In a landmark move that is expected to significantly enhance pediatric health care in North Carolina, UNC Health and Duke Health are uniting to construct a new children's hospital in the Triangle area. The $2 billion venture will be the state's first standalone children's hospital, according to insiders who are familiar with the plans but spoke to WRAL. The facility promises not only to provide advanced care for young patients but also to generate thousands of jobs ranging from construction to medical professionals.
State officials, along with representatives from Duke and UNC, are poised to reveal details of the partnership at an announcement scheduled for today in Raleigh, as reported by Axios. Adding to the expectation, the state has previously pledged $320 million towards the hospital, with an additional $1 billion in philanthropic funding anticipated to meet the total cost.
The planned hospital is set to feature around 500 beds and will dedicate substantial resources to behavioral health. The project aims to centralize specialized pediatric care, allowing for a higher volume of services and enabling families across the state to receive complex care without leaving North Carolina. As stated in a memo to UNC Health staff, CEO Wesley Burks emphasized that the hospital will be comparable "in clinical and academic scale to any of the top 10 children's hospitals in the country" and will also feature child and adolescent psychiatric services, as mentioned on WRAL. This announcement was captured in a 2023 memo following the appropriation of state funds.
Both health systems are gearing up to transfer all pediatric-related clinical services to the new facility upon its completion in the early 2030s, as reported by ABC11. Dr. Craig Albanese, CEO of Duke University Health System, highlighted the collaborative spirit driving the initiative: "Children are the heart of our future, and families across North Carolina deserve access to the most comprehensive, highest quality care for their children." He further expressed gratitude for the legislature's support in this joint endeavor.
Last but not least, the hospital, expected to eclipse UNC Health's nearly 500-bed flagship hospital in Raleigh in terms of scope, will likely be situated on a centrally-located site in the Triangle, spanning a minimum of 100 acres to accommodate the comprehensive range of services planned, UNC Health revealed. The location remains to be finalized, though it is intended to be easily accessible and to invite a surge of ancillary development aimed at servicing patients, families, and employees in the area.
