Novant Health breaks ground on new Wilmington rehabilitation hospital

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Novant Health broke ground Tuesday on a new rehabilitation hospital that is expected to significantly expand inpatient rehabilitation capacity in the Wilmington area.

Community leaders and officials gathered for the groundbreaking of the Novant Health New Hanover Rehabilitation Hospital, which will be built on the 15-acre Wrightsville Avenue campus in Wilmington.

The new facility will feature 60 private patient rooms and is expected to nearly double the capacity of Novant Health’s current physical rehabilitation hospital.

Laurie Whalin, president of the Novant Health Coastal Region, said the project will help meet a growing need for rehabilitation services in the region.

“We have a wait list everyday for patients who need rehab services, so they are going to get the care and treatment and return to home to the moments they love,” Whalin said.

Construction is expected to begin this month, with the new hospital scheduled to begin accepting patients in early 2028.