Intuitive Health Expands Innovative Healthcare Model to South Carolina

PLANO, TX – Intuitive Health, the leading provider of combined emergency room and urgent care facilities, is expanding its innovative healthcare model to South Carolina.

Partnering with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Tidelands Health, and Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Intuitive Health will introduce a number of combined 24/7 urgent and emergency care centers across the state. Each center will provide a full range of services, including imaging (CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and EKGs) and on-site laboratory capabilities.

“This partnership is a significant step forward in redefining how care is delivered in our communities,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., MUSC Health CEO and executive vice president for Health Affairs, University. “By integrating emergency and urgent care services, we are ensuring that our patients receive comprehensive, high-quality treatment promptly, without the stress of having to decide the level of care they require.”

Tidelands Health will build three sites in Horry County, and each will also include a family medicine office.

“Tidelands Health is proud to bring this innovative model of care to our region,” said Bruce Bailey, Tidelands President and CEO. “Locating ERs and urgent-care centers under the same roof will help assure patients receive the appropriate level of care quickly and efficiently.”

Beaufort Memorial is working to bring a combined emergency room and urgent care facility to the southern end Hilton Head Island. Construction is expected to begin soon.

“This is a groundbreaking model and huge step forward in innovative health care, improving both overall patient experience and access to both emergency and urgent care services for patients in Hilton Head,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley.

As pioneers of the combined ER and urgent care model since 2008, Intuitive Health currently operates 35 sites across 10 states and is expected to serve more than 1 million patients in 2025. Our model aims to reduce unnecessary ER utilization, potentially saving employers, insurers, and patients millions each year.

“Most emergency room visits involve cases that only require urgent care. At our facilities, patients enter through the same door and are seen by ER-trained providers who assess whether ER or urgent care is needed,” said Jay Woody, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Founder of Intuitive Health. “This eliminates the need for patients to self-diagnose before seeking care, and it also helps reduce unnecessary ER visits, saving payers up to $200 per visit and generating savings of over $780 per episode for commercially insured patients.”

By partnering with Intuitive Health, health systems can gain a strategic advantage by adopting an innovative care delivery model that meets market demand, expands access, improves patient satisfaction, and strengthens financial outcomes.

“Intuitive Health provides comprehensive support to its partners, including site planning, marketing, and operational management, ensuring a seamless integration,” said Thom Herrmann, CEO of Intuitive Health. “For every 1,000 visits, our partners generate over $803,000 in annual downstream revenue, driven by increased referrals to primary care, specialists, and hospital admissions.”

To learn more about our innovative healthcare model, please visit IHERUC.com.

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About Intuitive Health

Founded in 2008, Intuitive Health pioneered the combined emergency room and urgent care model. Intuitive Health partners with established health systems nationwide to build, operate and launch retail healthcare facilities that provide urgent care and emergency room services under one roof. Intuitive Health partners with leading health systems nationwide, including Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Intuitive's patient-centric approach to immediate care has saved payors and patients hundreds of millions in unnecessary emergency care spending. In addition, the Intuitive Health model increases market share for partnered healthcare systems by expanding their footprint with conveniently located centers. For more information, please visit IHERUC.com.

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates over 3,100 students in six colleges and trains 950+ residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health and research funding. For information on our academic programs, visit musc.edu.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. In 2024, for the 10th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $7.1 billion. The 31,000 MUSC members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.

About Tidelands Health

Tidelands Health, in collaboration with MUSC Health, is the region’s largest health care provider, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 70 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners work side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region – promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.

About Beaufort Memorial

Beaufort Memorial, a not-for-profit hospital founded in 1944 on the banks of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, is licensed for 201 beds (169 acute, 14 rehabilitation and 18 mental health). We are an acute-care hospital, a regional referral center and the largest medical facility between Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C.

Fully accredited by The Joint Commission, Beaufort Memorial boasts a dedicated, high-quality medical staff of nearly 320 board-certified or board-eligible providers. The hospital system includes 32 physician practices, two cancer centers and three Express Care & Occupational Health clinics to serve residents of Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties.

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in the Lowcountry through improved health, innovative partnerships and superior care. As part of that mission, Beaufort Memorial continues to expand access and enhance the quality of care.