MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Duke Health announced Wednesday it plans to acquire Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville, which would mark the health system's expansion into a new community.
In its announcement, Duke Health said it agreed to acquire LNRMC from Tennessee-based Community Health Systems in the first quarter of 2025. LNRMC includes a 123-bed acute-care hospital and offers 24-hour emergency care, labor and delivery services, cardiology, surgical and orthopedic care, and an outpatient imaging center.
“We recognize the health care landscape is changing,” said Craig Albanese, CEO of Duke University Health System. "While we continue to expand access to care within the communities we serve, it’s also time to do more and deliver care to more people – in more communities. We want to bring access to all that Duke Health has to offer to the Lake Norman community.”
“We know providers and team members are key to the success of any health system,” said Richard Shannon, DUHS senior vice president and chief medical officer. “We are eager to support LNRMC providers and employees in their mission to deliver exceptional care and an exceptional patient experience.”
If approved, the acquisition would be a major expansion for the Duke Health system outside of North Carolina's Triangle region.
Kaufman Hall served as the exclusive financial advisor for the transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions.
Duke Health's announcement comes roughly six months after Novant Health originally announced it planned to buy LNRMC along with Davis Regional Medical in Statesville. A federal judge greenlit the decision after the Federal Trade Commission had argued the deal would give Novant too much control of the health care market.
However, Business Today NC reported later in June 2024 that Novant abandoned its plans for both Davis Regional and LNRMC after subsidiaries of Community Health Systems said no. A statement Novant shared with the publication also lamented the opposition it faced from the FTC.
Duke Health has promised patients it will maintain the quality of healthcare they already see.