Greenville, N.C. – Jan. 3, 2022 – The joint operating agreement between East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Health is now officially underway, enabling the organizations to create ECU Health and work together to improve health care delivery to the 1.4 million residents of eastern North Carolina.
Under the joint operating agreement, the Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Health will remain separate legal entities, but will integrate under a new, shared brand known as ECU Health. The ECU Health logo will be revealed in the spring and the rebranding process for most Vidant entities and ECU Physicians practices will begin shortly after. Rebranding is expected to take months to complete.
“The new year marks an important and exciting chapter for health care in eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of Vidant Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine. “2022 will be a year of transformation for Vidant and Brody as we create ECU Health and position ourselves as the national academic model for providing rural health care. Together as one, ECU Health will have profoundly positive impacts on the health and well-being of those we serve.”
The two organizations are working together to:
- Evaluate and modify existing practices to improve quality and coordination of care.
- Integrate certain management structures and strategic planning efforts.
- Develop a plan for shared services to support the integrated entity.
- Leverage the capabilities of each organization to advance the collective research and education infrastructure.
- Coordinate philanthropic initiatives.
The joint operating agreement received board approvals in November and became official on Jan. 1, 2022. The agreement provides a structure that allows the two organizations to more effectively and efficiently address current issues facing the region – such as health disparities and care delivery obstacles – while also better anticipating future health care and educational needs.
“The close partnership between Brody and Vidant created a strong foundation upon which to build ECU Health,” said Dr. Jason Higginson, executive dean of Brody. “The ability to combine academic excellence with high-quality, state-of-the-art health care delivery will elevate care, research and education opportunities available to the people of eastern North Carolina. We look forward to continuing to work together and introduce ECU Health to the community later this year.”
Greenville, NC – Dec. 30, 2021 – As Vidant Health continues to respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing spread of the Omicron variant, we are taking steps to ensure the safety of all. Vidant remains focused on efforts to offer COVID-19 testing to the community. The following are the special operating hours for the Greenville COVID testing site. Please note, wait times may be longer than usual due to high demand for COVID-19 tests.
Greenville COVID Testing Site Hours of Operation for New Year’s Weekend:
Friday, Dec. 31 — Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 — Closed
Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022 — Closed
The Greenville COVID Testing Site, located at the corner of Stantonsburg Road and Wellness Center Drive, offers preregistration as well. Those who have preregistered will have access to a separate lane at the testing site, with much of the required paperwork completed in advance.
To preregister, login or sign up for MyChart at mychart.vidanthealth.com, and follow the prompts to register. You must complete eCheck-In to finish scheduling your COVID-19 testing preregistration. Once you have completed eCheck-In, you will receive a barcode which you will need to have when you arrive at the testing site to be directed to the preregistration line. Appointments are available for up to one day in advance and you can only preregister yourself.
In addition to the Greenville COVID Testing Site, there are 13 Vidant locations across the East offering COVID-19 tests by preregistration. For a full list of these sites, visit vidanthealth.com and the link: https://www.ecuhealth.org/covid-19/covid-19-testing-sites/#regional-testing-sites
Media contact:
Stan Cleiland, Vidant Public Relations, 252-351-5602 or [email protected]
COVID-19 testing is covered through the CARES Act and currently there are no out-of-pocket costs to the public. Insurance is not needed for a COVID-19 test at the Greenville site, however, health care organizations must collect and submit insurance information for patients that have it, per the CARES Act.
About Vidant Health
Vidant Health is a mission-driven, 1,708-bed academic health system that annually serves a region of more than 1.4 million people in 29 eastern North Carolina counties. The not-for-profit system is made up of more than 13,000 team members, eight hospitals, home health, hospice, wellness centers, and ECU Health Physicians, a multi-specialty physician and provider group with more than 500 providers in more than 100 practice sites in eastern North Carolina. Vidant is affiliated with The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. As a major resource for health services and education, Vidant’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. For more information, visit VidantHealth.com.
Greenville, NC – Dec. 29, 2021 – As Vidant Health continues to respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing spread of the Omicron variant, we are taking steps to ensure the safety of all. In consultation with infectious disease experts and based on current trends, Vidant is proactively updating visitor guidelines for the health system and adjusting the reopening of the Wellness Center – Greenville.
Vidant continues to strongly encourage masking, vaccinations and boosters, as we all work together to combat COVID-19.
Visitor Guidelines
Effective 8 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 30, Vidant will update its visitor guidelines across the system, including restricted visitation and a new requirement that all visitors wear a hospital-issued mask. Cloth masks will no longer be permitted. Visitors should also be mindful of Vidant’s new screening process and are encouraged to visit VidantHealth.com/checkin to register prior to their visit.
This is an evolving situation and Vidant continues to monitor the spread and examine local data, including COVID-19 cases in our region and in hospitals, and will adjust visitation restrictions accordingly.
For the latest information on Vidant’s visitor restrictions, please visit VidantHealth.com/VisitingVidant.
Wellness Center – Greenville
Originally scheduled to fully reopen on Jan. 1, the Greenville Wellness Center will open with limited services only starting on Jan. 1, such as personal training, private lessons, fitness orientations and tours. The fitness center, indoor track and pool will remain closed for general membership for the time being. Community members signed up to become members of the Greenville Wellness Center will receive additional details directly from the Wellness Center.
Vidant leadership, with guidance from our infectious disease experts, will continue to review the COVID data and spread throughout the coming weeks to determine a date for a full reopening.
The Wellness Centers in Ahoskie and Washington will continue their current operations.
All Vidant Wellness facilities will follow stringent COVID protocols for the safety of all including required masking for all members, visitors and staff, effective Dec. 29.
For more information, please visit https://www.ecuhealth.org/services/wellness-prevention/vidant-wellness-centers/#covid-19-update
Greenville, N.C. – Dec. 3, 2021 – Vidant Health has implemented a new screening process for visitors at Vidant Health hospitals to ensure enhanced safety for all patients, visitors and team members. In partnership with care.ai, a health care Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovator, the new technology allows visitors to complete a convenient contact-free visitor safety screenings before visiting loved ones.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of patients, visitors and team members has remained a top priority,” said Lou Montana-Rhodes, Vice President, Office of Experience, Vidant Health. “This unprecedented time requires thoughtful innovations that help protect those we love and serve. The new Smart Entry™ screening solution developed by care.ai will allow us to work more efficiently and effectively at creating the safest environment possible at all Vidant hospitals.”
Visitors will complete their symptom screenings at VidantHealth.com/checkin, which will provide a QR code on their smart phone device. care.ai’s Smart Entry™ sensors will scan the QR code upon arrival and capture temperature readings in real-time. care.ai’s command center alerts team members to abnormal events as they occur to prevent visitors that may be positive for potential infection from entering.
Once the visitor is cleared for entry, a single day visitor pass is generated. Visitors must complete this process each day they visit. This provides a safe and efficient way to support visitor and patient access, while ensuring everyone entering the facility has been properly screened.
Team members will be on-site to assist visitors with the new screening process. Any visitors that may not have a smartphone to complete the screening process before entering will be able to with the support of team members upon arrival.
“We’re committed to making sure the patients and clients we serve have the information they need to keep them as safe as possible,” said Chakri Toleti, founder and CEO of care.ai. “We’re grateful of our partnership with Vidant Health and have such admiration for the role they play in triaging and controlling this pandemic and are proud to team up with them in this shared fight against COVID-19.”
Today’s approval of a joint operating agreement between the Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Health by the UNC Board of Governors officially allows the two organizations to create ECU Health. After a unanimous approval by the Board of Governors, Chairman Randy Ramsey said, “This is a monumental day for health care in eastern North Carolina.”
The clinical integration will more effectively and efficiently address current issues facing the region — such as health disparities and care delivery obstacles — while also better anticipating future health care and educational needs.
Under the agreement, the Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Health will retain their separate legal entities but will function collaboratively under a shared brand launching in 2022, known as ECU Health. Most Vidant entities and ECU Physicians will operate under the new brand while the Brody School of Medicine’s name will not change. The terms of the agreement are effective Jan. 1, 2022.
“Today’s approval by the UNC Board of Governors allows ECU and Vidant to begin the detailed work to launch a clinically integrated academic health system. We are grateful for their support as we work together to provide quality health care for the residents of eastern North Carolina,” Chancellor Philip Rogers said. “This agreement represents an important milestone in the long-standing affiliation between two entities bound by the same mission as we become ECU Health.”
Most Vidant Health locations, ECU Health Physicians and ECU Physicians will rebrand to ECU Health. However, there are no changes to the employment status or benefits of current employees – and no assets are exchanged – as a result of the joint operating agreement approval.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 12, 2021) – Today, East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Health took the first step in the final approval process in creating ECU Health with a goal of becoming a national academic model for providing rural health care.
ECU’s Board of Trustees approved a joint operating agreement between the Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Health that will enable the two organizations to more effectively and efficiently address current issues facing the region — such as health disparities and care delivery obstacles — while also better anticipating future health care and educational needs.
Under the joint operating agreement, the Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Health will retain their separate legal entities, but will function collaboratively under a new, shared brand launching in 2022, known as ECU Health. Most Vidant entities and ECU Physicians will operate under the new brand while the Brody School of Medicine’s name will not change.
“This agreement represents an important milestone in the long-standing affiliation between two entities bound by the same mission as we work toward the creation of ECU Health,” Chancellor Philip Rogers said. “It signals the point where we can begin to move forward together on our journey to launch a clinically integrated academic health system and deliver on the commitment to provide quality health care for all eastern North Carolinians.”
The agreement also requires approvals from the Vidant Health Board of Directors, ECU Health Medical Center Board of Trustees, the Pitt County Board of Commissioners, and the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. The UNC Board of Governors is expected to consider the agreement for final approval during its Nov. 17-18 meeting.
The majority of Vidant Health’s locations, ECU Health Physicians and ECU Physicians will rebrand to ECU Health. However, there are no changes to the employment status or benefits of current employees – and no assets are exchanged – as a result of the approval of the joint operating agreement.
ECU and Vidant Health announced their intentions to clinically integrate in June when Dr. Michael Waldrum, chief executive officer of Vidant Health and distinguished professor at the Brody School of Medicine, was appointed dean of the Brody School of Medicine. Waldrum continues to serve as CEO of Vidant Health in a dual role that is further outlined by the joint operating agreement.
“Today’s announcement is about the residents of eastern North Carolina and brings into reality the collective vision our two institutions have shared for nearly 50 years,” Waldrum said. “Rebranding Vidant to ECU Health in 2022 further signals and strengthens our commitment to bring the best research, doctors and care to the East. We have proven in recent years, and particularly during the pandemic, what can be accomplished when we focus our energies on the mission to improve the health of eastern North Carolina.”
The joint operating agreement is a legal framework that will allow the work of clinical integration and rebranding to begin in earnest with the purpose of:
- Improving the value of and the access to quality care and providing patients with a more streamlined health care experience.
- More efficiently using clinical staff across the combined operations, regardless of which organization employs them.
- Helping to facilitate new strategies and interventions for the most prevalent health needs of eastern North Carolina.
- Creating operational efficiencies and reducing costs.
- Establishing a shared leadership and governance structure for ECU Health.
Under the terms of the agreement, which will be effective Jan. 1, 2022, the two organizations will work together to:
- Evaluate and modify existing practices to improve quality and coordination of care.
- Integrate certain management structures and strategic planning efforts.
- Develop a plan for shared services to support the integrated entity.
- Leverage the capabilities of each organization to advance the collective research and education infrastructure.
- Coordinate philanthropic initiatives.
“Our mission has not and will not change. How we execute the mission is what is at issue,” said Dr. Jason Higginson, executive dean of the Brody School of Medicine. “We are going to be looking at areas where efficiencies can be built into our process and where value can be added to what we’re doing to improve the final outcome. So rest assured, what Brody is here for and what it stands for is not changing.”
Waldrum noted that the Brody School of Medicine has a rich history of training physicians for North Carolina and that mission will continue as ECU Health serves the 1.4 million residents of eastern North Carolina.
“Through harmonizing our operations wherever possible and building on our unique expertise in caring for rural and underserved communities, ECU Health will set the standard and be a national model for rural health care delivery,” Waldrum said.
About Vidant Health
Vidant Health is a mission-driven, 1,708-bed academic health system serving a region of more than 1.4 million people in 29 eastern North Carolina counties. The not-for-profit system is made up of more than 13,000 team members, nine hospitals including an academic medical center, home health, hospice, wellness centers, and ECU Health Physicians, a multi-specialty physician and provider group with more than 500 providers in more than 100 practice sites in eastern North Carolina. Vidant is affiliated with The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. As the largest employer in the East and a major resource for health services and education, Vidant’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. For more information, visit VidantHealth.com.
About East Carolina University
East Carolina University, or ECU as it’s best known, offers 87 bachelor’s, 68 master’s and 18 doctoral degrees to 28,000 students on its Greenville, North Carolina, campus and through an acclaimed online learning program. ECU also boasts the largest business school enrollment and largest number of new nurses and education professionals produced by a four-year North Carolina university, in addition to the largest studio art program in the state. Located near Atlantic coast harbors where pirates once roamed, ECU adopted the “Pirates” mascot in 1934 for its athletics program and competes in NCAA Division 1. Visit: www.ecu.edu.
The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University was founded more than 40 years ago to increase the supply of primary care physicians serving North Carolina, improve the health status of eastern North Carolina and enhance access of minority and disadvantaged students to a medical education. Each year, the school graduates close to 86 medical students and welcomes about 125 residents and fellows. Brody consistently ranks No. 1 in North Carolina – and in the top 10% nationally – for graduating physicians who practice in-state, practice primary care and practice in rural and underserved areas. It also ranks in the top 10% nationally for graduating Black and Native American physicians.
Greenville, N.C. – Nov. 3, 2021 – Open enrollment is now open for Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance for uninsured community members ages 18-64 and Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) supplemental coverage for Medicare Part A plan members ages 65 and older.
SHIIP helps Medicare beneficiaries compare and enroll in plans that best fit their needs during the open enrollment period and can help identify other Medicare cost savings programs. Changes to Medicare coverage must be made by Dec. 7, 2021, to guarantee coverage will begin without interruption on Jan. 1, 2022.
“Our Access East SHIIP program helps seniors obtain free and unbiased counseling on Medicare health care products,” said Shantell Cheek, director, Access East Uninsured Programs. “It is important that consumers review their options and consult with our experts to avoid hurried and misinformed decisions. Our experts are here to help consumers navigate the complexities associated with insurance.”
Access East’s navigators also help community members seeking health-coverage through North Carolina’s federally funded ACA Healthcare Insurance Marketplace choose the best available plan, complete eligibility and enrollment forms and determine if they qualify for federal assistance to pay for premiums. Access East navigators provide free service through a grant-funded community service and provide impartial free assistance, receiving no commissions regardless of which insurance plan a consumer might choose. About 90 percent of North Carolinians who enrolled last year received financial assistance.
“Our ACA program helps underinsured community members receive access to medical care at competitive rates,” said Cheek. “I would implore all ACA and SHIIP eligible community members to consult with an expert to ensure they are obtaining insurance that meets their individual needs.”
The Annual Open Enrollment period for ACA is from Nov. 1, 2021 to Jan. 15, 2022. To enroll in ACA or speak with a Navigator, visit https://www.accesseast.org/aca-home/.
The enrollment period for SHIIP is Oct. 15, 2021 to Dec. 7, 2021. To learn more about or enroll in SHIIP, please visit https://www.ncdoi.gov/consumers/medicare-and-seniors-health-insurance-information-program-shiip.
Greenville, N.C. – Nov. 2, 2021– Vidant Orthopedics has a new way to keep community members moving thanks to a new robotic knee surgery technology called the ROSA® Knee System offered at Vidant Beaufort Hospital, a campus of ECU Health Medical Center, and ECU Health SurgiCenter in Greenville.
Though recovery times will vary, most patients should be able to drive after two weeks, garden after three to four weeks and golf after six to eight weeks. The ROSA® Knee System is a robotic surgical assistant for total knee replacement. This new technology allows the surgeon to create a plan for the procedure using a 3D model of the patient’s knee, establishing a more precise view and a more customized approach for the patient’s joint anatomy.
“It is important to provide the latest in technologies to our patients and provide them with more options for their care,” said Dr. Deanna Boyette, chief of orthopedics, Vidant Orthopedics. “Along with this new knee replacement technology for in-patient needs, there is also the option to perform ROSA surgery on an outpatient basis, depending upon the individual needs of the patient.”
There have been seven ROSA surgeries performed at ECU Health SurgiCenter in its first week with six more scheduled in the near future.
“The orthopedic surgeons are still performing the knee replacement surgeries, and with the ROSA® Knee System, we can dial in the precision of our knee replacements to levels that meet the individual needs of the patient,” said Dr. Christopher Hasty, orthopedic surgeon at ECU Health SurgiCenter. “This technology allows us to provide the patient with the best knee replacement with maximum results with quick recovery time. Most patients are back to their regular activities within a couple of weeks.”
This total knee replacement technology supports patient care and offers advanced technology in the community so patients do not have to travel long distances to receive this procedure. The team of highly-trained orthopedic surgeons at Vidant Orthopedics is equipped with latest technologies, treatments and surgical techniques and can now perform these surgeries for patients who want to stay close to home.
The need for total knee replacement surgery results when other treatment options no longer provide relief. Unlike traditional total knee replacement methods, prior to surgery, the ROSA Knee takes a series of X-rays that can be used to create a 3D model of a patient’s knee anatomy. This 3D model enables the surgeon to plan the procedure according to the patient’s unique anatomy.
During surgery, ROSA Knee utilizes a camera and optical trackers attached to a patient’s leg to know exactly where the knee is in space. This helps ensure the plan the surgeon put into place is performed as intended. The ROSA Knee functions as an assistant to the surgeon providing the surgeon with data about the knee and helping in the precise positioning of the implant.
Greenville, N.C. – Nov. 02, 2021 – Eligible community members who received their first two Pfizer-BioNTech (also known as Comirnaty) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses at least 6 months ago, or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months ago can now schedule a COVID-19 booster shot appointment through Vidant Health by visiting VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate or calling 252-847-8000.
Vidant is offering booster shots to eligible community members in accordance with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) guidelines. Appointments can be scheduled at Vidant clinics throughout the region.
BOOSTER SHOTS FOR PFIZER & MODERNA VACCINE RECIPIENTS
Community members who initially received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine must wait at least 6 months since their second dose and meet at least one of the below criteria:
- 65 or older
- 18 or older and live in a long-term care facility
- 18 or older, have a medical condition that puts you at high risk for severe COVID-19, and believe the benefit of receiving a booster outweighs the risk of receiving the booster.
- 18 or older, have higher risk of exposure due to work or living situations, and believe the benefit of receiving a booster outweighs the risk of receiving the booster.
BOOSTER SHOTS FOR JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE RECIPIENTS
Community members who initially received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine must be 18 or older and wait at least 2 months from their initial dose.
Studies show that after being vaccinated against COVID-19, protection against the virus may decrease over time and provide less protection against the Delta variant. A booster shot may help increase immune response and improve protection against COVID-19, including the Delta variant.
There are now booster recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for all three available COVID-19 vaccines. Individuals can receive any brand of the COVID-19 vaccine for their booster shot, regardless of which brand they received initially.
THIRD DOSE FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED – PFIZER AND MODERNA ONLY
In addition to the new booster shot eligibility, Vidant previously announced it is closely following CDC guidance to provide third doses to eligible immunocompromised community members. A third dose may prevent serious and possibly life-threatening complications of COVID-19 in immunocompromised people who may not have responded to their initial vaccine series.
Appointments can be scheduled at Vidant clinics and oncology practices throughout the region for community members who meet the below criteria:
- You have had an organ or stem cell transplant.
- You are receiving chemotherapy, other treatment for cancer or tumors, taking biologic agents (Humira, Enbrel, Remicade, etc.), taking high doses of prednisone, or taking similar drugs. Many of these drugs are used for treatment of cancer, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis.
- You have a disease that weakens your immune system (like HIV or a primary immune system disease).
- Your doctor told you that you are immunosuppressed.
The third dose is recommended for immunocompromised individuals at least 28 days after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and is not recommended for those who received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is also identified by its new brand name Comirnaty.
Please continue checking back to VidantHealth.com/Vaccinate for the latest information on Vidant’s vaccine efforts.
Greenville, N.C. – Oct. 19, 2021 – East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Health invite the community to virtually attend the 13th annual José G. Albernaz Golden Apple Distinguished Lecture presented by ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation and Vidant. The event is at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 20. This year’s featured lecturer is Dr. Stephen Trzeciak, who will discuss “Compassionomics” and how 40 seconds of compassion can create a meaningful connection with others.
For the first time, this year’s presentation will be livestreamed on the Vidant Health (@VidantHealthNC) and ECU Brody School of Medicine (@ECUBrodySOM) Facebook pages, where it can be viewed by students, faculty, clinical team members and the general public. Limited in-person attendance is by invitation only to safeguard against COVID-19.
While Trzeciak’s lecture is aimed at clinical community members, including practicing clinicians, residents and medical school students, the lessons around compassion can be applied to all facets of well-being in everyday life.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a considerable toll on all-around well-being,” said Dr. Julie Oehlert, Vidant Health Chief Experience Officer. “At a time when all those that work in health care are tired, stressed and have endured considerable loss, Dr. Trzeciak’s lecture will remind us about the importance of compassion not only for our patients, but each other and ourselves. Compassion is a key ingredient for resilience and well-being not only in health care but in our everyday lives. We are pleased to be able to welcome the community to share in learning about this important topic, which is so relevant for where we are right now.”
Trzeciak is a physician scientist, chief of medicine at Cooper University Health Care and professor and chair of medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. Trzeciak is a practicing intensivist and a National Institutes of Health-funded clinical researcher with more than 100 publications in scientific literature, primarily in the field of resuscitation science.
Currently, Trzeciak’s research is focused on a new field called “Compassionomics,” the study of the scientific effects of compassion on patients, patient care and those who care for patients. He is an author of the best-selling book: “Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference.” For his work in this new field, Trzeciak was awarded the 2019 Influencers of Healthcare Award by The Philadelphia Inquirer.