State approves Beaufort Memorial and Novant Health’s plans to build hospitals in Bluffton
Two healthcare providers received a green light from the state’s public health department this week to move forward with their plans to build hospitals in Bluffton.
On Monday, the South Carolina Department of Public Health approved both Novant Health and Beaufort Memorial’s applications for a certificate of need, a document that is required before a hospital can be built.
Novant’s strategy
Novant’s plan calls for a new 194,500 square foot, 50-bed hospital to open in 2028. The hospital can hold up to 100 beds as patient needs grow. The $320 million facility, the Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center, intends to bring specialty care to the area, including medical, surgical, emergency and trauma services, intensive care, labor and delivery, cardiology, neurology and orthopedics. It will be located at Buckwalter Parkway and Lake Point Drive.
They also anticipate that the facility will bring 1,000 jobs to Bluffton, according to the North-Carolina based healthcare system.
Beaufort Memorial’s plans
The department of public health also approved Beaufort Memorial’s application to build Bluffton Community Hospital, according to Emma June Grosskopf, the system’s media relations manager. The 28-bed acute care facility will be located at the corner of Innovation Drive and Bluffton and Buckwalter parkways. The total project cost will be less than $10 million, Grosskopf confirmed.
Even though they have received the OK at the state level to move forward, there is a separate approval process through the town of Bluffton.
Kevin Icard, director of growth management for the town, said that University Investments LLC submitted their initial master plan for Parkway Corners, which in part includes the Novant site, to the town. The plan went before the Planning Commission this week, and it is anticipated to go before town council in May for a vote, Icard said.
Beaufort Memorial received town approval for their master plan years ago, Icard said, but the hospital component still required approval from the state’s public health department.
Local healthcare expansion
To meet the needs in this fast-growing community, Novant has recently expanded their footprint in the Lowcountry. In February 2024, Novant acquired three hospitals in South Carolina, including Hilton Head Hospital and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville.
On April 2, Novant will begin breaking ground on a free-standing emergency room and medical office building on Parkside Drive off Buckwalter Parkway, said Carter Mello, a public relations manager. In January, Novant announced their workforce housing initiative near Hilton Head Medical Center. The 140 units are anticipated to open by mid-2026.
Earlier this year, Beaufort Memorial announced plans to build a hybrid emergency room and urgent care on Hilton Head Island. The $20 million facility will also open in 2026.
This story was originally published March 28, 2025 at 12:47 PM.
