The county applied for and received a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant that provides funding for healthcare in rural areas under the Emergency Rural Healthcare Program. County Council has also earmarked a portion of American Rescue Program funds to assist with the project as well. 

County staff identified an 6,336square foot building on the corner of Sears Street and NW Railroad Avenue in St. George that was constructed in 2001 and used as the former female detention center. The county contracted with SMHa, Inc. who conducted a feasibility study that confirmed the conversion of the space into an health care facility and provided the county a schematic floor plan and estimated budget.

This building is being renovated to house seven patient care examination rooms, a room for lab work, radiology, X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, and a future space for COVID testing and vaccinations.

Currently, the County is moving forward with the renovations. The asbestos and geotechnical surveys were completed by ECS in June/July 2024. The project team met in early July to reduce the overall project scope. SMHa is working with Edifice Construction on the project, which officially began work on June 9, 2025, following a preconstruction meeting on May 23, 2025. The project team anticipates completion of the work in mid-December 2025; with a ribbon cutting and public ceremony in late January 2026. The facility will be officially open early February 2026. 

The operator of the healthcare facility will be MUSC Health. This was determined after a formal RFP was advertised and was let in 2023 and 2024. MUSC Health was selected and  County Council awarded a lease agreement on February 20, 2025.