Atrium Health gets $4Mn grant for rural care, virtual nursing program
NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES — Atrium Health Foundation has received over $4 million in new grants from The Duke Endowment, the largest gift to date from the philanthropic organization.
The five grants will support multiple initiatives focused on rural health, education, and care team support across North Carolina.
The largest grant—$1.45 million—will establish a virtual nursing program at Atrium Health Stanly, making it the first fully wired virtual nursing facility in rural North Carolina.
“Having cameras in every room will enable our bedside nurses to focus on direct patient care while virtual nurses provide continuous monitoring and timely interventions, helping to reduce hospital readmissions and improve outcomes,” said Marietta Abernathy, facility executive for Atrium Health Stanly.
This program is expected to create 50 new jobs in Stanly County and expand upon the successful Advocate Health virtual nursing model.
Other grants will fund rural physician recruitment and training, modernize scheduling for Atrium Health’s school-based virtual clinics, serving more than 200 schools in 10 counties, and expand pathways for health sciences careers at Atrium Health Union through the Health Sciences Academy.
Technology and education at the forefront
A $559,000 grant will enable Atrium Health to study the impact of the Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX) Copilot’s Spanish-language translation features for clinicians, streamlining workflow and improving patient experience.
Another $775,000 grant will help launch a new mobile app and platform, optimizing communication between schools and Atrium Health’s expansive virtual clinic network.
A further $755,000 supports the Health Sciences Academy’s new headquarters at Atrium Health Union, which will provide hands-on educational opportunities and apprenticeships.
“We are building upon the successes of the Atrium Health Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency Program… to refine this model and replicate it for recruiting, training and retaining physicians in other rural communities we serve,” said Dr. Erika Steinbacher, vice-chair at Wake Forest School of Medicine.
With this latest round of support, The Duke Endowment has contributed more than $50 million in grants to the Atrium Health Foundation over the past three decades.
Lin Hollowell, director of health care at The Duke Endowment, emphasized, “Whether through supporting emerging technologies or enhancing existing programs, together we can make a profound impact on our communities for generations to come.”
About Atrium Health
Atrium Health, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States. The health system recorded more than $12.59 billion in revenue in 2024 and is renowned for providing services including:
- Pediatric, cancer, and heart care
- Organ transplants and burn treatments
- Musculoskeletal and orthopedic care
- Virtual care/telehealth and mobile medicine
- Rehabilitation and behavioral health services
