UNC Health’s Ernie Bovio on plans for a new hospital in Wilmington
UNC Health announced plans to build a new 62-acre hospital complex in Wilmington, North Carolina, to expand access to emergency, specialty, and primary care services. The project, supported by Wilmington Health, requires state approval and aims to address growing demand as the region’s population nears one million residents within five to seven years.
UNC Health, the state-owned healthcare system affiliated with the UNC School of Medicine, revealed plans to construct a new community hospital in Wilmington at South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard. The 62-acre site, located one mile from Novant NHRMC, will house a hospital offering emergency care, cardiology, oncology, obstetrics, and other services. The proposal has backing from Wilmington Health, with its providers expected to join the new facility’s medical staff. Approval from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is required through the Certificate of Need (CON) process, which evaluates the necessity of new healthcare services and infrastructure. The project aligns with DHHS’s State Medical Facilities Plan, which identifies a need for 225 additional beds in New Hanover County within the next few years. Ernie Bovio, UNC Health’s regional president for the southeastern coastal market, cited population growth—projected to reach nearly one million residents across seven or eight counties—as a key driver for the expansion. Bovio emphasized community feedback as a major factor, noting residents’ demand for more healthcare options, including primary and specialty care, without requiring travel outside the area. The new facility aims to provide an alternative to Novant NHRMC, which has faced criticism for declining safety ratings from organizations like Leapfrog and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Concerns have included high death rates for surgical inpatients and composite safety scores, though Novant NHRMC has stated improvements are underway. The addition of UNC Health’s hospital could introduce competition to the local healthcare market, potentially improving service quality and accessibility. Bovio acknowledged questions about whether the new facility would complement or directly compete with Novant NHRMC, stating that the goal is to meet unmet demand while offering residents more choices. The project’s success hinges on DHHS approval, with Bovio expressing confidence in the proposal’s alignment with regional healthcare needs.
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