A groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 22 for a freestanding emergency room associated with Aiken Regional Medical Center. It will be built in the area of North Augusta commonly referred to as “Exit Five” due to its location off Interstate 20 in South Carolina.
The facility, called ER at Sweetwater, will provide emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“This is a project that we’ve been working on for several years with many individuals engaged in the process,” said hospital CEO James Loughlin. “We are committed to meeting the healthcare needs of Aiken County and feel we can best accomplish our goal by expanding our medical staff.”
O’Loughlin said the facility will be 11,000 square feet and will be staffed with fulltime physicians. It will have private exam rooms with radiology and laboratory services on-site.
North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams said he was a member of the city’s Planning Commission when the site plans for the facility were approved.
“To be here as mayor at the groundbreaking is kind of neat. It’s very rewarding for me,” said Williams. “We are now getting another tangible part of quality of life. The population of North Augusta is up to 25,000. We grew about 13% the last 10 years. I’m telling you, the next 10 years it’s going to be amazing with the growth we’re going to have.”
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Chris DeLoach, director of Aiken County emergency medical services, said there are times when minutes matter, particularly if a patient is suffering a heart attack or stroke.
“This is going to be a vital step in that chain to prevent any further damage and increase the positive outcome for lives here in North Augusta,” he said.
After receiving initial treatment at the facility, a patient can choose to be transported to Aiken Regional or one of the hospitals in Augusta if further care is needed.
The facility is near the intersection off Austin Graybill Road and Market Plaza Drive. It is expected to open in June 2022.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
