UNC Health officials on Thursday shared details about the application they submitted to state regulators this week for a proposed 150-bed hospital in Wilmington.

UNC Health was one of the health systems that turned in a Certificate of Need (CON) application to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, according to a news release.

The 2026 State Medical Facilities Plan, which took effect earlier this year, identified the need for 225 inpatient beds in New Hanover County and 18 beds in Brunswick County, with a review date from the state of July 1 and an application deadline of June 15.

As of 2:30 p.m. Thursday, none of the CON applications for the New Hanover County beds had been uploaded to the applications log portion of the state department of health's website. The NCDHHS' Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) reviews each CON application independently and conducts a comparative analysis, according to its website. 

UNC Health's proposed community hospital, planned for the southeast corner of South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard in Wilmington, would be more than 540,000 square feet across seven floors on a 62-acre site "designed to allow for future growth," the release Thursday stated.

UNC Health officials in May announced the hospital plan, which was, as of Thursday afternoon, one of three announced proposals from health systems competing for approval to add inpatient beds in New Hanover County. The other two are Novant Health and Atrium Health.

"This filing initiates the state's formal review. A public hearing is anticipated in August, and a decision from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is expected before the end of the year," according to the UNC Health release issued Thursday. "UNC Health will continue to engage openly with state regulators, local elected officials and residents throughout the process."

UNC Health has targeted an opening date of 2030 for its hospital if its plan is allowed to proceed. With the potential new hospital, the system aims "to expand access to primary and specialty care for patients across New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties, one of North Carolina's fastest-growing regions. UNC Health has engaged with hundreds of residents, providers and community leaders across New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender County – many of whom have signed letters of support for the new community hospital," according to the release.

Officials with Wilmington Health, one of the largest independent, physician-owned practices in Southeastern North Carolina, have endorsed the UNC Health proposal, the release stated.
 
"Every day, I see patients facing serious health challenges who need more than our community currently has the capacity to provide," said David Schultz, a physician and chief medical officer at Wilmington Health, in the release. "A new hospital in Wilmington would change that – bringing more specialists, more capacity, and more options to the people of this region when it matters most. Wilmington Health is proud to support UNC Health’s application and the difference it will make for our patients and community." 

The UNC Health proposal has also garnered the support of a local elected official.

"New Hanover County’s rapid growth has outpaced our healthcare resources, leaving too many families waiting for the care they deserve,” said Rob Zapple, New Hanover County commissioner, in the release. “This proposed hospital is exactly the kind of bold step our community needs, and I am proud to support it. I urge state health officials to recognize the urgency and help us deliver the quality care our region’s residents expect and need."

Atrium Health announced its filing of a CON application for a full-service hospital in a news release on Monday.

The hospital would bring “nationally recognized programs in cancer, cardiovascular and neurosciences,” to the area, according to the release. The full scope of the project, including the cost and proposed size, had not yet been publicly disclosed and would also be pending CON review.

According to the Atrium release, the application was endorsed by over 200 local clinicians.

Novant Health has also submitted an application for its proposed 120-bed heart and vascular tower. The heart and vascular tower would be located on Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center's South 17th Street campus and is expected to open by 2031. Novant Health announced over $1 billion in new healthcare infrastructure across the region earlier this year as part of its master facility plan. 

DHSR has 90 to 150 days to review the applications and might approve portions of more than one application, given they do not exceed the 225-bed allocation. During the first 30 days of the review period, DHSR will accept written comments or letters of support for submitted CONs.

Each application is reviewed for completeness before being posted on the public application log, an NCDHHS spokesperson has said. This log may be updated between June 17 and 22, the spokesperson said.

Within 30 days of a decision, the NCDHHS website states that "any affected person" can file a petition for a contested case hearing to appeal the decision.

Comments on submitted applications can be filed here.