Beaufort County’s healthcare landscape is growing faster than ever. As our population continues to expand, major investments are bringing new hospitals, emergency care, specialty physicians, and medical services to communities across the county.
From Beaufort Memorial’s first-ever Bluffton Community Hospital to Novant Health’s new 24/7 Emergency Department on Buckwalter Parkway, residents will soon have greater access to high-quality healthcare closer to home. In this issue, you’ll also discover other exciting healthcare projects and medical services that are shaping the future of Beaufort County.
Beaufort Memorial
Beaufort Memorial: Building Better Access to Care, Close to Home
Southern Beaufort County continues to grow, and with that growth comes a greater need for convenient, reliable healthcare—especially for older adults who value trusted providers and shorter trips for care. Beaufort Memorial continues to respond to that need with a major expansion south of the Broad River, bringing hospital and emergency services closer to home through two new facilities scheduled to open in late 2026 in Bluffton and on Hilton Head Island. At the corner of Bluffton and Buckwalter Parkways, Bluffton’s first hospital is quickly taking shape. The new Bluffton Community Hospital will allow residents who have needed to travel to Beaufort for inpatient and emergency care to receive those same services much closer to where they live. Construction is on track for completion in late 2026, with the hospital expected to welcome its first patients in early 2027.
Once open, the three-story, 28-bed hospital will offer a wide range of services important to seniors, including a full-service emergency department, inpatient nursing care and a modern surgery center with both surgical and endoscopy suites.  Patients will also have access to a fully equipped cardiac catheterization lab, advanced imaging services such as MRI, CT scans and ultrasound, and on-site laboratory for faster diagnosis and treatment. The goal is to provide comprehensive, patient-focused care without long drives during stressful moments.
“Our patients are at the heart of everything we do. As a community health system, it’s our responsibility to ensure access to care grows with our communities—close to home, convenient, and centered on what patients truly need.”
– Russell Baxley, President & CEO, Beaufort Memorial
“For years, many residents south of the Broad River have chosen Beaufort Memorial for their are,” said Russell Baxley, President and CEO of Beaufort Memorial. “The Bluffton Community Hospital allows us to meet patients where they are and deliver the same high-quality, compassionate care they trust—just closer to home.”Â
At the same time, Beaufort Memorial is addressing a longstanding gap in immediate care on the south end of Hilton A Head Island. A new Emergency & Urgent Care facility is under construction and expected to open in late 2026. It is designed to simplify decisions during medical emergencies by combining emergency room and urgent care services in one location.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Hilton Head Island facility will ensure patients receive care at the appropriate level. Every patient will be evaluated by a physician trained in emergency medicine. Those who need emergency-level care will receive it immediately, while patients with less serious conditions will be treated through urgent care services and billed accordingly.
The facility will include on-site lab testing and imaging, including X-ray and CT scanners, allowing many patients to be diagnosed and treated in a single visit. This model removes uncertainty for patients. They can walk in knowing knowing they’ll be seen quickly, treated appropriately, and charged based on the level of care they need.
“Together, these two projects reflect Beaufort Memorial’s commitment to thoughtful, patient-centered growth,” said Baxley. “For residents of southern Beaufort County, they represent greater peace of mind, easier access to essential services, and confidence that their community health system is building for today—and for the years ahead.”
Novant Health
Novant Health delivering on promise to expand healthcare access in the Lowcountry.
In 2025, Novant Health continued its commitment to expand access to high-quality, patient-centered healthcare across the Lowcountry with the opening of several new clinics designed to meet the growing needs of coastal communities.
This year’s openings included Novant Health Beaufort Orthopedic & Sports Medicine in Beaufort, providing specialized care for joint, muscle and sports-related injuries. A new Beaufort multispecialty clinic also opened, bringing together cardiology, women’s health, urology, and general and bariatric surgery under one roof to improve coordination of care. In Bluffton, Novant Health Westbury Park Primary Care and New Riverside Primary Care expanded access to much needed primary care services for families, while Novant Health Gastroenterology — Hardeeville opened with specialized digestive health services at a new clinic.
Looking ahead, Novant Health is making significant investments in new medical offices and facilities that will further strengthen our region’s healthcare infrastructure. Opening in spring 2026, Novant Health Buckwalter Place Medical Park will be located at 400 Buckwalter Place Blvd., Bluffton, SC 29910. The campus will include an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, and medical office building, offering patients convenient access to multiple services in one location.
In summer 2026, Novant Health Washington Square Medical Park will open in Bluffton. The first phase will include the Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department, featuring 10 treatment rooms, CT scan capabilities, and ambulance-ready spaces. The emergency department will be followed by the opening of a medical office building housing specialties such as cardiology and gastroenterology.
Looking further ahead, Novant Health plans to open Bluffton Medical Center in 2028 at 412 Buckwalter Pkwy., Bluffton, SC 29910. This future hospital will represent a major milestone in expanding inpatient and emergency care options for the growing Bluffton area.
Together, these new and planned facilities reflect Novant Health’s long-term commitment to bringing advanced, accessible healthcare closer to home for Lowcountry residents.