WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina, July 4 -- Novant Health issued the following news release:

On July 2, Novant Health was selected as the recommended partner for New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC).

The recommendation comes after nine months of work by the Partnership Advisory Group (PAG), a 21-member group of hospital board of trustee members, physicians and members of the New Hanover community charged by the county and NHRMC to determine the future of NHRMC.