Novant Health to open Scotts Hill Medical Center next week

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY-TV) — Novant Health is preparing to open its new Scotts Hill Medical Center next week, marking the health system’s first hospital to open in New Hanover County in 60 years.

The more than $290 million facility, located at 151 Scotts Hill Medical Drive, will begin serving patients Tuesday. The 250,000-square-foot campus is designed to expand access to health care for residents in New Hanover, Pender and Onslow counties.

The hospital includes 66 inpatient beds, eight operating rooms, 14 patient observation rooms and advanced medical technology, including two operating rooms equipped with the Da Vinci surgical robot system.

“This is the operating portion of the robot is doing the work at the bedside connected to the ports that are working inside the patient and then the console back here is where the surgeon would sit to control the robot,” said Dr. Andy Smith, a general surgeon at Scotts Hill Medical Center.

Smith said the robotic system can be used for a wide range of procedures, including neurological surgeries, prostate and bladder operations, kidney surgeries, hernia repairs, colon surgeries and gynecological procedures such as hysterectomies.

Hospital leaders say the new facility builds on Novant Health’s long-standing presence in the Scotts Hill area, where it has operated an outpatient surgery center for more than 20 years and an emergency department for the past decade.

“We saw an opportunity where there is just a need of access to healthcare,” said Grant Rush, president of Scotts Hill Medical Center.

Rush said the hospital was designed to help meet the region’s growing demand for medical services.

“We’ve actually been in this facility for over 20 plus years now with the outpatient surgery center and in the last ten years we’ve had an emergency room here and we’re really looking to continue creating more access to our communities throughout the entire southeast region,” Rush said.

The medical center is expected to employ about 700 team members, including nurses, respiratory therapists, laboratory staff, pharmacists and other health care professionals.

When asked what the opening means for the community, Rush said it reflects Novant Health’s long-term investment in the region.

“It’s commitment from Novant Health to continue delivering access to healthcare so we’re really excited about the services we’re going to bring here to not only the Scotts Hill region but Pender and Onslow counties, so we’re really excited about this opportunity,” he said.

Before opening to patients, Scotts Hill Medical Center will host a Community Day event from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, giving residents an opportunity to tour the new facility.