MUSC Health to invest $30 million in expanding Emergency Department services at its Columbia Medical Center Downtown location
September 18, 2024
MUSC Health, the leading health care provider in South Carolina, has announced plans to invest $30 million in expanding Emergency Department services at the MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown location at 2435 Forest Drive. This expansion will nearly double the number of beds used to serve patients, bringing advanced technology in emergency care to downtown Columbia.
As downtown Columbia continues to offer more residential homes, this investment aims to address the growing demand for emergency care and enhance the overall patient experience. With the expansion, MUSC Health will be able to provide faster and more efficient emergency care to the community, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care when they need it most.
“MUSC Health is committed to meeting the health care needs of our community,” said Bill Phillips, M.D., chief medical officer of MUSC Health Columbia medical centers Downtown and Northeast. “By expanding our Emergency Department services, we are taking a significant step toward improving access to critical care for the residents of Columbia and the surrounding areas.”
Since the acquisition of the MUSC Health-Midlands Division locations, including Columbia Medical Center Downtown, Columbia Medical Center Northeast, Fairfield Emergency and Imaging and Kershaw Medical Center, in August 2021, MUSC Health continues to invest in the community through new providers, technology and facilities. The expansion of the downtown Emergency Department will enable MUSC Health to offer a wider range of emergency services, including trauma care, cardiac care and stroke care.
“We are excited to continue to invest in the Midlands with the expansion of our Emergency Department at the MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., CEO of MUSC Health and executive vice president for Health Affairs, University. “This investment reflects our commitment to providing exceptional health care services in South Carolina and ensuring that our patients have access to the best emergency care available.”
The expansion project is expected to be completed by December 2025. During this time, MUSC Health will work closely with the local first responders to minimize any disruptions and ensure a smooth transition.
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy – and trains more than 900 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $300 million in research funds in fiscal year 2023, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding. For information on 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. Patient care is provided at 16 hospitals (includes owned or governing interest), with approximately 2,700 beds and four additional hospital locations in development, more than 350 telehealth sites and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. 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.
MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $5.9 billion. The nearly 31,000 MUSC family members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.
