What’s old is new.

Effective Jan. 25, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina will become Vidant Health and two hospitals in the Roanoke-Chowan area are inviting the public to take part in unveiling ceremonies.

At 10 a.m. that day, officials with Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie and Bertie Memorial Hospital in Windsor will reveal new signs that reflect their connection with Vidant Health. Both ceremonies will take place on the front lawn of each hospital.

“Our name is changing, but that is all,” said Sue Lassiter, president of Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.  “Our commitment to the health of families and communities in eastern North Carolina will never change.”

“For years, the name University Health Systems has stood for the highest level of care in eastern North Carolina,” said Jeffrey Sackrison, president of  Bertie Memorial Hospital.  As we continue to evolve and strengthen our integrated system, the time has come to evolve our name as well.

“We are bringing together 11,000 employees, 10 hospitals and hundreds of primary care and specialty providers, working together as one to create a true interconnected system of health care for all of eastern North Carolina that provides best-in-region access with exceptional experiences and optimal outcomes for healthier communities,” Sackrison.

Roanoke-Chowan Hospital will become Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital. The Viquest Center in Ahoskie will become Vidant Wellness Center.

Bertie Memorial will show off its new name – Vidant Bertie Hospital.

The organization’s flagship facility, Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, will become Vidant Medical Center.

“Changing the name of our health system does not change who we are as an organization,” said Dave McRae, chief executive officer of University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina. “We are committed to improving health outcomes. By aligning all of our hospitals with the system name we will be able to tell people who we are and how we are all connected.”

According to Lassiter, the name Vidant Health is closely tied to the system’s mission “to enhance the quality of life for the communities we serve, touch, and support.”  “Vi” is universally associated with vibrancy, vitality, and life.

The new logo, with its stylized “V” symbolizes Vidant as an ‘interconnected system of care.’  It was designed to support the health care system’s values and to reflect a confident, strong, and caring organization that focuses on the patient at the core of its efforts, according to Lassiter.

“All ten system hospitals are active partners in their communities’ well-being, providing access to quality health services for everyone through a complete system of care,” she said.

Other new names throughout the system will be:

Vidant Beaufort Hospital (Washington.)

Vidant Duplin Hospital (Kenansville)

Vidant Edgecombe Hospital (formerly Heritage Hospital in

Tarboro

Vidant Pungo Hospital (Belhaven)

The Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head and Albemarle Health in Elizabeth City will continue to operate under their existing names.

The legal names of the entities will not change.