Atrium Health and Novant Health Inc. have been approved by state health regulators to add dozens of hospital beds in Cabarrus County.
Meanwhile, the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation selected Novant's certificate-of-need application to open a 24-bed hospital in Lincoln County and denied Atrium's bid to add 24 beds to its Lincoln Medical Center.
The division posted its decisions Thursday on its website.
The not-for-profit systems acted quickly following the recent unveiling of the 2026 State Medical Facilities Plan that shows a need for an additional 100 acute-care hospital beds in Cabarrus by 2028.
The plan determines the annual growth needs for hospitals and healthcare equipment in all 100 counties.
In August 2025, regulators approved an unusual compromise involving Atrium and Novant in the pursuit at that time of adding up to 126 acute-care hospital beds in Cabarrus.
The division approved at that time a new 50-bed community hospital from Novant, as well as allowing Atrium to expand its Cabarrus hospital by 76 beds.
The latest CON applications from the systems had Novant wanting to double the number of beds to 100 at its planned Cabarrus hospital. Novant projected a $120.9 million capital investment.
However, regulators approved Novant adding 32 beds for an overall total of 82.
Meanwhile, Atrium wanted permission to expand its Cabarrus hospital by an additional 30 beds, as well as add 65 beds to its Harrisburg hospital.
Atrium projects a $127.5 million capital investment on the Harrisburg expansion initiative, along with spending $74 million on the Cabarrus expansion.
Regulators approved 43 beds for the Harrisburg hospital and 20 beds for the Cabarrus expansion.
"Cabarrus County is one of the top counties for population growth in the state, so the agency sees a benefit in adding a hospital in the county," said David Meyer, president of Durham-based Keystone Planning Group. Novant has been approved for a $336.4 million hospital at 2401 Trinity Church Road in Concord. Construction is slated to commence in July 2027 with a projected Jan. 1, 2030, debut.
Novant's Cabarrus Medical Center also would feature 12 observation beds, 16 emergency department bays and 12 observation beds and four surgical procedure rooms.
Atrium said it would have spent $208.5 million on the 76-bed expansion of its hospital at 920 Church St. N. in Concord that would involve new construction. The hospital currently has 427 beds.
Construction is slated to commence in January 2029 with a projected May 1, 2031, debut.
Lincoln hospital bed applications
There is a substantial financial difference in the Novant new hospital and Atrium Lincoln hospital expansion.
Novant proposed spending $324 million on a 24-bed Lincoln Medical Center that would feature a C-section operating room and an emergency department with 12 treatment rooms. Meanwhile, Atrium planned to spend $36.4 million on the 24-bed addition at its hospital at 433 McAlister Road.
If approved, the Atrium hospital would have had 121 hospital beds.
The Novant hospital would be built at N.C. 73 and North Ingleside Road in Denver. The goal would be to open the hospital by Jan. 1, 2031.
A major marketing pitch to state health regulators is Novant's experience in establishing and operating community acutecare hospitals in the 24to 50-bed range, including in Clemmons and Kernersville. "The state's approval is a critical milestone in our efforts to expand healthcare access in Lincoln County," said Chris Bowe, president of Novant's Charlotte region.
"We've heard from our patients about the challenges of traveling for care, especially during emergencies or ongoing treatment. Bringing Novant Health's acute care closer to home can make a meaningful difference for patients and their families."
In addition to a 24-hour emergency department, Novant Health Lincoln Medical Center will feature a range of inpatient and outpatient services and a dedicated cesarean-section operating room.
rcraver@wsjournal.com 336-727-7376 @rcraverWsJ
