High Point Seeks to Build Emergency Department in Greensboro
High Point Regional Health has filed a Certificate of Need application to build the High Point Medical Center Church Street Satellite Emergency Department in Greensboro, a project estimated at about $28.4 million that would become the citys fourth emergency department if approved. The proposal enters a public review period that could reshape where residents seek urgent care, affect hospital workloads and wait times, and prompt community debate about access and equity.
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High Point Regional Health has formally asked the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for permission to construct a freestanding emergency department in Greensboro called the High Point Medical Center Church Street Satellite Emergency Department. The Rhino Times reported the project at roughly $28.4 million, with a targeted completion date of early 2028 if state regulators grant approval.
Under North Carolina law the Certificate of Need process requires health systems to show that new facilities meet community needs before construction can proceed. The application signals that High Point Regional Health plans to operate the new facility as a separate location in the High Point Medical Center system. The filing does not disclose an exact address but the name suggests a location near Church Street in Greensboro.
A public hearing on the application is scheduled for December 17, 2025 at the McGirt Horton Branch Library, 2501 Phillips Avenue, and written comments were invited through December 1, 2025. The state is expected to issue a decision in early 2026. During the review period residents and community groups can raise concerns or support for the proposal and offer evidence about service needs across Guilford County.
Local officials and health planners will weigh the proposal against existing emergency care resources. If approved the new freestanding emergency department would be Greensboros fourth emergency department. Advocates for expanded capacity point to long emergency room wait times at area hospitals and a growing population driving increased demand for urgent care. Competing proposals from other health systems are also in play as providers seek to respond to shifting patterns of use.
For residents the proposal raises practical and policy questions. A new emergency department could change where people seek care in an emergency, potentially reducing wait times at some hospitals while drawing patients away from others. It could also affect ambulance routing and the financial stability of smaller hospitals that rely on emergency services for revenue. Equitable access will be an issue for community members who face barriers to care such as transportation challenges, lack of insurance, or limited after hours options.
Public engagement during the Certificate of Need review will shape how regulators assess the application. Guilford County residents concerned about capacity, cost, distribution of services, and equity should consider attending the hearing or submitting written comments by the December 1 deadline. The decision will have implications for health system planning and for the everyday experience of families seeking timely emergency care in Greensboro.
