BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. — Berkeley County leaders and first responders broke ground Tuesday on a new freestanding emergency room in Cane Bay — a project officials say will dramatically improve response times and expand access to lifesaving care in one of the fastest‑growing communities in the region.
The facility, operated by HCA Healthcare, is set to open in spring 2027 at 1866 State Road in Summerville. County officials say the ER will help close a critical gap for residents who currently face long drives or extended ambulance transports during medical emergencies.
“This ER is really important to the County and the region,” Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb said at the groundbreaking. “We try to focus really hard on patient care and response time. The farther we have to go to get someone to the care that they need, and the quicker we can get back in our zone ready for the next call, that is critically important.”
The new ER will operate independently, offering emergency services without being attached to a full hospital. Officials say that model allows for faster construction and quicker access to care for rapidly expanding communities like Cane Bay, where population growth has outpaced infrastructure…