As physician leaders at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, we are also members of this community. We attend the same churches, eat at the same restaurants, cheer from the same sidelines and share the same love of coastal living as our neighbors and patients. We seek the same healthcare and face some of the same challenges with access to care that many in our community do. 
 
As community members, we are not blind to the concerns and negative sentiment that followed the sale of NHRMC to Novant Health in 2020. Many of us have served our community and provided care at NHRMC for decades. We understand the concerns raised by certain public quality ratings, particularly when those ratings do not always capture the full picture of the work happening inside our hospital today.
 
Motivated by our mission to deliver the highest level of care to our community, the physicians and dedicated team members of NH NHRMC have actively engaged in examining our local processes, facilities and systems of care delivery. We have also been relentless advocates for support of needed changes and necessary financial investments required to transform them. Novant Health’s leaders are listening, investing and helping drive that change. We are already seeing significant progress, but changes to many public quality ratings are delayed by years because they reflect past actions and outcomes.
 
Given this, the recent attacks on our hospital, medical staff and teammates surrounding UNC Health’s announcement that they intend to open a community hospital in the region were felt personally. Healthy competition can benefit patients. But criticism that distorts facts on the ground, ignores the high quality of care available here and disregards the work of thousands of people who give themselves every day to care for this community benefits no one.
 
As such, we have collectively authored this editorial to Set the Record Straight.
 
Current quality scores reflect historical data that does not reflect the care being delivered today, or the pace of improvement we are seeing within our organization. In recent years, we have driven dramatic safety improvements with reductions of up to 50% in major hospital-acquired infections. Nursing recruitment and retention efforts have reduced turnover to historic lows. Engagement scores show that team member culture is returning to pre-pandemic levels of happiness and professional satisfaction and our Medicare Star rating increased in May. Our medical group has been recognized for two consecutive years as the No. 1 Accountable Care Organization for overall quality in the country, and our pediatric hospital ranked No. 4 in the nationwide Vizient quality database. We are confident these improvements will be reflected in future ratings as the lagging indicators fade.
 
Novant Health is delivering on its commitment to invest in our growing region. It is no secret that Wilmington and the surrounding coastal communities have experienced incredible, sustained population growth. Demand for healthcare services continues to rise, just as demand for housing, transportation and local services continues to rise. Since the sale of NHRMC, Novant Health has invested more than $400 million in new surgical centers, medical and specialty care facilities, and an expanded network of primary care physicians across Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties.
 
Novant Health has also supported growth and retention of our workforce. Since the purchase of NHRMC, Novant Health has invested more than $350 million in performance and market raises for team members. The physician workforce has grown by 42% since 2021, more than 500 nurses were hired in 2024 and advanced practice providers, nurses and other professionals continue to expand care across Southeastern North Carolina.
 
We are expanding access to care where it is needed in our community. This week, we celebrate the opening of Scotts Hill Medical Center, the first new hospital in New Hanover County in 60 years. This investment of more than $200 million brings inpatient care, surgical services, cardiovascular procedures, emergency care and specialty programs closer to one of the fastest-growing areas of our region. In addition, Novant Health has identified more than $1 billion in additional investments over the next five years, including a master facility upgrade, relocation and expansion of our rehabilitation hospital, and a new heart tower with needed beds and state-of-the-art procedural space for our award-winning Heart & Vascular program.
 
We are more than a hospital; we are neighbors, partners and caregivers invested in the long-term vitality of this region. Novant Health created the New Hanover Community Endowment to empower the community and drive systemic change. The Endowment is now valued at more than $1.7 billion and has awarded more than $310 million since it was created in grants to local nonprofits working to advance health equity, education, community safety and community development. Novant Health also invests approximately $1 million each year through local grants, sponsorships and nonprofit partnerships, supporting organizations such as The Salvation Army Cape Fear and Eden Village, as well as community events, COVID-19 vaccination clinics and free student-athlete physicals. Additionally, Novant Health has committed $10 million to workforce development and healthcare training initiatives and continues to partner with local colleges and universities to help educate the next generation of healthcare professionals.
 
We are proud of the progress being made under Novant Health’s stewardship. We see firsthand the investment in quality, access, workforce development and thoughtful expansion based on community need. As physician leaders, we commit to seeing the job through. As your neighbors and community members, we will continue to strengthen our relationships with our community partners to meet the needs of this community for decades to come.  
 
Healthcare is improved through sustained investment, talented people and a genuine commitment to the communities we serve. That is the work we have dedicated our careers to.
 
The story of Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center is entering a new chapter – one defined by meaningful progress, sustained investment and a clear vision for the future. We are committed to ensuring it is one defined by quality, access and trust for the people of New Hanover County and our surrounding communities.
  J. Kevin Adgent, MD
L. Neal Beard, Jr., MD
Jeff Beecher, DO, MBA
Charin L. Hanlon, MD
William W Hope, MD
Michael Jaskolka, MD
Lawrence J. Mason, MD
Lora Pacaldo, MD
Michael A. Papagikos, MD
Jennifer Neilsen, MD
Rob Shakar, MD
J. Andrew Smith, MD
William T. Smith, MD, MBA
J. Alex Thomas, MD
Jeffrey Warhaftig, MD
D. Chad Weston, MD