ECU Health has been a leader in innovation throughout its journey as a health system. During the rebranding process in January 2022, Dr. Armistead noted that the Omicron variant surge from the pandemic posed significant challenges for the health system. This period was marked as the most challenging month of the pandemic, with healthcare workers under immense pressure to treat critically ill patients. Despite these difficulties, Dr. Armistead expressed pride in how ECU Health has evolved into a dynamic and positive environment dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
ECU Health’s community-focused approach played a critical role in navigating through the pandemic by establishing strong partnerships with the community. Now, with a new focus on addressing chronic diseases prevalent in the region, ECU Health is taking strategic initiatives to combat these challenges and improve health outcomes for the population.
Hickey, on the other hand, emphasized ECU Health’s efforts to reach out to vulnerable populations across the 29-county region served by them. With many social determinants of health posing significant challenges in the area, partnerships have been instrumental in bridging gaps and ensuring that community members have access to essential healthcare services. Hickey stressed that issues like transportation and access to food significantly impact an individual’s health status.
ECU Health ensures that patients are met where they are by implementing systems in community hospitals, fulfilling their commitment to providing quality care tailored to their needs. COVID-19 has further underscored this need for collaborative approaches towards addressing health disparities.
Overall, innovation has been at the forefront of ECU Health’s journey as they continue to evolve and adapt to meet changing needs while remaining committed to improving health outcomes for eastern North Carolina communities.