2024: A Year in Review at UNC Health Nash
UNC Health Nash is celebrating another year of delivering outstanding care to the community. By prioritizing quality, safety and an exceptional patient experience, the hospital has experienced notable growth and accomplished many achievements throughout the last year.
Changes and Growth
Growth has been the theme of 2024 for UNC Nash. Several changes are on the horizon to better meet the needs of the community and position UNC Nash as the region’s healthcare leader. Of those changes, the most notable expansion is a new inpatient hospital tower. The tower project is planned in phases, with each step requiring board approval. Construction on the tower would begin in early 2025, lasting approximately 18-24 months. Parking updates and site preparations for the new tower kicked off in October 2024, and details continue to be posted to the UNC Nash website (www.unchealthnash.org/expansion) and social media channels as the project progresses.
The UNC Nash Emergency Department began renovations in late 2024 to enhance patient flow and operations. Upgrades include new patient care areas that allow for more patient privacy and increased efficiency in treating patients in the appropriate setting based on their medical need. Renovations are expected to be complete in early 2025.
UNC Nash also opened a new urgent care clinic on campus, enhancing access to quality healthcare for Nash County and nearby areas. The clinic offers same-day medical care for non-life-threatening conditions, and is staffed by an on-site Medical Provider, Certified Medical Assistants, Medical Office Assistants and Radiology Technologists. This new clinic offers a cost-effective urgent care option for the community with the same compassionate, reliable care that UNC Nash is known for, while also aiming to reduce Emergency Department wait times.
As part of the UNC Nash strategic plan, the hospital worked to become a transfer-in facility for surrounding community hospitals to send their patients in need of services Nash offers. In the first year alone, nearly 500 patients transferred to Nash via surrounding hospitals from the Outer Banks to southern Virginia to the northern Piedmont area.
To enhance safety for patients, visitors and staff, the Nash security team implemented several new measures including the installation of emergency call towers strategically placed throughout all parking areas and state-of-the-art security scanning equipment throughout its facilities.
Through generous donations from staff, medical staff and community members, the UNC Nash Foundation is enabling the hospital to invest in programs that improve the health of the community beyond the four walls of the hospital. Programs such as the community paramedic program, inpatient food pantry, patient assistance and recovery support help to address social determinants of health, improving medical outcomes for the community’s most vulnerable patients and reducing medical costs overall.
The annual Employee Giving Campaign raised more than $123,000 to further these efforts, as well as to support the United Way Tar River Region. Multiple programs reached significant milestones, including the Food Pantry distributing its 1000th food box, and expansion of the Community Paramedic Program with two new paramedics certified in heart failure and diabetes care, enhanced telehealth capabilities and improved education on disease management. For those interested in supporting the Foundation, or learning more about the programs mentioned, visit: www.unchealthnashfoundation.org or contact Kathleen Fleming at kathleen.fleming@unchealth.unc.edu or 252-962-8583.
The hospital provided a wide variety of community health education events, such as the first annual Women’s Heart Fair and the Population Health Education Series, a free monthly lecture series led by UNC Nash medical staff. Additionally, after Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation in western North Carolina, UNC Nash swiftly organized two volunteer teams to support overwhelmed hospitals. Both teams brought relief and support to hospital staff and patients facing the aftermath of the unprecedented tragedy.
Several new providers and specialists were added to the hospital’s medical staff to stabilize or expand service line offerings in heart, cancer, orthopedics / spine, ENT, general surgery, hospice, infectious disease, and primary care. UNC Nash and OIC Family Medical Center also partnered to establish a new pediatrics practice and new OBGYN practice to better meet the needs of the community.
Awards for Exceptional Care
In early 2024, UNC Nash was recognized by Business North Carolina as one of the Top 25 Best Hospitals in the state for the third consecutive year, climbing from 22nd in 2022 to 13th in 2024. The ranking highlights improvements driven by a strategic focus on enhancing healthcare outcomes and addressing social determinants of health.
“Receiving this recognition three years in a row, and improving our ranking each year, shows that our board of commissioners, medical staff and team are all committed to continuous improvement of the quality of care we provide to this community,” said Dr. L. Lee Isley, president and CEO of UNC Health Nash. “A major driver in these improvements is our dyad leadership approach to quality, which designates a physician and nurse leader for every service line to drive unit-specific improvements with involvement and support from every role.”
As part of the annual Hospital Quality Star Ratings, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave UNC Nash four stars, ranking the hospital among the top performing hospitals in the country for the second year in a row. UNC Nash also remained an American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway to Excellence Program and received national recognitions for maternity care, breast care, rehabilitation, stroke and heart care, including being rated for the first time by U.S. News & World Report as “High Performing” in Heart Attack and Heart Failure.
Looking Ahead
As UNC Nash continues on the path of rapid growth and expansion, according to CEO Dr. L. Lee Isley, the overall strategic vision is for the hospital to solidify itself as the region’s market leader, distinguished by ease of access, expanded service offerings, exceptional quality and patient experience, and workforce and community engagement.
“UNC Health Nash has an obligation to the communities we serve, and to ensure that we are providing the right services and highest quality care, right here at home,” Isley stated.
