Jim Sills

A major accident occurred on I-40 East near mile marker 355 on Tuesday morning, prompting a large-scale emergency response from fire departments and EMS units from Duplin, Sampson, and Wayne counties.

According to authorities, a tractor-trailer carrying fuel crashed into a passenger vehicle, overturned, and caught fire after being hit by a pickup truck. The accident halted traffic for hours and involved at least five other vehicles. One person sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. Emergency crews worked for hours under challenging conditions, especially following a previous major fire that had already strained their resources. Efforts for fire suppression, water supply coordination, and hazardous material containment required support from more than 18 agencies.

KENANSVILLE — ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville recently received a prestigious five-star Patient Experience rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a milestone the hospital staff and leadership celebrated on Monday, April 28.

Jeff Dial, president of ECU Health Duplin Hospital, told Duplin Journal that he was elated about this milestone. He was excited for his team, as patients took the time to recognize the hard work put in by team members, physicians, providers, nurses, and others. Dial emphasized that this recognition reflects the team’s dedication to providing compassionate, individualized care.

“I think it says a lot about the level of care that our patients recognize that they receive in our community,” said Dial.

This achievement marks the hospital’s first time receiving the prestigious patient experience recognition. Dial noted, “To my understanding, we are the only community hospital our size, east of I-95 in North Carolina, that has received that achievement.”

The five-star rating signifies the lasting impact of the staff’s dedication to the community, and it was the result of strategic efforts. For the hospital it symbolizes a milestone and a standard to uphold. Dial shared that their senior leaders established multiple five-star committees about a year or two ago.

“One of those that comes to mind is the first impressions committee,” said Dial, explaining that the committee examined specific elements of the patient experience, assessing initial impressions of the hospital in areas ranging from the physical environment to food, parking, and even landscaping. Dial emphasized that the goal was not just to achieve the five-star rating but to sustain it over time.

Dial attributes the recognition to a culture rooted in personalized care and community connection. He shared a story about Dr. John Kornegay, the medical director of the hospitalist program and Duplin County EMS medical director, highlighting the compassionate care patients experience.

According to Dial, a couple of years ago, while off duty from the hospital, Dr. Kornegay overheard a call about a pregnant woman being picked up by EMS. He located the ambulance and was able to help the woman who went into labor.

“I think there were twins,” said Dial. “But the fact that he was willing, while he was off shift, to locate that call for care and then stay on, I think, is a testament to the loyalty, to the care, to the personal touch.”

Dial noted that compassionate acts and personal dedication are common among all team members, from nurses to support staff.

“We don’t look at our patients as statistics or bodies in beds,” said Dial. “They are our next-door neighbors. They are family members that are in beds that are treated here … and that’s part of the culture. I routinely hear those stories, not just about our physicians, about all of our team members.”