Charleston, SC - Summerville Medical Center (SMC) is pleased to announce that the legal appeal of its plans for a 30-bed expansion has been abandoned.
In November of 2010, SMC applied to DHEC for a Certificate of Need for a $26 million facility expansion to add 30 beds to the existing facility. In September, 2011, DHEC approved and recognized the bed expansion as necessary to accommodate the population growth in Dorchester County, and a crucial move to meet community demand for quality health care. Roper appealed DHEC’s decision, which delayed the project. “I want to personally thank the residents of Dorchester County and our surrounding communities for their ongoing support during this appeal process, said Lou Caputo, SMC CEO. “Your continuous efforts were extremely impactful; your voices were heard.”
During the delay process, Caputo says Summerville Medical Center has begun to implement an expansion of its pediatric services, including a dedicated pediatric emergency area. The hospital also added more features to complement women and family care, including a renovated nursery area and all private patient rooms. Last Fall, SMC added robotic surgery to its offerings; eight surgeons now perform robotic-assisted surgery at the facility.
Caputo added, “We have brought new, much needed services to Summerville Medical Center and our community. Once these projects are completed, we will focus our attention on the expansion project.”