UNC Health Southeastern Named HEARTSafe Workplace
UNC Health Southeastern Community Mobilization Specialist Tanya Underwood accepted the HEARTSafe Workplace recognition on behalf of UNC Health Southeastern for training the entire workforce in hands-only CPR. Pictured at the award presentation, from left, are Christopher Granger, MD, of Duke University, Underwood, RACE-CARS Trial Clinical Research Associate Tyler Cope, and Lisa Monk of Duke University.
UNC Health Southeastern has been recognized as a HEARTSafe Workplace by the Randomized Cluster Evaluation of Cardiac Arrest Systems, or RACE-CARS Trial.
According to their website, the RACE-CARS Trial “is led by a team of researchers at the Duke Clinical Research Institute in partnership with participating EMS agencies, hospitals, 911-dispatch, fire, rescue, law enforcement agencies, and communities throughout North Carolina. The trial will last seven years and is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. It will evaluate whether a set of customized health system and community-based interventions implemented within North Carolina counties can improve survival to hospital discharge with good neurologic function relative to usual care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.”
Last year, UNC Health Southeastern implemented introductory hands-only CPR classes for all teammates who did not work in a clinical setting and had not already had the course as part of their job training or education. The classes have also been added to orientation for all non-clinical teammates who join the health system.
“When I heard about this initiative, I knew it was something we needed to do not only for our fellow teammates and patients, but for our overall community,” said UNC Health Southeastern President/CEO Chris Ellington. “With our entire workforce now knowledgeable of CPR, we are really ambassadors not only for a safer and more prepared workplace, but for a well-prepared community as well.”
Criteria for the award includes being an intervention county workplace who has taken the action of training all employees in hands-only CPR as well as having an emergency action plan that involves what to do in the event of a cardiac arrest.
UNC Health Southeastern is the first workplace in Robeson County to receive the distinction.
According to RACE-CARS, cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in the United States and can happen to anyone of any age. Last year, North Carolina had 10,000 cardiac arrest cases. Only one in 10 victims survives a cardiac arrest. Training the community in cardiac arrest awareness, CPR, and AED skills can increase survival.
“Learning hands-only CPR with an AED is crucial because it equips non-CPR certified teammates to act swiftly and effectively in a cardiac arrest emergency,” said Antonia Clark, UNC Health Southeastern Department of Learning and Professional Development manager. “The skills learned will enhance the survival for someone in cardiac arrest. In those critical moments, your two hands can become the most powerful tools to save a life. Hands-only CPR plus an AED is easy to learn and effective.”
In addition to training their workforce, UNC Health Southeastern has advocated to add CPR training into the county’s Community Health Needs Assessment so it will be brought forward and considered for more citizens of Robeson County.
