Novant Health to build Leland hospital and expand Brunswick County services
LELAND, NC (WWAY) – Novant Health unveiled plans Monday to expand healthcare access across Brunswick County, including a proposed hospital in Leland, a freestanding emergency department in Carolina Shores, and upgrades at its community hospital in Bolivia.
The proposed Leland hospital, to be called Novant Health Leland Medical Center, would feature 20 beds, a 24-hour emergency department, imaging services, 10 observation beds, and five procedure rooms. The project is pending state approval through a certificate of need application.
Novant Health is also planning to build a freestanding emergency department near U.S. 17 in Carolina Shores and is expanding services at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center in Bolivia. Upgrades there include additional MRI space and a new cardiac catheterization lab, allowing patients to receive interventional cardiology procedures, such as stent placements, within the county.
“Brunswick County is one of the largest counties in the state by land area,” said Laurie Whalin, president of Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. “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.”
Ernie Bovio, president of Novant Health Coastal Region, said the expansions aim to meet current and future healthcare needs.
“Novant Health has proudly served Brunswick County for nearly 20 years, and we’re excited to continue to add facilities and recruit needed physicians to secure healthcare access throughout the county,” Bovio said.
The plans come as construction of an ambulatory surgery center is currently underway in the Leland area. Novant Health operates nearly 900 locations across North Carolina and South Carolina, including 19 hospitals and more than 750 physician clinics.
