Sentara Elizabeth City Home Care earns national recognition for exceptional patient-centered care

Sentara Home Care Services in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, has been named one of the nation’s Best Home Health providers by U.S. News & World Report, placing it among the top-performing agencies in the country for care quality and patient experience.  

Out of more than 12,000 Medicare-certified home health agencies evaluated nationwide, only 1,319 earned the “High Performing” distinction. 

For Elizabeth City’s team, the recognition affirms something they’ve long known: their model works because it is rooted in deep community connection, long-standing relationships, and a philosophy of care built around entering a patient’s home as a guest, not an authority. 

A team embedded in the community 

Katrina Melton, vice president of post-acute and palliative care at Sentara, said Elizabeth City stands out because of the people who serve there. 

“We have team members that have been there for 15 years, 20 years,” explained Melton, who oversees home care and hospice services across Sentara. “And then we have brand new team members. So, you have this mix of relationship building and community, in Elizabeth City in particular. Our ability to deliver exceptional care is rooted in a deep understanding of the individuals and communities that we serve.” 

Many team members live in the same neighborhoods as the patients they serve. They shop in the same stores, attend the same churches, and often care for multiple generations of the same families. That closeness, Melton said, creates a level of trust and understanding that can’t be manufactured. 

“The uniqueness of it, being a rural community, enhances our ability to establish and sustain strong relationships.”  

Care that starts with listening 

Home health is different from hospital care in one fundamental way: the caregiver enters the patient’s space. That shift in setting requires a shift in mindset. 

“What we say to our teams is, more than anywhere else, we have to understand what the patient wants,” Melton said. “They’re not coming into our environment, we’re coming into their home. And when we come to them, we must come in with the understanding that we are their guests.” 

That means honoring the patient’s goals, even when those goals differ from what clinicians might expect. 

“Maybe their goal doesn’t match what we think they’re capable of. Being able to listen with an open mind allows us to tailor care,” she emphasized. 

This philosophy aligns closely with the U.S. News findings that top-rated agencies excel in helping patients regain mobility, independence, and confidence in daily activities— outcomes that depend heavily on trust and collaboration. 

High performance, high pride 

Elizabeth City’s home care team consistently delivers strong outcomes and exceptional patient experience, and that’s reflected in the national data: 

• 99% of patients at top-rated agencies begin care on time 
• 93% see improvement in walking and moving 
• Patients are more likely to regain independence in bathing, getting out of bed, and taking medications correctly 

Melton credits the team’s pride and purpose. 

“They love their community. They love their patients. And that’s what makes them so good at what they do.” 

For Sentara Elizabeth City Home Care, the U.S. News distinction is more than an award. It’s validation of a deeply personal approach to care that has defined the team for decades. 

They don’t just serve the community. They are the community.