ECU Health announces 2024 Board Quality Leadership Award winners

Greenville, North Carolina – The 2024 ECU Health Board Quality Leadership Award winners were recognized by the ECU Health Board of Directors on June 25, 2024. These winning teams are a representation of the great work across the board. system that drives the quality goal of zero harm, creates exceptional experiences and improves patient outcomes. Many applications were reviewed by the committee and the winning team is as follows:

ECU Health Medical Center – Removing CAUTIs in the neuroscience ICU: a collaborative approach. The project leads were: Natasha Drake, BSN, RN, CCRN – NSICU Nurse Manager, Vikram Bhinder, MD – NSICU Medical Director, and Aimee Dunn, BSN, RN, CCRN, SCRN – NSICU Staff IV Nurse. Team members were: Sarah James, BSN, RN, CCRN – NSICU Assistant Nurse Manager, Morgan McGraw, BSN, RN – NSICU CAUTI Representative and Erin Pearson, BSN, RN – Medical Center Office of Quality ECU health.

ECU Health Chowan Hospital – Prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in hospitals. The project leads were: Courtnay Hale, BSN, RN – Manager of Critical Care/MedSurge, Dana Byrum, DNP – Vice President, Patient Care Services and Matthew Rapp, MD – Hospital Director and Beverly Venters, MSN – Director of the quality. Team members were: Brittany Proctor, BSN, RN, Pam Ward, ICP, Katie Hall, QNSIII.

ECU Health Ambulatory – ECU Health Bertie – Family Medicine, Windsor – Improve diabetes management in outpatient settings. The project leaders were: Kristin Woodard, MSN, RN – Nurse Education Specialist, Phillip Harris, MD and Kelsey Gurganus, MSN, RN – Family Medicine Manager, Windsor. Team members included: Erica Ford, PA, Teddie Gore, NP, Jesse Ann Hamilton, NP and all staff at Family Medicine, Windsor.

To receive this honor, team members submitted projects that demonstrated at least two of the following requirements:

• Quantifiable improvement of an organizational quality priority with sustained excellence over time
• Demonstration of empathy and compassion in patient care
• Implementing innovative solutions to patient care problems
• Community outreach that addresses social determinants of health in meaningful ways

“We are proud of our teams who are dedicated to improving patient care in Eastern North Carolina,” said Robert Greczyn, chairman of the ECU Health Board of Directors. “The Board Quality Leadership Awards symbolize the excellence and compassion our team members demonstrate every day as they care for our patients throughout our region. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are grateful to all members of the ECU Health team for their tireless efforts to ensure excellence in rural care and to help us fulfill our mission to improve health and the well-being of the region.