Conway Medical Center announced that a new freestanding emergency department will be built on the 44.45‑acre parcel at the intersection of South Carolina Highway 90 and Highway 22 in Horry County. The 12‑bed, 24‑hour facility is expected to cost about $18 million and to begin serving patients in 2027, a year later than the original 2026 opening target.
Why the emergency department is needed
Hospital officials say roughly 45,000 people in the corridor’s service area live more than ten minutes from the nearest emergency care. Chief Medical Officer Paul Richardson emphasized that in cases of heart attack or stroke, those ten minutes can be a matter of life or death. The new department is projected to treat about 17,000 patients in its first year, indicating strong demand.
From a $161 million hospital to an $18 million ER
Earlier plans called for a full‑service hospital on International Drive in Carolina Forest, a $161 million project that faced organized opposition over noise, controlled burns, flooding and proximity to a nature preserve. After that proposal was abandoned, Conway Medical Center shifted to the Highway 90 site, a substantially smaller but still significant investment.
Project timeline and approvals
The August 2024 announcement set an opening for 2026. By October 2025, local news reported a groundbreaking expected in 2026 with completion in 2027. Horry County Council gave first‑reading rezoning approval on August 13, 2024; two additional readings are required before the rezoning is final. No final groundbreaking date has been confirmed, and the $18 million cost figure remains an estimate.
Community concerns about traffic and drainage
The Highway 90 corridor is one of the county’s most contested growth areas. Residents have long voiced concerns about flooding, drainage and congestion, especially during peak hours. While no site‑specific storm‑water issues have been documented, the effectiveness of the emergency department will depend on the road’s ability to maintain the promised ten‑minute response time.
Future phases
Conway Medical Center describes the emergency department as phase one of a multi‑stage medical campus. Officials have hinted that additional services may be added in later phases, but no details have been released.
What this means for local families
For families living along the Highway 90 corridor, the new ER promises quicker access to emergency care without the need to travel farther to Conway or North Myrtle Beach. The project also reflects the health system’s 96‑year presence in the county, a longer track record than many of the newer subdivisions it will serve.
Overall, the development offers a tangible health‑care benefit while highlighting the ongoing balance between rapid growth and infrastructure capacity in Horry County.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
