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Healthcare in North Carolina

North Carolina's healthcare system is distinguished by the Research Triangle, home to Duke University Hospital and UNC Medical Center, two of the nation's top-ranked academic medical centers. Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem adds a third major academic institution, giving the state unusual depth in medical education and research. With approximately 27,500 active physicians and a rate of 261 per 100,000, the state's overall ratio masks severe disparities between the urban Piedmont and rural eastern North Carolina. The state has four medical schools actively working to address workforce needs. Charlotte, the state's largest city, has grown into a significant healthcare hub through Atrium Health. Eastern North Carolina and the rural mountain communities face persistent physician shortages, with some counties having no primary care physicians at all. North Carolina expanded Medicaid in 2023, expected to extend coverage to approximately 600,000 additional residents and improve access in underserved areas. The state's biotech and pharmaceutical industry, concentrated in the Research Triangle Park, drives clinical research and innovation. Wilmington, Greenville (home to ECU's Brody School of Medicine), and Asheville serve as important regional healthcare centers. The state has invested in Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) to distribute medical education and improve rural physician recruitment.