health. TEDI BEAR also offers therapists whose special training in child abuse allows them to help victims and family members to resolve the trauma and move forward in their recovery.
According to Bryant Gibson, coordinator of the Mt. Olive CAC, having a robust service offering requires close collaboration with other health care, law enforcement, education and community organizations, all committed to a vision of supporting children and families.
“To do all this, and to meet our collective vision, we have to build strong relationships in our community,” said Gibson during an April open house event at the Mt. Olive CAC. “And we absolutely do that here at Mt. Olive and at TEDI BEAR. Victims of abuse require a spectrum of compassionate services designed to help meet their unique needs. We can provide that caring and healing environment because we have so many people who support our efforts.”
District Attorney Ernie Lee, who serves Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson counties, has a close relationship with the Mt. Olive CAC and is a strong supporter of the CACs. He was one of the many guests at the open house event and praised the work of CAC team members, while also reflecting on what the work means from a purely human perspective.
“I’m not only a district attorney, I’m also a father,” Lee said. “My wife and I, we have two daughters and a son. So that’s a major part of my life. It’s very sad to know that abuse happens here and across the world to children, through no fault of their own. But there’s hope out there, and that hope comes from buildings like this here in Mount Olive.”
Resources
Greenville, N.C. – Van Smith, MBA, MSHA, president of ECU Health Community Hospitals, has been elected as an at-large delegate to the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Regional Policy Board 3 (RPB 3). In this role, Smith will bring his extensive expertise in rural health care challenges and solutions in service to AHA’s mission. Smith’s term on the board lasts until Dec. 31, 2027.
Van Smith
“The American Hospital Association values ECU Health’s efforts to improve access to high-quality health care across rural eastern North Carolina, and we appreciate Van’s willingness to serve for the next three years on Regional Policy Board 3,” said Matthew Wright, regional executive, American Hospital Association.
AHA’s Regional Policy Boards convene three times per year to discuss policy issues, make recommendations and provide analyses for the AHA Board during its policy deliberations. The AHA is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks and their patients and communities. Nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members come together to form the AHA.
Smith brings 25 years of senior leadership experience in health care to RPB 3, with expertise in successfully operating rural hospitals. Smith has previously served as president of The Outer Banks Hospital, a critical access hospital, as executive vice president of ECU Health Medical Center, eastern North Carolina’s only Level I Trauma Center, and in executive leadership roles at Carolinas Healthcare/Atrium Health. His experience is important in today’s health care climate where rural communities are in need of solutions that ensure high-quality care will be available for generations to come.
“It is an honor to serve on AHA’s Regional Policy Board 3, where I will proudly advocate to advance the cause of improving access to health care, particularly in rural areas like eastern North Carolina,” said Smith. “My work here at ECU Health has allowed me to deepen my understanding of both the challenges and solutions associated with rural health care delivery in the U.S. Alongside the other experts serving on Regional Policy Board 3, our combined knowledge is our strength, and I look forward to collaborating alongside these bright minds in support of AHA’s advocacy work.”
Kenansville, N.C. — ECU Health Duplin Hospital has earned a five-star patient experience rating according to recently released ratings by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This rating underscores the hospital’s commitment to providing exceptional patient care and service.
Achieving this rating has been a central element of ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s strategic plan and demonstrates its dedication to enhancing patient satisfaction and overall experience. To commemorate this milestone, the hospital hosted a ceremony today for team members, acknowledging their invaluable contributions toward this goal and celebrating their commitment to the community.
“In November 2023, our team set a goal to elevate our patient experience from four stars to five stars,” said Jeff Dial, president of ECU Health Duplin Hospital.
“We have dedicated our time and energy to enhancing patient satisfaction through team member engagement and targeted, deliberate improvements. Achieving this five-star recognition reflects our determination and commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to our patients and community. I am incredibly grateful for our team’s hard work and dedication in reaching this milestone.”
CMS uses the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey to determine and publicly report star ratings based on 10 key measures of patient experience. These measures include communication with nurses, communication with doctors, responsiveness of hospital staff, pain management, communication about medicines, discharge Information, cleanliness of the hospital environment, quietness of the hospital environment, overall rating of the hospital and recommendation of the hospital.
“The experience of patients and families is at the heart of safe, highly-reliable human centered rural health care. ECU Health, and our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina, is where compassion, connection and partnerships all come together to create hope, healing and lasting impressions,” said Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert, ECU Health Chief Experience Officer. “This CMS five-star patient experience rating at ECU Health Duplin Hospital signifies to us that our patients trust and value our care. It is the result of an intentional focus on creating truly exceptional loving experiences for our patients and their families. I could not be more proud of the ECU Health Duplin Hospital team.”
CMS created the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help patients, their families and caregivers compare hospitals and other health care facilities, showcasing excellence in health care.
On April 12, ECU Health teams joined forces with Pitt-Greenville Airport and other local agencies, including fire/rescue teams, emergency management and police, for an emergency exercise, simulating a mass-casualty aircraft accident.
This full-scale exercise included volunteers acting as patients and involved various ECU Health departments to demonstrate preparedness for critical situations.
Chris Starbuck, system director of Emergency Management at ECU Health, emphasized the importance of these exercises.
“Participating in the airport exercise is a vital part of our preparedness strategy. It allows us to test our emergency response plans, strengthen communication with our community partners and ensure we’re ready to provide the highest level of care when seconds count. These collaborations are key to saving lives during large-scale incidents,” Starbuck said.
Leaders and team members from the Emergency Department, Trauma, hospital supervisors, Children’s, police, marketing and communications, decedent care and Eastern Healthcare Preparedness Coalition collaborated in a table-top exercise, discussing each person’s role in the event.
The ECU Health EastCare team was also present with a helicopter and ECU Health Medical Center’s ambulance bus stopped by to showcase its readiness to transport patients in a real emergency scenario.
Throughout the drill, ECU Health teams reviewed the notification process, patient movement strategies and interactions with Greenville Fire/Rescue, Pitt County Emergency Management, police and others.
The goal of this exercise was to identify opportunities to improve processes and give organizations in Pitt County time to work together, ensuring readiness to adapt and respond quickly and efficiently in real emergencies.
This drill was a valuable learning experience for all involved, enhancing preparedness and confidence in handling critical situations.
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ECU Health Emergency & Trauma
Maynard Children’s Hospital
ECU Health EastCare
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Medical Center is expanding advanced heart care with two new, state-of-the-art technologies for transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement. The new technologies – EVOQUE™, a first-of-its-kind transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, and TriClip G4™, a minimally invasive clip procedure designed to reduce tricuspid valve leakage – offer new hope for patients previously ineligible for surgery, providing significant symptom relief and improved quality of life.
“These new procedures represent a major advancement in the treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation, offering hope to patients who previously had limited options,” said Dr. Paul Mahoney, section chief, interventional cardiology, director, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, East Carolina Heart Institute. “With the EVOQUE valve replacement and the TriClip G4, we can now provide effective, minimally invasive solutions that reduce symptoms and improve heart function without the need for open-heart surgery. This is a significant step forward in improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with TR.”
Tricuspid valve regurgitation affects more than 1.5 million people in the U.S. and occurs when the tricuspid valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward. This condition forces the heart to work harder, potentially leading to heart failure. Risk factors include heart disease, atrial fibrillation (AFib), pulmonary hypertension, prior chest radiation therapy and structural valve damage. Symptoms can range from fatigue and shortness of breath to swelling in the abdomen, legs or neck veins.
Traditionally, treatment options were limited to diuretics for symptom management, with surgical intervention reserved for only the healthiest patients or those already undergoing left-sided valve surgery. However, with recent advancements, including the FDA-approved TriClip G4 and EVOQUE valve replacement, patients now have access to innovative, minimally invasive options that can significantly improve heart function and overall well-being.
“It is critical that patients in eastern North Carolina have access to the latest innovations in heart care close to home, so they do not have to travel far for cutting-edge treatment options,” said Dr. John Catanzaro, John “Jack” Rose Distinguished Professor and chief of the Division of Cardiology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, and director of the East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU Health Medical Center. “Our commitment to bringing the most advanced cardiac treatments to this region ensures that patients receive high-quality, life-changing care without unnecessary delays or burdens. I am proud of our heart and vascular care teams who continue to advocate for patients in our region and ensure they receive world-class treatment right here at ECU Health.”
ECU Health team members who participated in these groundbreaking procedures include Dr. Mahoney, Dr. Catanzaro, Dr. Melissa Moey, Dr. Wiley Nifong, Dr. Michael Bates and Dr. Brian Cabarrus. To learn more about ECU Health Heart & Vascular Care, please visit ECUHealth.org/Heart.
To be a health care provider is to answer a calling. For some, the journey to health care is a straight line; for others, the road is winding. This series features stories from ECU Health team members who took the winding road, but found the destination to be worth the effort.
Dr. Roberto Portela, the chief of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division of the department of emergency medicine at ECU Health Medical Center and associate professor at East Carolina University in the department of emergency medicine, grew up in Puerto Rico. Originally, he aspired to be a veterinarian. “As a kid, you think about what you’d like to do, and taking care of animal sounded like a good fit for me,” he said. “I love animals.” But when he joined the military in 1994 and received training as a combat medic, he discovered he loved acute care. “Trauma care – those first minutes or hour of patient care – attracted me.”
Dr. Portela said his work in the military was instrumental in not only finding his path to emergency medicine, but also in how he carries himself as a physician. “The military teaches respect, and as a physician, you need to be respectful to your patients and colleagues,” he shared. “Everybody has a mission and a role, and you don’t always know what’s going on in your patient’s world, so just be respectful.”
After his military service, Dr. Portela attended the University of Puerto Rico to receive his MD and specialized in emergency medicine at the University of Puerto Rico Hospital in Carolina. He ended up staying there for nine years teaching residents how to be emergency medicine physicians. “Then in 2013, I moved to the United States and started as a faculty member at ECU,” he said. “The main thing that brought me here was the desire to expand on my specialty in EMS. In Puerto Rico, I worked in my home program as an attending, I worked with the state EMS system as their online medical control, I helped as a medical director and served as a volunteer in our rescue squad in Puerto Rico. Thank God, ECU gave me that opportunity. I came here, and the doors opened for me.”
Those open doors led to the chance to serve as the EMS medical director for Pitt County, the chief of the EMS Division of the Department of Emergency Medicine, the program director for the EMS Fellowship, a member of the state EMS disciplinary committee and the president for the NC Chapter of the National Association of EMS Physicians. “It was incredible for me; because of my being here and the people in leadership who supported me, I’ve had these opportunities,” he said.
Dr. Portela also spoke about his team and the difference they make every day. “I think all emergency medicine physicians are cut from the same cloth, because they could have picked any specialty, but they chose one that provides care 24/7, 365 days a year,” he said. “The dedication they display every day is amazing – they are resilient.”
There’s also a big difference between his work with ECU Health and his work in Puerto Rico – namely, his access to resources and in-house, high-quality care. “I used to work in a small hospital where I had to transfer patients all the time to get better care; what ECU Health can offer as a system of care with a level one trauma center with multiple specialties – there’s not a lot we can’t do here,” he said.
To those considering a career in health care, Dr. Portela said don’t hesitate. “Ignore the static or what you might hear. At the end of the day, you must remember why we do health care – because somebody needs help. It’s that simple.” He also emphasized that there are many roles and opportunities for those considering a health care career. “From our care partners to all our nurses, to our physicians and tech, orderlies and lab technicians, everybody has a role and it’s a system. There are multiple jobs out there and so many opportunities to make a difference – if you’re thinking about it, just jump in.”
On Wednesday, April 16, ECU Health’s EastCare celebrated a remarkable milestone: 40 years of dedicated service to the communities of eastern North Carolina. Founded in 1985, the program has grown from a single helicopter operation to a comprehensive medical transport service, offering both ground and air transportation.
EastCare transports patients directly from the scene of an emergency or transfers them from regional hospitals to ECU Health Medical Center, ensuring that critically ill and injured patients receive timely and advanced medical care.
Today, the program operates seven aircraft, with five in use and two back-ups. With eight bases within the region — both ground and air — and 28 ambulances, coverage has expanded to include all of eastern North Carolina as well as parts of South Carolina and Virginia.
Trey Labrecque, director of EastCare, praised the team for its tireless effort in critical roles. “The way our clinicians go above and beyond what’s required in their aspects of training has always impressed me. They put their lives in danger every day they come to work to transport patients by air or by ground.” He noted the team’s dedication is unmatched, often working beyond their normal shifts to care for patients.
This dedication is a common theme within the team. Shannon Petty, flight nurse with EastCare, highlighted their adaptability: “Even when helicopters are down for maintenance and a call comes in, the team will jump in an ambulance and do exactly what they would have done by air. We are one of the very few programs in the country that does that consistently.”
The EastCare team’s advanced training enables them to provide lifesaving interventions for trauma, cardiac, medical, high-risk obstetric, burn and pediatric patients. The program also operates a unit dedicated to children’s transport. Partnering with the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Transport Team provides care to more than 1,700 children each year.
Joshua Dail, flight paramedic with EastCare, shared a story about the constantly changing nature of the job: “We did a standby for a local law enforcement high-profile situation and sat there all day. At the end of the day, a family and their little boy who was unconscious after a traumatic accident arrived at a rural emergency department that is not accustomed to providing the care he needed. We immediately shifted gears and hopped in and took care of this little kid, which involved a lot of resources on our part, and then flew him to the Medical Center, where he had brain surgery and a good outcome. Bringing services to patients that otherwise wouldn’t have access to them is the most rewarding part of my job.”
EastCare goes beyond patient transport, stepping up when disaster strikes. “During hurricanes, access to affected areas is often restricted, making it difficult for physicians and nurses to reach state medical assistant teams. Our teams has flown physicians and nurses to those areas and delivered critical supplies to places experiencing shortages,” shared Chuck Strickland, outreach coordinator for EastCare.
Dail emphasized the strong teamwork demonstrated every day with the EastCare team: “None of us can do our job without the other. In the helicopter, we are always looking out for any potential dangers, offering to help with various tasks and supporting each other during every flight. And then at the bedside, we are a clinical team, so we’re collaborating and figuring out how to best care for our patients.”
Over the past decade, the program has achieved significant milestones:
- 4,752,768 ground miles
- 3,558,196 air miles
- 35,292 flights
- Transported patients from 66 unique hospitals by air
- Transported patients from 87 unique hospitals by ground
These numbers represent thousands of lives saved and countless families supported during their most challenging times. By providing a lifeline to patients with limited access to care, EastCare exemplifies the ECU Health mission every day. Whether it’s a basic life support transport or a critical care transport, the team ensures that every individual receives the care they need.
The 40th anniversary was celebrated at a special event held at ECU Health Medical Center, where team members and community members came together to honor the achievements of the EastCare team. As we celebrate the four decades of incredible service, we honor the work of the EastCare team and the profound difference they make in eastern North Carolina communities. Here’s to 40 years of lifesaving service – and many more to come.