The State of North Carolina recently approved Novant Health's Certificate of Need (CON) application to build a same-day surgery center in New Hanover County and the Wilmington community. A Novant spokesperson commented that the not-for-profit health system staff are excited to begin providing outpatient surgical services to residents from the coastal region that includes Brunswick Community Hospital.

The NC State Division of Facilities Services chose Novant's application over three other local organizations along the coast. It's not known at this time if any of those groups will challenge the state's decision. The Surgery Center could open as early as the fall of 2008.

Novant's Surgery Center in New Hanover County will contain two operating rooms and include the ability to expand to meet future needs. The facility will be located in a new 200-acre development along Eastwood Road called Autumn Hall, with single-family homes, apartments, retail, hotel and medical and business office parks.

Almost 4,000 Brunswick County residents seek ambulatory surgery in New Hanover County each year and those numbers are increasing. Novant proposed the Surgery Center to expand its commitment to the newest region it serves. Novant's CON application described several features that it felt were important for a new Surgery Center: open to surgeons in multiple specialties and their patients; Novant's experience in providing ambulatory surgery centers in other communities; and its strong commitment to provide surgical care to all people, including those with limited or no financial resources.

Dr. Mark Tillotson, a board-certified general surgeon, will serve as the Medical Director for the new Surgery Center. He is an active member of the BCH medical staff and a member of the Brunswick Medical Group.