Duke Health, CaroMont File CONs for Two Charlotte Hospitals

Duke Health and CaroMont Health have filed Certificate of Need applications with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services for two Charlotte hospitals: Duke CaroMont Hospital Northeast, at West Mallard Creek Church Road and I-85, and Duke CaroMont Hospital River District, near I-485 and West Boulevard. Combined, the projects total 200 acute-care beds and 717,000 square feet.

The Northeast hospital would have 120 beds and 423,000 square feet, including 40,000 square feet of shell space, on roughly 23 acres. Capital cost: $692.1 million. The River District hospital would have 80 beds and 294,000 square feet on roughly 59 acres near Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Capital cost: $500.61 million. Total: approximately $1.2 billion.

A new company equally owned and jointly governed by Duke and CaroMont would own and operate both hospitals. The applications respond to the 2026 State Medical Facilities Plan, which identified a need for 389 additional acute-care beds in Mecklenburg County. Atrium Health and Novant Health have filed competing applications.

A state decision is expected by the end of Q1 2027. If approved, the hospitals could open in 2031.