WakeMed Announces Integrated Campus Concept in Garner: Dedicated to Whole-Person Health

RALEIGH, N.C. (April 11, 2023) Today, WakeMed announces plans to build a whole-person health campus designed to address the medical and mental health needs of our community. This comes as a result of our certificate-of-need (CON) applications for a 45-bed acute care hospital and a 150-bed mental health hospital being approved by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

The site is located on approximately 53 acres near the intersection of White Oak Road and Timber Drive East in Garner, NC. It will be an integral part of a 220-acre mixed-use district focused on innovation and wellness, which is being planned by the Town of Garner and a developer.

“By building our mental health and well-being hospital and our acute care hospital on the same campus, we further our mission of whole-person health care – addressing our community’s medical needs, mental health needs, and even our patients’ personal challenges that present barriers to achieving optimal health and wellness,” says Donald Gintzig, WakeMed president & CEO. “It is time for our community to recognize and elevate the need to focus on the whole person. Our patients need and deserve high-quality, accessible, value-based care and services delivered with compassion, expertise and efficiency. Our new, integrated campus will help us improve health and serve as a model of care for health systems like WakeMed that seek innovative ways to deliver their mission for all.”

By constructing two hospitals on the same site, WakeMed is also mindful of cost and operational efficiencies. “We are designing the campus in such a way that things like utilities can be housed in a single plant,” says Thomas Gough, WakeMed executive vice president & COO. “Food services, environmental services, materials processing and distribution, landscaping maintenance and other services can be shared among the on-site facilities for potential cost savings.”

The mental health and well-being hospital will be the first facility constructed on the new campus. WakeMed officials anticipate construction will begin in 2024. It is expected to open in fall 2026. More information will be forthcoming as the facility completes various design phases.

WakeMed also received approval from the State to build an acute care hospital. The State’s decision is being appealed by several facilities, even though two of the appealing facilities received State approval for twice the number of acute care beds than WakeMed. “We are pleased and grateful that the State also sees an immediate need for acute care beds in Garner,” says Gintzig. “The ever-increasing number of patients who seek care in our Garner Emergency Department is an indicator that the time is right for an acute care hospital in this thriving community. We are optimistic that the State’s decision will stand, and we can move forward with our vision for a campus dedicated to whole-person health.”

WakeMed has and continues to receive strong support from local, state and federal officials and we thank them for their commitment to the health and well-being of the people we serve. Health system officials look forward to working with Town of Garner officials on this project.

“The Town of Garner is very pleased with WakeMed’s announcement to build a Whole-Person Health Campus at a prime location in our Town,” says the Honorable Ken Marshburn, Town of Garner Mayor. “This proposed 150-bed mental hospital, along with a 45-bed acute care hospital to be located on the same site, will provide Garner and surrounding counties with easier access and enhanced medical care that will be a huge benefit to our growing area. We look forward to continuing and expanding our partnership with WakeMed. On behalf of our town, I welcome this exciting news and will pledge our support as this project moves forward.”

About WakeMed Health & Hospitals

Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed is a not-for-profit health care system founded and based in Raleigh, N.C. WakeMed exists to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing outstanding and compassionate care to all. WakeMed’s 970-bed system comprises a network of facilities throughout the Triangle area, including three full-service hospitals, seven emergency departments, a dedicated Children’s Hospital and Rehabilitation Hospital, more than 90 physician offices and Wake County’s only Level I Trauma Center. WakeMed’s mission-driven team includes more than 10,300 employees, 1,400 volunteers and 1,300 affiliated physicians, along with the more than 700 physicians and providers with WakeMed Physician Practices – all representing the best minds and the biggest hearts and the finest quality in health care and community health.For more information, visit www.wakemed.org or follow WakeMed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

###