Grand Strand Health has officially broken ground on a massive $220 million expansion at the South Strand Medical Center, a pivotal infrastructure project aimed at converting the existing outpatient and emergency facility into a fully licensed acute care hospital. This development is the cornerstone of a broader $353 million capital investment strategy by the health system to address the explosive population growth in Horry and Georgetown counties, which remain among the fastest-growing demographic regions in the United States. By transitioning this site in Murrells Inlet from a “stabilize and transfer” model to a full-service inpatient hub, Grand Strand Health is strategically decentralizing high-acuity care. Consequently, residents in the southern reaches of the Grand Strand will no longer face the logistical risk of ambulance transport to the main campus in Myrtle Beach for routine surgeries or overnight admissions, effectively closing a critical access gap for thousands of retirees and families.

Construction Scope: Vertical Expansion and Clinical Depth

The “Jobsite Impact” of this investment involves complex vertical construction on an active medical campus. The scope centers on the erection of a new patient tower that will add substantial inpatient capacity, including medical/surgical beds and an expanded intensive care unit (ICU). Unlike standard commercial builds, this facility requires the installation of hospital-grade infrastructure, such as redundant power generation, specialized medical gas plumbing, and infection-control HVAC systems capable of negative pressure isolation. Furthermore, the project will expand the existing operating room capacity to accommodate complex orthopedic and general surgeries on-site. This structural evolution transforms the facility’s licensure, allowing it to treat higher-acuity patients locally while reducing the bed-occupancy pressure on the flagship Grand Strand Medical Center.

South Strand Medical Center Expansion: Factsheet

Project Name: South Strand Medical Center Hospital Conversion

Location: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina (Hwy 17 & Hwy 707)

Owner/Developer: Grand Strand Health (HCA Healthcare)

Construction Team:

Developer: Grand Strand Health (HCA Capital Projects)

Architect: TMPartners (Facility Master Planner)

Total System Investment: $353 Million

South Strand Facility Value: ~$220 Million

Project Scope:

Construction of a new inpatient tower.

Conversion from freestanding ER to acute care hospital.

Addition of Medical/Surgical beds and ICU capacity.

Expansion of surgical suites and support services.

Construction Timeline:

Groundbreaking: February 9, 2026

Target Completion: ~2028

Strategic Driver: Accommodating rapid population growth in Horry/Georgetown counties (South Strand).

Economic Impact: Creation of construction jobs and permanent clinical staffing (RNs, MDs, Techs).

Current Status: Under Construction.

Economic Stimulus and Workforce Demand

Mobilization of heavy civil equipment has commenced, signaling the start of a multi-year construction timeline targeted for completion in late 2027 or early 2028. This phase is expected to generate hundreds of skilled construction jobs, creating high-demand roles for electricians, pipefitters, and glazing specialists experienced in AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration) compliant environments. Ultimately, once the facility transitions to full hospital status, it will serve as a permanent economic anchor for Murrells Inlet, creating dozens of new clinical and administrative positions ranging from trauma nurses to facility engineers.

This project represents a shift from seasonal tourism-based economics to a resilient, year-round healthcare economy, ensuring the region’s infrastructure keeps pace with its housing boom—a demographic pressure driving similar large-scale investments in South Florida, where the new $550M Baptist Health Sunrise Hospital breaks ground. Located on a 25-acre site near the Sawgrass Expressway, this 100-bed facility, built by Turner Construction, will feature specialized oncology and women’s health centers, aiming to decentralize high-acuity care for the growing communities of Sunrise and Plantation.