Freestanding children’s hospitals are different.
Today, children receive inpatient care in North Carolina from pediatric programs housed inside adult hospitals. This model serves families reasonably well, but it is far from optimal.
Our children deserve better than shared space in an adult facility. An independent, freestanding children’s hospital doesn’t compete with adult programs for resources. Every piece of equipment, every protocol, every decision, every square foot of space exists for one reason: the care of children.
And it matters. Research shows that children treated in freestanding children’s hospitals have better outcomes1, and their families consistently report better experiences2 — because everything is designed with them in mind.
"Sick adults are scary, and in even the nicest pediatric programs housed inside adult hospitals, children still encounter them. At freestanding children's hospitals, every consideration — from the décor to the food to the support teams — is designed to meet the clinical and emotional needs of children and their families. It feels softer. Safer."
— Robin, Charlie's mom
For every child, in every county.
NC Children’s will deploy resources and technology to help every provider in the state deliver optimal pediatric care, and keep their patients as close to home as possible.
North Carolina ranks first in business — and 36th in children's health. The growth of pediatricians has not kept pace with our growing population3, and specialized children's care is often out of reach, especially for families outside the state's major cities.
For example, read Ana’s story about her family’s medical journey from Waxhaw, NC, to Pennsylvania for care.
Beyond our Apex campus, our goal is for NC Children’s to serve as a support network for pediatricians, family practice doctors, and health systems across the state for:
- Clinical consultation and virtual care
- Transferring children and adolescents in need of a higher level of care
- Training the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists to serve across North Carolina and the region, and
- Researching and developing new treatments and therapies
With more than 11 million residents, more than 2.3 million children, and as the 3rd fastest growing state, North Carolina is the most populous state without a freestanding, independent children’s hospital.
Our campus in Apex will be within a 3-hour drive of 75% of the children in North Carolina. Still, to reach our goals, we want and need the pediatricians, family practice doctors, and health systems across North Carolina to remain strong and continue caring for children as close to home as possible.
"The hope and goal is that this hospital is going to be a powerhouse, super attractive place that will attract top talent from around the country."
— Dr. Theresa Flynn, President, NC Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics4
Behavioral healthcare for the developing brain, built at the scale North Carolina needs.
One in five children experiences a mental health disorder each year in this country5. In North Carolina, the numbers are even more stark6. Emergency departments are overwhelmed with kids in psychiatric crisis. Families wait weeks — sometimes months — for inpatient psychiatric beds.
Early, specialized mental health intervention changes the trajectory of a child’s life.
Plans for our Apex campus include 70 dedicated inpatient beds, crisis stabilization, partial hospitalization, and step-down outpatient care – all under one roof, all designed around the developing brain.
However, recognizing a child who needs behavioral health support before a crisis develops begins at home – or school.
For example, programs like the IMPACTT–NC school telepsychiatry program offered by the UNC School of Medicine aim to extend access points for child and adolescent psychiatry to all 100 North Carolina counties. Through programs like this, we can partner with local clinicians and leaders across the state to improve access to behavioral health care and resources.
Read more about the IMPACTT–NC initiative.
"Being located in rural North Carolina in a CDC-defined 'medical desert,' mental health services for youth are scarce. Without this opportunity for telepsychiatry services being made available to our students and families, the mental health and behavioral needs of our children would go unmet."
— Dr. Jaime Hooper, Graham County Schools, On the IMPACTT-NC program
Keeping North Carolina strong for generations to come.
NC Children’s will care for children with the most complex medical and behavioral health needs, develop the next generation of therapies and cures, train future leaders in pediatrics, and serve as a foundation for continued growth and leadership in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
When you add it all up, based on NC Department of Commerce and RTI economic development models, NC Children’s will be one of the largest economic development projects in the state’s history, with:
- >8,400 direct jobs7
- >9,800 indirect jobs8
- >$780 million in annual direct wages
- >$26.8 billion in state GDP over 20 years
- >$1.1 billion in tax revenue generated over 20 years
NC Children’s is more than a hospital or health system – it is a critical piece of infrastructure that will improve the health of our children and keep North Carolina strong for generations to come.
1 Gupta P, Rettiganti M, Fisher PL, Chang AC, Rice TB, Wetzel RC. Association of Freestanding Children's Hospitals With Outcomes in Children With Critical Illness. Crit Care Med. 2016;44(12):2131-2138. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000001961
2 Schuster MA, et al. Variation in Family Experience of Pediatric Inpatient Care As Measured by Child HCAHPS. Pediatrics. 2017;139(4):e20163372. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3372
3 Joshi A, Moore C, Lombardi B. 2024 Health Workforce Update: Insights from the North Carolina Health Professions Data System. Sheps Health Workforce NC. Published September 17, 2025. https://nchealthworkforce.unc.edu/blog/hpds-update-2024/
4 Flynn T. Quoted in: Catherman C. North Carolina to get its first freestanding children's hospital. Healthcare Brew. January 31, 2025. https://www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2025/01/31/north-carolina-first-freestanding-childrens-hospital
5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mental Health Surveillance Among Children — United States, 2013–2019. MMWR Suppl. 2022;71(2):1–48. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/su/su7102a1.htm
6 NC Department of Health and Human Services. Child Behavioral Health Dashboard Data Appendix. https://www.ncdhhs.gov/child-behavioral-health-dashboard-data-appendix/open
7Direct jobs represent NC Children’s employees.
8Indirect jobs represent new jobs that would be the result of NC Children’s development (e.g., nearby hotel staff).
