News Summary

Novant Health has broken ground on the new Bluffton Emergency Department and Health Place, enhancing healthcare accessibility for the growing community. The facilities, set to open in Spring 2026, will provide urgent medical services and various healthcare options, minimizing long-distance travel for local residents seeking essential care. The project is expected to create around 1,000 jobs and is part of a larger health investment strategy in the region.

Bluffton Breaks Ground on New Emergency Department and Health Place

Bluffton, SC — Novant Health has officially broken ground on the new Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department and Health Place, advancing healthcare accessibility for the rapidly growing local community. The milestone event took place on April 2, 2025.

Key Details

– **Opening Date**: Both facilities are set to open in Spring 2026.
– **Location**: The emergency department will be situated off Buckwalter Parkway.
– **Emergency Services**: The 10,000-square-foot emergency department will feature ten treatment rooms, including a dedicated trauma room, as well as advanced diagnostics such as CT scans, X-rays, and lab tests.

Erica McEnery, MD, highlighted the importance of immediate access to high-quality emergency care for families in the area. The department will be staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and skilled nurses, ensuring comprehensive care.

Health Place Overview

– **Size**: The Novant Health Bluffton Health Place will be a 40,000-square-foot medical office building.
– **Services**: It will offer various services, including primary care, cardiology, gastroenterology with an outpatient GI center, and a multispecialty ambulatory service center.
– **Expansion**: Future expansion space will be included to adapt to community needs.

Jason Bernd, Novant Health senior vice president, reiterated the commitment to providing world-class healthcare in Bluffton. The project will be developed by Vannoy Contractors and will include ample on-site parking and improvements in traffic flow with a new traffic signal at Buckwalter Parkway and Parkside.

Broader Impact

The emergency department and health place development aligns with a broader health investment strategy, linked with the nearby Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center, a planned 50-bed acute care hospital. The South Carolina Department of Health has recently approved the Certificate of Need application for this hospital project.

– **Economic Benefits**: Joel Taylor, president of Hilton Head Medical Center, estimates that this project will create approximately 1,000 jobs over five years, boosting the local economy.
– **Community Impact**: The new facilities will minimize the need for residents to travel long distances for essential healthcare services in southern Beaufort County.

Novant Health continues to operate a four-state integrated medical network, comprised of physician clinics, outpatient centers, and hospitals, employing over 29,000 staff members to deliver comprehensive healthcare solutions across 640 locations.

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Additional Resources

• Bluffton Today: Two New Novant Medical Facilities Coming to Bluffton in 2026
• Wikipedia: Healthcare in the United States
• WTOC: Two New Hospitals Are Coming to Bluffton
• Google Search: Bluffton hospitals
• WSAV: Bluffton’s Future is Looking Healthier with Novant Health
• Google Scholar: Novant Health Bluffton
• Post and Courier: Novant Beaufort Memorial Hospital Bluffton
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Emergency Health Services
• Bluffton Today: Novant Health Receives Certificate of Need for New Bluffton Hospital
• Google News: Bluffton medical facilities