Frye Regional Medical Center Earns Top Honor at 2026 Duke Health Quality and Safety Conference

The award-winning team includes (L-R): Marie Geissele, MSL, RN, Frye Regional; Jay Twiford, BS, Duke Heart Network; Danielle Hendren, MSN, RN, Duke Heart Network; April Traxler, BSN, RN, Frye Regional; Jennifer Puckett, BSN, RN, Frye Regional; and Laurie Van Camp, MSN, RN, Duke Heart Network. Not pictured: Jordon Houston, BSN, RN, Frye Regional; and interventional cardiologist Vincent Patrone, MD, FACC, FryeCare Cardiology.

Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint hospital, and Duke Health affiliate in Heart, has received the Rebecca Kirkland Award for “Best Overall Poster” at the 2026 Duke Health Quality and Safety Conference – the conference’s highest overall recognition. Frye Regional’s work was selected through a blinded review process as the top overall submission among approximately 100 entries from Duke Health and its affiliates. The recognition honors a four-year, multidisciplinary initiative focused on reducing acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), resulting in measurable improvements in patient safety and outcomes.

Measurable improvements in patient outcomes

AKI is a known complication of PCI procedures that can lead to longer hospital stays, increased costs and a higher risk of complications. Frye Regional’s team implemented evidence-based strategies while strengthening clinical culture to reduce risk and improve outcomes.

Using data from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) CathPCI Registry, Frye Regional reduced its risk-adjusted AKI rate from 9.65 in late 2020 to 5.84 by the first quarter of 2025, surpassing the national 75th percentile benchmark of 6.35.

The team also improved procedural performance by reducing outlier contrast volume rates from 17.6% in 2023 to 11.6% in 2025, bringing results to better than the national median. These improvements are especially significant in cardiovascular care, where preventing complications like AKI leads to safer procedures, faster recovery and better long-term heart outcomes.

AKI can add an average of 3.6 days to a hospital stay and increase costs by approximately $38,000 per case, making prevention critical to both patient outcomes and the overall cost of care. By reducing AKI rates and improving contrast management during PCI procedures, Frye Regional is helping patients recover more quickly, lowering the risk of complications and readmissions, and reducing the financial burden on patients and the health care system.

Culture change drives sustainable results

“These results represent more than improved metrics—they reflect safer care for our patients,” said Lindy White, MBA, FABC, chief executive officer of Frye Regional Medical Center. “By aligning our teams around shared goals, we’ve created meaningful and lasting change that leads to better outcomes for the patients we serve and reinforces Frye Regional’s role as a regional leader in heart care. This recognition reflects the dedication and innovation of our clinical teams.”

A multidisciplinary procedural work group played a key role in this progress, strengthening collaboration and reinforcing a culture of safety and accountability across teams.

The award-winning team includes Marie Geissele, MSL, RN; Jordon Houston, BSN, RN; Jennifer Puckett, BSN, RN; and April Traxler, BSN, RN, all of Frye Regional; interventional cardiologist Vincent Patrone, MD, FACC, FryeCare Cardiology; and Danielle Hendren, MSN, RN; Jay Twiford, BS; and Laurie Van Camp, MSN, RN, all of Duke Heart Network.

Recognized for innovation and excellence

Frye Regional’s award-winning project, titled “Challenging the Norm: A Four-Year Journey to Reduce Acute Kidney Injury,” highlights the organization’s commitment to innovation, collaboration and measurable quality improvement in cardiovascular care.

Named in honor of Rebecca Kirkland, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist and former chair of the Duke Health Board of Trustees, the award recognizes innovative, impactful work that advances patient safety and quality outcomes.

The Duke Health Quality and Safety Conference brings together health care professionals from across the region and nation to share best practices and emerging approaches to care improvement.

Commitment to advanced heart care

The Frye Regional Heart Center offers a range of advanced cardiac services, including mitral and tricuspid valve repair, surgical aortic valve replacement and other structural heart interventions. As a Duke Health Affiliate in Heart, the center benefits from the most current training and staff education when it comes to heart care.

To learn more, visit FryeMedCtr.com/heart-care or call 828.315.5000.

###