Press releases

Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center celebrates 2 major milestones

Bolivia, N.C., Aug. 2 – This year, Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center celebrates its fifth anniversary in the new facility and its 10th anniversary since joining Novant Health.

“Ten years ago, we promised the Brunswick County community that we would bring them remarkable health care,” said Shelbourn Stevens, president of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center. “The achievements we have been able to make show we are doing that. In response, the community has continually shown support by trusting us with their health care needs.”

Brunswick Medical Center moved from Supply to Bolivia in 2011 with the opening of the new facility. The new Brunswick Medical Center facility opened with expanded services for the community. The facility includes 74 beds, four operating rooms and one C-section room, a 24-hour emergency department and a wide range of services, including surgery, imaging, laboratory, cardiac rehabilitation, physical therapy, speech therapy, respiratory and pharmacy.

Significant growth in 10 years

Since joining Novant Health in 2006, Brunswick Medical Center has added a variety of new programs and services, including da Vinci robotic surgery, outpatient infusion and IV therapies, speech therapy, mobile mammography, teleneurology and telepsychiatry, lung CT screening, palliative care and wound care.

Novant Health has also added a medical office building next to Brunswick Medical Center, opened the Novant Health South Brunswick Medical Plaza in Carolina Shores, and added a second endoscopy suite as well as  a procedure room at the hospital.

Novant Health team members, providers and volunteers have grown significantly since Brunswick Medical Center joined the health system.

• The number of medical center employees has increased 48 percent, from 366 in 2006 to 540 in 2016.
• The number of medical group employees has grown 933 percent, from 18 in 2006 to 186 in 2016.
• The number of medical staff has increased 157percent, from 113 in 2006 to 291 in 2016.
• The number of volunteers has increased 195 percent, from 58 in 2006 to 171 in 2016.

Since 2006, more patients are choosing to stay local in Brunswick County for their health care needs.

• The average daily census at Brunswick Medical Center has grown 32 percent, from 34 in 2006 to 45 in 2015.
• The number of surgeries has increased 89 percent, from 2,312 in 2006 to 4,363 in 2015.
• The number of emergency visits has grown 79 percent, from 17,598 in 2006 to 31,550 in 2015.
• The number of births has increased 92 percent, from 243 in 2006 to 466 in 2015.

The medical group has also grown rapidly to meet the needs of the community, increasing clinic locations from two in 2006 to 20 today. The medical group now has 33 physicians and 22 advanced practitioners.

Accolades

Brunswick Medical Center has been recognized with awards and accolades in recent years, including:

• The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval
• 2014 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures from the Joint Commission for heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, venous thromboembolism, stroke, perinatal care and immunizations
• American Heart Association Get with the Guidelines gold awards for stroke and heart failure
• Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Excellence in Business Award for 2016

“We are proud of the growth and accolades we have been able to accomplish,” said Dr. William Sherrod, Brunswick Medical Center’s chief of medical staff. “Brunswick County remains a medically underserved area, according to state and national standards, so our ability to recruit new physicians to this area has been crucial. We will continue our work to attract new providers to our area and to add new specialties to serve our local community close to where they live and work.”