Kenansville, N.C. — ECU Health Duplin Hospital has earned a five-star patient experience rating according to recently released ratings by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This rating underscores the hospital’s commitment to providing exceptional patient care and service.
Achieving this rating has been a central element of ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s strategic plan and demonstrates its dedication to enhancing patient satisfaction and overall experience. To commemorate this milestone, the hospital hosted a ceremony today for team members, acknowledging their invaluable contributions toward this goal and celebrating their commitment to the community.
“In November 2023, our team set a goal to elevate our patient experience from four stars to five stars,” said Jeff Dial, president of ECU Health Duplin Hospital.

“We have dedicated our time and energy to enhancing patient satisfaction through team member engagement and targeted, deliberate improvements. Achieving this five-star recognition reflects our determination and commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to our patients and community. I am incredibly grateful for our team’s hard work and dedication in reaching this milestone.”
CMS uses the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey to determine and publicly report star ratings based on 10 key measures of patient experience. These measures include communication with nurses, communication with doctors, responsiveness of hospital staff, pain management, communication about medicines, discharge Information, cleanliness of the hospital environment, quietness of the hospital environment, overall rating of the hospital and recommendation of the hospital.
“The experience of patients and families is at the heart of safe, highly-reliable human centered rural health care. ECU Health, and our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina, is where compassion, connection and partnerships all come together to create hope, healing and lasting impressions,” said Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert, ECU Health Chief Experience Officer. “This CMS five-star patient experience rating at ECU Health Duplin Hospital signifies to us that our patients trust and value our care. It is the result of an intentional focus on creating truly exceptional loving experiences for our patients and their families. I could not be more proud of the ECU Health Duplin Hospital team.”
CMS created the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help patients, their families and caregivers compare hospitals and other health care facilities, showcasing excellence in health care.