The Wayne County Board of Commissioners has approved an agreement that could lead to more than $675 million in healthcare investments over the next 15 years, marking a significant step forward for the county’s medical infrastructure.
The proposal supports the full integration of UNC Health Wayne into the UNC Health system, pending final approval from the UNC Health Wayne Board. Planned investments would focus on upgrading facilities, enhancing technology, expanding specialty and outpatient services, and strengthening efforts to recruit and retain healthcare professionals.
A key part of the plan includes working toward designating UNC Health Wayne as a Level III Trauma Center, with the potential to advance further in the future - allowing residents to access more advanced care locally. The agreement also emphasizes preserving current hospital services, maintaining local board representation, and developing a broader regional healthcare strategy for eastern North Carolina.
County leaders say the initiative reflects more than a year of collaboration and positions the hospital as a long-term community asset, with minimal immediate changes for patients but meaningful long-term benefits.
