New Technology and Approaches to Heart Care Prompt Service Changes
With an average of only three open-heart cases being performed in Lumberton each month, UNC Health Southeastern will discontinue local open-heart surgery, specifically coronary artery bypass grafting, known as CABG, by the end of 2025. The local health system will continue to perform all other heart-related procedures using the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Cardiovascular Operating Room (CVOR), including emergency and planned stent placement and coronary angioplasties, which are commonly used as interventions to treat clogged blood vessels when patients arrive in an emergency department with symptoms of a heart attack.
Anyone who may be experiencing symptoms of a heart attack should call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency department, including UNC Health Southeastern, where all types of interventions appropriate for heart attack symptoms are still available, including cardiac catheterization, emergency management or medication management.
“When we looked at the numbers, it was evident that this is not a service we can sustain, especially with the ever-changing healthcare landscape and policy impacts,’” said UNC Health Southeastern President and CEO Chris Ellington. “Advances in technology and medical interventions for heart disease have also contributed to the lower numbers of patients requiring open-heart surgery, which involves opening the chest wall and using a heart and lung machine to keep the heart pumping throughout the surgery.”
Along with cardiac catheterization and vascular services, UNC Health Southeastern will continue to invest in heart care and maintain the most clinically complex rural program in the region. The clinical offerings provided by UNC Health Southeastern include UNC Health Southeastern Cardiology and Cardiovascular Care, located on the campus of Biggs Park Mall, with satellite clinics in Pembroke and Gray’s Creek, as well as services offered at the medical center, including our cardiac catheterization lab, interventional cardiology, and electrophysiology.
UNC Health Southeastern has offered all current physicians as well as advanced practice providers the opportunity to continue their affiliation with the local clinic, UNC Health Southeastern Cardiology and Cardiovascular Care, and they will perform procedures and surgeries at the hospital utilizing the Cath Lab, CVOR and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Robeson County native Cardiologist Chris Walters, MD, is among those who have committed to continuing their affiliation with the local clinic.
Ellington said this decision was not related to quality of care, staff, or clinician competency. “While the volumes needed to properly sustain such a program have not manifested over time, outcomes from the program were better than national averages and the team recently received quality awards,” he added.
In addition to a new cardiology fellowship program that launched in early July, UNC Health Southeastern has recruited several new physicians this summer, including Cardiologist John Brooks, MD, and Interventional Cardiologists Ishtiaque Mohiuddin, MD and Muhammad Junaid Ahsan, MD.
In 2025, UNC Health Southeastern earned the American College of Cardiology (ACC) NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award. This award recognizes consistent, guideline-driven care and outstanding clinical outcomes for patients with acute myocardial infarction.
The hospital’s cardiac team also made significant strides in reducing contrast-induced acute kidney injury (AKI), especially among high-risk populations. By adopting low-contrast protocols during interventional procedures, clinicians improved patient safety and reduced post-procedure complications. These efforts reflect a deep commitment to continuous quality improvement and evidence-based practice, which will continue as the program evolves.
The program also boasted a low cardiovascular mortality rate, consistently outperforming national benchmarks, and maintains 4-star ratings in the ACC’s Cath PCI Registry. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, UNC Health Southeastern ensured timely interventions, patient-centered care, and efficient transitions from inpatient to outpatient settings.
UNC Health Southeastern was also listed as a critical access point for cardiovascular services in the region and was recognized in the 2024–2025 U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access and High Performing in Heart Attack and Heart Failure, along with five other adult conditions.
“The long history of caring for the region with clinical excellence will continue to be offered through our local health system,” Ellington said. “These transitions mark a new chapter for UNC Health Southeastern, one defined by increased local ownership, strengthened partnerships, and a clear focus on building sustainable, high-quality care for our community. We will remain focused on ensuring uninterrupted care, strengthening internal capabilities, and advancing long-term service excellence in collaboration with UNC Health.”
