A building that once operated as a women’s detention center in St. George has been transformed into a new healthcare facility aimed at expanding access to medical services in rural Dorchester County.
County leaders and Medical University of South Carolina Health (MUSC Health) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning, unveiling a renovated primary care clinic that converts former jail cells into exam rooms.
From Jail Cells to Exam Rooms
Dorchester County Council Chairman David Chinnis called the transformation remarkable.
“When you walk in there today, you see a number of exam rooms. When they began this process, they were cells — now they’re exam rooms,” Chinnis said. “It’s an incredible transformation.”
The renovated facility repurposes the former detention center space into a modern healthcare setting designed to serve residents in St. George and surrounding communities.
Expanding Rural Healthcare Access
County leaders said expanding healthcare access in western Dorchester County has been a long-term priority. For years, residents often had to travel to North Charleston or Orangeburg for basic medical care.
Chinnis said the county previously attempted to recruit emergency care providers through formal proposals but received no responses. The partnership with MUSC Health ultimately provided a path forward for local healthcare expansion.
Dr. Alka Kohli, chief medical officer for MUSC Physicians, said reducing travel time can significantly improve patient outcomes.
“When you need health care, you need it right then, and sometimes that travel makes it really, really hard to get timely care,” Kohli said. “Having something in your own community allows us to provide that right at home.”
Services Offered at the New Facility
The 6,300-square-foot clinic includes seven exam rooms and will provide:
- Primary care services
- Annual wellness visits
- Chronic condition management
- Telehealth appointments
- Occupational health services
Kohli emphasized that the clinic will focus not only on treating illness but also on prevention, helping patients manage their health before minor issues escalate.
Funded Through Federal and Local Investment
The renovation was funded through a combination of federal and local dollars. Chinnis said approximately $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds were used, along with a $1 million USDA grant, to renovate the existing structure instead of building a new facility.
Additional state and federal funding will help equip the clinic and support future expansion plans, including enhanced imaging services.
Leaders described the project as a regional investment in healthcare infrastructure that will benefit not only St. George but surrounding communities across Dorchester County.
“It’s a Dorchester County project, but it is a regional healthcare facility that’s going to help folks in the entire region,” Chinnis said.
Opening Date
The clinic is scheduled to begin seeing patients on March 2, 2026.
