As the county’s population surges, Novant strengthens its presence with expanded clinics, modern facilities, and a planned hospital in Leland.
By BC News Staff Writer
Bolivia, NC — Brunswick County is one of the fastest‑growing counties in North Carolina, adding new residents at a pace that continues to reshape local infrastructure, housing, schools, and healthcare. With more families, retirees, and seasonal visitors arriving each year, access to reliable medical services has become a central part of the county’s growth story.
Novant Health, which operates Brunswick Medical Center in Bolivia and a county‑wide network of primary‑care clinics remains one of the county’s major healthcare providers as the region evolves.
Brunswick County’s rapid population growth has accelerated over the past decade, driven by new development in Leland, Shallotte, Carolina Shores, and the beach communities. The county’s mix of retirees, young families, and seasonal residents creates a wide range of healthcare needs, from chronic‑disease management to maternity care and emergency services. As the county expands, so does the demand for accessible, local healthcare, and Novant’s current footprint provides many of the core services residents rely on while additional expansion is planned to support the county’s northern communities.
Brunswick Medical Center itself was built in response to earlier growth. The hospital opened in Bolivia in 2011, replacing the former Brunswick Community Hospital on U.S. 17 in Supply. The older facility had become too small to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population, with limited bed capacity, aging infrastructure, and space constraints that made it difficult to support modern medical equipment and rising patient volume. The move to Bolivia allowed Novant to expand capacity, modernize services, and build a hospital designed with future growth in mind, a role it continues to serve today.
Today, Brunswick Medical Center remains the county’s central hub for emergency and inpatient care. The hospital’s emergency department operates 24/7 and manages significant seasonal surges during the summer months. The facility also offers a full suite of diagnostic services, including CT, MRI, ultrasound, mammography, and cardiac imaging, allowing most patients to receive routine testing without leaving the county. Inside the hospital, Novant continues to provide women’s and maternity services, including labor and delivery, prenatal and postpartum care, and OB/GYN support, an important option for families who prefer to deliver close to home.
Novant’s largest presence in Brunswick County is its network of primary‑care clinics, with locations in Bolivia, Shallotte, Leland, Supply, and Carolina Shores. These clinics provide preventive care, chronic‑disease management, same‑day sick visits, vaccinations, and annual wellness exams. For residents in rural and suburban areas alike, these clinics serve as the first point of contact for everyday healthcare needs, and as the county grows, primary care remains one of Novant’s most relied‑upon service lines.
Novant also continues to offer orthopedic evaluations, imaging, and non‑surgical treatment in Brunswick County, though certain specialty services, including joint‑replacement surgery, oncology treatment, rheumatology, and inpatient behavioral health are not currently available within the county. Patients requiring these services are referred to regional centers in Wilmington, Myrtle Beach, or other nearby areas. This combination of local care and regional specialty support is common in fast‑growing counties, where population increases often outpace the availability of highly specialized services.
One of the most significant developments in Brunswick County’s healthcare landscape is Novant Health’s plan to build a new hospital in Leland. The proposed 20‑bed facility, located near U.S. 74/76, is designed to bring emergency care, inpatient services, and advanced imaging closer to northern Brunswick communities. Once approved, the Leland hospital would be the first new hospital in the county since Brunswick Medical Center opened in 2011, reflecting both the county’s rapid growth and Novant’s long‑term investment in expanding access to care.
Beyond clinical services, Novant participates in school partnerships, preventive screenings, and health‑education events throughout the county. These programs aim to support residents in rural areas and improve access to basic health information and resources.
As Brunswick County continues to grow, the demand for accessible healthcare will only increase. Novant Health’s current services — combined with its planned expansion in Leland — position the system as a central part of the county’s evolving healthcare landscape. While some specialty care remains regional, core services such as primary care, maternity care, diagnostics, and emergency treatment continue to anchor local access. The coming years will reveal how new facilities, population trends, and community needs shape the next chapter of healthcare in Brunswick County.
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