Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed Health & Hospitals has filed four separate certificate of need applications with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for two new hospitals and bed expansions that total $919.2 million.
The applications, filed Aug. 17, include the development of:
- WakeMed Wendell Hospital, a $318.7 million facility with no more than 45 acute care beds and no more than four Level III neonatal beds;
- WakeMed Rolesville Hospital, a $302.4 million facility with no more than 45 acute care beds and no more than four neonatal beds;
- The addition of 55 acute care beds to WakeMed Raleigh Campus for $129.5 million; and
- The addition of no more than 88 acute care beds to WakeMed Cary (N.C.) Hospital for $168.6 million.
The fees owed for all four applications were $50,000 each, with the applications listed as “competitive.”
The services proposed for WakeMed’s new community hospitals include obstetrics, cardiology, oncology and chemotherapy infusion, surgery, neonatal intensive care and adult intensive care, according to an Aug. 24 WakeMed news release shared with Becker’s.
Wake County was allocated 233 new acute care beds under the 2026 North Carolina State Medical Facilities Plan, prompting the four CON’s from WakeMed. The system expects a decision from the state’s DHHS on its CON applications in early 2027.
“Community growth and ready access to high-quality care for our patients are among the driving factors as WakeMed continues to plan for new and expanded facilities,” Donald Gintzig, WakeMed president and CEO, said in the release. “The decisions we make today ensure that future generations have the healthcare they need close to home. For the past 65 years, WakeMed has been committed to caring for our growing community – and we are excited for the opportunity to expand our services to better serve our patients and their families.”
The news comes amid WakeMed’s planned merger with Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health. The two parties shared plans May 1 to combine into a single system, with nonprofit WakeMed joining Atrium, which will invest $2 billion in Wake County (N.C.) as part of the deal.
In late May, WakeMed doubled down on its plan to combine with Atrium after it received an unsolicited partnership proposal from Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health earlier that month.
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