It is the primary teaching hospital for East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine and is the flagship medical center for ECU Health.

ECU Health is a Level 1 Trauma Center, one of 6 in the state of North Carolina.

It is the only level I trauma center east of Raleigh, and thus is the hub of medical care for a broad and complicated rural region of over 2 million people.

ECU Health Medical Center is the largest employer in Eastern North Carolina and 20th overall in the state.

[1] ECU Health Medical Center was licensed for 974 beds in fiscal year 2020.

On August 17, 2011, it was announced PCMH would change its name to UHS Medical Center.

[3] The UHS brand was taken, so the hospital system instead finally changed its name to Vidant Medical Center.

[8] PCH made its first move to a permanent home at the intersection of Johnston and Woodlawn Streets, east of downtown.

A 17-acre (69,000 m2) tract of land on the western edge of town was donated by the Jesse Moye family.

Local civic leaders, Charles Gaskins, Wilton Duke, and Joe Pou, helped facilitate the passage of a $9 million bond referendum for the construction of a new 350-bed hospital.

[10][11] A larger rehabilitation center and the first class of the four-year medical students also started that year.

A neonatal intensive care unit was established and East Carolina University (ECU) opened the Family Practice Center in 1978.

[10] EastCare, the medical ground and helicopter transport, Level I trauma designation, Magnetic resonance imaging and laser surgery all began in 1985.

[10] The Wellness Center opened in 2000 and the first successful procedure in the United States using the da Vinci Surgical System was performed by East Carolina University surgeon Randolph Chitwood.

[15] EastCare purchased its second helicopter and the hospital began construction of a four-story emergency department with a roof helipad that year.

[19] The hospital started operation on a Gamma knife system to help treat brain cancer in 2013.

[20] In May 2014, ECU Health announced plans for a new 6-story, 96-bed cancer facility set to open in 2018.

The facility will also include a number of courtyards, gardens, and other natural areas; as well as research and conference space.

Fifty beds are for the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a 16-bed convalescent nursery, and a high-risk obstetrical delivery service.

C5 is a joint venture with the hospital and East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine.

[30] The first floor will include a Ronald McDonald suite for patients families, exam rooms, nine-bed Medical/Day unit for outpatient services and a theater.

[31][32] The lobby will have testing center, a café, gift shop and breastfeeding support rooms.

[32] A play/therapy yard will include swings, basketball court, climbing structures and picnic tables.

[32] The second floor will have a 21 private bed convalescent newborn unit and a six-bed Kids Immunosuppressed Special Unit with a controlled environment for children with cancer, blood disorders, sickle cell disease, kidney disorders and other illnesses that compromise the immune system.

[32] Along with the new addition to the Children's Hospital, ECU Health Medical Center is designing a pediatric emergency department.

[33] On May 17, 2011, East Carolina University alumnus, James Maynard, founder of Golden Corral, and his wife Connie donated $10.5 million to the children's hospital.

[29] The East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU Health Medical Center opened in January 2009.

It also has an in house Total Joint Program run by the hospitals Physical Therapy Department.

Its sister tower, East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU, is the education and outpatient care facility.