NAGS HEAD, N.C. — October 1, 2025 — Outer Banks Health (OBH) has a new, state-of-the-art mammogram screening machine, Senograph Pristina 3D with Efficiency Suite 2. This advanced screening technology offers higher accuracy in diagnostic performance, especially in dense breast tissue, by using 3D imaging to reduce the overlap of tissues, which can hide abnormalities in 2D scans. With a 40% higher cancer detection rate and the ability to find more invasive, life-threatening tumors, 3D screening mammography offers unmatched clarity and peace of mind. The new Pristina takes images faster than 2D and supports greater patient comfort due to an ergonomic and patient-comfort-forward design that gives patients the option to apply the pressure themselves.
“Outer Banks Health is committed to our community’s health and well-being. That’s why we invest in state-of-the-art technology. We also respond when the community provides feedback on our services. In addition to our new equipment, it is easier than ever to get an appointment for your mammogram, and our waiting room is now warm, welcoming and ready for your next visit,” shared Amy Montgomery, executive director of OBH.
OBH has refined its mammogram scheduling system, creating an additional 30 appointments per week, with plans to increase this number further. The wait time for a mammogram is less than one month, and patients are now able to self-schedule through the MyChart patient portal if they have an order from an ECU Health or OBH provider.
On the day of their mammogram screening appointment, patients also now enjoy upgrades to the mammogram imaging suite. These upgrades were funded by proceeds from the recent Nags Head Links Ladies Driving Fore a Cure Golf Tournament. Thanks to the Nags Head Links Ladies, the mammogram suite now provides an atmosphere that promotes patient comfort. Features such as a gown warmer, a TV, a coffee station, new furniture and artwork, and other cosmetic elements, such as new curtains, painted walls and artificial skylights have all been added to improve the patient experience.
The most likely outcome of a mammography screening is peace of mind that comes from knowing you do not have breast cancer. When breast cancer is detected, Outer Banks Health has the highest quality of care available to help patients navigate the breast cancer journey.
In fact, the Outer Banks Health Breast Care Program has once again been accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers of the American College of Surgeons, marking its second recognition since 2022. OBH’s full cancer program has earned Commission on Cancer accreditation three times in a row since 2016. Out of over 1,300 similarly sized hospitals, OBH is the only one in the nation to earn this prestigious designation. OBH has a full team of screening and cancer care specialists ready to help and guide patients every step of the way. OBH is also accredited by the American College of Radiology as a gold standard of medical imaging, as OBH offers the safest and best quality of care possible.
Our high-quality care is evidenced by the fact that OBH has reduced the breast cancer mortality rate in Dare County. When OBH opened in 2002, the county’s breast cancer mortality rate ranked among the highest percentiles statewide. Today, it is among the lowest, at an above-average survival rate. Since OBH’s opening, the detection of life-threatening tumors has shifted dramatically from clinical diagnoses to proactive screenings. Previously, results were primarily discovered in a clinical setting, with only 44% of women having regular screenings. Now, 80% of women in Dare County are learning of their results through proactive screenings, increasing their chances of survival if any life-threatening discoveries are made. This significant decrease in mortality rate is the direct result of OBH’s initiatives, including promoting regular screenings, fundraising for state-of-the-art mammography technology, and fostering a community-wide focus on prevention and well-being.
Further, our high-quality care is available to all. Outer Banks Health offers free screening mammograms to individuals who do not have health insurance. Dare County residents, as well as Hyde, Currituck and Tyrell county residents who work in Dare County, are eligible. The free screenings are made available through the Get Pinked! Program of Outer Banks Health’s Development Council. Since 2011, we have provided more than 2,800 free mammograms.
Breast cancer screening using mammography is recommended to begin at age 40. An order from a provider is needed to schedule a mammogram appointment. Contact your primary care provider or OB/GYN to obtain a mammography order. For more information about screening mammography at Outer Banks Health and to schedule your appointment, call (252) 449-5918. If you need a primary care doctor, call (252) 449-4540 to be connected to an available provider.
Windsor, N.C. – ECU Health Bertie Hospital is proud to announce it has earned an overall hospital quality five-star rating for 2025 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This recognition places the hospital among the top-performing facilities nationwide and highlights its commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care to the communities of eastern North Carolina.
“This five-star rating is a reflection of the exceptional care our team provides every day,” said Brian Harvill, president of ECU Health Bertie Hospital. “This recognition is a testament to our strategic focus on patient-centered care and the connection we share with the community we serve. I am incredibly proud of our team here at ECU Health Bertie Hospital and grateful for the trust our patients place in us.”
The CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System evaluates hospitals based on mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience and timely, effective care.
Ratings are calculated using data hospitals report through several CMS programs and only include measures for which data are available. A rigorous seven-step methodology is used to standardize scores, group measures and assign star ratings based on performance within peer groups. ECU Health Bertie Hospital’s five-star rating reflects its excellence across these measures and its commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.
“The experience of patients and families is at the heart of safe, highly reliable, human-centered rural health care,” said Dr. Niti Armistead, chief quality and clinical officer, ECU Health. “This CMS five-star patient experience rating at ECU Health Bertie 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, and I could not be prouder of the ECU Health Bertie Hospital team.”
ECU Health Bertie Hospital was also recently named one of the top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation for patient satisfaction. A Critical Access Hospital is a classification assigned by 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.
Clear communication is key when it comes to positive patient experiences and outcomes, and no one knows that better than the Language Access Services team at ECU Health.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my career as a medical interpreter is that it gives me the opportunity to directly impact the well-being of patients,” said Macaria Aguirre, certified health care interpreter III (Spanish). “Medical interpreters are essential advocates for patients because we play a key role in fostering trust and building strong relationships between patients and health care professionals.”
Betzabe Rodriguez, health care interpreter III (Spanish), says their role goes beyond interpreting word-for-word.
“Interpreting requires conveying meaning, while respecting tone, intent, and cultural context,” she said. “We must interpret faithfully, without adding, omitting or substituting, and adapt to how language really works — it’s not static. Beyond language, we connect values, culture and purpose so providers and patients can truly understand one another.”
Language Access Services team members assist during a wide range of medical events, from explaining diagnoses and prescriptions to supporting families during births, surgeries and emergencies. Their presence helps patients feel safe, valued and understood.
ECU Health’s first ASL resident, Jordan Satchell, takes pride in her ability to advocate for patients who use sign language to communicate. She says she’s here to help ensure nothing gets lost in translation, literally.
“When patients or staff are misunderstood, it can lead to serious errors or delays in care,” said Satchell. “I can step in immediately, adapt to fast-changing situations, and make sure both patients and providers understand one another fully. That kind of access and clarity is not just convenient, it’s essential,” she said.
Supporting patients during uncertain times, team members often form close connections with those they assist. Satchell recalled one patient transferred to ECU Health after being diagnosed with cancer while on vacation. The patient had spent a week at a previous facility communicating only through writing.
“The moment I entered her room, she lit up and said, ‘I’m so happy to see you!’” Satchell said. “We had never met, but we built a strong connection during her month here. Before she returned to her home state, she told me how much she had seen my confidence and skills grow. That feedback meant so much to me. I’ll always remember her.”
Satchell says working with patients through the ASL interpreter residency program also provides the opportunity to strengthen her skill.
“No two people sign or use ASL in the same way. There’s always something new to learn,” she said.
ECU Health currently has a total of 24 Spanish interpreters and two ASL interpreters to meet the needs across the system. Other languages are available through a virtual service, connecting patients and providers to interpreters for more than 200 languages. A translator is also available virtually for written word.
Demand for Language Access Services continues to grow. Patients requiring interpreters throughout the system increased from 9,000 in 2022 to more than 12,000 this past year. That figure multiplies when accounting for accompanying family members and caregivers who also need language support.
Rodriguez said she hopes the program continues to expand to meet the needs of the region.
“I hope we keep building a system where language and cultural barriers no longer stand in the way of health, safety or dignity,” said Rodriguez.
As ECU Health celebrates its Language Access Services team this week, be sure to thank them for the vital role they play in delivering positive patient experiences and outcomes.
At ECU Health Medical Center, Spanish interpreters are available in person 24/7. The team can be reached at 252-874-4470, option 3 for ASL; option 4 for Spanish. You can also contact the team at [email protected].
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health and the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt are pleased to announce a second round of medical debt relief for qualifying patients. This newest round of medical debt relief will help eliminate more than $550 million worth of past-due hospital medical debt for more than 139,000 qualifying patients. Debt relief letters in Undue Medical Debt branded envelopes are starting to arrive and will continue arriving over the next 12 months on a rolling basis given the size of this relief effort.
Eligible community members do not need to apply, and there is no application process. Instead, community members who qualify for this one-time debt relief will receive a branded letter from Undue Medical Debt indicating which past-due hospital debt or debts have been eliminated.
Undue Medical Debt works with hospital systems and other providers across the country to purchase past due medical debt belonging to those least able to pay in large portfolios for pennies or less on the dollar and then erases the debt.
ECU Health’s collaboration with Undue Medical Debt pre-dates North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ medical debt relief initiative which spans all hospitals in the state and lays out a plan for medical debt relief coupled with changes to Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement policy and financial aid standards in 2025. The two organizations collaborated in December 2024 to eliminate more than $186 million worth of past-due hospital medical debt for more than 32,000 qualifying patients.
Under Undue Medical Debt guidelines, those who qualify for this medical debt relief have hospital medical debts that are 5% or more than their annual income or earn at or below four times poverty-level income. The current federal poverty level is an annual income of under $31,200 for a family of four which means a qualifying family of four would make under $124,800. Community members do not need to take any action, as the eligible hospital medical debt will automatically be eliminated for those who qualify.
“We are once again proud to be partnering with ECU Health, which understands the burden created by medical debts on those patients in the community least able to pay,” shares Undue Medical Debt CEO and president Allison Sesso. “Needing care increasingly creates economic anxiety for so many families and ECU Health appreciates that patient health and wellbeing are intimately connected to access, which is why we’re so proud that all told over 171,000 ECU Health patients in eastern North Carolina will have over $736 million of medical debt erased, reducing financial and mental stress and encouraging them to re-engage with the healthcare system.”
The collaboration with Undue Medical Debt is one of many ways in which ECU Health is living its mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. The initiative aligns with the health system’s commitment to serving underserved communities in the East, many of which have disproportionate numbers of low-income and uninsured or underinsured people. The initiative is also in alignment with ECU Health’s long-standing practice of non-predatory billing practices, which emphasize charity care, zero-interest payment plans, transparent pricing and dedicated resources to help patients navigate financial requirements.
“At ECU Health, our commitment to our mission and patients is at the heart of all we do,” said ECU Health Chief Operating Officer Brian Floyd. “This latest collaboration with Undue Medical Debt will make an enormous impact on so many in our largely underserved region. We could not be more thankful to Undue Medical Debt, which shares our vision for making high-quality rural health care accessible here in eastern North Carolina.”
The Teachers of Quality Academy (TQA) at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health officially welcomed its 9.0 cohort at its first learning session on Sept. 18.
For the newest group of multidisciplinary health care professionals in the program, the first lesson is perhaps the most important: system-wide quality improvement starts small before it can grow into something big.
“One of the hallmarks of this learning experience is that you have your small team and then it gets a little bit bigger over time,” said Dr. Jennifer Sutter, TQA physician director. “One of our speakers today talked about how the big system is only as good as the little systems. So, we have to achieve quality first at a microsystem level before it can make a big system much better. That theme is really the ideal way to kick-off what these participants will learn over the next year.”
Through the TQA 9.0 program, health care leaders will learn how to fundamentally change care delivery through a curriculum focused on building knowledge and skills in Health Systems Science which comprehensively explores how health care is delivered. Participants engage in advanced learning in quality improvement, patient safety and team leadership, develop improvement projects to apply these skills across the health system, teach others in their environment about these concepts, and evaluate the outcomes of improvement interventions. Leading by example, TQA participants promote a culture of quality and safety across the enterprise.
Dr. Andre Mancheno is a second-year resident in ECU Health’s Rural Family Medicine Residency program. His TQA project group includes two fellow residents in the Rural Family Medicine Residency program, all of whom are currently learning and serving in Duplin County. For Dr. Mancheno and his colleagues, the program provides them an opportunity to explore opportunities to improve on real-world scenarios they experience.
“We’re interested in doing something to improve our clinic,” Dr. Mancheno said. “Since our clinic is rural, there are limited resources, limited staffing. There are a lot of challenges to overcome, and this program can help us find solutions. The skills we apply to improving quality are also applicable to all things in health care.”
With 37 learners in TQA 9.0, participants spent their first learning session gaining invaluable knowledge about quality improvement, the role it plays in high-quality care and the impact it has on ECU Health’s mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. The newest cohort includes health care professionals from clinical, administrative, leadership and educational backgrounds, all of whom were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants. And, for the first time ever, pastoral care team members are part of the program, underscoring how quality goes far beyond purely clinical experts.
The lessons also have the potential to extend directly into communities across eastern North Carolina. Dr. Kristina Simeonsson, associate professor in Pediatrics and Public Health and Hannah Dail-Barnett, research associate, help lead the Healthier Lives at School and Beyond initiative created by the Brody School of Medicine and ECU Health.
The program originally launched in 2018 to deliver interdisciplinary services virtually to rural school children, staff and faculty during the school day.
In response to COVID-19, the program continued to address health care needs for children and expanded access while students were learning remotely.
Since the fall of 2020, the program has used an ECU Transit bus to visit schools in Duplin, Jones and Sampson counties to provide high-quality health appointments. The retrofitted motorcoach has been used to provide screenings for hundreds of students.
Like Dr. Mancheno and his fellow rural residents, Dr. Simeonsson and Dail-Barnett appreciate the opportunity to apply quality lessons directly to the patients and students they serve.
“As a program evaluator for Healthier Lives at School and Beyond, we’re always considering how to achieve continuous quality improvement in our program,” said Dail-Barnett. “How can we improve our reach in these communities, help improve access to health care services and increase efficiency and timeliness of services to these students? We’re hoping to use TQA as a catalyst for further quality improvement to continue to expand our services and help reach these hard-to-reach populations.”
Dail-Barnett described the entire TQA group as having “lofty goals” and “really big dreams.” According to Dr. Simeonsson, therein lies the challenge of the day’s most important lesson.
“That’s going to be the challenge – keeping it small to begin with,” Dr. Simeonsson said. “We’re all coming in here with ideas and a lot of passion and our instructors are reminding us to tap the brakes. The best thing from today was the reminder that we’re here to learn the process. Let’s learn the process and then continue to build as we go forward. And we know that can have a big impact because there are so many alumni that come back and tell us how their projects are going three years later.”
Roanoke Rapids, NC – ECU Health is proud to recognize Hubert Allen as the first patient to complete 60 hyperbaric oxygen treatments at the ECU Health Wound Healing Center in Roanoke Rapids. His journey represents a powerful testament to the importance of having high-quality care close to home, particularly for those needing advanced wound care.
Allen arrived at the center on May 1, 2025, facing life-altering complications from a radiation injury. He was wheelchair-bound, frequently hospitalized, disoriented and unable to drive—his independence and quality of life severely impacted. But with the expert care of medical director Dr. Jamie Udwadia, nurse practitioner Ashley Duke, manager of Patient Care Services Jennifer Millius, and the entire Wound Healing Center team, Allen’s condition began to improve dramatically.
“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy restores at the cellular level,” said Dr. Udwadia. “Hubert’s radiation injury was slowing his healing, but today, his recovery is a testament to the power of modern medicine and personal resilience. The fact that he could receive this level of care close to home underscores how vital it is to make advanced therapies accessible close to home for our own communities.”
Allen underwent 60 hyperbaric oxygen treatments, which is a specialized treatment that enhances the body’s natural healing processes by delivering high concentrations of oxygen in a pressurized environment. It is particularly effective for patients with chronic wounds, radiation injuries, and other complex conditions. Over the course of his treatments, Allen experienced a remarkable transformation. Today, he is walking, driving, and reconnecting with the life he once knew.
“The ECU Health Wound Healing Center team was extremely compassionate and supportive during my treatments,” said Allen.
Allen’s recovery not only marks a personal milestone but also underscores ECU Health North’s commitment to providing innovative, patient-centered care to communities across eastern North Carolina. His story serves as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges and a reminder of the profound impact compassionate care can have on a patient’s journey.
Greenville, N.C. – The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has awarded all nine ECU Health hospitals Get With The Guidelines ® achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
“At ECU Health, delivering high-quality, life-saving rural health care is central to our mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer, ECU Health. “Our team members represent that mission in action and we could not be prouder that all nine ECU Health hospitals have once again earned national recognition in improving outcomes for patients facing stroke, heart disease and diabetes–conditions that deeply impact our region. This achievement reinforces ECU Health’s commitment to ensuring high-quality health care is available in our rural region.”
Heart disease and stroke remain among the deadliest health threats in the United States, ranking first and fifth, respectively, according to the American Heart Association 2025 Statistical Update. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke, adding up to nearly 795,000 new or recurrent cases each year. Tragically, stroke claims about 140,000 lives annually. Eastern North Carolina bears an even heavier burden, with stroke mortality rates exceeding national averages. The region also grapples with disproportionately high rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, highlighting the importance of targeted prevention and timely intervention.
“In eastern North Carolina, where stroke, diabetes and heart disease rates are disproportionately high, delivering high-quality care close to home is not just important – it’s vital,” said Dr. Niti Armistead, chief quality officer and chief clinical officer, ECU Health. “By adopting evidence-based practices and programs like Get With The Guidelines, our teams deliver consistent, highly reliable care that improves recovery and health outcomes. These recognitions affirm our steadfast commitment to clinical excellence and continuous improvement in all that we do.”
Evidence shows that patients fare significantly better when health care providers follow established treatment protocols, such as those outlined in the Get With The Guidelines program. Consistent adherence to these evidence-based practices leads to improved recovery outcomes and can help reduce the devastating impact of stroke and heart disease.
“These awards show ECU Health’s commitment to caring for those in their community who need care,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, past volunteer president of the American Heart Association and current volunteer chair of the Association’s Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, ECU Health can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
ECU Health recognitions include:
ECU Health Beaufort Hospital – A Campus of ECU Health Medical Center
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold
ECU Health Bertie Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Silver
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Silver Plus
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Silver
ECU Health Chowan Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Silver
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold
ECU Health Duplin Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Stroke Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Rural Gold
ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Silver
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Silver
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Stroke Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Silver
ECU Health Medical Center
- American Heart Association Commitment to Quality Award
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Adult Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Pediatric Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Neonate/Infant Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Newly Born Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll
- Elite Plus, Stroke Advanced Therapy and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
ECU Health North Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Silver
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Silver
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold
ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold
Outer Banks Health Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Silver Plus
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Silver
NAGS HEAD, N.C. — September 19, 2025 — Outer Banks Health announces it has been recognized as a top performer in the 2025 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Ranking by Vizient, Inc. Outer Banks Health (OBH) placed tenth amongst 1,400 Vizient provider clients in the critical access cohort and was recognized for demonstrating excellence in delivering high-quality care based on the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, conducted annually since 2005.
“We are tremendously proud of our entire team for their exceptional commitment to safe, effective and compassionate patient care for our community. OBH is honored to be recognized for these efforts,” said Ronnie Sloan, president of OBH. “Special recognition goes to Devereux Grindle, vice president of clinical operations and former director of clinical quality management, for establishing and building a strong quality department, as well as to Stefanie McMahon, director of clinical quality management, for her outstanding leadership today.”
This year, 1,220 participating hospitals were segmented into seven cohorts for the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study. The study measures performance on the quality of patient care in six domains: safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient centeredness and variation in care. The study factors in measures from the Vizient Clinical Data Base and includes performance data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey and the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network.
The Vizient Quality and Accountability Study helps participating hospitals and health systems understand their performance against their peers and identifies structures and processes associated with high performance in quality and safety across a broad spectrum of patient care activity. The recognition period is for work spanning July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
“We extend our sincere congratulations to this year’s top-performing hospitals recognized in the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study,” said David Levine, chief medical officer, Vizient. “These organizations have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to delivering safe, effective, and patient-centered care. Their performance reflects the highest standards in clinical quality and operational excellence, and we are proud to honor their achievements.”
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.
Karen Bolen, the director of inpatient clinical applications in the IS department of ECU Health, knew in high school that she wanted to be a nurse. After graduation, the West Virginia native worked as a bedside nurse and charge nurse in the emergency departments (ED) of several hospitals in West Virgina and Kentucky, and she also served as the manager of an ED. In early 2000, however, she had the opportunity to beta test an electronic health record (EHR) platform specific for the ED. That experience, which she thought was “really cool,” led Karen from the bedside to the world of health care information technology.
Seven years after that initial beta test, Karen’s organization announced their plans to adopt their own EHR. Her earlier experience with the software inspired her to inquire about transitioning from the bedside to working with the platform. “I was intrigued by the EHR, and as a new mom, working nights and on weekends didn’t do well for me. I asked about it, and I moved over to my new role in 2007,” she said. “I quickly realized this is where I wanted to be.”
Making this transition allowed Karen to leverage her education and extensive knowledge of the ED with building an effective and efficient EHR platform. “They were looking for nurses to build this EHR, which was Epic. I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and I use that every single day with what I do,” she said. “Because I had worked for many, many years in the ED, they chose me to build out the platform for the department.”
Working within electronic health records also merged Karen’s skillset as a nurse with her overarching desire to do good for the most people. “It was great because I could not only impact patients at the bedside, but I also impacted all the clinicians taking care of the patients, all of the ancillary departments and the community as well,” she explained. “I put my stethoscope down and picked up a laptop, but I didn’t lose anything by doing that. I still care for patients, and this enhances what I went to school for and what my passion is. I just do it in a different way.”
That training as a nurse was vital to creating the platform, but she also had to take classes specific to the EHR. “I knew how to save a life, I knew how to give medications and I knew how to provide education, but I didn’t know how to build an electronic health record. To do that, I took training classes, completed a project and passed a test. I also had to be certified in several different areas to complement my role as an application analyst,” she explained.
Karen relocated to ECU Health in 2017, where she joined a team that feels like a perfect fit. “They are the most amazing team ever,” she said. “I can wholeheartedly say that. They serve anything that falls within the halls of the hospital. We support not only the electronic health record, but also all the technologies that integrate with Epic, including fetal monitoring and the handheld rover application for on-the-go documentation. We have the most talented application analysts on our team.”
Karen is also responsible for supporting the ED, OR, anesthesia, pharmacy and ambulatory surgery. “I have an amazing team and great managers who supports those areas,” she said. “They teach me something new every single day. That’s one of the fun things about this role.”
That enthusiasm makes it easy for Karen to recommend a role in health care – whether it’s at the bedside or at the computer – to anyone. “When I was a beside nurse in the ED, I told people I had the coolest job ever. Now that I work in IS, I still have the coolest job ever,” Karen said. She also emphasized that anyone can work in the technology space. “We have people with a variety of backgrounds in our department. We have pharmacists, engineers, nurses and respiratory therapists. That diversity really complements those with information technology degrees and allows us to collaborate and share different perspectives and experiences to do something great. IT is in everything, and everything we do makes an impact.”
The Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina honors nurses around the state for their commitment to excellence. The recipients are distinguished for their outstanding professional ability and contributions to improving health care services in their communities. This year, 25 ECU Health nurses were honored, including Anne Chadwick, Robin Lanier, Sharon Watford, Gloria Waters, Lindsey Woodlief, April Bracy and Claire McFadyen.
Anne Chadwick
Anne Chadwick, a staff nurse IV in the medical step down unit, joined what was then Pitt County Memorial Hospital in 1982 after graduating with her degree in nursing. She didn’t know if nursing would be a good fit, but despite a retirement in 2013, she came back to work at the bedside, and she’s also an adjunct nursing instructor at Pitt Community College. “I have had absolutely no regrets – I love it!”
Anne joined ECU Health after completing her degree at ECU, but proximity wasn’t the only reason. “I like working here,” she said. “I’m proud of our facility. I’ve worked in different roles, and I’ve never felt stagnant or burnt out.”
Despite her passion, Anne was still surprised when she found out she was a Great 100 Nurse. “I was thrilled and appreciative that they wanted to nominate me,” she said. “I’ve known others who were nominated and didn’t get it, so I thought there was no way I’d get it.”
As for why she was nominated, Anne said, “I don’t really know,” but she recalled taking more than one student when a student needed a preceptor, and she once comforted a patient’s husband in the hallway after he made a difficult health care decision for his wife. “He grabbed me and I just hugged him and let him cry,” she recalled. “I don’t know if it’s that, but I try to have compassion for our patients.”
Robin Lanier (Ellis)
Robin Lanier, an assistant manager of nursing in the medical unit at ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital, was born and raised in Tarboro, and it was her mother and a teacher at Tarboro High School who gave Robin the idea to become a nurse.
“From my mom’s perspective, nursing offered stability. I’d never have to worry about finding a job,” Robin said. “Ms. Wainwright taught medical terminology in high school and she was my favorite teacher. Being in her class really made me choose the nursing path.”
Robin joined ECU Health in 2013, and although she chose Edgecombe Hospital because it was close to home, she stays because it feels like home. “The friendships I’ve made, the support I’ve received – it’s nice to be seen and get to know people on a personal level. You get close and support each other when life happens,” she said.
Funny enough, Robin nominated one of her colleagues as a Great 100 Nurse, so when she got the letter in the mail, she thought it was about the nominee winning the award. “I was so excited for her, and then I saw it was me who had won,” she said. “I was happy for me, but I really wanted her to win. There are so many who really deserve to be recognized.”
Winning was a surprise, but Robin said she hopes it’s a sign of her desire to help others. “I try to take the time to make people feel special, because they are,” she said. “If there’s something I can do that will make someone’s day better, I try to do it. It’s important to me that people are taken care of – our patients and our team members.”
Sharon Watford
Sharon Watford joined what was then Pitt County Memorial Hospital in 1988, and she has worked in several departments over the last 36 years, including the medical surgical unit and the operating room. She currently serves as a staff nurse IV in a pain management outpatient clinic.
While Sharon said she landed on nursing as a career somewhat accidentally, during nursing school, her mother was diagnosed with kidney failure secondary to lupus, and she spent a lot of time with her mother in the hospital. “That solidified that I was doing what I was supposed to do,” she said.
She was “floored” when she discovered she was a Great 100 Nurse this year. “That’s the ultimate of nursing honors,” she said. “I have admired those who received it, and I didn’t think I’d ever get it.”
Still, Sharon shared that she aims to make a connection with each of her patients. “Our clinic is fast paced, and I try to maximize my time with patients so they don’t feel like they’re in a drive through,” she said. “I’m committed to this profession and to ECU Health, and I love my work.”
It’s special that 25 nurses from ECU Health are being recognized this year, something Sharon said represents the dedication of our nurses. “Our people go above and beyond; that’s what we’re called to do,” she said. “We care for the whole patient and meet their needs.”
Gloria Waters
Gloria Waters knew from an early age she wanted to be a nurse. “My mom made me a nurse’s cap out of notebook paper, a black crayon to draw the stripe across the top and a bobby pin to secure it to my head,” Gloria recalled. “She’d put a sweater over my shoulders and I’d pretend to be a nurse.”
Gloria attended Lenoir Memorial Hospital School of Nursing right out of high school, and her parents encouraged her while she studied. “I remember them sitting at the table with me and helping me study. I told them about the cardiovascular system and how the heart has four chambers, and dad said, ‘just like a carburetor in a car!’ They were always there for me.”
Gloria came to ECU Health Medical Center because as a larger hospital, it offered the opportunity to grow in her profession. “I learned and practiced skills I’d never had a chance to do at my previous job,” she said. “I was given the opportunity to grow and get more experience.”
That, and the people she works with, has kept her here for 22 years. “The floor is like a family. Even with the growth of the hospital, the atmosphere is a good one. We have some pretty amazing people who work here.”
Of winning the award, Gloria said she was honored just to be nominated. “I’m appreciative someone thought I was deserving,” she said. “I do what I do because I love it. People ask when I plan to retire, and I don’t know. I have no plans to retire because I’ll miss the people and doing something I have always loved.”
Lindsey Woodlief
From a nursing assistant to a doctor of nursing practice, Lindsey Woodlief has grown professionally and personally at ECU Health. She joined ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital in 2014, and through the HomeGrown Program, she graduated with her associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) in 2019. As a recent doctor of nursing practice (DNP) graduate, she will now serve as a family nurse practitioner at ECU Health Family Medicine in Pinetops, NC. “My journey reflects a deep commitment to lifelong learning, compassionate care and service to my community,” she said.
From an early age, Lindsey witnessed her family emulate selflessness and compassion. Her mother taught students with special needs, and her grandmother, also a nurse, served as an inspiration. Her uncle became a quadriplegic after a hunting accident at 18, so Lindsey saw the importance of caring for others.
At ECU Health Edgecombe, Lindsey said she built her forever home and felt grounded in her community. That proximity, as well as the close-knit team she works with, has kept her here. “Working at a small community hospital has given me something special,” she said. “I’ve formed lasting friendships with co-workers and community members, and in our intensive care unit (ICU), we are more than a team; we’re a family.”
While there are other awards nurses can receive, the Great 100 Nurse award means more than clinical success. “This award reflects countless hours, effort, integrity and heart that nurses pour into their patients and communities every day. We are driven by the desire to make a meaningful difference,” she said.
It’s also no surprise to her that ECU Health represents a quarter of the Great 100 Nurses this year. “It’s a reflection of the culture and mission that drive everything we do,” she said. “At ECU Health, what sets us apart is how deeply our system lives out its values. We’re not just committed to delivering high-quality care; we are equally invested in the growth, education and well-being of our team members and the communities we serve.”
“You may have heard the saying, ‘not my monkey, not my circus,’” she continued. “But anyone who knows me knows I tend to make everything my monkey and circus.” Lindsey said she doesn’t seek praise, but she tries to show up with a full heart for her patients and her team. “I’m the nurse you can call on her day off and talk you through a task, the one who will show up at 2 a.m. to help the unit, bed hair and all, and the one who’s at every community event,” she said. “To me, being a nurse doesn’t end when I clock out.”
April Bracy
April Bracy, an assistant manager in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVIU), has been an ECU Health team member for almost 16 years. She began working in the ED at ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital before moving to ECU Health Bertie’s ED and inpatient unit, followed by a transfer to the Medical Center where she worked in palliative care and now the CVIU.
April said she was inspired to work in health care by her family. They called her their “little nurse,” because she liked to help them when they were sick. While she had the initial desire to be a surgeon, her mother was the person who inspired her to pursue nursing. “She explained that there were numerous fields I could try until I found the specialty that fit and made me happy,” she said.
She joined ECU Health, despite other hospitals being closer to her home, because it offered more opportunities, especially the chance to grow and learn. Now, as a Great 100 Nurse, April said she is humbled and honored, and she is proud to be among so many exceptionally great nurses.
Claire McFadyen
A third-generation nurse to serve eastern North Carolina, Claire McFadyen has worked at ECU Health for 17 years. Her grandmother was a CRNA at what was then Pitt County Memorial Hospital, and her mother retired as an operating room nurse at ECU Health Edgecombe. Now, Clair is continuing her family’s legacy as a staff nurse IV in ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital’s ICU.
Claire said she was drawn to ECU Health in part because of her family connection, but also because she wanted to serve where she lives. “I always maintain an active role in the local community, attending and hosting events for education and resources for adults and the younger population, as well as precepting new nursing entering the field of critical care,” she said.
It’s an honor to be recognized as a Great 100 Nurse, and Claire said she is grateful and humbled to be listed among her ECU Health team. She also hopes the award is a reflection of her persistent passion for nursing at the bedside. “The impact of bedside nursing on quality health care is sometimes understated,” she said. “I try to instill my love for the profession and critical care in every patient I treat and in every student or new graduate I encounter.”
The recipients will be honored at a statewide gala in October, to be held in Goldsboro, North Carolina.