Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health plans to submit a certificate-of-need application by June 15 for a proposed 120-bed heart and vascular tower in Wilmington, N.C., setting up a competitive review process with Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health for newly approved hospital beds in the region, according to a June 1 WilmingtonBiz report.
The 2026 North Carolina State Medical Facilities Plan identified a need for 225 inpatient beds in New Hanover County and 18 beds in neighboring Brunswick County. UNC Health also plans to apply for a portion of the beds through a proposed community hospital in Wilmington.
Novant’s proposed tower is part of a more than $1 billion investment announced in February for southeastern North Carolina. The project would include inpatient beds, surgical suites, cardiac catheterization labs and electrophysiology labs.
UNC Health has proposed a community hospital on a 62-acre site in the region. Ernie Bovio, regional president of UNC Health’s Southeast coastal region, said the system plans to seek “a big chunk, if not all,” of the 225 available beds and is targeting a 2030 opening date, according to the report.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will review applications submitted by the June 15 deadline. Under the state’s certificate-of-need process, approval of one application could result in the denial of another during a competitive review.
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