Three new hospitals could be coming to Horry County. Here’s what we know.
Three medical centers have announced plans to construct new hospitals in Horry County.
Conway Medical Center, Tidelands Health and McLeod Health all have plans to bring more medical care to the area, according to news releases from the respective companies. Both Conway Medical Center and McLeod are eyeing the Carolina Forest area of the county for their facilities, while Tidelands is looking to build in the Socastee area.
All three need approval from the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control, which has said Horry County needs 155 more beds to sufficiently serve its population.
Both Tidelands and McLeod pointed out the growing population in Horry County as a need for more medical care.
Tidelands proposed its $77 million second facility, Tidelands Health Carolina Bays Hospital, near the interchange of Highways 31 and 707, the company said. The plan is to include 36 beds and employ 140 people at the time of opening, the release said.
“Tidelands Health Carolina Bays Hospital will add to that integrated continuum of care, allowing patients to seamlessly and conveniently access the high-quality health care services they need,” Bruce Bailey, president and CEO of Tidelands, said in the release.
McLeod is planning to expand its Carolina Forest campus (101 McLeod Health Blvd.) to include a four-story hospital with up to 48 beds. The proposed cost is $56 million, according to the release.
“The ongoing development of services at the McLeod Health Carolina Forest campus is intended to offer coordinated services across the healthcare continuum and to address the need for value-based services to ensure good health for the residents living in Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach communities,” McLeod Health administrator Monica Vehige said in the release.
Conway Medical Center is planning a $100 million hospital with 50 beds in Carolina Forest, with resources in surgery, women’s health and emergency, among other things. The proposed site is on International Drive between Highways 31 and 90.
The 50 beds would come from Conway Medical Center’s facility in Conway, where they are currently “under-utilized,” the release said.
“From a historic perspective as Horry County’s oldest healthcare provider and the only non-profit hospital currently based in Horry County, it is our responsibility to allocate our resources to meet this need,” Conway Medical Center CEO and president Bret Barr said in the release.
The hospital is set to provide 250 jobs and the company hopes to complete construction by 2024, pending DHEC approval.
This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 3:17 PM.