Construction continues on the new Atrium Health Lake Norman Hospital / Photo by Jason Benavides

Aug. 19. Atrium Health has filed a Certificate of Need application to relocate 23 licensed acute care beds from Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) to Atrium Health Lake Norman, the new acute care hospital under construction on the old Augustalee property in Cornelius.

The change in scope of the project is valued at $19 million, according to a filing made with the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services.

The new hospital, originally approved for 30 beds, is nearing completion at the intersection of Bailey Road and Hwy. 21, backing up to I-77.

If the new Certificate of Need (CON) application is approved, Atrium Health Lake Norman would have 53 licensed acute care beds.

The new hospital was expected to open with approximately 280 new jobs based on 30 beds. A fifth floor was added to the original four-floor plan.

Anticipating more growth 

In a press release issued on the day of groundbreaking May 31, 2023, Atrium said there is a need for emergency, primary and specialty care due to the “tremendous population growth” here.

In a recent email, Atrium said “as a result of this growth, our community needs additional healthcare resources like acute care beds.”

The proposal for 23 more beds “will ensure that the facility has the resources necessary to care for the growing population in the Lake Norman area, allowing patients who live in the area to receive care closer to home,” according to Atrium.