WILMINGTON, N.C. – Today, Novant Health celebrated one year since New Hanover Regional Medical Center joined the North Carolina-based nonprofit health system. Novant Health is proud to highlight multiple achievements throughout the first year, and to unveil new names for dozens of facilities and services as part of ongoing efforts to fully incorporate New Hanover Regional Medical Center into Novant Health.
“A year ago, I said that Novant Health was confident that this partnership would bring tremendous benefits to the community,” said Carl S. Armato, president and CEO of Novant Health. “Today, I am proud to acknowledge all the progress we have already made together in providing high-quality care, ensuring availability of care to underserved communities, and focusing on improving the health of our communities in southeastern North Carolina, one person at a time.”
Major year one accomplishments include the following:
- Increasing access to lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines: Team members and volunteers have provided more than 118,000 doses in our region and emphasized equity in vaccine distribution.
- Providing safe and quality care: New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center both received A's in the Leapfrog Group's fall 2021 Hospital Safety Grade scoring period.
- Supporting diversity, inclusion and health equity: Our listening tour engaged more than 1,000 team and community members in more than 100 sessions to help guide the creation of a vision and plan to ensure a strong culture of diversity, inclusion and equity.
- Ensuring affordability and access: New Hanover Regional Medical Center adopted the Novant Health financial assistance policy, providing more robust assistance to those who need it most, by increasing qualification for a 100% write-off from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level. For example, an uninsured family of four with an annual income $83,250 or lower does not owe a bill under the policy. Additionally, a $10 million gift from Michael Jordan will fund two new medical clinics in New Hanover County. Once open, the new clinics will offer much-needed services to those who are uninsured or underinsured.
- Investing in team members: Novant Health has invested nearly $40 million in team member compensation, including increases to base pay, bonuses and investments with emphasis on our front-line clinical team members.
- Preparing for future health needs: Novant Health has committed to invest $600 million to fund major facilities and other expenses, and another $2.5 billion to fund strategic capital needs to care for the region. Examples include the planned 66-bed community hospital in Scotts Hill, which is targeted to open in 2024.
- Offering greater access to pediatric specialty care: Novant Health has expanded its relationship with UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine. Through that partnership, Novant Health Medical Group is working to improve access to high-quality outpatient pediatric specialty care available locally through Novant Health UNC Children’s.
“I’ve lived in this region for 15 years, and it has been astounding to see this positive level of investment and health care progress in just one year,” said Shelbourn Stevens, president of Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center and the Novant Health Coastal region. “We set the bar high, but we did that because we know our community expects us to provide remarkable healthcare, and we look forward to continuing our work to serve this growing region.”
Meanwhile, as part of rebranding efforts, names of hospitals, facilities, medical group offices and other services have changed effective Feb. 1, 2022, to reflect being part of Novant Health. Updated names include the following:
- Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
- Novant Health Pender Medical Center.
- Novant Health New Hanover Orthopedic Hospital.
- Novant Health Betty H. Cameron Women’s & Children’s Hospital.
- Novant Health New Hanover Rehabilitation Hospital.
- Novant Health New Hanover Behavioral Health Hospital.
- Novant Health Zimmer Cancer Institute.
Location names have been updated on NHRMC.org and NovantHealth.org. Signs and branding on facilities and vehicles will be updated across the network over the next few months. A new, integrated website will be launched later this year.
Read more about accomplishments from the first year of partnership in the 2021 Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center report.
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