Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to announce that Dennis Campbell, II, DHA, RN, president of ECU Health Beaufort Hospital – a Campus of ECU Health Medical Center, has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of 240 Community Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know for 2026. The national recognition highlights hospital leaders who are making a meaningful impact in their communities by advancing access to high-quality care, strengthening their organizations and developing innovative solutions to meet local health care needs.
“This recognition is only possible because of the incredible team here at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, and I am honored to work with dedicated people who make an impact across our region,” Campbell said. “Patients deserve a place to receive high-quality care, and team members deserve a supportive, fulfilling work environment, close to home. We are proud to continue to move forward and help build the national model for academic rural health care.”
According to Becker’s, these leaders prioritize expanding their institutions’ offerings, making sure to weave primary care, specialty treatments, rehabilitation and public health programs into a broader picture of community health. Simultaneously, they are shaping the cultures that attract and retain talented caregivers, building long-term strategies that position their hospitals for growth and maintaining the financial discipline that keeps high-quality, cost-effective care within reach for their communities.
“Dennis’s commitment to all facets of rural health care is a shining example of what makes our mission-driven health system successful,” said Jay Briley, president, ECU Health Medical Center. “He understands that workforce development, operational excellence and meaningful community partnerships are essential to innovate and grow right here in eastern North Carolina. This recognition reflects not only his leadership, but also his unwavering dedication to ensuring patients in rural eastern North Carolina have access to the care they need, when and where they need it.”
Since joining ECU Health, Campbell has focused on expanding access to services, strengthening workforce development efforts and fostering partnerships that improve the health and well-being of communities across Beaufort County and the surrounding region. His leadership has helped advance ECU Health’s mission to improve rural health outcomes while ensuring patients can receive exceptional care in eastern North Carolina.
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.
“For the fourth consecutive year, every ECU Health hospital has earned national recognition for delivering evidence-based care for some of the most serious and prevalent health conditions affecting eastern North Carolina,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer, ECU Health. “Achievements like this require an extraordinary level of commitment from physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and support teams across our system who work every day to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time.
This recognition reflects the strength of our health system and our dedication to bringing nationally recognized care to the rural communities we serve.”
Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 leading causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Studies show patients can experience better outcomes when care teams consistently follow evidence-based treatment guidelines. 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.
“People in eastern North Carolina face some of the highest rates of stroke, heart disease and diabetes in the state, making access to high-quality care critically important,” said Dr. Niti Armistead, chief quality officer and chief clinical officer, ECU Health. “The Get With The Guidelines program helps ensure that patients receive care grounded in the latest scientific evidence, and these awards demonstrate our teams’ unwavering commitment to that standard. Whether a patient arrives at one of our community hospitals or our academic medical center, they can be confident they are receiving care built on proven practices that improve outcomes, reduce complications and support healthier lives.”
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 reflect ECU Health’s commitment to caring for people in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, ECU Health can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for patients, families and health care systems.”
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 and Stroke Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Bronze Adult
- 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 Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold
ECU Health Chowan Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: 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 – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze
ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
ECU Health Medical Center
- Target: Survival – Adult
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Newly Born Silver
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Neonate/Infant Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Pediatric Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation Adult Bronze
- 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
- Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
ECU Health North Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold
ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Bronze
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze
Outer Banks Health Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines – Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health has reached an agreement on a new multi-year contract with UnitedHealthcare, restoring in-network access to care for more than 100,000 UnitedHealthcare-covered patients and supporting rural health sustainability in eastern North Carolina effective Aug. 7, 2026.
The new contract covers patients with Commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid UnitedHealthcare plans, allowing patients to access care from the ECU Health providers, hospitals and clinics they know and trust.
Throughout negotiations, ECU Health’s priority was to protect and restore patients’ access to high-quality, affordable care close to home while ensuring the organization can continue providing essential services across the region.
After years without meaningful increases in reimbursements from UnitedHealthcare despite rising costs associated with delivering care, ECU Health successfully negotiated sustainable terms for the care we provide.
Importantly, this agreement supports:
- Full in-network access to all ECU Health providers, facilities and services for UnitedHealthcare members
- Reimbursement terms that better reflect the cost of care
- Reduced administrative burden
- Fewer barriers to care
- Preserves the relationships our providers have with patients covered by UnitedHealthcare
“Throughout this process, patients and families across eastern North Carolina have been our top priority,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO at ECU Health. “Meeting the mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina means ensuring the sustainability of the services we provide, particularly given the ongoing challenges rural healthcare will continue to face. This agreement ensures patients can access the care they trust at ECU Health, close to home, and allows us to move forward with UnitedHealthcare in a way that supports the long-term health of our communities.”
Patients with canceled or postponed appointments can reschedule with their provider on MyChart or call their provider’s office directly to resume care.
For additional questions or support, patients can visit ECUHealth.org/UnitedHealthcare.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Medical Center is the fifth institution in the nation to begin using the bioMérieux VITEK® REVEAL™ analyzer, a rapid blood culture testing tool that can help providers identify effective antibiotics for certain bloodstream infections approximately 24 hours sooner than standard methods.
The new tool, which was implemented in July, can help enable faster treatment, improve patient care and reduce broad-spectrum antibiotic resistance. The analyzer can work directly from a blood culture sample that tests positive for certain, designated types of harmful bacteria to determine which antibiotics are most effective for treatment.
“We know that seconds count when it comes to treating disease, and the Vitek Reveal analyzer is an innovative tool to focus therapy for patients right here in eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Brooks Mitchell, interim director of microbiology, ECU Health Medical Center. Providers equipped with the right information are more likely to make the right decision with less risk of a patient developing resistance that can slow down their recovery.”
ECU Health Medical Center will use the Vitek Reveal analyzer to identify specific microbes that cause sepsis. That allows providers to escalate care accordingly, and in some cases could mean shorter stays at the hospital.
Clinicians will still play the vital role of identifying patient-specific factors such as allergies or other adverse reactions to certain antibiotics and determining the best treatment options for patients. The ability to select the right antibiotic to treat specific microbes also means patients are less likely to develop resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics, maintaining medication’s efficiency in treating microbial disease.
The road to launching the new Vitek Reveal analyzer was a multidisciplinary effort between ECU Health Medical Center’s Microbiology Lab and Infectious Disease Pharmacy. The analyzer will be used in tandem with existing tools to maximize its efficiency.
“Having the right tool for the job is important, but it matters more when those tools are in the hands of skilled professionals,” said Jay Briley, president, ECU Health Medical Center. “We are excited to offer state-of-the-art care close to home for patients in eastern North Carolina, and even more excited to see the impacts this tool and our dedicated physicians and team members will have on treating disease across the region.”
Greenville, N.C. — ECU Health Medical Center recently surpassed 100 GammaTile® procedures for patients with brain tumors, marking a significant milestone in advancing access to innovative cancer care across eastern North Carolina. The achievement places ECU Health among a limited number of centers nationwide with this level of experience using GammaTile®, an FDA-approved, surgically targeted radiation therapy designed to improve outcomes for patients with operable brain tumors.
“Reaching 100 GammaTile® procedures is a significant achievement that reflects ECU Health’s commitment to advancing brain tumor care for patients across eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Stuart Lee, chief of the division of Neurosurgery at ECU Health and medical director of The Gamma Knife Center at ECU Health Medical Center.
“For many of our patients, GammaTile® offers the advantage of receiving surgery and radiation treatment during a single hospitalization, helping reduce barriers to care and ensuring they can access advanced treatment closer to home. There are few centers in the country with this level of experience, and it reflects the expertise of our multidisciplinary team and our commitment to advancing the standard of care for patients with brain tumors.”
With the American Cancer Society estimating more than 24,000 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord diagnosed in 2026 across the United States, the need for timely access to advanced treatment options continues to grow.
ECU Health began offering GammaTile® therapy in 2019 and has steadily expanded its use, particularly for patients with metastatic brain tumors requiring surgery. The treatment involves placing small, bioabsorbable collagen tiles embedded with radiation sources directly into the tumor cavity at the time of surgery, allowing for immediate, localized radiation therapy. Unlike traditional approaches, which often require patients to return weeks after surgery for radiation treatment, GammaTile® delivers therapy at the time of tumor removal, eliminating delays and reducing the risk of missed or postponed follow-up care.
“For patients across eastern North Carolina, this milestone means greater access to advanced cancer treatment close to home,” said Jay Briley, president, ECU Health Medical Center. “By bringing these cutting-edge treatments to our region, we can provide the specialized care patients need without requiring them to travel far from their homes and support systems. This achievement reflects ECU Health’s ongoing commitment to innovation and reinforces our role as a regional leader in delivering specialized care.”
In early 2026, ECU Health earned GammaTile® Center of Excellence Program designation from GT Medical Technologies, recognizing the organization’s clinical expertise, patient education and commitment to improving outcomes for patients with operable brain tumors.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Medical Center was one of 32 institutions across the nation to participate in the national ROADS (Randomized Controlled Trial of Resection Surgery and GammaTile® versus Standard of Care) clinical trial, a randomized study investigating how GammaTile® therapy compares to the traditional standard of care for patients in treatment for newly diagnosed, operable metastatic brain tumors.
The study, conducted by GT Medical Technologies, determined that GammaTile® therapy, which ECU Health began offering in 2019, can significantly lower rates of tumor regrowth in those patients and improve overall survival rates compared to traditional treatment, which consists of surgery and recovery before patients undergo stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT), a form of targeted radiosurgery, at the tumor site.
“The results of the ROADS clinical trial are very encouraging,” said Dr. Stuart Lee, chief, division of neurosurgery, ECU Health, and medical director of The Gamma Knife Center, ECU Health Medical Center. “Patients who underwent surgery with GammaTile® saw dramatically lower rates of tumor bed recurrence and significantly improved overall survival compared to patients who had surgery followed by radiosurgery four weeks after their operation. We are proud to participate in this important clinical study which affirms ECU Health’s commitment to providing the highest level of care close to home.”
ECU Health earned GammaTile® Center of Excellence Program designation from GT Medical Technologies in early 2026. The designation honors institutions that demonstrate outstanding clinical skill, patient education and commitment to improving outcomes for patients with operable brain tumors. On May 21, 2026, ECU Health celebrated treating its 100th GammaTile® patient. ECU Health is one of six GammaTile® treatment centers in North Carolina and was one of the first adopters of the technology in the eastern United States.
GammaTile® involves placing small, bioabsorbable collagen tiles embedded with radiation sources directly into the tumor cavity at the time of surgery, allowing for immediate, localized radiation therapy. The study indicated patients who received GammaTile® therapy experienced significantly lower rates of tumor regrowth, a greater likelihood of living longer without the tumor recurring and better overall survival compared to patients who received standard SRT.
“Clinical trials like ROADS give ECU Health the data we need to determine how we can offer the best possible care for patients in eastern North Carolina and a chance to share that data with other health systems across the nation,” said Jay Briley, president, ECU Health Medical Center. “Our participation in this trial reflects our commitment to leading the way in cancer care as a top performer nationwide and one of the few institutions with this capability in the state.”
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is pleased to name Brian Dunn, CPA, MSA as chief financial officer, effective immediately. In this role, Dunn will oversee the Finance and Supply Chain departments for ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, helping advance the enterprise’s shared commitment to delivering high-quality care and improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
Dunn’s appointment as CFO follows the departure of Andy Zukowski, who recently left the organization after four years of significant contributions to pursue other opportunities.
“Brian has been an invaluable member of the ECU Health team for more than 15 years,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “His collaborative, forward-thinking and detail-oriented approach has strengthened our financial position and supported strategic investments in our mission. Brian’s leadership and expertise have been instrumental in driving revenue growth, optimizing reimbursement, reducing costs and advancing long-term financial planning. His extensive experience and deep understanding of our organization will be invaluable as we continue transforming ECU Health to meet the needs of our patients, communities and team members while strengthening our ability to serve eastern North Carolina for years to come.”
Dunn joined ECU Health in 2011 and most recently served as senior vice president of Finance, where he provided leadership for corporate accounting and financial reporting, financial planning and analytics, treasury services, reimbursement and cost reporting, and strategic financial and capital planning. Throughout his tenure, Dunn has played a key role in reinforcing ECU Health’s financial foundation and positioning the organization for long-term sustainability.
“ECU Health’s commitment to serving rural communities has been at the center of my career for the past 15 years,” said Dunn. “It is an honor to serve as CFO and work alongside talented team members across ECU Health. Together, we will continue to strengthen our financial sustainability so we can invest in the people, programs and services that improve health outcomes in eastern North Carolina. I look forward to helping ensure ECU Health remains strong and well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the patients and communities we serve.”
Dunn earned both his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Accounting from East Carolina University. Prior to joining ECU Health, he spent more than a decade with RSM, one of the nation’s largest accounting firms, where he specialized in complex accounting, auditing and financial reporting for health care, governmental and nonprofit organizations.
As CFO, Dunn will continue supporting the financial integration goals of the joint operating agreement between ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine, helping advance a shared-services model designed to improve efficiency, strengthen academic medicine and support the delivery of exceptional patient care across the region.
Greenville, N.C. — Martin County and ECU Health are celebrating new, historic investment included in the State Budget to support a regional system of care that will strengthen access to essential health services in eastern North Carolina, including $25 million to re-establish essential health care in Martin County and $15 million of initial support to expand bed capacity at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital in Washington.
The funding for health care in Martin County included in the state budget, along with $35 million in NC Care funds previously allocated to the project, allows ECU Health and Martin County to move forward with efforts to reach a formal agreement.
While this funding marks important progress, additional investment to meet the full $150 million for ECU Health Beaufort is required to fully implement a sustainable regional system of care model needed to improve sustainability and expand inpatient capacity for the surrounding communities.
“This budget represents meaningful progress toward a sustainable model of care for Martin County, Beaufort County and eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health. “Rural Americans are facing unprecedented challenges that continue to threaten the viability of health care in their communities. We are grateful for the support of our state elected leaders for infrastructure funding as we pursue rural health initiatives designed to improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable communities in North Carolina. As the only health care partner with a viable plan, as well as a willingness to re-establish care in Martin County, we remain committed to working with county leaders and state partners to make high-quality local health care a reality on behalf of the patients, families and communities we are honored to serve.”
Leaders from Martin County and ECU Health said they will continue working toward a formal agreement that will define the structure, responsibilities and commitments needed to re-establish essential services in Martin County and advance this regional vision. Importantly, this process will take time as there are contingencies noted in the letter of intent that must be resolved to make this vision a reality. They emphasized that sustained partnership and careful planning will be critical to moving the work forward.
“This investment helps move an important vision forward for Martin County and the surrounding region,” said Drew Batts, County Manager for Martin County. “The effort to acquire this funding has been long and hard fought with Martin County’s team and ECU Health’s team working hand in hand every step of the way. This would not be possible without the efforts of multiple residents and business leaders from Martin County. We appreciate the partnership with ECU Health and the support from state leaders as we continue working toward a long-term solution that restores access to care and serves our residents well into the future.”
Additional details will be shared as planning progresses.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to welcome its first class of ophthalmology residents on June 25, 2026, marking another significant milestone in the growth of its Graduate Medical Education programs since its inception 50 years ago. The new ophthalmology residency program will welcome three residents who are set to begin training later this month. The inaugural residency class will be Dr. Vamsee Vemulapalli, Dr. Omar Nusair and Dr. Joseph “Mitch” Clayton.
“ECU Health’s new ophthalmology residency program is an exciting step forward for the health system and the patients we serve,” said Dr. Ann Ostrovsky, chief of ophthalmology, ECU Health. “This program allows us to train skilled ophthalmologists while expanding access to high-quality eye care across eastern North Carolina. It represents a long-term investment in both medical education and the health of our communities, and we are proud to welcome our first residents. We look forward to the impact they will have.”
The ophthalmology department at ECU Health was established in 2023 under the leadership of Dr. Ostrovsky, who prioritized the development of a residency program as a key component of the department’s long-term vision. With support from ECU Health’s Graduate Medical Education leadership, the program quickly gained accreditation and successfully recruited its inaugural class. Interest in the program was strong, and more than 500 applicants competed for three available positions. ECU Health matched with Drs. Vemulapalli, Nusair and Clayton, all of whom bring additional clinical and research experience following dedicated research years.
The four-year residency program includes an initial postgraduate year focused on broad clinical training followed by three years of specialized ophthalmology education. Residents will gain hands-on experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of eye conditions while working alongside experienced clinicians. In addition to training residents, the program is expected to enhance patient care across the region.
“This milestone reflects 50 years of growth and commitment within ECU Health’s Graduate Medical Education programs,” said Dr. Mary Catherine Brake Turner, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and ECU Health Medical Center. “Launching our first ophthalmology residency program expands training opportunities for future physicians and strengthens access to care for the communities we serve. We are proud to welcome these residents as we continue to grow programs that develop the next generation of physician leaders for eastern North Carolina.”
The program further strengthens educational opportunities for medical students. ECU Health will host students from the Brody School of Medicine and visiting institutions, offering clinical rotations and early exposure to ophthalmology. These experiences help build interest in the specialty and support the program’s future recruitment efforts.
Greenville, N.C. – The 2026 ECU Health Board Quality Leadership Award winners were recognized at the ECU Health Board of Directors meeting held on Tuesday, June 23. These winning teams exemplify ECU Health’s system-wide commitment to achieving zero harm, delivering exceptional experiences and advancing patient outcomes through high-quality, compassionate care.
“These projects exemplify the talent and passion that team members have for addressing complex health care challenges in our rural region,” said Dr. Andy Tewari, chair, ECU Health Board of Directors. “The wide range of teams recognized today shows the scope of their commitment to innovation and serving our patients in eastern North Carolina.”
Projects demonstrating excellence reflected two or more of the following traits:
- Sustained Quality and Safety Improvement: Quantifiable improvement in an organizational priority that advances the goal of zero harm and demonstrates reliability over time.
- Compassion in Action for Safety: Demonstrated teamwork and commitment to protecting patients and team members from harm through consistent application of safety behaviors, communication and a fair and just culture.
- Innovation and Continuous Learning: Implementation of innovative, evidence-based solutions that enhance clinical quality, safety and operational reliability.
- Reduce Variations in Quality Outcomes: Meaningful work that identifies and reduces barriers and promotes quality and safety for all populations served.
Four teams earned awards this year, chosen from a competitive pool of nominations and thoughtfully reviewed by the selection committee.
The winning teams are as follows:
A team from ECU Health Medical Center submitted “Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) Review of Restricted Antimicrobial Use and Compliance.” The project improved ECU Health Medical Center’s electronic health record and antimicrobial stewardship program workflows. It yielded $270,000 in cost savings and reduced unnecessary antimicrobial use, supported safer patient care and helped fight antimicrobial resistance.
The project leaders were Nicole Nicolsen, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, ASP/Infectious Diseases (ID) pharmacist manager, and Melissa George, PharmD, BCIDP, ADP/ID pharmacist. Team members were David Laurent, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, ASP/ID pharmacist, Emily Perez, PharmD, ASP/ID pharmacist, and Allison Field, PharmD, VCID, AAHIVP, ASP/ID pharmacist.
A team from ECU Health North submitted their project “Two-Year Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI) Free Initiative: Driving Interdisciplinary Excellence Through Daily Nurse Quality Huddles and Rounding.” Efforts from the project led to zero hospital-acquired CLABSI cases.
The Project Leaders were Aparesh Balla, MPH, QS III, Maryland Hicks, BSN, RN, WCC, QNS II, and Chelsey Shearin, BSN, RN, IP II. The team members were Dr. Jude Ojie, hospitalist medical director, Dr. Rudo Gwanzura, chief of staff, Wanda Neathery, manager of patient care services, Jennifer Pilgreen, manager of patient care services, Karen Liles, RN, vascular access team, and Ann Strickland, RN, vascular access team.
A team from ECU Health Physicians submitted “Improving Hypertension Control in Ambulatory Care.” The project used a data-driven approach to improve blood pressure test accuracy, repeat measurement and home monitoring documentation by standardizing how blood pressure tests are conducted.
Project leaders were Crystal Ashley, RN, BSN, and Dr. Samuel Moskowitz. Team members were Marsha Becker, RN MSN, Dr. Dean Miner, Jessica Walker, MSHIIM, BSPH, Jason Monroe, MBA, Wendy VanLandingham, RN, BSN, Jennifer Jones, RN, and Drillious Gay, RN, MSN.
A team from ECU Health Ambulatory Quality Services submitted “Improving Outcomes: A Patient-Centered Approach to Hypertension Management.” The project used a community-funded initiative in July 2025, to improve home monitoring for blood pressure with blood pressure cuffs, patient education and integrated patient-entered readings through MyChart.
The project leader was Gail Scheller, RN, AMB-BC, AE-C, Ambulatory Quality Nurse Specialist. Team members were Barbara Adams, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Avon, Stephanie Huband, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Kitty Hawk, Cynthia O’Neal, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Manteo, Sean Dunigan, manager, Outer Banks Health Family Medicine – Nags Head East and Kristen Daniels, manager, Outer Banks Health Internal Medicine – Nags Head.
“These teams worked with purpose to build the tools, dataflow and support that empower our care teams to do their best work for patients in service to ECU Health’s mission and enterprise goal of clinical excellence,” said Dr. Niti Armistead, Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Quality Officer, ECU Health. “Their efforts remind us that quality improvement is one of the most powerful ways to bring meaning and joy into the work of caring for patients.”
