The pandemic-induced havoc on hospitals around the country still ricochets across systems today. A dire trend accelerated and emerged: a shortage of nurses. That shortage, prompted by burnout, puts a shrinking pool of nurses at risk for even more stress as they handle higher patient loads.     It’s a potentially dangerous cycle that health care and e ...

BioSymmetry, a Wilmington medical firm providing hormone therapy, is changing hands with the retirement of founder Chris Pate from the local office, according to a press release. The firm, renamed BioSymmetry Wilmington, is now owned by Allen Holmes and Deb Read, who serves as the office manager and lead nurse. The office is located at 265 Racine Drive. Pate ope ...

Although she’s a nurse practitioner who specializes in prenatal care, Ashley Batts often has patients with numerous needs.   It’s all part of being a health care provider in a rural county.   “You just never know what’s going to walk in the door. You have patients who haven’t been seen by a doctor for years who come in,” sa ...

Novant Health and MedNorth Health Center are advancing plans to expand the services they provide to individuals and families in some of Wilmington’s poorest neighborhoods.   With the announcement that Novant will build a new Michael Jordan-funded community clinic at Princess Place Drive and North 30th Street following earlier plans for one at Greenfield and 15 ...

Dosher Memorial Hospital recently added Stryker’s Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Hip replacement procedures.   The Southport hospital launched its robotics program early last year with Mako partial and total knee procedures.   “To date, the surgical team at Dosher has performed over 250 knee replacements using Mako technology,” Dosher Presi ...

EmergeOrtho Wilmington is now EmergeOrtho Coastal Region, a name change that aims to better reflect the community the medical provider serves, according to a press release. “It recognizes that our care extends well beyond the city of Wilmington and New Hanover County, and into Brunswick, Onslow and Pender counties,” said Shawn Hocker, president of EmergeOrth ...

Plans for a couple of medical building projects are progressing in the area.   Wilmington Health is readying to open its first Ambulatory Surgery Center this month. Meanwhile, construction continues on medical offices in Brunswick County for Novant Health.   A grand opening for Wilmington Health’s 20,000-square-foot facility at 1305 Glen Meade Road is s ...

The National Association of Counties recently recognized Brunswick County Health Services with an achievement award for the county’s COVID vaccine initiative.   “The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents,” according to a news release from Brunswick County officials.   The recogni ...

Novant Health’s rebranding of NHRMC assets continues, with the latest covering new looks for the local health system’s ambulances.   The first of more than 50 ambulances have been repainted to reflect New Hanover Regional Medical Center joining Novant Health.   The sale of NHRMC to Winston- Salem-based Novant closed in February 2021, and officials ...

Quality Chemical Laboratories is hoping to wrap up construction of its 110,000-square-foot expansion by early next year.  The expansion – the firm’s second in recent years – will provide a space for the firm’s sister company, Pyramid Pharmaceutical Co. LLC, to manufacture pharmaceutical products.  Quality Chemical Laborator ...