Laurie Whalin is president of acute care operations for the Novant Health Coastal Region.
As the Wilmington region continues to grow, so do expectations for accessible, high-quality healthcare close to home. Meeting those needs will demand more than incremental change — it will require long-term investment and thoughtful planning.
Expansion goes well beyond adding new buildings. It’s rooted in understanding what this community really needs. It requires listening closely, recognizing the gaps and committing in a meaningful, lasting way to fill them.
That’s why I’m excited to share that Novant Health has approved a comprehensive, multiyear $1 billion expansion plan designed to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across Wilmington and the Coastal Region. This investment will fuel generational change to healthcare in this community. It reflects the trust placed in us and our responsibility to deliver on the region’s needs.
Anchored at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the initiative represents key projects aimed at increasing access, improving efficiency and preparing the region for decades of continued growth.
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Advancing heart care close to home
Central to the plan is a new heart and vascular patient care building on New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s campus. The tower will consolidate inpatient and surgical heart care into a single, purpose-built space — improving coordination for care teams and creating a more streamlined experience for patients and families. This will allow more residents to receive advanced heart care locally, rather than traveling outside the region.
To further expand access, Novant Health will add a second heart and vascular medical building in Wilmington, creating space for more clinics and heart-care physicians. This expansion will allow more patients to receive care close to home as demand continues to rise.
Supporting recovery and rehabilitation
Our plan also includes a new inpatient physical rehabilitation hospital with 60 private rooms, to be built on Wrightsville Avenue near the New Hanover Orthopedic Hospital. The new facility will nearly double current physical rehabilitation capacity, supporting recovery for patients following serious illness or injury.
Additional improvements inside New Hanover Regional Medical Center will reconfigure key areas to better support surgical and diagnostic services, helping reduce delays and improve patient flow.
A long-term commitment to care
Construction of these new additions will occur in phases over the next several years, with the heart and vascular tower expected to open by 2031, pending required regulatory approvals.
In the end, this investment is about people. Our goal remains to ensure every patient and family feels supported, cared for and close to home when it matters most. Together, these efforts reflect our shared commitment to caring for this community — not just for today, but for all the years ahead.
