University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.
- Income
- $457.9 million
- Spending
- $480.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $2.2 million, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 84% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $441.2 million spent. OVERVIEW OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS OF EASTERN CAROLINA D/B/A ECU HEALTH: AT ECU HEALTH, WE ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES. EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS LOOK TO OUR HOSPITALS FOR QUALITY HEALTH CARE. WE WORK HARD TO UPHOLD THE TRUST THAT OUR COMMUNITIES PLACE IN US. THROUGH A CLEAR VISION, DISCIPLINED LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTED EMPLOYEES, ECU HEALTH SERVES THE NEEDS OF THE REGION, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE UNDERSERVED AND NEED US THE MOST. OUR MISSION AT ECU HEALTH TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, TOUCH AND SUPPORT, DRIVES US FAR BEYOND CARING FOR PATIENTS WITHIN THE CONFINES OF OUR HOSPITAL WALLS. IT CALLS US TO HELP MAKE EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA A BETTER, HEALTHIER PLACE TO LIVE. ECU HEALTH IS A NORTH CAROLINA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION WITH HEADQUARTERS IN GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. ECU HEALTH AND ITS AFFILIATES OPERATE AN INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT SERVES A TOTAL MARKET OF APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN 29 CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE HEALTH SYSTEM INCLUDES HOSPITALS, PHYSICIAN PRACTICES, OUTPATIENT SERVICES, LONG-TERM CARE, HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE, AND WELLNESS SERVICES. THE HEALTH SYSTEM'S OWNED HOSPITALS ARE ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH IS A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL AND AN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER, THAT INCLUDES THE ECU HEALTH BEAUFORT HOSPITAL AS A DEPARTMENT OPERATING AS A CAMPUS OF ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER AND SEVEN OTHER ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS: ECU HEALTH ROANOKE-CHOWAN HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH EDGECOMBE HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH CHOWAN HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH BERTIE HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH DUPLIN HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH NORTH HOSPITAL, AND THE OUTER BANKS HOSPITAL. ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER SERVES AS THE TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR THE BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, EAST CAROLINA SCHOOLS OF NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH AND PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE SYSTEM ALSO SERVES AS A REGIONAL REFERRAL CENTER FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE SYSTEM'S NINE OWNED HOSPITALS ARE LICENSED TO OPERATE 1,708 BEDS. EACH HOSPITAL IS LICENSED BY THE DIVISION OF FACILITY SERVICES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND APPROVED AS A PROVIDER BY THE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS. ECU HEALTH AND ITS HOSPITALS AND AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE SERVICES TO PATIENTS WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 ECU HEALTH'S COMBINED PATIENT CARE STATISTICS WERE: INPATIENT ADMISSIONS, 68,570; INPATIENT DAYS OF CARE, 385,908; SURGERIES, 54,577; BIRTHS, 6,394; AND OUTPATIENT VISITS, 482,146. OUR SYSTEM'S WORKFORCE INCLUDED 13,578 EMPLOYEES. EACH OF ECU HEALTH'S HOSPITALS OPERATES AN EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY. ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER ALSO OFFERS A FULL SPECTRUM OF TRAUMA SERVICES. EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 ECU HEALTH PROVIDED CARE TO 277,498 EMERGENCY ROOM PATIENTS. ECU HEALTH'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSISTS OF 11 VOTING MEMBERS, SIX OF WHOM MUST BE CURRENT OR FORMER PITT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA APPOINTEES OF ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND FIVE OF WHOM MUST BE CURRENT OR FORMER BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA APPOINTEES OF ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES. ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, IN AFFILIATION WITH THE BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, OPERATES 30 RESIDENT-TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH OVER 400 MEDICAL RESIDENTS. THIS RELATIONSHIP ENABLES ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER AND THE BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TO COMBINE THEIR RESOURCES FOR THE PROVISION OF QUALITY PATIENT CARE, MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE RESIDENTS OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HAS THREE IMPORTANT GOALS: EDUCATING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, MAKING MEDICAL CARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA, AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MINORITY AND DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS. AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, ECU HEALTH REINVESTS ALL EXCESS OF REVENUES OVER EXPENSES IN PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO PATIENT CARE AND HEALTH SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF EASTERN CAROLINA. OVERVIEW OF ECU HEALTH COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS 1. EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA IS COMPRISED OF 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN 14,000 SQUARE MILES. BOUNDARIES ARE FROM I-95 EAST TO THE COAST, AND FROM THE VIRGINIA LINE DOWN TO AND INCLUDING ONSLOW COUNTY. THE AREA IS LARGELY RURAL AND LARGELY POOR, WITH HIGHER THAN STATE OR NATIONAL AVERAGE RATES FOR POVERTY AND UNINSURED. HEALTH STATUS INDICATORS SHOW INCREASED INCIDENCE OF DISEASE IN THE REGION, ESPECIALLY CANCER, HEART DISEASE AND STROKE. ECU HEALTH DETERMINES PRIORITIES FOR TARGET POPULATIONS BY WORKING IN CONCERT WITH MEDICAL AND COMMUNITY AGENCY PARTNERS IN ONGOING ASSESSMENT OF THE MOST PRESSING HEALTH CARE NEEDS. MANY EFFORTS OVER THE PAST DECADE HAVE FOCUSED ON DIABETES, PEDIATRIC ASTHMA, SCHOOL HEALTH, INJURY PREVENTION, ACCESS TO CARE, NUTRITION ENHANCEMENT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND CHRONIC DISEASE SCREENINGS. ALSO, SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO MANAGE THE CARE OF MEDICAID ENROLLEES, ADDRESS ACCESS TO BOTH MEDICAL CARE AND MEDICATIONS FOR THE UNINSURED, AND COORDINATION OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH OBESITY HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN. THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE SERVED BY ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES ARE LARGELY THE POOR, THE UNDERSERVED, AND MINORITIES. DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC POPULATIONS TO ADDRESS OCCURS WHEN PARTNERS SUCH AS THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, COUNTY HEALTHY CAROLINIAN TASK FORCES, AND PHYSICIANS IDENTIFY A QUANTIFIABLE NEED, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE ENGAGED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE HEALTH SYSTEM. 2. FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS IS OBTAINED FROM BOTH THE OPERATING FUNDS OF ECU HEALTH ENTITIES AND EXTERNAL GRANT-AWARDING ORGANIZATIONS. THE ECU HEALTH BOARD ANNUALLY PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT INITIATIVES PROGRAM OF ITS FOUNDATION. THESE FUNDS ARE THEN AWARDED TO COMMUNITY AGEN
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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