Healthcare in Horry County, SC: Hospitals, Medical Access and What Buyers Should Know

When evaluating healthcare in Horry County, SC: hospitals, medical access and what buyers should know, home buyers quickly discover that the Grand Strand features three competing hospital systems serving the region, a genuine advantage for buyers considering Little River, North Myrtle Beach, or Myrtle Beach. Most coastal markets this size operate under a single network with limited choices; Horry County gives residents real options across acute care, specialty services, and primary care, with significant new capacity opening right now.

Here is what buyers and investors need to know about healthcare access in Horry County before making a move.

Three Hospital Systems Serve the Grand Strand

Three distinct health systems serve Horry County: Grand Strand Medical Center (part of HCA Healthcare), Tidelands Health (now majority-owned by MUSC), and McLeod Health. Each features multiple campuses, specialties, and geographic coverage across the coast. That structure is unusual for a coastal market of this size, providing more provider options, broader specialist networks, and multiple sets of insurance agreements to work with when you arrive.

Grand Strand Medical Center (HCA Healthcare)

Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach operates 403 acute-care beds and holds the only ACS-verified Level I adult trauma center designation on the Grand Strand. It also carries the Level II pediatric trauma center designation from both the American College of Surgeons and SC DHEC. For serious trauma anywhere along the 60-mile coast, this is the primary receiving facility.

The system holds DNV Healthcare certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, the highest stroke designation in the region, and is Joint Commission-accredited for hip replacement, knee replacement, and stroke rehabilitation. Services cover cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, obstetrics with a NICU, oncology, and pediatric intensive care. Grand Strand Health's announced $350 million regional expansion plan, per the system's May 2025 newsroom announcement, includes a $55.2 million upgrade to the main Myrtle Beach campus covering the emergency department, operating rooms, and laboratory.

Tidelands Health (MUSC Partnership)

Tidelands Health serves the southern Grand Strand from two acute-care campuses. Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet is a 124-bed facility holding Joint Commission certification as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and a Level IV adult trauma designation. Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital is a 131-bed facility holding the same Joint Commission Advanced Primary Stroke Center certification. Both campuses are backed by more than 70 outpatient locations across Georgetown and Horry counties.

The MUSC partnership is the more significant development for buyers. Both the Tidelands Health and MUSC Health boards of trustees approved MUSC acquiring a majority membership interest in Tidelands Health, per MUSC's September 4, 2025 announcement. MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) is the state's only comprehensive academic health system and has been ranked the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina for twelve consecutive years, through the 2026 to 2027 Best Hospitals rankings released August 4, 2026.

What this means practically: Tidelands locations are gaining access to MUSC-affiliated specialists, clinical trial participation, and advanced care protocols. For buyers relocating from cities with major academic medical centers, this is the closest equivalent the Grand Strand has offered.

McLeod Health

McLeod Health covers the western and northern parts of Horry County from three local campuses:

• McLeod Health Seacoast in Little River, a 155-bed acute-care hospital holding DNV Acute Stroke Ready certification, serving North Myrtle Beach and the northern end of the Grand Strand.
• McLeod Loris Hospital in Loris, a 50-bed community hospital also holding DNV Acute Stroke Ready certification, specializing in women's services, general surgery, and dialysis access care.
• McLeod Carolina Forest Hospital in Carolina Forest, the first new hospital built in Horry County since 2011, holding a ribbon-cutting on August 27, 2026, and opening to patients this fall.

The Carolina Forest hospital is a four-story, 48-bed facility representing a $90 million investment, per McLeod Health's campus page. It offers inpatient care, around-the-clock emergency services, imaging, laboratory, surgery, and rehabilitation. McLeod's parent system employs approximately 18,000 team members across seven hospitals, giving Strand-area patients access to a broader specialist network than the local footprint alone suggests.

Stroke, Cardiac, and Time-Sensitive Care

Time-sensitive emergency coverage is well-distributed across Horry County, which matters especially for buyers in older age groups or with cardiovascular risk factors.

Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach holds DNV Comprehensive Stroke Center certification, the only designation at that level on the Grand Strand, capable of managing the full spectrum of stroke cases. McLeod Health Seacoast in Little River and McLeod Loris Hospital both hold DNV Acute Stroke Ready certification, meaning each facility is equipped to provide initial, time-sensitive stroke stabilization before transfer if a higher level of care is needed. Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital and Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital each carry Joint Commission Advanced Primary Stroke Center certification.

For cardiac care, Grand Strand Medical Center operates the only cardiac surgery program and catheterization lab services in the region. Tidelands and McLeod each provide cardiac diagnostics, intervention, and post-acute rehabilitation. The planned Tidelands Health Carolina Bays Hospital will include a heart care institute and an open-heart surgery program in partnership with MUSC Health. Complex cardiac surgical cases sometimes route to MUSC Charleston, though the Tidelands-MUSC integration is expanding the number of MUSC-affiliated specialists available directly on the Grand Strand.

Primary Care and Specialist Access

Primary care practices are widely available on the Grand Strand, both independent and system-affiliated. For most routine and specialty needs, including cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, gastroenterology, and ophthalmology, coverage is solid.

The honest picture for buyers relocating from a large metro: same-day or same-week sub-specialty appointments are less common here than in a major urban center. New-patient wait times of a few weeks are typical for established primary care practices, and in active-adult communities the wait can run longer given the concentration of older residents with frequent care needs.

For complex cases requiring academic-tier specialists, MUSC Charleston is approximately 95 miles south of Myrtle Beach, roughly a two-hour drive via Highway 17. That is manageable by the standards of most coastal markets, where the equivalent drive to a major academic center is often four hours or more. With the Tidelands-MUSC integration underway, more specialty clinics and telemedicine consultation options are coming to the Grand Strand directly.

Grand Strand Health and McLeod Health are among the largest employers in Horry County. For buyers considering a property with rental income potential, that employment base supports a steady renter pool, including healthcare workers, administrative staff, and allied health professionals who need long-term housing along the coast.

New Capacity Coming to Horry County

Buyers evaluating healthcare access right now are looking at a market in the middle of meaningful expansion.

Grand Strand Health currently operates four open 24/7 freestanding emergency rooms across the region: Carolina Forest ER, North Strand ER in North Myrtle Beach (806 Hwy 17 S), Little River ER (opened June 1, 2026), and Murrells Inlet ER (opened July 16, 2026). A fifth, Conway ER, is under construction and projected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, per a June 2026 Grand Strand Health update. The individual budgets for the three new ERs (Little River, Murrells Inlet, and Conway) are $15 million each, part of the broader $350 million regional expansion plan, per Grand Strand Health's May 2025 newsroom announcement.

South Carolina was awarded $200,030,252 in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding for fiscal year 2026, announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The program targets expanded provider access, mobile health services, and technology infrastructure across the state, with a focus on rural and underserved communities.

Medicare and Insurance Coverage

All three Grand Strand hospital systems accept traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage in-network status depends on the specific plan and the plan year; buyers relocating to South Carolina should confirm their plan's network status before finalizing a move or switching Medicare coverage to a South Carolina address.

For buyers coming from states with strong Medigap markets, South Carolina's Medigap landscape is functional but generally less competitive on premiums than some northern states. Confirming coverage details before a relocation move is worthwhile, particularly for buyers who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan with out-of-state provider networks.

What This Means for Buyers in Little River, North Myrtle Beach, and Myrtle Beach

Geography shapes healthcare access across Horry County in meaningful ways.

Little River and North Myrtle Beach buyers are closest to McLeod Health Seacoast, the 155-bed acute-care hospital in Little River with DNV Acute Stroke Ready certification. Grand Strand Health's North Strand ER at 806 Hwy 17 S in North Myrtle Beach provides an existing 24/7 freestanding emergency option in that corridor, and the newly opened Little River ER at 1586 U.S. Highway 17 adds a second dedicated 24/7 emergency option directly in the northern part of the county as of June 1, 2026. The drive to Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach is typically 30 to 40 minutes.

Myrtle Beach buyers are closest to Grand Strand Medical Center, the county's only Level I trauma center and most comprehensive acute-care facility, with the DNV Comprehensive Stroke Center and the region's only cardiac surgery and neurosurgery programs. Multiple outpatient and specialist locations from all three systems are accessible within the city or a short drive along the Highway 17 and Highway 501 corridors. The ongoing $55.2 million campus upgrade adds operating room capacity, an updated emergency department, and expanded laboratory services.

Carolina Forest and inland Myrtle Beach buyers gain a meaningful new option this fall with the opening of McLeod Carolina Forest Hospital. For buyers in the southern portion of Horry County, the 59-bed South Strand Hospital broke ground in February 2026, and Tidelands Health Carolina Bays Hospital is under construction at Hwy 31 and Hwy 707, with an announced target completion date in the late 2028 range, bringing a heart care institute and MUSC-partnered surgical program closer to residents in that area.

For buyers evaluating a property as an investment to rent out, Horry County's growing hospital infrastructure is a practical asset. The region's three hospital systems and their expansion pipelines support stable, long-term employment, including nurses, technicians, and administrative staff who represent reliable long-term renters across the northern and central Grand Strand.

Finding a neighborhood that balances proximity to healthcare, local amenities, and your lifestyle priorities is essential when buying a home in Horry County. If you are considering a move to the Grand Strand, reach out to discuss your relocation goals and home search.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which hospital handles major trauma in Horry County?

Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach is the only ACS-verified Level I adult trauma center on the Grand Strand. It also holds the Level II pediatric trauma center designation from both the American College of Surgeons and SC DHEC. For serious accidents or emergencies anywhere along the coast, this is the primary receiving facility.

Is there a hospital close to Little River and North Myrtle Beach?

Yes. McLeod Health Seacoast is a 155-bed acute-care hospital in Little River holding DNV Acute Stroke Ready certification. Grand Strand Health's North Strand ER at 806 Hwy 17 S in North Myrtle Beach provides 24/7 freestanding emergency care, and the newly opened Little River ER at 1586 U.S. Highway 17 has been open since June 1, 2026, adding a second dedicated 24/7 emergency option in the northern corridor.

What is the MUSC-Tidelands partnership and why does it matter for buyers?

In September 2025, MUSC received board approval to acquire a majority membership interest in Tidelands Health. MUSC is South Carolina's only comprehensive academic health system and has been ranked the state's No. 1 hospital by U.S. News & World Report for twelve consecutive years, through the 2026 to 2027 Best Hospitals rankings released August 4, 2026. The partnership brings MUSC-affiliated specialists, clinical trials, and advanced care protocols to the Grand Strand.

How far is the nearest major academic medical center from Myrtle Beach?

MUSC Charleston is approximately 95 miles south of Myrtle Beach, roughly a two-hour drive via Highway 17, and serves as the closest tertiary referral center for complex cases. The ongoing Tidelands-MUSC integration is expanding the number of MUSC-affiliated services available directly on the Grand Strand, reducing how often that drive is necessary.

Do the Horry County hospitals accept Medicare?

All three hospital systems serving the Grand Strand accept traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage coverage varies by plan and by year. Buyers relocating to South Carolina should verify their specific plan's in-network status before switching Medicare benefits to a South Carolina address.

When will McLeod Carolina Forest Hospital be fully open?

McLeod Carolina Forest Hospital held its ribbon-cutting on August 27, 2026, and is opening to patients in fall 2026. The $90 million, 48-bed, four-story facility is the first new hospital built in Horry County since 2011 and serves the rapidly growing Carolina Forest and inland Myrtle Beach corridor.

What freestanding emergency rooms does Grand Strand Health operate?

Grand Strand Health currently operates four open 24/7 freestanding ERs: Carolina Forest ER, North Strand ER (806 Hwy 17 S, North Myrtle Beach), Little River ER (opened June 1, 2026), and Murrells Inlet ER (opened July 16, 2026). A fifth location, Conway ER, is under construction and projected to open in late 2026 or early 2027.