Beaufort Memorial partners with Intuitive Health, MUSC Health to improve patient access, care with hybrid ER & urgent care on Hilton Head Island
Beaufort Memorial is continuing to expand access to care in southern Beaufort County, announcing today a key partnership with Intuitive Health and MUSC Health to establish a hybrid emergency room and urgent care facility on the south end of Hilton Head Island.
Beaufort Memorial Emergency & Urgent Care, one of the first hybrid facilities of its kind in the state, is a crucial step for Beaufort Memorial in its ongoing commitment to meeting the need for care on Hilton Head Island.
Beaufort Memorial recognizes the growing need and lack of access on the island for both urgent care and emergency care services. This facility will bring that urgently needed care to residents closer to home.
“We are excited to announce that Beaufort Memorial is continuing to uphold its promise to expand care in southern Beaufort County,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “This is a groundbreaking model and huge step forward in innovative health care, improving both overall patient experience and access to both emergency and urgent care services for patients in Hilton Head.”
The hospital closed on the property at 1016 William Hilton Parkway in Fall 2024. Construction is expected to begin this spring, with the doors scheduled to open next winter.
When a patient arrives at the facility, they will be examined and triaged to the appropriate level of care, removing the burden for patients who may not know where to go. The facility will be staffed with emergency-trained, board-certified physicians and nurses, and fully-equipped like a traditional hospital emergency room. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) can bring patients directly to the hybrid facility, which will accommodate ambulances onsite.
“We are pleased to be able to provide enhanced access to emergency and urgent care services to the residents and visitors of the Hilton Head Island community,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., CEO, MUSC Health and vice president for Health Affairs, University. “When a patient experiences a sudden health concern, they want the best quality care as quickly as possible. A facility with both a freestanding emergency room and urgent care services ensures that patients get access to the care they need in a timely manner.”
Intuitive Health is a Texas-based medical group that partners with health systems like Beaufort Memorial to develop a two-prong emergency and urgent care model, making for a more streamlined process for patient care. They’re working with MUSC Health on several other similar facilities across the state.
“We’re excited to bring our unique ER and urgent care model to South Carolina,” said Intuitive Health CEO Thom Herrmann. “We aim to continue to set a new standard for accessible value-based care with this new partnership.”
This facility will combine the capabilities of an emergency room and convenience of an urgent care with the pricing based on the level of care necessary. Every patient will be seen by a physician trained in emergency medicine, and if it’s determined that the patient doesn’t need emergency-level care, they then are treated with urgent care services and walk out with a bill to match.
Open 24/7, the facility will also be equipped with onsite lab equipment and an imaging suite with an X-ray and multi-slice CT scanners. Patients can expect walk-in convenience and shorter wait times compared to a traditional emergency room visit, saving time, money and peace of mind.
“This hybrid facility is an example of Beaufort Memorial’s commitment to smart, innovative expansion,” Baxley said. “We plan to continue improving access to high-quality health care in the growing Lowcountry, and this facility will bring that care to the residents of the Island.”
About Beaufort Memorial Hospital:
Opened on May 1, 1944, and licensed for 201 beds (169 acute, 14 rehabilitation, and 18 mental health), BMH serves as an acute-care hospital, a regional referral center and the largest medical facility between Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston. Fully accredited by The Joint Commission, Beaufort Memorial boasts a dedicated, high-quality medical staff of nearly 230 board-certified or board-eligible providers, covering dozens of specialties to meet the community’s diverse health needs.
With 1,900 employees, Beaufort Memorial is one of the largest employers in Beaufort County and has been recognized by the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Beaufort Economic Development Corporation for contributing directly and significantly to the economic security, prosperity and quality of life of the entire region. The high level of quality care provided by Beaufort Memorial has been recognized by the Leapfrog Group as a Top Hospital for patient safety, the American Heart Association’s Elite Stroke Plus designation for stroke care, and the Joint Commission’s advanced knee and hip replacement disease-specific designation for its Joint Replacement Center. For more information, services, locations and designations visit BeaufortMemorial.org.
About Intuitive Health
Founded in 2008, Intuitive Health pioneered the combined emergency room and urgent care model. Intuitive Health partners with established health systems nationwide to build, operate and launch retail healthcare facilities that provide urgent care and emergency room services under one roof. Intuitive Health partners with leading health systems nationwide, including Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Intuitive’s patient-centric approach to immediate care has saved payors and patients hundreds of millions in unnecessary emergency care spending. In addition, the Intuitive Health model increases market share for partnered healthcare systems by expanding their footprint with conveniently located centers. For more information, please visit IHERUC.com.
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates over 3,100 students in six colleges and trains 950+ residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health and research funding. For information on our academic programs, visit musc.edu.
As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. In 2024, for the 10th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.
