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Novant Health recently announced it plans to build a new 50-bed hospital in Bluffton

Bluffton Today

Residents in Beaufort and Jasper counties will soon have another option for healthcare in the form of a new community hospital.

Novant Health recently announced plans to build a new full-service, community hospital campus in Bluffton as part of a major health care hub to increase access in South Carolina’s Lowcountry region.

Novant Health acquired East Cooper Medical Center in Charleston, Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head, and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville and 27 associated physician clinics in February of this year.

The company said the expansion is designed to meet the holistic healthcare needs of the community for the long-term.

"Novant Health is committed to taking bold steps to create a healthier future for the communities we serve,” said Jason Bernd, president of Novant Health’s South Carolina region. “This integrative approach will limit the needs for residents to travel outside the area for care by offering a medical hub that provides patients comprehensive health care services.”

The community hospital is being built, officials said, with growth in mind. The hospital, which will be known as Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center, will be initially constructed with 50 beds with plans to expand to 100 beds, keeping in mind the future increasing needs of the community.

The future Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center will also include medical, surgical, emergency and trauma services, in addition to intensive care, labor and delivery, cardiology, neurology and orthopedics, as well as other medical specialties identified as needed in the area. Necessary regulatory approval documents will be submitted in the coming weeks, a hospital spokesperson said.

Additionally, Novant Health is planning several outpatient campuses in Bluffton, including a new free-standing emergency department, surgery centers, imaging services, urgent care, primary care and specialty care. Novant Health said the health system will bring an estimated 1,000 new jobs to the region and recruit a significant new health care workforce to accommodate the expansion plans.

“We look forward to engaging and partnering with our physicians, team members and community leaders as we develop new access points and services,” Bernd said. “With this expansion comes significant economic benefit too, including as many as 1,000 jobs for Bluffton over the next five years.”

Novant said they felt as though far too many residents in Beaufort and Jasper counties travel 30 minutes or more from home to receive health care that can be provided locally. The hospital said with these new health care campuses, Novant Health will significantly elevate access to health care close to home.

Novant Health said its health system is strategically expanding in South Carolina to support high-quality patient care offerings for residents and preparing for continued population growth as the region continues to attract retirees and families alike.

As part of the expansion, Novant Health said it plans to recruit at least 20 new primary care providers, in addition to specialists, to ensure our patients can access a range of outpatient care options locally.

Novant Health said it was also working to offer solutions to affordable housing in Beaufort and Jasper counties, where this issue is increasingly identified as a top community concern.

“We are working closely together with local leaders to identify solutions for this important issue that also impacts our health care workforce,” Joel Taylor, CEO of Hilton Head Medical Center, said. “We are committed to investing in our community and our people, from boosting housing opportunity to adding top-tier health care resources for the Lowcountry region.”