March 24, 2025 (Bluffton, S.C.) – The South Carolina Department of Public Health has approved Novant Health’s Certificate of Need (CON) application to build a state-of-the-art, 50-bed hospital in Bluffton, South Carolina. This milestone marks a significant step forward in Novant Health’s commitment to expand healthcare access and deliver comprehensive medical care to the rapidly growing Lowcountry region.
“The approval of our CON application reaffirms Novant Health’s commitment to bring world-class medical care closer to home,” said Jason Bernd, Novant Health senior vice president and president of the South Carolina Region. “This hospital is a long-term investment in Bluffton and the surrounding communities to ensure families have access to high-quality care without having to travel great distances.”
The future Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center is designed to address the increasing healthcare demands of Beaufort and Jasper counties, where many residents currently have to travel out of town for medical care. Designed with growth in mind, the new full-service hospital will open with 50 beds and can expand to 100 beds as community needs grow. The $320 million facility, anticipated to open in 2028, will offer a wide range of medical specialties, including medical, surgical, emergency and trauma services, intensive care, labor and delivery, cardiology, neurology and orthopedics.
“This hospital will be a game-changer for the Lowcountry, bringing much-needed specialty care to one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing areas,” said Joel Taylor, president of Hilton Head Medical Center. “Not only will Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center transform healthcare access, but it will also drive significant economic growth in the region, creating as many as 1,000 jobs in the Bluffton area over the next five years.”
In addition to the hospital, Novant Health also plans to enhance outpatient care in Bluffton with a freestanding emergency department, surgery centers, imaging services, urgent care, and primary and specialty clinics.
Novant Health is dedicated to a holistic approach to improving community health, supporting regional workforce housing initiatives and recruiting top healthcare talent. An on-campus workforce housing development is underway adjacent to Hilton Head Medical Center, and Novant Health donated $1 million to the Coastal Community Development Corporation to build more affordable housing in the region.
This expansion builds upon Novant Health’s strategic growth in South Carolina, following its February 2024 acquisition of East Cooper Medical Center in Charleston, Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head, Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville and 27 associated physician clinics. Investments in these facilities are already underway, including operating room upgrades and emergency department expansions. Novant Health also expanded its care network with the acquisition of 52 Doctors Care and 20 Progressive Physical Therapy clinics and recently opened Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Beaufort.
Permits from the town of Bluffton are in progress for the hospital. Novant Health remains committed to working closely with community leaders, physicians and stakeholders to ensure this project meets the evolving healthcare needs of the Lowcountry.
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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