UNC Health Southeastern Celebrates “One Great Team” During Patient Experience Week: April 27–May 1, 2026
By Jessica Morton
UNC Health Southeastern will join healthcare organizations across the country in celebrating Patient Experience Week from Monday, April 27, 2026, through Friday, May 1, 2026. The week is a chance to recognize the people and practices that shape what it feels like to receive care at the hospital and clinics.
At UNC Health Southeastern, that approach is known as Carolina Care, a commitment to providing compassionate, skilled, high-quality care so that every patient has the best experience possible. Carolina Care emphasizes that kindness, respect, and clear communication are just as important as medical expertise.
This year’s theme, “One Great Team,” focuses on how every staff member contributes to a patient’s experience, from the moment they walk through the door until they leave. The message is simple: every interaction matters. Whether it is a nurse at the bedside, a registration clerk at check-in, a housekeeper in the hallway, or a physician in the exam room, each person plays a role in helping patients feel safe, heard, and cared for.
During Patient Experience Week, staff are encouraged to take part in activities that highlight the principles of Carolina Care. This includes warm greetings, friendly smiles, and taking time to listen carefully to patients and families. These small, intentional actions help build trust and create a more healing environment.
Leaders at UNC Health Southeastern are also emphasizing teamwork and communication. Daily check-ins, purposeful rounding on units, and recognizing coworkers for their efforts all help staff support one another so they can better support patients. By sharing successes and solving problems together, the organization works to maintain a culture where both patients and staff feel valued.
The week also serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and empathy. Staff are encouraged to respond to questions and concerns with professionalism and care, making sure patients feel respected and understood. By listening to feedback and using it to improve, teams show their ongoing commitment to doing better every day.
A key part of Carolina Care is being fully present in the moment with patients and visitors. That means limiting distractions, protecting privacy, and making genuine personal connections. These efforts not only improve patient satisfaction, they also reinforce a culture of compassion, dignity, and respect.
As Patient Experience Week unfolds, the central idea is clear: exceptional care is a team effort. By living out the values of Carolina Care and working together as One Great Team, the staff at UNC Health Southeastern aim to make a lasting, positive difference in the lives of the people they serve.
For UNC Health Southeastern, Patient Experience Week is more than a celebration, it is a reaffirmation of purpose. Through compassion, collaboration, and commitment, Carolina Care represents the standard of what it truly means to care. The organization considers it a privilege to serve the people of North Carolina and is honored by the trust patients place in them.
Jessica Morton is the patient experience manager for UNC Health Southeastern. In addition to offering services you’d expect from a community healthcare system, UNC Health Southeastern provides several specialized services that are unique to our system and not available anywhere else in the region. To schedule an appointment, call our referral line at 984-974-CARE. To learn more, visit UNCHealthSE.org.
