By Jenny Peterson
HCA Expands Urgent Care Footprint in the Carolinas
HCA Healthcare has acquired 17 urgent care clinics across South Carolina and North Carolina, including several in the Charleston region. The expansion is aimed at increasing access to convenient, non-emergency care as demand for outpatient services continues to grow.
EMS Expansion Breaks Ground in Charleston County
Charleston County leaders have officially broken ground on a new, centralized Charleston County EMS headquarters in North Charleston. The 130,000+ square-foot facility will consolidate training, logistics, operations, vehicle storage and administration under one roof. Officials say the project is designed to improve coordination and emergency response capacity as the region continues to grow.
Drug Deaths Drop in Charleston County
Charleston County saw a 19 percent drop in drug-related deaths in 2025 from 2024, with 153 total fatalities recorded, according to a recent Charleston County Coroner report. The total represents 100 fewer deaths than in 2023, when the county recorded 253 deaths.
Most 2025 drug deaths — 91% (139 cases) — were ruled accidental. Opioids were involved in 57% of unintentional or undetermined deaths with fentanyl present in 45% of deaths and cocaine in 42% of deaths.
The report also highlights a treatment gap: 79% of those who died had a known substance use history, but only about a third had engaged in treatment and just half of those received medication-assisted treatment.
Officials flagged ongoing concerns around naloxone awareness and broader access to substance use disorder services, peer support and the need for more recovery resources.
South Carolina Expands Newborn Screening Program
South Carolina’s newborn screening program has expanded its testing panel, adding two new conditions to bring the total to 60 disorders screened at birth. Each year, the S.C. Department of Public Health tests around 60,000 newborns born each year for hidden metabolic and genetic conditions that aren’t visible at birth but can lead to serious or even life-threatening harm if not detected early.
The latest additions are Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (also known as Hunter syndrome) and Fabry disease.
Hunter syndrome affects the body’s ability to break down certain complex sugars, leading over time to progressive damage across multiple organ systems. Fabry disease disrupts the body’s ability to process certain fats, increasing long-term risks for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
MUSC Opens Standalone Cardiac Surgery Center
The MUSC Health West Ashley Medical Pavilion on the footprint of the Citadel Mall has opened South Carolina’s first standalone ambulatory surgery center dedicated to cardiac procedures, including pacemaker implants, ablations and defibrillators. The facility expands outpatient heart care options for those in West Ashley and those living in nearby suburban Lowcountry areas.
