Novant Health celebrates completion of Scotts Hill Medical Center, expanding needed care for communities across New Hanover and Pender counties

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WILMINGTON, N.C. (June 9, 2026) – Fulfilling a long-term vision to increase access to high-quality care north of Wilmington, Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Center is scheduled to fully open to patients on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

The 250,000-square-foot hospital at 151 Scotts Hill Medical Drive has 66 licensed inpatient beds and will serve communities in the growing U.S. 17 corridor.

“This hospital and its expert care teams will boldly advance our efforts to ensure a healthier future for our entire community,” said Laurie Whalin, president of the Novant Health Coastal Region. “We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of this needed healthcare infrastructure to better serve our neighbors by providing expanded access to high-quality care as part of our Vision 2030 strategic plan.”

Novant Health marked the milestone with a recent ribbon cutting event ahead of the hospital's opening.

Scotts Hill Medical Center includes eight operating rooms and two rooms for gastroenterology and endoscopy procedures. It also features a cardiac catheterization lab for interventional cardiology procedures, such as stent placements. In addition to the inpatient beds, the hospital also has 14 dedicated patient observation rooms, a 29-bed unit for pre- and post-surgery patients, and a 12-bed post-anesthesia care unit. In addition, digitally enabled hospital rooms empower care teams to seamlessly collaborate with offsite specialty physicians for consultation or collaboration.

“Every detail of this facility was meticulously planned with our patients at the forefront,” said Grant Rush, president of Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Center. “We ensured this hospital offers advanced technology and the latest diagnostic equipment to support specialized surgeries and procedures and inpatient treatment for a range of needs, including heart and vascular and critical care.”

The hospital connects to the existing Novant Health Emergency Department - Scotts Hill, which remained open during construction and will double in size this summer following completion of the project.

“We are directly supporting our growing community with increased access to both emergency care and hospital care,” Whalin said. “Boosting overall inpatient capacity will ensure faster bed placement for patients, a key part of our strategy to ensure operational excellence for our hospitals across the region.”

Novant Health recruited both internally and externally, drawing new healthcare professionals to the region to staff the facility. When all hiring and onboarding is complete, the hospital will employ 700 team members, from nurses and respiratory therapists to laboratory, imaging and pharmacy team members.

The modern design features large windows in patient rooms and hallways to maximize natural light. Coastal-inspired elements, such as wave-themed art, shell-like spiral light fixtures, and sand-colored flooring, reflect the hospital’s proximity to nearby beaches.

Neighbors and residents are invited to Community Day at Scotts Hill Medical Center from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Saturday, June 13 at 151 Scotts Hill Medical Drive, Wilmington.

The hospital serves as the anchor fulfilling Novant Health’s vision to provide a campus hosting a wide variety of medical services in Scotts Hill. The site includes Novant Health Scotts Hill Outpatient Surgery Center and Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Plaza.

The $48 million medical plaza, a 60,000-square-foot medical office building, was designed to complement the hospital care onsite. It provides a range of outpatient care services, including primary care, heart and vascular, urology, neurology, pediatric specialty care, radiation oncology, general surgery, surgical navigation and rehabilitation services.

These conveniently located services are saving residents travel time for outpatient care and cancer treatment. As a Novant Health Cancer Institute hub, the location offers both infusion treatments and radiation therapy.

For more information on how Novant Health is advancing high-quality, accessible care in the Coastal Region, please visit NovantHealth.org/CoastalNC.