Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte, N.C.). Founded in the 1940s as Charlotte Memorial Hospital, Carolinas Medical Center now serves as the flagship hospital for Charlotte-based Carolinas HealthCare System. The hospital was nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in one adult specialty and four pediatric specialties for 2016-17. For the past three years, Healthgrades recognized the hospital for specialty excellence with its Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Awards.