Tidelands Health given green light to begin development of new hospital in Socastee
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) – Tidelands Health is moving forward with plans to bring a new hospital to the Socastee area after it faced some controversy.
The hospital system said all appeals have been resolved regarding the Carolinas Bay Hospital, which will be located at the interchange of Highways 31 and 707.
Now that the state of certificates of need for acute-care hospital, extended-care hospital and inpatient rehabilitation are in hand, the work turns toward permitting, architectural design and construction.
The Tidelands Health Carolina Bays Hospital will be a 36-bed acute-care hospital.
RELATED COVERAGE:
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The 82-acre campus will also be home to the Tidelands Health Extended Care Hospital which will have 24 beds and the Tidelands Health Rehabilitation Hospital which will hold 36 beds. Both hospitals have received final approval.
Tidelands Health president and CEO Bruce Bailey said the hospital is needed because almost 300,000 people are expected to move to Horry County by 2040.
“Horry County is home to the nation’s fastest-growing area, and the need for additional health care is clear,” Bailey said. “As our region’s largest health care provider and MUSC Heath affiliate, Tidelands Health is committed to improving access to high-quality, compassionate health and wellness services for all those who call the Grand Strand home.”
The building of the hospital and its campus has raised concerns with those who live nearby.
Michael Molloy said a new hospital would help the community but he’s worried about the extra traffic in an already busy area.
“You’re basically taking your life in your own hands. There’s a stop but you go left down 707 or go right, it’s basically you have to wait for an opening to shoot out there,” Molloy explained.
Residents during a public hearing in April 2021 also shared the same traffic concerns along with stormwater and flooding issues.
Bailey said they listened to the community’s concerns and there will be a system of retention ponds and piping to control the release of water through the Highway 707 drainage system.
Tidelands and Horry County staff added that a stoplight has been approved by the SCDOT for the intersection of Peat Moss Road and Highway 707 to help with traffic issues.
Tidelands Health Carolina Bays Hospital is tentatively projected to open in 2028.
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