Carteret Health Care Welcomes ECU Health Pediatric Hospitalists to Serve Local Children

Carteret Health Care, ECU Health and the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center are pleased to announce a new partnership that brings Newborn and Pediatric Hospitalist services directly to families in Carteret County. This collaboration highlights both organizations’ shared commitment to ensuring children have access to high-quality care, as Carteret Health Care becomes the only hospital outside of the ECU Health system to host ECU Health Newborn and Pediatric Hospitalists on-site.

The partnership expands access to specialized newborn and pediatric inpatient care close to home—an important priority for families in the community. Through this collaboration, Carteret Health Care is helping ensure children who require hospitalization can receive high-quality, expert care locally, reducing the need for families to travel outside the county whenever possible.

“Our partnership with ECU Health to bring dedicated Newborn and Pediatric Hospitalists to Carteret County represents a significant leap forward in our mission to provide specialized care close to home," said Dr. Clyde Brooks, VP of Medical Affairs. "By having these specialists on-site 24/7, we are ensuring that local families have immediate access to high-quality inpatient pediatric care. This collaboration not only supports our local pediatricians but also provides parents the peace of mind that comes with knowing advanced medical support is available right here in our community.”

ECU Health Newborn and Pediatric Hospitalists will provide dedicated inpatient care for infants and children admitted to Carteret Health Care. This approach allows local pediatricians to continue focusing on outpatient care and long-term relationships with their patients, while Hospitalists manage inpatient needs, ensuring seamless coordination and continuity of care.

“ECU Health and Maynard Children’s Hospital are committed to improving the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina—that’s our mission, which extends to supporting other health systems who also serve patients in the region, said Dr. Matthew Ledoux, pediatrician in chief, ECU Health, chair of pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “We’re delighted to partner with Carteret Health Care to offer our expertise, provide alignment with the highest standards of clinical care and help ensure patients and families receive the right level of care and support.”

For Carteret County families, the impact of this partnership is significant. More children can remain in the community for care, staying close to family, school, and support systems during hospitalization. When higher-acuity care is required, transfers to ECU Health and Maynard Children’s Hospital can be streamlined, helping ensure timely access to advanced pediatric services.