‘All of our beds are full’: NHRMC president addresses patient concerns

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wait times in the ER, staffing shortages, and a lack of available rooms. All of these are issues that some patients of Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center brought up since the hospital’s sale in 2021. 

Hospitals nationwide faced similar concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, but many feel New Hanover Reigonal has been slow to catch up. 

Ernie Bovio took over as president of the hospital in January. On Monday, WWAY sat down with him to talk about those concerns. He said the issue is not just in the emergency department, but hospital-wide. 

“We don’t have an emergency department problem, we have a hospital bed capacity problem,” he said. “All of our beds are full. We’re jam packed, we’re so busy right now. We’re fully staffed, so all of our beds are open, but getting patients admitted to the emergency department–sometimes–can take a little bit longer.” 

Bovio noted the hospital has been increasing the efficiency in which they can get patients in and out. He said the new Scotts Hill Medical Center that’s set to be complete in 2026, along with expansions at other area hospitals should ease a lack of beds at NHRMC. 

“We’ve also implemented a hospital at home program, so we’re admitting patients to their home for low acuity,” he noted. “Different types of conditions that can be monitored while they’re at home, and that’s been very popular and helps to create some more capacity.” 

Bovio said as the hospital has emerged from the pandemic in recent years, staffing remains a priority. 

“Workforce has been a challenge, and we’re seeing a lot of progress. Things are starting to, I don’t want to say stabilize, but they are improving,” he said. “Our reliance on travel nurses has decreased significantly. Our nursing turnover now is below 10%. Pre-pandemic it was 16%, and during the height of the pandemic it was 30% annually. Now we’re below 10%.” 

Bovio pointed out that as the area’s population continues to grow, so too will the hospital. 

“Last year, a couple of the big projects that we completed was the Neuroscience Institute and the new tower. That added 108 beds to this campus, and it filled up almost immediately,” he explained. 

Bovio added Novant Health is not finished with the hospital. 

“One of our biggest projects that we’re starting to plan for now is another major expansion on our 17 Street campus.  We’ll be adding a new bed tower that will modernize and expand our heart and vascular institute. That’s a big, massive project and will take about five to seven years to complete.”