Brunswick Community Hospital 
Frequently Asked Questions
| Read some commonly asked questions about the need for a new replacement hospital for Brunswick County. |
Why build a replacement hospital?
Brunswick Community Hospital thoroughly explored both the option of building a new hospital and the option of retrofitting the current facility to meet Brunswick County's growing population. It was projected that retrofitting the current facility would cost at least $85.4 million. For just over $100 million, Novant Health found that it would be feasible to build a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility.
While the short-term cost of building a new hospital that could expand to meet Brunswick County's future growth would be higher than retrofitting the current facility, the long-term cost of staying at the current facility would actually be more expensive. The replacement hospital will be designed to expand so that it's appropriate not only for the current decade but also for the next 30 years and beyond.
One other important factor that was considered was the feasibility of continuing operations while doing extensive construction at our current site. The construction would have taken several phases, causing continual disruption.
Would a certificate of need application be required if BCH had chosen to retrofit the current facility rather than build a new hospital?
Yes, because of the time that has passed since the original certificate of needs were issued and the significant increase in construction costs since then, we would be required to submit a new application to the state whether we renovated our current facility or built a new replacement hospital.
Does Novant Health have experience building and operating community hospitals?
Novant Health has experience constructing and successfully operating community hospitals. In 2004, the organization opened the 50-bed Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville, where Brunswick Community Hospital's president and CEO, Denise Mihal, R.N., most recently served. Novant Health also owns and manages two other community hospitals, Thomasville Medical Center with 149 beds and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews with 102 beds. Presbyterian Hospital Matthews was constructed as a new community hospital and opened in 1994. In addition, Novant has been granted state permission to build community hospitals in Mint Hill and Kernersville, N.C.
Why propose a replacement hospital now?
Brunswick County is the fifth fastest growing county in North Carolina with a growth of 21% between 2000 and 2005. This growth is predicted to continue with a growth rate above 19.4% predicted for the years 2010 to 2020. We must begin now to prepare for the healthcare needs of this increasing population. In addition, the North Carolina International deep water port proposed for Brunswick County will bring a further influx of population, infrastructure development, and employers into Brunswick and surrounding counties.
What would happen to the old hospital facility?
The current facility is owned by Brunswick County. Brunswick County leaders will determine the best use of the current facility. Its central location could be very advantageous to other organizations.
Brunswick Community Hospital thoroughly explored both the option of building a new hospital and the option of retrofitting the current facility to meet Brunswick County's growing population. It was projected that retrofitting the current facility would cost at least $85.4 million. For just over $100 million, Novant Health found that it would be feasible to build a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility.
While the short-term cost of building a new hospital that could expand to meet Brunswick County's future growth would be higher than retrofitting the current facility, the long-term cost of staying at the current facility would actually be more expensive. The replacement hospital will be designed to expand so that it's appropriate not only for the current decade but also for the next 30 years and beyond.
One other important factor that was considered was the feasibility of continuing operations while doing extensive construction at our current site. The construction would have taken several phases, causing continual disruption.
Would a certificate of need application be required if BCH had chosen to retrofit the current facility rather than build a new hospital?
Yes, because of the time that has passed since the original certificate of needs were issued and the significant increase in construction costs since then, we would be required to submit a new application to the state whether we renovated our current facility or built a new replacement hospital.
Does Novant Health have experience building and operating community hospitals?
Novant Health has experience constructing and successfully operating community hospitals. In 2004, the organization opened the 50-bed Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville, where Brunswick Community Hospital's president and CEO, Denise Mihal, R.N., most recently served. Novant Health also owns and manages two other community hospitals, Thomasville Medical Center with 149 beds and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews with 102 beds. Presbyterian Hospital Matthews was constructed as a new community hospital and opened in 1994. In addition, Novant has been granted state permission to build community hospitals in Mint Hill and Kernersville, N.C.
Why propose a replacement hospital now?
Brunswick County is the fifth fastest growing county in North Carolina with a growth of 21% between 2000 and 2005. This growth is predicted to continue with a growth rate above 19.4% predicted for the years 2010 to 2020. We must begin now to prepare for the healthcare needs of this increasing population. In addition, the North Carolina International deep water port proposed for Brunswick County will bring a further influx of population, infrastructure development, and employers into Brunswick and surrounding counties.
What would happen to the old hospital facility?
The current facility is owned by Brunswick County. Brunswick County leaders will determine the best use of the current facility. Its central location could be very advantageous to other organizations.
