Dear Certificate of Need Section Analysts,

I am writing as a resident of New Hanover County to express my strong, unequivocal support for the community hospital proposed by UNC Health at South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard.

According to the North Carolina State Medical Facilities Plan, our rapidly growing region requires an additional 225 acute care beds to sustain adequate safety and patient care. Granting this Certificate of Need to UNC Health directly fulfills that state-identified demand while introducing vital, life-saving competition to a market currently constrained by a single-provider monopoly.

For years, families in the Lower Cape Fear region have faced exceptionally long emergency room wait times and limited choices for specialized medical treatments. Over-reliance on one healthcare system leaves our community vulnerable to capacity strains and stifles patient options. UNC Health’s proposal to bring independent oncology, cardiology, neurosurgery, and OBGYN care to Wilmington directly addresses these exact care shortages.

I respectfully urge the CON Section to conditionally approve UNC Health’s application. Our growing population deserves choice, top-tier clinical care, and a reliable medical alternative.

Sincerely,

Theresa Babb

Wilmington NC

tmbbabb@yahoo.com