ECU Health Beaufort Hospital leadership presented a $137,177.34 donation to Williamston Fire-Rescue-EMS on Tuesday, Oct. 12 for brand new, state-of-the-art emergency medical equipment.
The donation will support the purchase of an MTS Power-LOAD system, which is a powered stretcher-loading device that enhances provider safety and patient stability, and a LIFEPAK 15 monitor/defibrillator, used to assess, monitor and treat patients in critical condition. The donation was attended by ECU Health Beaufort Hospital President Dennis Campbell, II, Williamston Fire-Rescue-EMS Chief Michael Peaks, Williamston Mayor Dean McCall and other community supporters.
“In the EMS world, every second counts,” said McCall. “We thank the ECU Health organization, Chief Peaks and everyone who helped secure this funding for the protection of our community and EMS professionals.”
ECU Health Beaufort Hospital provided the donation directly through operational funds. Campbell said that local first responders are a vital part of the healthcare services communities depend on. Reducing the risks of provider injury, as well as having the cutting-edge technology to assess patients on the scene, are essential to supporting the health needs in rural communities like Martin County, he said.
“In rural communities every link in the emergency care network matters,” Campbell said. “Equipping local EMS teams strengthens access to timely, high-quality care that helps connect patients with the next level of care.”
Funding for the equipment comes amid ECU Health’s ongoing efforts to restore access to essential healthcare in Martin County after Martin General Hospital closed in 2023. In July 2026, the North Carolina General Assembly approved a State Budget that included critical funding to help re-establish essential healthcare in Martin County and initial planning funds to support expanding bed capacity at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital in Washington.
Additional investments necessary to expand bed capacity at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital continue to be key for implementing a sustainable regional system of care model needed to improve sustainability and expand inpatient capacity for surrounding communities, including Martin County.
Peaks said the effects of the local hospital closure immediately impacted emergency personnel, who must now travel farther to transport patients in need of care. He said before the closure a patient’s average transport time by ambulance was five minutes and 38 seconds. The average time now is 20 minutes. He thanked ECU Health leadership for recognizing the critical role first responders play in community healthcare.
“Having equipment such as this available to our members is going to make a difference for the people we serve,” Peaks said. “ECU Health has recognized that healthcare needs in Martin County do not stop at the doors of a hospital. Healthcare is a network of people and services working together.
“ECU Health’s investment in Williamston Fire-Rescue-EMS is a direct investment in strengthening the network of care in which ECU Health has shown time and again, and more recently within the last year, their commitment to Martin County.”
Campbell emphasized that supporting Williamston, Martin County and surrounding communities is central to the health system’s mission.
“Our mission at ECU Health is to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina,” Campbell said. “We’ve been honored to support Williamston and the surrounding communities to help maintain access to care during extremely difficult circumstances following the local hospital’s abrupt closure in 2023. Strong partnerships among hospitals, EMS agencies and other community organizations are essential to providing high-quality healthcare in rural eastern North Carolina. This moment reflects those partnerships and actions.”