LAKE WYLIE, S.C. – Piedmont Medical Center has submitted plans to build a new freestanding emergency department in Lake Wylie, continuing its expansion throughout the Rock Hill region. The application for a permit was filed in April, and the project is currently under review by York County officials.
New Emergency Department Location
The proposed location for the new emergency department is at 233 Catamount Drive, near the Five Points intersection, just north of the Harris Teeter-anchored Westlake Village shopping center currently under construction at S.C. 55 and S.C. 49.
Details about the project’s size, cost, and timeline have not been disclosed, as Piedmont representatives declined to comment on the project.
Expanding Emergency Services in the Region
This proposed facility is part of Piedmont Medical Center’s broader strategy to expand emergency services across the region. In recent years, the healthcare provider has been building new facilities to meet the demands of the growing population in the Rock Hill area.
Piedmont’s new emergency department would add to the company’s recent developments, including the 10,000-square-foot freestanding emergency department in Indian Land, set to open soon.
Piedmont’s first standalone emergency room, the Gold Hill Emergency Department, opened in 2020. It spans over 17,000 square feet and serves as a key part of Piedmont’s efforts to provide more accessible emergency care in the region.
Growing Hospital Competition
Piedmont is not alone in expanding its medical presence in the Rock Hill region. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is constructing a $300 million hospital and medical office complex in Indian Land, while Charlotte-based Atrium Health has allocated $450 million to build its own Fort Mill hospital. These developments are part of the increasing healthcare competition in a region seeing rapid population growth.
Along with these new hospitals, York County has been updating its 911 call coverage system, with Piedmont and Atrium taking on more emergency services. Piedmont recently acquired River Hill/Lake Wylie EMS to serve the area, following Atrium’s purchase of Fort Mill EMS.
Lake Wylie’s Growing Medical Landscape
Lake Wylie, a community that has experienced significant growth in recent decades, will benefit from the addition of Piedmont’s emergency department. The area has seen medical providers like CaroMont Health expand their offerings with family medicine, urgent care, and other services.
Additionally, Lake Wylie residents have access to medical options in neighboring North Carolina, with Atrium Health growing its presence in nearby Steele Creek, Charlotte.
The new emergency department would serve the increasing number of residents in the Five Points area, where several large subdivisions are currently under development. The property is located just two miles north of Lake Wylie High School, which is set to open this fall.
As the demand for healthcare services rises in the region, Piedmont’s new emergency department would provide vital support for Lake Wylie’s continued growth and the surrounding communities.
