Novant Health celebrated one year since New Hanover Regional Medical Center joined the North Carolina-based nonprofit health system. 

“A year ago, I said that Novant Health was confident that this partnership would bring tremendous benefits to the community,” says 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 the 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 As in the Leapfrog Group's fall 2021 Hospital Safety Grade scoring period. 
• Supporting diversity, inclusion and health equity. The facility’s 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 percent write-off from 200 percent to 300 percent 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. 

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.