Looking Towards the Future

Developing a stronger workforce

Investing in the next generation of healthcare professionals is a priority for hospitals as they face continued workforce shortages. In 2022, our state’s hospitals and health systems contributed $453 million to health professional education, training, scholarships and more.

Through the Surry-Yadkin Works program, high school and adult students can work full- or part-time at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital or Northern Regional Hospital while continuing their education in the healthcare field. In Morehead City, Carteret Health offers paid internships to area high school students through a program called, Careers and Partnerships in Education (CAPE), which bridges classroom learning and real-world experience in health care.

Carteret Health

Did you know? North Carolina hospitals and health systems are one of the top 10 employers in 92 out of 100 counties, and a top three employer in 45 counties.

Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health in Fayetteville are partnering to establish the state-of-the-art Methodist University medical school that will train the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Developing and educating a diverse workforce often requires innovative partnerships. Novant Health is collaborating with UNC Health, UNC School of Medicine and Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune to launch a new psychiatric residency program in southeastern North Carolina. The residents will be trained to care for a variety of patients.

To create a stronger clinical workforce for rural communities, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, affiliated with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, is conducting a study to assess physician needs in rural communities and understand factors guiding the employment choices of medical professionals. The study's findings will shape policies and incentives to help attract clinicians to underserved areas.

Building new infrastructure

North Carolina continues to be a prime destination to live with 10.6 million residents making our state the 9th largest in the nation. Hospitals and health systems are making significant capital investments and improvements to meet community needs as the state’s population grows.

Did You Know? In 2020, North Carolina hospitals and health systems spent $3 billion to construct new healthcare facilities, supporting more than 12,000 jobs.

For example, Duke Health, WakeMed, and LifePoint Health recently broke ground on a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Apex. The 52-bed, standalone Peak Rehabilitation Hospital will be the result of a joint venture partnership that will serve more than 1,200 patients annually. These capital improvement investments ripple through the economy, supporting local businesses and bringing revenue to state and local governments.

UNC Health has been allotted $320 million through the state budget to build a new children’s hospital in the Triangle, that includes an adolescent psychiatric hospital. This hospital will offer families a facility comparable to other top children’s hospitals in the country.

FirstHealth of the Carolinas

UNC Health Appalachian

Other examples include:

FirstHealth of the Carolinas opened a new $68 million cancer center at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.
Randolph Health in Asheboro is partnering with Cone Health on a new cancer center which will include upgrades to aging radiation equipment.
UNC Health Appalachian opened the Schaefer Family Patient Care Tower, located on the campus of Watauga Medical Center, that serves as the main entrance for the hospital and Emergency Department, and houses imaging and laboratory services, surgical services and 48 inpatient beds including the Intermediate Care Unit, Medical Surgical Unit and a Pediatric Unit.
CaroMont Health opened a new critical care tower at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, as part of a larger $350 million plan.