Novant Health opens new emergency department in Bluffton

A new freestanding emergency department opened July 21 in Bluffton, providing around-the-clock emergency care outside a traditional hospital campus.
The Novant Health Bluffton Emergency Department, at 8 Parkside Drive off Buckwalter Parkway, opened July 21. The facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is the first completed phase of Washington Square Medical Park.

According to Novant Health, the emergency department provides the same level of emergency evaluation and treatment as a hospital-based emergency department. The facility is equipped to stabilize and treat a wide range of medical conditions and coordinate transportation to a hospital when patients require additional specialized care.

The 10,000-square-foot building includes 10 treatment rooms, including a dedicated trauma room, and offers on-site diagnostic services, including CT scans, X-rays and laboratory testing. The emergency department is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians, experienced nurses and support staff.

“When an emergency happens, every minute matters,” said Dr. Erica McEnery, medical director for emergency services for Novant Health Hilton Head Medical Center. “This facility allows patients to receive expert emergency care where they live, with advanced diagnostics and experienced emergency medicine teams available around the clock.”

The emergency department is the first completed phase of Washington Square Medical Park. A 40,000-square-foot medical office building under construction will include primary care, cardiology, gastroenterology, outpatient procedures and other specialty services. The project is part of Novant Health’s broader expansion in Bluffton, which also includes Buckwalter Place Medical Park and the planned Bluffton Medical Center expected to open in 2028.Joel Taylor, president of the Hilton Head area for Novant Health, said the investment reflects the health system’s continued expansion in Bluffton as the community grows.

“This investment reflects our continued commitment to bringing remarkable care closer to where people live and work,” Taylor said. “Bluffton is one of the fastest-growing communities in South Carolina, and Novant Health is proud to make long-term investments that ensure families have access to convenient, high-quality healthcare for generations to come.”

The Washington Square Medical Park is part of a broader expansion by Novant Health across the Lowcountry. Earlier this year, the health system opened Buckwalter Place Medical Park nearby, offering primary care, orthopedic services, an imaging center and rehabilitation services. The company also has plans to build Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center, a proposed 50-bed hospital that received state approval and is expected to open in 2028.

Bluffton’s rapid population growth has increased demand for medical services. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town’s population has more than tripled since 2010, making it one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing municipalities.

The emergency department is the latest addition to Novant Health’s expanding network of medical facilities in Bluffton as the health system prepares for continued population growth and increasing demand for health care services across southern Beaufort County.