If all goes as planned, the sale of NHRMC to Novant Health is expected to become official Monday, but don’t expect any immediate changes. (Port City Daily photo / Johanna F. Still) WILMINGTON — On July 23, 2019, citing increased financial uncertainty and the level of funding needed to expand facilities and services amid the area’s rapid growth, officials announced plans to explore selling New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Barring any last-minute hurdles, on Monday, Feb. 1, 2020 — 18 months later and in the midst of the area’s worst health crisis in a century — the county-owned health system will officially become Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. It will operate as a part of Novant’s Winston-Salem-based private nonprofit health network.