State-of-the-art facility opens after five years of construction.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – UNC Health is excited to announce that the new North Carolina Surgical Hospital in Chapel Hill is officially open. On Monday morning, surgical teams performed the first surgeries in the hospital, and staff are working to prepare for the arrival of its first inpatients on Tuesday.
The new hospital is the single largest addition to the UNC Hospitals campus since North Carolina Memorial Hospital opened its doors in 1952. The North Carolina Surgical Hospital will help ensure that patients from across the state will receive the most advanced surgical care and services now and well into the future.
“The heart of this new facility are the teammates who will work here – the nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists and many others – and the skill and compassion that they bring to each interaction with their patients,” said Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health and Dean of the UNC School of Medicine. “I’m excited for our providers to have more space and the modern tools needed to stay at the forefront of care. I’m equally excited for patients to be cared for and recover in a space designed to be as healing as possible.”
The state-of-the-art facility spans seven stories and encompasses 375,000 square feet meticulously designed to offer a comforting atmosphere for patients and their loved ones. With 26 advanced surgical suites, the facility is fully equipped to facilitate the latest procedures, reinforcing UNC Health’s commitment to delivering superior patient care. Notably, four of these operating rooms are designated as “hybrid spaces,” which integrate imaging technology into surgical procedures to enhance precision and efficiency.
Good design in a space like this offers patients and their families a sense of peace and respite during some of the most unsettling or difficult days in their lives. The meticulous design of this hospital also had our physicians and staff top of mind. We know our teams save and improve lives daily. Now that work will accelerate in a place that’s built to foster collaboration and nurture camaraderie.
“After more than 5 years of building toward this moment, I continue to be so thankful for our medical staff and teammates,” said Janet Hadar, President of UNC Hospitals. “Their dedication to patients and each other has well-positioned us for this exciting moment. What a privilege to extend the expert, Carolina Care we believe every North Carolinian deserves in a facility that supports our care teams, our patients and their loved ones.”
The North Carolina Surgical Hospital is a symbol of growth and innovation, designed to offer the people of North Carolina more immediate access to complex care. In addition, we are proud to help train the next generation of surgeons in this new facility.
The new N.C. Surgical Hospital employs about 500 people, including more than 100 new jobs. Construction on the project began more than five years ago.
About UNC Health
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 15 hospitals, 19 hospital campuses and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine (SOM). It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina SOM. UNC Health provided more than $800 million in Uncompensated Charity Care during the past five years. Our hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety, and the overall patient experience.