Summerville Medical Center completes $67 million inpatient expansion project and privatizes inpatient care

Summerville Medical Center is thrilled to announce the completion of it’s $67 million inpatient expansion project, which increases the hospital’s licensed bed count by 40% to 174 licensed beds. This expansion also allows the hospital to privatize all inpatient units, ensuring that patients in the community can enjoy the comfort of private rooms while receiving care.

This project marks a significant milestone in Summerville Medical Center’s ongoing commitment to be the healthcare provider of choice for the communities they serve. It is the latest of more than $250 million invested in recent years to expand the hospital’s facility, services, and team to meet the needs of the growing community.

In October 2024, Phase 1 opened with the 3 North Surgical Unit featuring 30 private beds for high-quality post-surgical care. The final phase has now been completed, adding 14 private Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and 12 private Progressive Care Unit (PCU) beds on the new 4th floor. This addition significantly enhances critical care services for the residents of Dorchester County, Berkeley County, and the surrounding areas.

“We are proud to open a larger ICU and PCU, which will reduce wait times in the Emergency Department for patients requiring additional care,” said Theresa Kloewer, Chief Nursing Officer at Summerville Medical Center. “Our focus at Summerville Medical Center is always on providing high-quality, patient-centered care. We track a variety of factors, such as Emergency Department visits, length of stay, patient experience, and more, to ensure we’re delivering the best possible care for each individual. With more critical care beds available, we can offer timely access for our patients and continue to improve their health journeys.”

“We recognize the importance of providing our patients with a private room during their hospital stay,” added BonnieRae Guthrie, Director of the ICU, PCU, and Dialysis. “This expansion gives our community access to individual rooms, ensuring enhanced privacy for both patients and their support systems. It not only improves the overall patient experience but also reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections, fostering a more comfortable and healing environment for rest and recovery.”

“Summerville Medical Center is situated in one of the fastest growing areas in Charleston, and while we work to meet the health needs of our community, it is vital that we also add capacity and clinical programs,” commented Stephen Chandler, Chief Executive Officer at Summerville Medical Center. “Every patient who enters our doors is our neighbor, a member of our church, the owner of a local business we frequent. They are the heart of our mission to provide comprehensive, high quality care for all those who need us, for many years to come.”

Project Details:

• Increases Summerville Medical Center’s licensed bed count by 40% to 174 licensed beds
• Opening of the 3 North surgical unit with 30 private beds to provide high quality post-surgical care
• 14 Intensive Care Unit private beds on the new 4th floor
• 12 Progressive Care Unit private beds on the new 4th floor
• 5th floor shell for future expansion
• 64,000 square feet of new space

This year Summerville Medical Center and Trident Health were recognized for the fourth consecutive year as America’s Top 250 Best Hospital in the U.S. and America’s 100 Best Hospitals Awards for Spine and Orthopedic Surgery.