Novant Health announces plans to expand services in Brunswick County

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - Novant Health has announced plans to expand its care in Brunswick County.

According to Novant, the expansion plan includes:

• Proposed hospital along US 74/76 in Leland
• Free-standing emergency department in Carolina Shores
• Investments to advance care at Novant Health’s community hospital in Bolivia

Certificate of need applications have been submitted to build the Leland hospital, called the Novant Health Leland Medical Center, and the Carolina Shores emergency department.

Novant Health Leland Medical Center is planned to be a 20-bed hospital that would include a 24/7 emergency department, imaging services, 10 observation beds, and five procedure rooms.

Novant Health will also expand services at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center in Bolivia, including a larger MRI facility and a new cardiac catheterization lab.

“Brunswick County is one of the largest counties in the state by land area,” said Laurie Whalin, president, Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center and acute care operations for the Novant Health Coastal Region. “Our existing inpatient and emergency care is concentrated in the middle of the county, so we’re focused on extending care options to better serve population centers throughout the county. We’re also continuing to explore other opportunities to grow care in this community and throughout the region.”

Officials say once the state approves their plan, which could be as early as 90 days, then the next step would be to secure funding.

The project is expected to cost $251 million.

The earliest time for the free-standing emergency apartment to get up and running would be 2028, and for the new hospital in Leland, it would be 2030.

A public hearing for the project will be held at noon on Dec. 8 at the Virginia Williamson Event Center at Brunswick Community College.

Comments regarding the project can be submitted as an attachment by email to DHSR.CON.Comments@dhhs.nc.gov.