Expanding Echocardiography Access for Underserved Populations in Central North Carolina
The Expanding Echocardiography Access for Underserved Populations in Central North Carolina grant was awarded in August 2025 to support a longstanding partnership between Piedmont Health Services (PHS) and the University of North Carolina Division of Cardiology, which has provided cardiovascular care to underserved patients since 2010. The project focused on purchasing a portable echocardiography machine to ensure continued access to essential cardiac imaging for uninsured and underinsured patients receiving care through the PHS cardiology clinic in Carrboro, North Carolina.
The clinic serves a population facing significant barriers to healthcare access, including financial limitations, transportation challenges, language barriers, and limited availability of specialty cardiovascular services. Many patients are uninsured or underinsured, belong to racial and ethnic minority groups, and have multiple chronic health conditions. Echocardiography is a cornerstone of cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment planning, yet access to this technology is often unavailable in safety-net settings.
The grant funded the purchase of a refurbished portable GE Vivid iq echocardiography machine, allowing the clinic to continue providing onsite cardiac imaging during its monthly volunteer-led cardiology sessions. By embedding advanced cardiovascular diagnostics directly into a trusted community health center, the program removes several common barriers to care. Patients can receive imaging, evaluation, and treatment recommendations during the same visit without the need for costly referrals or travel to larger medical centers.
The clinic's impact is particularly important because previous research conducted through the program demonstrated a high burden of previously undiagnosed heart disease in this patient population. Nearly half of echocardiograms performed showed abnormalities, and many findings represented new diagnoses requiring medical intervention. These results highlight the critical role that timely cardiac imaging plays in identifying cardiovascular disease and improving patient outcomes among vulnerable populations.
Grant funding was successfully used to purchase the portable ultrasound system, which was placed into service in November 2025. Since then, the machine has been used continuously to provide echocardiograms at the PHS Cardiology Clinic. The equipment has enabled the clinic to maintain uninterrupted diagnostic capabilities for patients who otherwise would have limited access to cardiovascular imaging.
This project demonstrates how a relatively modest investment can have a meaningful impact on health equity. By supporting access to advanced cardiac diagnostics in a community-based setting, the grant has strengthened a proven model of care that has been serving vulnerable North Carolinians for more than 15 years. The continued availability of echocardiography at the PHS Cardiology Clinic will help ensure that patients receive earlier diagnoses, more timely treatment, and improved opportunities for better cardiovascular health outcomes