Each day in hospitals, clinics and other clinical settings across ECU Health, nurses take on roles beyond the medical care they provide – they’re a support person, a patient advocate, offer a hand for food services and help keep rooms clean all while bringing high-quality, compassionate care to patients in eastern North Carolina.
On May 6, to mark the start of National Nurses Week, ECU Health nurses invited board members, executives and other leaders to take part in “Walk-a-Mile with Nursing” to offer the opportunity to shadow a nurse and experience all the different roles that nurses play each and every day at ECU Health hospitals.
“Many of us have experienced the hospital setting through the eyes of a patient or a loved one, but today we got a chance to experience it through the eyes of the people who make high-quality, compassionate care possible at ECU Health: our nurses,” said Chief Nursing Executive Dr. Trish Baise during the roundtable discussion immediately following the three-hour shadowing session at ECU Health Medical Center. “I hope this experience to walk alongside nurses across our hospitals provides an even deeper appreciation for the work they do and the incredible difference it makes in the lives of so many.”
Bob Greczyn, chair of the ECU Health Board of Directors, was one of the guests on the hospital floor during “Walk-a-Mile” and he shadowed nurses on the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at ECU Health Medical Center.
He said taking part in the event gave him the best morning he’s had in a long time. He was most impressed with the way teams – doctors, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists and more – worked together to care for patients on the unit.
“I’ve heard about doing rounds on patients and how the teams work together, but I’ve never actually been able to see it happen. Now I know what happens, and I know they didn’t just do it for my benefit,” Greczyn said. “I want to thank all the nurses who choose to work here for what you do, because it’s really important.”
Walk-a-Mile with Nursing was also held at community hospitals across ECU Health, where participants captured a glimpse of the community-centered care that makes rural hospitals unique. There, they witnessed team members treating neighbors, family and friends – a testament to the power of hands-on nursing in rural communities.
Gary Stanley, ECU Health Chowan Hospital Development Council Board Member and Lead Chaplain for ECU Health Bertie and Chowan, reflected on his experience with the Walk-a-Mile with Nursing event.
“It was truly an incredible experience,” Stanley said. “Nurse Konner Mims exemplified attentiveness, compassion, and respect, fully embracing the ECU Health model of patient- and family-centered care. This experience was profoundly impactful—I am a different chaplain because of it.”
Dr. Michael Waldrum, ECU Health chief executive officer and Dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, and Donette Herring, ECU Health’s chief information officer, both had the opportunity to return to their clinical roots prior to their leadership roles.
Dr. Waldrum shadowed Carolina Pena, staff nurse III, on the Medical Intensive Care Unit at ECU Health Medical Center. As an intensivist for many years, he said it was great experience to be back at his “home.” He was grateful for the opportunity to shadow Pena and see the heart of ECU Health nursing on display with care, compassion and excellence.
Herring visited the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Medical Center. It was a fitting return for her as she said the intensive care unit was her last unit in a clinical role before she transitioned to leadership. She said she wasn’t sure what to expect for the day, but she was grateful to be welcomed in by the unit and have open, honest conversations with the team. She said her biggest takeaway from the day was the importance of taking time to listen to the experiences of nurses and understand their needs.
Pena said she felt this event was important to connect nurses with leadership and non-nursing team members to have their voices heard.
“This was so important to have, because as a nursing staff we go through a lot with patients, doctors, family members and everyone. We never really know if anyone is going to hear our concerns,” Pena said. “I know Dr. Waldrum has been an intensivist before, he knows what happens in our unit, but just having him there, hearing our concerns, seeing our patients, asking questions, it really gives us a sense that we’re being listened to and that we matter. I think that’s very important for our nurses.”
Overall, the event served as the perfect way to kick off National Nurses Week. Other events focused on celebrating nurses and their contributions to high-quality care unfolded throughout the week, and the Walk-a-Mile experience provided a first-hand understanding of just how powerful nurses are in a patient’s life.
“Today has far exceeded my expectations in terms of turnout and the genuine desire to connect, understand and walk a mile with nursing team members,” Baise said. “I’ve done this in previous roles, and there is more enthusiasm today than I’ve seen before, and I think it speaks to the authentic nature of everyone in this system. I’m so grateful for the nurses and units who hosted everyone today and sharing their work with everyone here.”
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Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health Medical Center is expanding advanced heart care with two new, state-of-the-art technologies for transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement. The new technologies – EVOQUE™, a first-of-its-kind transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, and TriClip G4™, a minimally invasive clip procedure designed to reduce tricuspid valve leakage – offer new hope for patients previously ineligible for surgery, providing significant symptom relief and improved quality of life.
“These new procedures represent a major advancement in the treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation, offering hope to patients who previously had limited options,” said Dr. Paul Mahoney, section chief, interventional cardiology, director, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, East Carolina Heart Institute. “With the EVOQUE valve replacement and the TriClip G4, we can now provide effective, minimally invasive solutions that reduce symptoms and improve heart function without the need for open-heart surgery. This is a significant step forward in improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with TR.”
Tricuspid valve regurgitation affects more than 1.5 million people in the U.S. and occurs when the tricuspid valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward. This condition forces the heart to work harder, potentially leading to heart failure. Risk factors include heart disease, atrial fibrillation (AFib), pulmonary hypertension, prior chest radiation therapy and structural valve damage. Symptoms can range from fatigue and shortness of breath to swelling in the abdomen, legs or neck veins.
Traditionally, treatment options were limited to diuretics for symptom management, with surgical intervention reserved for only the healthiest patients or those already undergoing left-sided valve surgery. However, with recent advancements, including the FDA-approved TriClip G4 and EVOQUE valve replacement, patients now have access to innovative, minimally invasive options that can significantly improve heart function and overall well-being.
“It is critical that patients in eastern North Carolina have access to the latest innovations in heart care close to home, so they do not have to travel far for cutting-edge treatment options,” said Dr. John Catanzaro, John “Jack” Rose Distinguished Professor and chief of the Division of Cardiology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, and director of the East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU Health Medical Center. “Our commitment to bringing the most advanced cardiac treatments to this region ensures that patients receive high-quality, life-changing care without unnecessary delays or burdens. I am proud of our heart and vascular care teams who continue to advocate for patients in our region and ensure they receive world-class treatment right here at ECU Health.”
ECU Health team members who participated in these groundbreaking procedures include Dr. Mahoney, Dr. Catanzaro, Dr. Melissa Moey, Dr. Wiley Nifong, Dr. Michael Bates and Dr. Brian Cabarrus. To learn more about ECU Health Heart & Vascular Care, please visit ECUHealth.org/Heart.
Rebecca Zelnar, a staff nurse III in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU), loved being a travel nurse, and after working for a Florida health system for nearly 20 years, she thought she’d never find a staff position that was as fulfilling. That all changed when she came to ECU Health Medical Center, where she now feels at home.
The Gainesville, Florida native knew early on she wanted to be a nurse.
“I was a candy striper, and in high school I knew I wanted to be a nurse; but then things happened in my family to where I couldn’t go to college right out of high school,” she said. “I got a job and got married, had kids. I worked in the legal field. But nursing nagged at me. In my mid-to-late-twenties, I went back to school. I worked a paper route and as a CNA to pay for school, and I graduated top of my class 24 years ago. I just knew that was what I wanted to be. I went right into the ICU and never looked back.”
She worked at the University of Florida Shands Hospital in the trauma unit for 18 years. “I love critical care. I worked in the surgical trauma ICU at UF and loved it. I love that patient population, and I loved being a part of making science at a teaching hospital,” she said.
Then the pandemic happened, and Zelnar said she saw that as an opportunity to make a change. “My husband and I bought a camper and moved into that, with plans to travel at some point, but then the pandemic came and there was an opportunity for nurses to go to New York City and help,” Zelnar explained. “I asked the Lord if that’s what He wanted me to do. Twenty hours later, I was a Covid nurse in New York.”
Her experience in New York was challenging, but her previous experience in critical care and her work in the ICU float pool prepared her for working in different settings. “There was a lot of fear [in New York]; it was terrible times. I saw how weary those nurses were, and I wanted to be a relief to them. It taught me to rely on my skills in the moment.”
After her time in New York, Zelnar traveled to Texas and worked as a travel nurse in El Paso, Corpus Christi, San Antonio and McAllen before coming to ECU Health in 2021. Her daughter lives in Rocky Mount, and Zelnar said it was nice being closer to her. “I worked in central staffing for the ICU, and I thought I’d just continue traveling when my contract was up,” she said. “But as that time approached, I realized I couldn’t bear leaving this family I’d come to know. It brought me to tears to think about leaving.”
Zelnar said she talked with her husband and she prayed about it, and after talking with the manager of patient care services in the PACU, Amy Sawyer, she decided she wanted to stay. “Amy had a PACU position open, and I accepted the job immediately,” Zelnar said.
“Rebecca brought the knowledge she had gained from working in multiple PACUs,” Sawyer said. “Shared knowledge is so valuable because we always aspire to learn and grow in the nursing profession. Rebecca is compassionate and her patient care is extraordinary. She always advocates for the best possible care for her patients, and she’s been an amazing addition to our family.”
Part of what enticed her to stay were the leadership and staff she worked with every day as a traveler. “I liked the overall friendliness of the staff towards travelers; they didn’t treat you differently. I liked how the nurses cared for each other. It’s a big family, and people are caring and compassionate. It made me want to be a part of their team.” That sentiment stuck with Sawyer. “Rebecca had been traveling for a while but missed the sense of belonging somewhere. She felt that she truly belonged here at ECU Health,” she said.
Rebecca also highlighted the skill set of her colleagues. “The talent of nurses in this unit is very high. It’s the best group of nurses I’ve worked with for long time. It’s the best management team I’ve ever worked with, and I love being a part of the PACU and all their initiatives.”
When asked if she’d recommend ECU Health as a permanent home for other travel nurses, she didn’t hesitate to answer. “I would definitely recommend ECU Health,” she said. “I’m actually recruiting my daughter-in-law, who is a nurse, and my son, to move here from Florida so she can work here. There is a lot to offer for nurses – professional councils, Magnet designation – it’s definitely a place to develop professionally.”
Zelnar said she’s settled in and plans to get her perioperative certification and serve on the unit council, something she hasn’t done in a long time due to being a traveler. “It just feels right,” she said. “I want to work at the bedside and take care of patients, and I love going to work. We moved the camper here and plan to eventually buy some land and maybe build a tiny home. I hope to spend many years at ECU Health.”
Greenville, N.C. – Radio listeners in eastern North Carolina have an opportunity to make a life-changing difference for hospitalized children during the 28th annual “Music for Miracles” radiothon. This two-day event will take place March 27-28 on 107.9 WNCT, along with Inner Banks Media’s other stations: Talk 96.3 and 103.7, Oldies 94.1 and 102.7, and 94.3 The Game. The funds raised through the radiothon will support the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center, which serves pediatric inpatient and outpatient needs across a 29-county region in eastern North Carolina.
“The Radiothon stands out as one of our most significant annual events, and we are incredibly thankful for the unwavering commitment of the team at 107.9 WNCT and Inner Banks Media,” said Elise Ironmonger, director of programs, ECU Health Foundation.
“Broadcasting live for 12 hours over two consecutive days is no small feat, and it’s supported by extensive preparation and behind-the-scenes efforts. This event wouldn’t be possible without the collaboration of hospital leaders, team members, and, most importantly, the brave miracle children and their families who share their heartfelt stories. We encourage everyone to tune in and be inspired by the incredible impact taking place every day at Maynard Children’s Hospital.”
Since its inception in 1998, the event has raised over $3.9 million, all of which goes directly to enhancing the programs and services of Maynard Children’s Hospital. These funds help purchase life-saving medical equipment, support patient and team member education, provide diversionary items to comfort children and normalize the hospital experience and contribute to building new state-of-the-art facilities.
“Once again, we are thrilled to have the radiothon on all our IBX Media stations to raise funds for James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital. It’s the highlight of our year to support the children’s hospital,” said Henry Hinton, president, Inner Banks Media. “I’ve personally had a grandson who needed care there, and it is a true blessing for all of eastern North Carolina to have it here. We’re looking forward to two exciting days and hope everyone will participate as they are able.”
Listeners can tune in to 107.9 WNCT to enjoy 12 hours of live broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both March 27 and 28, with additional segments airing intermittently across other Inner Banks Media stations. To support this vital cause, please call 1-800-673-5437 or visit www.GiveToCMN.com.
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ECU Health is advancing pediatric surgical care in eastern North Carolina by introducing robotic-assisted surgery, a cutting-edge approach that enhances precision, improves outcomes and expands minimally invasive options for children in the region.
Dr. Courtney Harris, a pediatric surgeon at ECU Health, recently performed the health system’s first pediatric robotic-assisted cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal).
“Robotic surgery is still relatively new in pediatric care, and it offers significant advantages for both surgeons and patients,” said Dr. Harris. “The enhanced range of motion, improved precision and advanced imaging technology allow for a more refined approach, leading to better outcomes.”
Robotic-assisted procedures enhance precision with robotic arms that offer wrist-like movement. This technology provides greater dexterity, similar to open surgery, while preserving the benefits of a minimally invasive approach.
With extensive experience in robotic procedures, Dr. Harris has collaborated closely with Dr. Shannon Longshore, the division chief of pediatric surgery and medical director of the pediatric trauma program at ECU Health Medical Center, and the surgical team to bring this technique to ECU Health.
“Bringing this technology to ECU Health means we can offer our youngest patients the latest advancements in surgical care right here in eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Longshore. “We’re excited about the possibilities this opens up for pediatric surgery and are committed to expanding access to these innovative procedures.”
Robotic-assisted surgery builds on the strengths of traditional laparoscopic techniques, offering enhanced precision and efficiency, with some procedures completed more quickly. The technology reduces physical strain on surgeons, supporting long-term physician wellness. Both techniques offer similar incision sizes and recovery times.
“The introduction of pediatric robotic surgery at ECU Health marks a significant step forward in expanding minimally invasive surgical options for children,” said Tara Stroud, vice president of Women’s and Children’s Services, James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. “ECU Health continues to drive innovation in pediatric surgical care, ensuring that children in the region have access to the highest quality treatments available.”
For Melissa and Jimmy Worrell, their love story started with a horse. Melissa, a horse trainer and riding instructor at the time, met Jimmy when he brought his horse to the barn where she worked. That chance encounter led to marriage in 1988, a move from New Jersey to North Carolina and a life filled with love, adventure and raising their quadruplets.
But in recent years, their journey took an unexpected turn. Jimmy was diagnosed with kidney disease and placed on the transplant waiting list. For nearly eight years, he waited, knowing that each passing day brought him closer to dialysis—a life-sustaining but time-consuming treatment that filters waste from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do so.
“Dialysis is a lifeline for many patients, but machines just cannot do the work of an organ that works automatically, 24/7,” said Dr. David Leeser, professor and chief of transplantation at ECU Health Medical Center. “We know that when a patient is transplanted, they gain a tremendous boost to their quality of life, and they will live longer as well. Transplantation is by far the best available renal replacement therapy available to patients with kidney failure.”
Throughout the process, doctors frequently asked if he had identified a potential donor. Jimmy never asked Melissa to consider donating, but she made the decision on her own.
“I knew I was O-negative, so I figured I’d at least get tested,” Melissa said. “I thought, well, I had to at least try.”
The couple was shocked to learn she was a perfect match.
Throughout the process, Melissa was supported by a donor advocate at ECU Health—someone who had been through the experience and could provide firsthand insight. She believes this kind of support is crucial for potential donors.
“When you’re thinking about doing this, it’s good to talk to someone who has been there,” Melissa said. “It’s reassuring to know that life goes on and that we’ll both live normal, healthy lives.”
Their transplant surgery was successfully completed Nov. 12, 2024. Melissa, now a recreational therapist and volunteer with Team River Runner in Wilmington, which provides veterans and active-duty military with healing opportunities on the water, specifically outrigger canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and rowing, took time off to recover. Jimmy returned to work earlier than expected, eager to get back to normal life. More importantly, the transplant has given them back their active lifestyle.
“Before, if I asked him to go for a walk, he’d say, ‘I can’t do that,’” Melissa said. “Now, we can do things together again. It’s a big change.”
The couple enjoys boating along the Intracoastal Waterway, dining out, going for walks and simply spending time together. Beyond her personal experience, Melissa hopes to raise awareness about living kidney donation.
“It’s amazing how something so small can make such a big difference in someone’s life,” she said. “People are often surprised when they hear what I did, like I was risking my own health. But the doctors wouldn’t have allowed it if I wasn’t okay. I think if more people heard these stories, they might consider donating. I especially want to thank the friendly and caring transplant team at ECU Health, who provided great pre and post care.”
For the Worrells, this journey has deepened their bond and given them a renewed appreciation for the simple joys of life. Now, with Jimmy’s health improved, they’re looking forward to many more years of adventure together.
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In 1984, Jaimie Yahnker faced a decision: move to North Carolina with his parents or stay in Long Island, New York.
“Here I was fresh out of high school,” Jaimie recalled. “I went to a school for individuals with cerebral palsy, which incorporated physical therapy and the like into your education, so I graduated when I was 20. After graduation, I decided to move with my parents to North Carolina, which was the best decision I could have made.”
Jaimie was one of seven children, and three of his other siblings also lived in North Carolina. In November of that year, Jaimie was hired by ECU Health Medical Center, then Pitt County Memorial Hospital, and he’s never looked back.
Jaimie’s first job with the system was at the Information Desk, but when that didn’t work out, his connection to what was then called the Education Department through his sister, who also worked at the hospital, landed him a position putting together orientation packets for new team members on a part time basis.
“That went well, and I stayed in that role until I lived in North Carolina for a year and achieved my residency,” he said. At that point, Jaimie knew he wanted to go to school, so he attended Pitt Community College in the morning while working in the education department during the afternoons. “That’s how I got my degree in human services,” Jaimie said.
After graduation, Jaimie applied and interviewed for several different jobs. “No one was hiring,” he said. It was about that time, also, that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, something ECU Health’s then human resources (HR) director Charles Fennessy and the hospital’s HR department knew about and supported.
“He [Charles] was determined to help me all he could,” Jaimie said. “He saw the fire in me. He knew I was trying hard to find work and not getting offers, so he found a full-time position in the Insurance Department under Financial Services, and I worked in that department for nine or 10 years.” During this time, Jaimie also went back to Pitt Community College to get his degree in human resources.
Jaimie enjoyed his work, but he didn’t enjoy being in a cubicle all day. “I’m a people person,” he said. At the same time, Jaimie tore both of his rotator cuffs after walking with forearm crutches for years, an injury that required surgery to repair the damage.
“I knew Dave McRae [the chief executive officer at the time], and I told him I wasn’t sure how my recuperation would go, but that if I could return to work, I didn’t want to be in a cubicle,” he said. After Jaimie’s surgery, McRae helped him find a clinical support position at the front desk in the Rehabilitation department, where he worked first under Martha Dixon, and later with Wanda Bennett.
“Later I worked in hospitality (now called experience) where I stayed for a few years and through COVID,” Jaimie said. “The new rehab director, Dr. Felicia Collins, asked me to come back to their department and I’ve been here ever since.”
While he’s served in several positions across the hospital, Jaimie said he likes his current role because, “I am a good role model for the patients and their family members. They see me do what I am doing, and they think they can also be successful.”
Jaimie also enjoys the people he works with. “They are a great team, very supportive,” he said. “I saw one of our recreational therapists here as a patient, when she had Guillain Barre, and just like me, she had therapy here and was inspired to come back and work. I’m very happy in rehab.”
While he gets asked from time to time when he plans to retire, he has no intentions to leave anytime soon. “Working gives me a reason to get out of bed. I have responsibilities, and I’m comfortable here. It’s the best for my personality.”
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ECU Health recently hosted the Provider Patient Choice Awards at a luncheon honoring more than 200 ECU Health providers.
The Provider Patient Choice Awards recognize ECU Health providers who rank in the top 10% in the nation in the Watson Human Caring[1] question for “Creating a caring environment that helped me heal.”
Attendees, both in-person and virtual, heard from ECU Health leadership as they thanked the winners for their work and discussed how compassionate care impacts patients, families and the health system. ECU Health CEO and Dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Dr. Michael Waldrum said there is no greater honor than being recognized by the patients and community members a provider serves.
“We teach medical students and nurses about all of the technicalities and the hard work that it takes to take care of other humans,” Dr. Waldrum said. “However, one of the most important elements of excellence in providing health care is connecting with other people and caring. We know the data is very clear, it’s been shown many times that the better connection you have with that patient, the better they do. They’ll take their medications, they’ll follow your advice and their outcomes are better.”
He also noted that with expanding technologies and societal changes, the connection aspect in health care is needed now as much as ever and acknowledged a shift toward even more compassionate care in recent years. He expressed deep gratitude for the care teams making caring environments for patient and their families a priority.
Dr. Jason Foltz, chief medical officer with ECU Health Physicians, shared that the morning of the event, he had multiple visits with patients who did not have medical needs, but just needed someone to talk to about anxieties around medications or upcoming procedures. He said these interactions with patients and families are just as important, if not more important, than the medical care he provides.
“These are our patients and what they need is what you all provide them, which is a listening ear and the fact that you choose to care,” Dr. Foltz said. “At the heart of all this, everything we do—we’re just people serving people. That’s what today is about, to recognize and highlight that amazing spirit you bring and what really makes ECU Health, ECU Health.”
Dr. James Powell, a Patient Choice Award recipient, agreed with Dr. Foltz about the heart of a provider’s work. He said his team makes all the difference by starting each visit with a warm smile and a helping hand for patients.
He said he was excited to share the award with his team and recognize them for going above and beyond and developing positive patient relationships, which he uses for the foundation of each visit.
“We’ve been truly blessed, because we have a wonderful head nurse who has really created a good vibe among the staff as they go through day-to-day work. I’m sure a lot of you feel the same way about your staff,” Dr. Powell said. “When patients are calling, they’re calling because they need something. The something that they get is an answer to that question but a lot of times, it’s also just something that helps to calm them down and to make them feel good about things. I think that we’d really be remiss on a day like today if we didn’t think about the staff with whom we work, who really allow us to do what we do every day.”
ECU Health Chief Experience Officer Dr. Julie Kennedy Oehlert served as Master of Ceremonies for the event and encouraged providers to take their award boxes – filled with a plaque, stickers, star pins and more – and share them with their teams who support them every day.
She said during the event that the awards are truly special because they come from the patients these providers serve.
“The patients really showed us that you create a caring environment,” Dr. Oehlert said. “As much as you love them, they love you right back. We just want to thank you all for everything you do every day and recognize that the patients think you are amazing.”
About ECU Health Patient Choice Awards
Established in 2023, Patient Choice Awards recognize and honor ECU Health team members and providers for their dedication, effort and support to eastern North Carolina and the patients and families ECU Health serves. Winning teams and providers are chosen based upon commentary and feedback collected from patient surveys. Recognition events are held throughout the system in the fall and winter to showcase the people and teams who go above and beyond in support of our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
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Teams across ECU Health recognized by patients with Patient Choice Awards
[1] Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is a foundation of patient care and focuses on the importance of the interpersonal relationship between a caregiver and care receiver. The theory states that this relationship helps not only the person receiving care, but the caregiver as well.
Community leaders, elected officials and eastern North Carolina residents came together on Jan. 20 for the 28th annual Community Unity Breakfast, hosted by the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce.
The event brings together the community to reflect upon the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while celebrating and expanding diversity initiatives in Greenville and Pitt County.
ECU Health sponsored the event along with other organizations in the area and had the opportunity to present a speaker. Brian Floyd, chief operating officer of ECU Health, represented the system and shared a few words.
Floyd said the word that stands out to him the most during Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is love. He related harmony in a community to the harmony couples seek in relationships with others.
“The hardest thing sometimes is to put ourselves aside in the interest of someone else,” Floyd said. “Yet, relationships and marriages are hard – and that’s when you choose to be with someone you share common values, beliefs and interests with. If we can see that, then certainly we must recognize that living in a community and being in harmony together requires a little bit of work and self-reflection.”
He said ECU Health is proud to see unity in nine hospitals and more than 225 clinics across the health system each day through the life-saving care team members provide. The 1.4 million people ECU Health serves and the 15,000-plus team members are all unique, but care and love is the same.
Floyd also said training students from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and nursing students from ECU and other local colleges is a privilege and opportunity to pass on the importance of love and care for patients.
“If you read behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., you’ll note that love is at the core of the unifying work of bringing people together. We all want to come together and do this really important work to love and care for eastern North Carolina,” Floyd said. “If you ever see the life-saving moments, when our team of 15 or 20 excellent, well-trained people come together around a patient, it always fascinates me how different they all are. They look different, they sound different, they come from incredibly different places and backgrounds. Yet they work in really great harmony in those urgent crisis moments because the need of the patient is coming first.”
Portia Willis, Greenville City Council member, gave the keynote speech during the event. Willis is also the co-founder of Young Scholars and Leaders Institute. Chad Tucker, director of Volunteer Services at ECU Health Medical Center, serves as co-chair of the Community Unity Planning Committee and introduced Willis.
Willis spoke on a number of topics during the event but came back to the refrain that the answer to challenges we face are in the communal “us.” From issues we might face on a team, in business or as a community, it’s on us to come together and work toward solutions.
“This morning, we’re reminded not only of the words of Dr. King, but the example he set. Today is a call to action, a vision of equality and a commitment to the higher ideals of justice, peace and unity,” Willis said. “Dr. King once said, ‘Life’s most persistent question is: What are you doing for others?’ Today as we reflect on those words, we’re reminded that service is not only an affect, but it’s a way of life.”
It’s been a year since the state of North Carolina passed Medicaid Expansion, bringing with it much-needed coverage and financial reprieve for the communities ECU Health serves.
North Carolina’s former governor, Roy Cooper says “One year of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, ECU Health CEO and Brody School of Medicine’s dean. “As we celebrate this moment. We’re proud to say we’re building the national model for rural health care right here in eastern North Carolina.”
That model depends on Medicaid Expansion and affordable access to care.
“It is a comprehensive health benefit where you can go see a primary care provider, have it covered,” said Kody Kinsley, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “Where you can have pharmacy, vision and dental and a copay that is never more than four dollars.”
Cost-effective health care is an important component, but it’s not the only one. ECU Health’s Dr. Karen Coward states “This is the power of Medicaid expansion. It’s not just about providing coverage, it’s about dignity.”
And peace of mind for the patients who need it most. Medicaid Expansion beneficiary and ECU Health patient, Darcy Guill spoke during the event.
“Sixteen years ago, I found myself unable to work and I lost my health insurance,” Guill said. “For the next 15 years, I was either uninsured or under insured.”
Her inconsistent coverage hit home in a different way following a car accident.
“I was hospitalized for two months right here at ECU Health,” Guill said. “I knew I was going to be uninsured again and I didn’t know what to do and I was terrified.”
That panic subsided when she realized share now had another option.
“It didn’t dawn on me at first that it was going to include me but it did,” she said. “Medicaid is literally saving my life. I am the person that benefitted from it and I am no different than all the other people that could benefit.”