Latest news with #NovantHealth
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Teen Loses Foot After Freak Accident. Days Later, He Learns Man Who Saved Him Had Been in a Crash and Was Down the Hall
18-year-old Bryson Wilkinson from North Carolina was working a shift at a tree removal company when he got caught in a rope and ultimately lost his foot and part of his right leg A man rushed to apply a tourniquet while they waited for first responders Soon Wilkinson and Gary Caldwell, the man who saved him, were reunited at the hospital after Caldwell was injured in a crashA North Carolina teenager who lost his foot in a tree removal accident quickly found himself recovering in the same building as the man who helped save him. Bryson Wilkinson, 18, was working a shift at a tree removal company on Wednesday, May 21, when he got caught in a rope and ultimately lost his foot and part of his right leg in the accident, according to local NBC affiliate WECT. 'I thought it was over for me. I thought that was about to be the end of my life,' Wilkinson said. Gary Caldwell, a resident of the area, rushed to apply a tourniquet and Wilkinson was taken to a local hospital to undergo an amputation. Just two days later, Caldwell found himself at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, down the hall from Wilkinson, according to local station WRAL. "He ended up in a motorcycle accident," Wilkinson told the outlet WRAL. "I just couldn't believe what I saw." Doctors helped reunite them as they both began to heal. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'As soon as I walked in I broke down crying. I couldn't believe it,' Wilkinson told WECT. 'I'm going to keep staying in touch with him as long as I can.' Since getting home from the hospital, Wilkinson has been sharing updates about his recovery on TikTok. A GoFundMe to support him has raised more than $1,000. 'I want to tell people that their life's not over if they lose a limb. Things happen,' he told WECT. 'They can get past it in life. They don't need to give up. They don't need to lose hope.' Read the original article on People
Forbes
30-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Using Data And AI To Improve Outcomes At Novant Health
Novant Health office building in Charlotte, North Carolina Novant Health, a $10 billion integrated healthcare system in the southeastern United States has grown rapidly, and it now includes 19 hospitals and over 750 physician clinics and urgent care centers. Onyeka Nchege is the company's Chief Digital and Information Officer, and since joining Novant Health four and a half years ago, Nchege has guided a digital transformation agenda that supports aggressive growth. His responsibilities span IT strategy, cybersecurity, analytics, digital health and scalable enterprise platforms. "My role is about building a future-ready digital infrastructure that empowers our team members, engages our patients and supports Novant Health's mission," he said. That infrastructure must support a rapidly expanding footprint. With the goal of tripling in size over the next few years, scalability is essential. Nchege emphasized cloud migration, flexible digital platforms and enterprise-wide electronic medical records as foundational elements. "We've intentionally invested in scalable solutions to make sure we're ready when our CEO says we're expanding," he noted. Investing in Culture to Fuel Innovation Growth is not only about infrastructure; it primarily hinges on people. Nchege spoke passionately about maintaining team cohesion and investing in culture. "We win with the people we have,' he unscored. 'You have to invest in them." The IT team participates in mentorship programs, career development and well-being initiatives. Feedback mechanisms such as pulse surveys and team check-ins ensure that leadership remains attuned to team needs. Novant Health Chief Digital and Information Officer Onyeka Nchege Nchege draws from his experience as a five-time CIO across several industries, drawing on some of the best practices from across those experiences while recognizing that what works in one context may not in another. "Relationships are everything," he highlighted. "Understanding how to build and nurture them is how you learn the business and add value." Innovation and AI With Guardrails and Predictive Modeling A key innovation engine at Novant Health is the Institute for Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, launched in 2019. With a governance framework that includes physicians and executives, the institute evaluates AI use cases and drives responsible experimentation. "We talk about experimentation as a service," Nchege explained. "We want to test and learn before anything goes into production." Notable successes include robotic process automation in revenue cycle operations and computer vision tools in radiology that help detect strokes and pulmonary embolisms. "Do no harm isn't just a clinical mantra," he said. "It applies to data and AI as well." Predictive analytics is another area of rapid progress. Novant Health is using predictive maintenance to reduce equipment downtime, patient outcome forecasting to tailor treatments and demand prediction to optimize staffing and resource allocation. Nchege described the mindset as "cautiously fast,' adopting innovation quickly but with care and structure. Redefining the Hospital of the Future Nchege's team is shaping what he calls the "hospital of the future," and he offers as examples virtual ICUs and on-demand video visits and digital-first clinics. Novant Health's telestroke network has significantly reduced patient transfers by allowing rural patients to receive high-quality specialist care remotely. The organization is also piloting virtual nursing programs to reduce administrative load and expand access. One standout initiative is a new virtual menopause clinic launched in response to direct patient feedback. "We ask, we listen, we act," Nchege emphasized. The result has been such high demand that Novant is already hiring new clinicians to meet that demand. Emerging Technologies and the Road Ahead Looking forward, Nchege is keeping a close eye on genomics and blockchain. "Personalized medicine through genomics is incredibly exciting," he said excitedly. "And while blockchain isn't mainstream in healthcare yet, it has real potential for data security and management." As Novant Health scales, Nchege's vision balances innovation with empathy, growth with governance and transformation with trust. His leadership offers a compelling roadmap for how digital health can truly deliver remarkable care for every patient, every time. Peter High is President of Metis Strategy, a business and IT advisory firm. He has written three bestselling books, including his latest Getting to Nimble. He also moderates the Technovation podcast series and speaks at conferences around the world. Follow him on Twitter @PeterAHigh.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Thomasville hospital receives an A in national health care report
THOMASVILLE — A semiannual national health care report gave one Davidson County-based hospital an A grade and the another a B. Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center received an A in the nonprofit watchdog The Leapfrog Group's spring 2025 report, while Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Lexington Medical Center in Lexington received a B. Novant Health has received the most A hospital safety grades in North Carolina for the fourth consecutive grading period. The nine recognized N.C. Novant Health hospitals, including Thomasville Medical, outperformed nearly 70% of hospitals nationwide for safety and quality with A grades. 'Our team members' faithful commitment to providing safe, high-quality care for each patient shines through in this recognition,' said Dr. David Priest, senior vice president and chief safety and quality officer for Novant Health. 'We are proud of our collective efforts to keep safety and quality at the center of everything we do. While these scores reflect a certain timeframe and set of criteria, they allow our teams to continually monitor benchmarks and set even higher goals to ensure we are constantly improving to create a healthier future for every patient and community we serve.' A spokesperson for Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist said, 'We are committed to always providing the highest levels of safe, high-quality care to our patients and the communities we serve, and we remain dedicated to constant improvement.' Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist also received a B in 2024. The Leapfrog Group reviews hospital and patient outcomes across the United States based on more than 30 performance measures focused on safety, quality and patient experience. Each assessment results in a letter grade ranging from A to F. Scores are released twice a year, in the spring and fall. Leapfrog researchers said they have determined that when compared with a hospital rated an A, patients face on average a 35% greater risk of avoidable death at a B hospital, an 88% greater risk at a C hospital and a 92% greater risk at a D or F hospital.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Charlotte oncologists weigh in on prostate cancer warning signs after former President Biden's diagnosis
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Here at home, we're learning more from doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. This comes after former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease this weekend. Former president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with cancer Dr. Adam Kuykendal from Novant Health said one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. 'There is a large opportunity for the men who are willing to, and hopefully this encourages men to be more proactive with their health and get them to the doctor,' Kuykendal said. One in eight men is diagnosed in their lifetime. Charlotte Oncologists say patients are usually low risk or unlikely to have problems. It's when the cancer is aggressive and spreads that more needs to be done. 'The Gleason score is pathologists' way of looking at the cancer biopsy and saying how bad does it look – what kind of features might make it a more aggressive cancer,' Kuykendal said. Kuykendal said 8, 9, and 10 are considered high risk. Dr. Earle Burgess from Atrium Health Levine Center said a common treatment for the disease is Androgen Deprivation Therapy. This lowers hormone levels, but it does not cure the disease. 'They'll go dormant, hibernate if you will, and at some point, in the future, they'll eventually start growing again despite the low testosterone environment,' Burgess said. There's no universal guidance for when or how to get screened. Both experts we spoke with said these are conversations you need to have with your primary care physician. 'We want to be careful to not over diagnose those and over treat those because the treatment surgery radiation can come with side effects, of course,' Kuykendal said. If you have a change in color, frequency or pain when urinating, be sure to tell your primary care physician. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Officers hurt during a fight involving juveniles at the Salisbury Cheerwine Festival
SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Two law enforcement officers are recovering after breaking up a fight at the Salisbury Cheerwine Festival Saturday afternoon. Salisbury police officers working at the Cheerwine Festival and Rowan County deputies responded to a fight in progress involving juveniles. Officials say they witnessed five to ten juveniles actively fighting. Officers were able to stop the fight, but two law enforcement officers sustained injuries as a result. A Salisbury police officer was transported to Novant Health with a severe concussion and a Rowan County was transported to the hospital due to a fractured hip. All of the juveniles were detained and transported to the Salisbury Police Department. Secure custody orders were sought, but denied, so the juveniles were released to their parents. The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges might be issued due to the injuries to the law enforcement officers. Anyone with information or video of the incident is asked to contact Detective Marks at 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
