News Summary

Bluffton will witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Bluffton Community Hospital, hosted by Beaufort Memorial Hospital on May 7. The new healthcare facility will feature 28 inpatient beds and is part of a larger healthcare expansion in the region, aimed at enhancing medical access. This event follows Novant Health’s plans for a competing facility, which also include a significant investment in local healthcare services. Attendees are encouraged to prepare for limited parking and ongoing construction.

Bluffton Prepares for Groundbreaking of New Community Hospital

Bluffton will see the beginning of a new healthcare facility when Beaufort Memorial Hospital holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Bluffton Community Hospital on May 7.

Details of the event are as follows:

• Date: May 7
• Time: 11 a.m. to noon
• Location: 10 Innovation Drive, Bluffton, SC, at the corner of Buckwalter and Bluffton Parkway

Parking options are limited on-site, but additional on-street and public lot parking is available. Attendees are advised to wear flat, closed-toe shoes due to ongoing construction at the site.

The new hospital, formerly known as the Bluffton Community Medical Campus, was made possible by the approval of a Certificate of Need on March 24, which allows for the addition of 28 inpatient beds.

This groundbreaking is significant as it marks the second planned medical facility in Bluffton. Novant Health recently announced its own project, which includes:

• A 10,000-square-foot Emergency Department with ten treatment rooms
• A 40,000-square-foot Health Place offering various medical specializations
• Together, these Novant Health facilities represent a total project cost of $320 million

Beaufort Memorial has expressed opposition to Novant Health’s plan for a new 50-bed medical center, raising concerns about competition. Novant is also planning a full-service 50-bed acute care hospital, with potential expansion to 100 beds by 2028.

This expansion by Novant Health aims to enhance healthcare access in the Lowcountry region and is expected to create approximately 1,000 new jobs.

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Additional Resources

• Bluffton Today: Two New Novant Medical Facilities Coming to Bluffton in 2026
• Bluffton Today: Bluffton to Get Additional Hospital as a Part of Beaufort Memorial
• WSAV: Certificate of Need Approved for $320 Million Bluffton Hospital
• Wikipedia: Hospital
• Post and Courier: Beaufort Memorial and Novant Opposition
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Health Care

Author: STAFF HERE HILTON HEAD

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