Two new hospitals planned for Berkeley County (update: two years later, no progress made)

Update May 31: Back in 2009, the S.C. Department of Health and Environment Control approved plans from both Trident Health System and Roper St. Francis Healthcare to build 50-bed hospitals in Berkeley County.

Believing that if both hospitals were to be constructed, they'd be operating at a loss and duplicating services, no progress has been made on either side. It has been proposed that Trident build its hospital in Moncks Corner, while Roper St. Francis build near Goose Creek, but The Charleston Regional Business Journal reportsthat Trident Health System and Roper St. Francis Healthcare failed to reach an agreement during mediation for a lawsuit over the planned hospitals.

First reporting: Trident Health Systemhas announced plans to build a $115 million, 50-bed hospital in Moncks Corner. The new facility is to be built next to Trident's diagnostic center.

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From ABC News 4:

The new Berkeley Medical Center will provide general acute care hospital services, including medical / surgical, obstretric and intensive care beds, an emergency department and various outpatient services. The campus will also feature office space for physicians.

The Post and Courier has a more in-depth article on the facility, including the hurdles the health-care company will need to go through before the hospital can actually get off the ground. Besides that, Trident said that the reason for the new facility is simple: growing demand due to population growth. From The Post and Courier:

"Now, due to increasing community need as a result of population growth, we plan to follow with construction of a full-service hospital," Trident said in a statement released late Friday afternoon.

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