BLUFFTON, S.C. – Novant Health has officially broken ground on Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department and Novant Health Bluffton Health Place, a new healthcare hub designed to expand access to high-quality medical care in the growing Bluffton community. Conveniently located off Buckwalter Parkway, the new facilities will provide residents with critical emergency and specialty healthcare services, reinforcing Novant Health’s commitment to delivering remarkable care closer to home.
Expanding emergency and specialty care in the Lowcountry
The 10,000-square-foot, Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department will feature:
- 10 treatment rooms, including a dedicated trauma room
- On-site advanced diagnostics (CT scans, X-rays, lab testing)
- Board-certified emergency medicine physicians, skilled nurses and support staff
- Ambulance-ready capabilities for seamless hospital transfers
Adjacent to the ED, Novant Health Bluffton Health Place will be a 40,000-square-foot medical office building offering:
- Primary care
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology (including an outpatient GI center)
- A multispecialty ambulatory service center
- Future expansion space to meet evolving community needs
Commitment to accessibility and growth
“Emergencies don’t wait. Having immediate access to high-quality, board-certified emergency care in Bluffton is essential for this growing community,” said Erica McEnery, MD, emergency medical director of Hilton Head Medical Center. “This facility will provide peace of mind to families, ensuring they can receive expert emergency care at all hours when they need it most.”
“This first Novant Health groundbreaking in South Carolina reaffirms our commitment to bringing world-class healthcare to Bluffton and the surrounding Lowcountry communities,” said Jason Bernd, Novant Health senior vice president and president of the South Carolina Region. “We want residents to receive exceptional care right here at home. This project is a key component of our broader, regional healthcare expansion.”
The development, to be built by Vannoy Contractors, includes ample on-site parking and improved traffic flow, including a new traffic signal at Buckwalter Parkway and Parkside to enhance safety.
Strengthening community healthcare and economic growth
This project aligns with the ongoing development of Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center, a full-service 50-bed acute care hospital to be located less than half a mile from the new facilities. The state of South Carolina recently approved Novant Health’s Certificate of Need application for the hospital.
Additionally, the projects will be near the future Novant Health Buckwalter Medical Plaza, an ambulatory surgery center specializing in orthopedics and featuring an imaging center and outpatient services.
“These facilities are part of a larger, wholistic vision to ensure residents have access to essential healthcare services without having to travel long distances,” said Joel Taylor, president of Hilton Head Medical Center. “Not only will this bring specialty care and ambulatory services directly to Bluffton, but it will also boost the local economy and create an estimated 1,000 valuable jobs in the community over five years.”
Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department and Novant Health Bluffton Health Place are slated to open in Spring 2026.
About Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of more than 900 locations, including 19 hospitals, more than 750 physician clinics and urgent care centers, outpatient facilities, and imaging and pharmacy services. This network supports a seamless and personalized healthcare experience for communities in North Carolina and South Carolina. Novant Health is nationally recognized for our unwavering commitment to safety and the highest quality care, and we serve as a catalyst for healthcare transformation through clinical trials, leading-edge research, innovative care delivery models and robust virtual care networks. The expertise and empathy of our more than 40,000 team members along with more than 8,500 independent and employed clinicians are at the heart of Our Cause as industry leaders caring for communities across the Carolinas. In 2023, Novant Health provided more than $1.6 billion in community benefit, including financial assistance and services.
For more information, visit NovantHealth.org. Follow Novant Health on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
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