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.
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.”
Greenville, N.C. – Twenty-five ECU Health nurses from five ECU Health hospitals have been named part of the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina by the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina Board of Directors, honoring their outstanding professional ability and contributions to improving health care services in their communities. This marks the highest number of ECU Health nurses honored as Great 100 Nurses in a single year.
“With over 4,000 nurses across our system, ECU Health is proud to celebrate the exceptional caregivers who embody our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina,” said Trish Baise, chief nursing executive, ECU Health. “Each nurse honored in the Great 100, and those recognized in years past, represents the skill, compassion and advocacy that define our nursing team. Their dedication is a powerful affirmation of the extraordinary care our communities receive every day.”
Since 1989, The North Carolina Great 100, Inc. has recognized and honored nurses around the state for their commitment to excellence and to promote a positive image of the nursing profession.
Each year, the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina Board of Directors asks patients, health care workers, friends and family members to nominate an outstanding nurse practicing in North Carolina. Thousands of nominations are reviewed, and 100 nurses are selected and honored at a statewide gala.
“Every day, our nurses bring skill and unwavering dedication to our patients and families of eastern North Carolina,” said Pam Rudisill, vice president of Nursing Excellence, ECU Health. “Having 25 ECU Health nurses named among the 2025 Great 100 Nurses is a powerful testament to the exceptional care they provide and a meaningful reminder to our community that we are here to care for them.”
ECU Health has built a strong culture of nursing excellence which is the backbone of patient-centered care. Last year, ECU Health Medical Center earned Magnet® recognition for its third consecutive accrediting period, awarded every four years and represents the highest national honor for professional nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence and is considered the gold standard for nursing excellence.
ECU Health will be rolling out stories highlighting each nurse in the coming weeks at ECUHealth.org/Newsroom. The ECU Health nurses chosen as Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina in
2025 are:
- Elizabeth Arnold, BSN, RN, CNOR(E)
- M. Dustin Bass, DNP, MHA, RN
- Britney Beeker, BSN, RN
- April Bracy, BSN, RN-BC
- Sheena Bunch, BSN, RN, VA-BC
- Allison Castelloe, RN, MSN
- Anne Chadwick RN, BSN
- Elaine L. Cudnik, DNP, CPNP-AC/PC
- Kathryn Freeman, RNC-OB
- Christy Harding, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC
- Robin Lanier BSN, RN
- Katherine Low, BSN, RN-BC
- Claire McFadyen, BSN, RN
- Connie R. Midgette RN, BSN
- Wendolyn Minton, BSN, RN, CEN
- Randy Mintz, ADN, RN, CEN
- Kaili Nixon, MSN, RN
- Victoria McIntosh Respess, MSN, ANP-BC
- Rebecca Simmons DNP, AGCNS-BC, APRN
- Stephanie Smith, BSN, RN
- Angela Still, MSN RN
- Megan Tripp, BSN, RN
- Gloria Waters, RN, RN-BC
- Sharon Watford, BSN, RN-BC
- Lindsey Woodlief, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Greenville, N.C. – Dr. Sharona Johnson, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, NE-C, FAANP the Executive Director of Advanced Clinical Practice for ECU Health, Family Nurse Practitioner at ECU Nephrology and Hypertension and adjunct faculty at ECU College of Nursing has been inducted as a 2025 Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP). This distinguished honor recognizes Dr. Johnson’s significant contributions to the Nurse Practitioner (NP) profession and her dedication to advancing high-quality health care and nursing education.
“I am honored to be selected as a 2025 Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners,” said Dr. Johnson. “This recognition affirms the significance of our work as nurse practitioners and the impact we can make in advancing health care. I look forward to contributing alongside an inspiring group of professionals as we strive to elevate the NP role and enhance patient care globally.”
Dr. Johnson’s selection coincides with the 25th anniversary of the FAANP program, which was established in 2000 to honor nurse practitioners’ commitment to leadership, advocacy, and mentorship. As a FAANP fellow, Dr. Johnson will actively contribute her expertise through roles such as mentoring, committee involvement, journal contribution and global advancement of the NP. Dr. Johnson joins a distinguished cohort of accomplished NPs who have made a lasting impact on the profession and their communities.
“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Sharona Johnson for her well-deserved recognition as a 2025 Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners,” said Brian Floyd, chief operating officer, ECU Health. “Her dedication to research and patient care exemplifies the level of excellence we strive for at ECU Health. This honor not only reflects her individual achievements but also underscores the caliber of health care professionals within our organization. Dr. Johnson’s work is a shining example of our mission of improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.”
Dr. Johnson brings nearly 35 years of nursing experience to her roles, having served nationally as a bedside nurse, flight nurse, and intensive care nurse. She holds a BSN from South Dakota State University and earned both her MSN and PhD in Nursing from East Carolina University. She is a passionate advocate for nurses, mentoring those pursuing advanced degrees and fostering professional growth across the field. She has a scholarship for nurses in her mother’s honor for graduate nursing students attending ECU College of Nursing. Her professional affiliations include the American Nurses Association, North Carolina Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Nephrology Nurses Association, and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Medical Board, chairs the Joint Subcommittee of the North Carolina Board of Nursing and is a member of the ECU Board of Visitors. She is past chair of the Center for Family Violence Prevention in Greenville.
Dr. Johnson teaches part time at ECU’s College of Nursing and was sponsored in the FAANP process by Dr. Michelle Skipper, the director of the CON’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP and Family NP specialties, and Dr. Bim Akintade, dean of the College of Nursing.
“Michelle and I both suggested that Sharona undertake the process for this honor because she is an important part of the faculty and her dedication to Pirate Nursing, and our shared profession, is unwavering,” Akintade said. “We helped shepherd her through the nomination process and were there in San Diego to welcome her at the induction ceremony as a FAANP.”
The FAANP program honors outstanding leaders in the NP profession who have made a global impact. Through volunteering, mentoring, and advancing the NP role, FAANP members support the AANP’s mission of developing future NP leaders and advancing high-quality health care. For more information about the FAANP program, visit here.
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the upcoming opening of a state-of-the-art, 144-bed hospital. The event marks a historic milestone in expanding access to high-quality, compassionate behavioral health services in eastern North Carolina.
Located at 2820 MacGregor Downs Road in Greenville, less than a mile from ECU Health Medical Center, the new hospital represents a major investment in behavioral health infrastructure for the region. The hospital will offer comprehensive inpatient and intensive outpatient programs for adults, seniors, children, and adolescents facing acute mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and co-occurring substance use disorders. The hospital was built through a joint venture partnership between ECU Health and Acadia Healthcare. It is set to open its doors to patients starting in Fall 2025 and will build up capacity over the ensuing months.
“This ribbon-cutting symbolizes much more than the opening of a hospital – it’s a continuation of ECU Health’s commitment to meeting the most pressing needs of our communities,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, Chief Executive Officer of ECU Health and Dean of the Brody School of Medicine. “By partnering with Acadia Healthcare and offering specialized, patient-centered behavioral health care that will also serve as a training ground for future clinicians, this hospital will support patients throughout eastern North Carolina and directly advances our mission to improve the health and well-being of the region.”
The hospital will also serve as a training site for students and residents through partnerships with ECU’s Brody School of Medicine. This academic integration will help address the shortage of behavioral health professionals in the region.
“This partnership between Acadia Healthcare and ECU Health is built on shared values and a shared vision: to expand access to world-class behavioral health services close to home,” said Chris Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of Acadia Healthcare. “We are proud to stand beside ECU Health in this important work and look forward to the positive impact this hospital will have on the lives of patients and families in this region.”
“Our goal is to provide comprehensive care that reflects the needs of each community we serve,” said Tyler Davis, Chief Executive Officer of ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital. “This new hospital is a vital step forward in that mission. By bringing care, education, and innovation together under one roof, we are creating a model that other regions can look to for inspiration.”
Thomas Construction Group led the construction of the hospital with architectural design by Stengel Hill Architecture.
To learn more about ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital, visit www.ecuhealthbehavioral.com.
Greenville, N.C – ECU Health’s East Carolina Heart Institute (ECHI) has earned four 3-star ratings, the highest rating possible, from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for excellence in adult cardiac surgery. Based on outcomes from January 2022 through December 2024, these ratings place ECU Health among the leading cardiac surgery programs in the U.S. and Canada.
The STS star rating system is widely considered one of the most reliable tools for evaluating cardiothoracic surgical outcomes. Ratings are determined from the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD), which assesses clinical outcomes, risk-adjusted performance, and adherence to evidence-based care standards.
Each recognition is based on voluntarily submitted data to the STS National Database, established in 1989 to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes. The database now includes more than 10 million surgical records from over 6,000 physicians and captures over 95% of adult cardiac surgeries performed in the U.S.
“Achieving top-tier ratings across multiple procedure categories speaks not only to the expertise of our team members but also to our ability to bring high-quality cardiac care to the 1.4 million people who call eastern North Carolina home,” said Dr. Michael Bates, professor and chief for the division of cardiac surgery at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “These exceptional results support the trust our patients place in us and are a reflection of our commitment to earning that trust every case, every day.”
The 3-star ratings are in the following categories:
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a procedure designed to improve blood flow to the heart by bypassing blocked arteries. ECU Health ranks in the top 20 percent of programs nationwide in this category. This marks the fifth consecutive year ECU Health has earned the 3-star rating, reflecting exceptional performance dating back to 2017. Historically, only 21 percent of participants achieve this top-tier rating. ECU Health performs an average of 500 CABGs per year.
Aortic Valve Replacement + CABG
Combining aortic valve replacement (AVR) with CABG involves treating both valve disease and coronary artery blockages in a single operation. This dual procedure is highly complex and requires extensive expertise. ECU Health’s program is recognized in the top 7 percent of centers nationwide for this category, a distinction typically earned by just 5 percent of participating institutions. The rating highlights the team’s precision, coordination, and skill in managing multifaceted cardiac cases. ECU Health performs about 40 Aortic Valve Replacement + CABG per year.
Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement (MVRR)
ECU Health earned its first 3-star rating for mitral valve repair or replacement, moving up from a previous 2-star designation. This improvement underscores significant advancements in surgical outcomes and patient care. ECU Health performs an average of 60 MVRRs per year. Only 11 percent of programs nationwide receive 3 stars in this category, making this achievement particularly notable.
Multiprocedural Composite Score
The STS introduced a new multiprocedural composite score this year evaluating outcomes across a range of cardiac surgeries, including CABG, AVR, MVRR and various combinations. ECU Health earned a 3-star rating in this category as well, placing it in the top 28 percent of participating programs. The rating reflects institutional excellence, consistency and a commitment to delivering high-quality care across a broad surgical spectrum.
ECHI is dedicated to advancing cardiovascular health through education, research, treatment, and prevention. ECHI brings together expert physicians and professional staff to deliver comprehensive, high-quality care for both adults and children. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and techniques, ECHI addresses a wide spectrum of cardiovascular conditions from common risk factors to rare and complex diseases. Services span prevention, diagnosis and surgical interventions, followed by rehabilitation and patient education. By integrating basic science, clinical research, and hands-on medical practice, ECHI ensures each patient receives the most advanced and personalized treatment available.
“These recognitions affirm ECU Health’s commitment to creating a national model for academic rural health care – one that brings world-class, highly-specialized services directly to the communities that need them most,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “Eastern North Carolina faces high rates of chronic heart disease, and our cardiac surgery program exemplifies how advanced care can be delivered close to home. We are proud to lead the way in transforming rural health through innovation and collaboration.”
Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health is proud to announce Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert, DNP, RN, Chief Experience Officer, was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 “CXOs to Know” list, recognizing her contribution in transforming the organization’s culture to improve patient experience and outcomes.
“Being named to Becker’s CXOs to Know list is a meaningful recognition of the care, intention and deep listening that shapes ECU Health’s culture,” said Dr. Oehlert. “Every initiative at ECU Health is grounded in our mission and values as well as the dedication and inspiration of our teams. I am grateful to every ECU Health team member who live our values every single day.”
Chief experience officers play a vital role in shaping the full spectrum of patient and team experiences within their hospitals and health systems. According to Becker’s, the leaders featured on the list take a thoughtful, culture-driven approach, constantly seeking new ways to boost engagement, satisfaction and long-term loyalty.
Dr. Oehlert has integrated human experience principles into every level of care, championing initiatives that connects team member experience with patient experiences and outcomes.
Thanks in large part to her work, ECU Health earned national acclaim, with PEP Health naming it a top performer in patient experience for multiple consecutive years. Dr. Oehlert also launched the “Patient Choice Award” to celebrate units achieving exceptional and improved experience ratings, reinforcing a culture of compassion and excellence.
“Dr. Oehlert’s leadership continues to elevate ECU Health’s commitment to compassionate and human-centered care,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “Her vision ensures that every voice, team member and patient alike, is heard, respected and valued. Dr. Oehlert’s recognition by Becker’s reflects our shared dedication to building a culture where experience drives meaningful outcomes. We are proud of the transformational impact she is making across our system and in the lives of those we serve.”
This list celebrates CXOs for their unwavering dedication to enhancing the healthcare experience at every level. Becker’s showcases these accomplished leaders whose vision and efforts are central to the success of their organizations. The Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team accepted nominations for this list and curated it to showcase the great work of CXOs from hospitals and health systems across the nation.
Roanoke Rapids, NC — ECU Health North Hospital is proud to announce the installation of a cutting-edge hemodynamic monitoring system in its Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab), marking a significant advancement in cardiovascular care for the Community.
This state-of-the-art technology provides real-time, high-fidelity data on cardiac function and blood flow, enabling clinicians to make faster, more accurate decisions during diagnostic and interventional procedures. The new system enhances patient safety, improves procedural outcomes, and supports the hospital’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care.
“This investment reflects our dedication to providing the most advanced tools and technologies to our care teams and patients,” said Dr. Jasdeep Dalawari, Cardiac Interventional Medical Director, at ECU Health North Hospital. “With this new hemodynamic system, we are better equipped to diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular conditions with greater precision and confidence.”
The upgraded system integrates seamlessly with imaging and electronic health record platforms, streamlining workflow and enhancing communication among the interprofessional team. It also supports advanced features such as cardiac output measurement and pressure-volume analysis. These are critical tools in the assessment of heart failure and will assist in the streamline treatment by our Cardiology professionals at ECU Health North Hospital.
ECU Health North Hospital continues to expand its capabilities as a regional leader in cardiovascular care, ensuring that patients in eastern North Carolina have access to the latest innovations close to home.