UNC Health Southeastern Celebrates Growth in 2024
Throughout 2024, UNC Health Southeastern experienced numerous successes and enhancements to services, in addition to being recognized nationally for achievements in quality and access.
In March 2024, the first of a number of orthopedic specialists, Dr. James Slauterbeck, joined UNC Health Southeastern in an effort to grow the orthopedic and sports medicine programs. As the year progressed, the program welcomed Sports Medicine Specialist Dr. Adebayo, Pain Medicine Specialist Dr. Abdou, and Orthopedic Podiatrist Dr. Carter. To enhance the patient experience, Orthopedic Physician Assistant Courtney Enos transition from the clinic to a hospital-based model for surgical patient support.
In April 2024, UNC Health Southeastern’s Carolina Complete Rehabilitation moved to the campus of UNC Health Southeastern Fitness Center on Fayetteville Road in Lumberton. The renovated 10,000-square-foot rehab center offers easier, first-floor access with check-in area at entrance; more convenient parking closer to the building; and a covered canopy for patient drop off/pick up during inclement weather. Patients also have access to therapeutic aquatic rehab in a pool exclusively for rehabilitation patients, as well as convenient access to UNC Health Southeastern Fitness Center equipment as part of their rehab, and to transition patients once their formal therapy is complete.
The new facility is 4,000 square feet larger than the previous location, almost doubling what was available at the Southeastern Health Park location. It offers four more exam rooms than the previous location, for a total of 10, and features new equipment and more equipment, including two new high/low tables that can easily be adjusted to accommodate patients’ needs; one new bariatric table; two new Scifit Upper Body Ergometers; and three new Scifit Steppers for patients to use for warm ups with swiveling and removable seats to accommodate wheelchairs.
In June 2024, UNC Health Southeastern became the first workplace in Robeson County to be recognized as a HEARTSafe Workplace by the Randomized Cluster Evaluation of Cardiac Arrest Systems, or RACE-CARS Trial, for implementing 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 were also added to orientation for all non-clinical teammates who join the health system.
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.
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. 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.
In July 2024, UNC Health Southeastern received three recognitions by US News & World Report’s Best Hospitals report. The health system was named to both their 2024-2025 Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access and Best Hospitals in North Carolina for the Coastal Plain region lists, as well as received additional recognition with seven adult procedures and conditions rated as high performing including heart attack, heart failure, diabetes, kidney failure, stroke, COPD, and pneumonia.
To qualify for the Best Regional Hospital for Equitable Access list, health systems must provide access to high quality care in a historically underserved area, while also serving a patient population that reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of the surrounding community. For the Best Regional Hospitals by State recognition, US News states that, “Within a state or metro area, the regional hospital rank is determined by a hospital’s performance in the adult specialty rankings analysis and by its scores across each of the 21 procedure and condition areas we evaluate.” To be nationally ranked in a specialty, a hospital must excel in caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients. An overall rating of high performing, for which UNC Health Southeastern was recognized in seven areas, indicates a hospital was significantly better than the national average in each procedure or condition.
Lastly, in November 2024, UNC Health Southeastern’s Women’s Health Services unit, which includes obstetrical, gynecological, and neonatal services, moved from a floor that was constructed in 1953, into a new, state-of-the-art facility in the hospital’s modern Rust Tower. The $35 million, two-year, multi-phased initiative upgraded hospital services for women, mothers, and babies, as well as consolidated women’s health clinics into one combined setting at Southeastern Health Park.
This investment shows the health system’s commitment to patient and family-focused care for women and newborns, providing hi-tech obstetrical and neonatal care. To watch a virtual tour of the new Women’s Health Services unit on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/h9KYXr9zoXI.
