Southern Beaufort County is defined by one thing: growth.
At the intersection of Bluffton and Buckwalter Parkways, steel beams now rise against the Lowcountry sky – the emerging frame of what will become Bluffton’s first hospital in approximately one year’s time.
Meanwhile, on the south end of Hilton Head Island, construction is underway on a new combined emergency and urgent care facility, expanding and simplifying immediate care options for residents and visitors alike.
“As Beaufort and Jasper counties grow at an unprecedented rate, Beaufort Memorial is growing right alongside it, bringing new facilities, new care models and broader access to healthcare across the Lowcountry,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley.
Beaufort Memorial CEO Russell Baxley
Beaufort and Jasper counties are some of the fastest-growing regions in South Carolina, and particularly in Bluffton, Okatie, Hardeeville, and on Hilton Head Island, that growth is easy to see. With the surge of new residents and visitors to the area, an increase in healthcare demand follows. That demand has stretched existing healthcare facilities and increased travel time for thousands of patients.
For years, many residents who live south of the Broad River have relied on Beaufort Memorial’s main hospital location in Beaufort for everything from routine diagnostics to emergency care. Currently, around 20% of the Beaufort hospital’s inpatients come from these southern zip codes.
At the same time, Hilton Head Island has long dominated as a major tourist destination, but the south end of the Island – where the majority of visitors stay – has lacked access to immediate care options.
“The Bluffton Community Hospital will bring comprehensive care to the county’s fastest-growing communities, and our new Beaufort Memorial Emergency & Urgent Care will ensure island residents and visitors have timely, high-quality, cost-effective care,” Baxley said. “Together, these projects demonstrate our commitment to expanding access through smart growth and making patient-centered care more convenient across the region.”
Final beam is put into place as Bluffton Community Hospital is officially topped off. The facility is scheduled to welcome its first patients in early 2027.
Building a Hospital for the Future
The corner of Bluffton and Buckwalter parkways has visibly transformed as the Bluffton Community Hospital takes shape. The $103 million facility will be Bluffton’s first hospital, allowing Southern Beaufort County residents – who previously traveled to Beaufort for care – to receive the same compassionate, patient-first treatment closer to home. Once completed, the three-story, 28-bed community hospital will include:
• A full-service emergency department
• A modern surgery center with surgical and endoscopy suites
• A fully equipped cardiac catheterization lab
• An acute inpatient nursing unit
• Comprehensive imaging services, including 3T MRI, CT, and
ultrasound
• On-site laboratory services
Construction on the facility began in February 2025 and moved along swiftly to the building’s groundbreaking in May.
At the beginning of December, the organization held a “topping-off” ceremony to commemorate the completion of the structural framework. Although construction is far from finished, the project remains on track for completion in late 2026, scheduled to see its first patients in early 2027.
“This moment would not be possible without the dedication and collaboration of so many – our leadership team, physicians, nurses, staff, architects, construction partners, donors and community members who believed in this project and supported it every step of the way,” said Steve Meyer, chair of the South of Broad Healthcare board of directors. “We still have work to do before we open our doors, but today, we celebrate the progress we’ve made and the bright future that lies ahead of Beaufort Memorial and our community.”
Beaufort Memorial broke ground in November for its new Emergency & Urgent Care facility to be located on the south end of Hilton Head Island.
A New Care Model for Hilton Head Island
Meanwhile, on the southern end of Hilton Head Island, shovels hit the dirt in November with a groundbreaking event for the Beaufort Memorial facility designed to serve both emergency and urgent care needs for Island residents.
The Beaufort Memorial Emergency & Urgent Care, a collaboration between Beaufort Memorial, MUSC Health, and Dallas-based Intuitive Health, this innovative model will combine the capabilities of both an ER and urgent care under one roof, with the cost of care based on the level of care needed – and take the guesswork out of the process for patients.
Every patient who walks through the doors will be seen by a physician trained in emergency medicine, and if it’s determined that they don’t need emergency-level care, then they’re treated with urgent care services, walking out with a bill to match.
The facility will be open 24/7 and equipped with on-site lab equipment and a radiology suite with X-ray and CT scanners and will be one of the first combination facilities of its kind in South Carolina.
Architect’s rendering of Beaufort Memorial Emergency & Urgent Care, scheduled to open on Hilton Head Island this fall.
Generosity Shapes the Healthcare Landscape
With Beaufort Memorial’s growth – and no plans to slow down anytime soon – the Beaufort Memorial Foundation is harnessing the transformative power of philanthropy to support the nonprofit health system’s vision for increased access to innovative care and a sustainable, thriving workforce.
This summer, the Foundation received its largest gift in the nonprofit’s history – an extraordinary $2.5 million donation from Okatie resident Mary McCarthy. Her choice to support the Foundation stemmed from Beaufort Memorial’s commitment to and deep roots within the community.
“Beaufort Memorial is a community hospital,” McCarthy said simply. “I am part of this community and leaving it better than when I arrived is what matters to me.”
Just a few miles from McCarthy’s home is the emerging Bluffton hospital, and her legacy will shape the landscape of healthcare being delivered in her own community.
“This remarkable act of generosity is a defining moment for the Foundation and for the future of healthcare in our region,” said Kim Yawn, Chief Development Officer for the Beaufort Memorial Foundation. “Gifts like this one stay right here in this community, transforming the way healthcare is delivered right here in Beaufort County, touching our lives for generations to come.”
Looking Ahead
A growing community means a growing need for critical healthcare.
From establishing immediate care options in the sparse healthcare landscape at the south end of Hilton Head Island to creating a hub for patient care in Bluffton with a brand-new hospital, Beaufort Memorial is committed to that mission.
In early 2026, another exciting facility milestone is on the horizon: a groundbreaking at the site of LiveWell Terrace by BMH, an affordable workforce housing development in partnership with Woda Cooper Companies, Beaufort County, and the Town of Bluffton, which will provide 120 affordable housing units for healthcare workers and other qualified renters – less than a mile away from the new hospital.
As Beaufort Memorial expands with facilities such as the Bluffton hospital and the ER and urgent care on Hilton Head Island, hiring and retaining employees play a critical role in the health system’s mission. The lack of affordable housing for healthcare workers drove the project, Baxley said, and the groundbreaking will be another exciting milestone in the organization’s growth.
“More patients in Southern Beaufort County are choosing Beaufort Memorial as their provider of choice,” Baxley said. “As they make the trip to Beaufort for care, it’s our responsibility as their community health system to meet them where they are. These projects bring our services closer to home, and that’s exactly what our patients deserve.”
