Healthcare & Hospitals in Wilmington, NC

Access to good healthcare is near the top of the list for most people relocating to Wilmington, especially retirees. The good news is that the Cape Fear region is anchored by a large regional medical center with a Level II trauma designation, supported by community hospitals in the surrounding counties and a deep bench of specialists. This page outlines the systems serving the area and where to go for higher-level care.

Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center

The dominant system in the region is Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) in Wilmington — a large, multi-campus medical center and the area's primary hospital. It is a verified Level II trauma center, meaning it can manage most serious injuries and emergencies without transferring patients elsewhere. The system includes a cancer institute, a heart center, a dedicated behavioral health hospital, an orthopedic and rehabilitation hospital, and the region's air-ambulance service. In 2021 Novant Health acquired the formerly county-owned hospital, which created the multi-billion-dollar New Hanover Community Endowment that continues to fund local health and community initiatives.

Hospitals in the surrounding counties

If you settle outside Wilmington proper, you still have nearby options:

• Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center (Bolivia) — a roughly 74-bed acute-care hospital serving fast-growing Brunswick County, convenient to Leland and the southern beaches.
• Novant Health Pender Medical Center (Burgaw) — a critical-access hospital serving Pender County and the Hampstead/Topsail corridor.
• Dosher Memorial Hospital (Southport) — an independent, not-for-profit community hospital serving the Southport and Oak Island area.

Beyond the hospitals, the region has a broad network of primary-care practices, urgent-care clinics, specialty groups, and outpatient surgery and imaging centers, plus a growing presence of competing health systems looking to add beds and services as the population grows.

Specialty and academic care

For the great majority of needs — cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, women's health, behavioral health, emergency and trauma care — the Wilmington systems handle care locally. For the rare cases that call for a major academic medical center (complex transplants, certain pediatric subspecialties, clinical trials), Duke and UNC Health in the Research Triangle are roughly a two- to two-and-a-half-hour drive northwest, and NHRMC maintains referral relationships for those situations.

What this means for retirees

For retirees in particular, the combination of a Level II trauma center, a comprehensive cancer and heart program, strong rehabilitation services, and a large specialist network means most care stays close to home — an important factor when you are choosing between coastal markets. Many of the area's 55+ communities are within 15 to 30 minutes of NHRMC or a Novant community hospital. See our retirees page for how healthcare factors into community choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main hospital in Wilmington, NC?

Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC), a large multi-campus medical center and verified Level II trauma center, is the region's primary hospital.

Is there a trauma center in Wilmington?

Yes. NHRMC is a verified Level II trauma center, able to handle most serious injuries and emergencies locally.

Where do people go for hospital care outside Wilmington?

Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center (Bolivia) serves Brunswick County, Novant Health Pender Medical Center (Burgaw) serves Pender County, and Dosher Memorial Hospital serves the Southport/Oak Island area.

How far is Wilmington from a major academic medical center?

Duke and UNC Health in the Research Triangle are about a two- to two-and-a-half-hour drive northwest, used for the rare cases needing that level of specialized care.

Is healthcare a good reason to retire in Wilmington?

For many retirees, yes — the region offers trauma, cancer, heart, and rehabilitation care locally, plus a large specialist and outpatient network, with most communities within a short drive of a hospital.

Keep Reading

• Relocating to Wilmington: The Complete Guide
• Retiring in Wilmington
• Moving with a Family
• Cost of Living