Novant Health cancer care expands in North Carolina with outpatient presence in Scotts Hill

A new hub for the Novant Health Cancer Institute is offering better access to comprehensive cancer care for people living in New Hanover and Pender counties.

The new Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Plaza is helping to minimize travel for patients. That’s because Novant Health is expanding primary and specialty care at the Scotts Hill Medical Center campus, which includes an emergency department and outpatient surgery center

Those broader offerings include advanced radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, infusion services and advanced imaging, coordinated by nurse navigators.

“This marks a crucial step toward supporting the best possible access, diagnosis and treatment monitoring for our cancer patients, all in the same location and closer to home,” said Michelle Hoadley, director of market institutes at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

More comprehensive care, and closer to home

About 50,000 people are projected to move to New Hanover and Pender counties by the end of the decade, and the campus will provide convenient emergency, surgical, primary and specialty care in one location.

Before the opening of the Scotts Hill Medical Plaza, many local patients had to travel to Wilmington for treatment. The Cancer Institute’s new location eases that burden while offering state-of-the-art technology that results in fewer side effects and improved outcomes.

When Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Center opens in 2026, it will serve as a satellite location for Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Increased imaging access

Advanced imaging is a key part of diagnosing cancer, monitoring treatment effectiveness and recurrence.

PET and MRI are now offered on the Scotts Hill campus, in addition to CT scan, X-ray, ultrasound and mammography. The fixed MRI offers Deep Resolve Boost technology to reduce scan time, which especially benefits patients who experience claustrophobia and chronic pain.

Expanded oncology care and advanced technology

Many individuals receiving cancer care require either radiation oncology (radiotherapy treatments) or medical oncology (chemotherapy infusions) services. Some patients require both services at the same time. Scotts Hill Medical Plaza offers radiation oncology and medical oncology on the same campus, so patients don’t need to travel to multiple locations.

“The Scotts Hill campus has advanced treatment technology that makes treatments more efficient and saves valuable time for our patients,” said Jason Paisley, director of physics at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

The campus is equipped with a new CT simulator that has leading-edge imaging capabilities, including dual energy imaging and 4DCT. 4DCT allows the team to plan and correct for tumors that move during breathing. The CT simulator is used to image patient tumors, and then a linear accelerator (LINAC) is used to deliver external beam radiation therapy. The Scotts Hill team uses a modern linear accelerator with advanced capabilities that can be used to treat a variety of cancers.

Better efficiency with Specialty Pharmacy

Novant Health Specialty Pharmacy is integral to the patient’s treatment and recovery journey. Specialty drug prescriptions are expensive and complex, requiring special storage, handling and administration.

“Specialty pharmacy helps to reduce the administrative burden by handling insurance authorizations and providing 24/7 support to help patients with questions and financial assistance,” said Amy Wenker, director of Novant Health Specialty Pharmacy services.

The service has helped patients qualify for $8.5 million in assistance, with 93% of patients reporting satisfaction with local support.

A safer option with robotic surgery

Robotic surgery offers a minimally invasive option for targeting and treating cancers such as prostate, gynecologic, colorectal, kidney, bladder, and head and neck.

Robotics incorporates artificial intelligence and advanced imaging to create smaller incisions, reducing the risk of infection. The technique's availability within the Novant Health system provides improved precision and post-operative recovery.