Healthcare and Hospitals on the Grand Strand

Three competing hospital systems serve the Grand Strand — meaningful because most coastal communities of this size have one system with monopoly pricing power and one set of network limitations. On the Grand Strand, relocation buyers have actual choice. The trauma center is in Myrtle Beach. The MUSC-affiliated academic care is coming online through Tidelands. The newest hospital in Horry County in over a decade is opening fully in fall 2026 in Carolina Forest.

This page covers the three systems, where they're located, what they specialize in, and what to know about academic-tier care for relocation buyers with complex conditions.

Grand Strand Medical Center (HCA Healthcare)

The flagship hospital in Myrtle Beach proper. 403 acute-care beds. The only ACS-verified Level I adult trauma center on the Grand Strand and the SC DHEC-designated Level II pediatric trauma center. This is the destination for serious trauma cases across the entire 60-mile coast — if you're in a car accident on the Strand, this is where you end up.

Grand Strand Medical Center has comprehensive services including a Comprehensive Stroke Center, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, obstetrics with NICU, oncology, and pediatric care. Part of HCA Healthcare, the largest hospital system in the country, with the network and capital advantages that comes with.

Tidelands Health (MUSC controlling interest as of 2025)

Tidelands Health serves the southern Grand Strand from two acute-care hospitals plus 70+ outpatient locations:

Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital (Georgetown, 131 beds) — The main acute-care campus in the southern Strand. Joint Commission Advanced Primary Stroke Center certified.
Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital (Murrells Inlet) — Acute-care campus serving Murrells Inlet, Garden City, Pawleys Island, and the Litchfield corridor. Joint Commission Advanced Primary Stroke Center certified.

Plus rehabilitation hospitals in Murrells Inlet and Little River, and the broad outpatient network.

The MUSC acquisition. In September 2025, the MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) board endorsed acquiring an 85% controlling interest in Tidelands. MUSC Charleston is one of the major academic medical centers in the Southeast — the kind of place complex cardiac, oncology, transplant, and rare-disease cases are treated. The Tidelands acquisition is bringing more MUSC-affiliated specialists, clinical trials, and academic-tier protocols to the Grand Strand. The future Tidelands Carolina Bays Hospital (~36 beds, 2028/2029 target) is part of that expansion.

For relocation buyers from cities with major academic medical centers (NYU Langone, Mass General, Cleveland Clinic, UCSF), the MUSC link is the closest equivalent the region has and it's actively expanding into the Strand.

McLeod Health

McLeod Health serves the western and northern Grand Strand from three Horry County locations:

McLeod Loris Hospital (Loris) — Long-established community hospital. Joint Commission Advanced Primary Stroke Center certified.
McLeod Health Seacoast (Little River) — 50-bed acute-care campus serving North Myrtle Beach and the north end. Joint Commission Advanced Primary Stroke Center certified.
McLeod Carolina Forest Hospital (Carolina Forest) — $56M, four-story, 48-bed facility. The first new hospital in Horry County since 2011. Began admitting patients in January 2026; full opening targeted for fall 2026. Roughly 300 jobs.

McLeod's flagship is in Florence, SC (system-wide more than 10,000 employees), which means relocation buyers have access to a deeper specialty network through the McLeod system than the Strand-only footprint would suggest.

Stroke and Cardiac Care

Time-sensitive care is well-covered on the Strand. Joint Commission Advanced Primary Stroke Center certifications are in place at Tidelands Georgetown, Tidelands Waccamaw, McLeod Loris, and McLeod Seacoast. Grand Strand Medical Center markets a Comprehensive Stroke Center.

For cardiac, Grand Strand Medical Center offers cardiac surgery and a cath lab; Tidelands and McLeod offer cardiac diagnostics, intervention, and post-acute rehab. Complex cardiac surgery cases sometimes route to MUSC Charleston (2 hours south) or, increasingly, stay on the Strand through the Tidelands-MUSC partnership.

For Specialized Care: MUSC Charleston

MUSC Charleston is about 95 miles south of Myrtle Beach — roughly a 2-hour 5-minute drive. It's one of the major academic medical centers in the Southeast and the closest tertiary referral center for cases that exceed what the Grand Strand systems can handle locally. MUSC has the comprehensive cancer center, transplant programs, complex pediatric care, and rare-disease specialists.

The good news is the MUSC-Tidelands integration is bringing more MUSC-affiliated care directly to the Strand — new specialty clinics, telemedicine consultations, and shared protocols. For routine and most specialty care, you won't need to drive to Charleston. For the things that do require academic-tier specialists, the 2-hour drive is genuinely manageable compared to many rural coastal markets where the equivalent drive is 4+ hours.

Primary Care and Specialists

The Grand Strand has an extensive network of primary care practices — both independent and system-affiliated. Most of the established practices have wait times of a few weeks for new-patient appointments; in active-adult communities (Del Webb, Cresswind, Myrtle Trace) wait times can be longer.

For relocation buyers moving here from a major metro, the biggest practical adjustment is the network of specialists. Major-city luxuries like seeing five specialists in the same building or getting a same-week appointment with a sub-sub-specialist generally don't exist on the Strand. What exists is solid community specialty care — cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, gastroenterology, urology, ophthalmology — with reasonable access and good reputations.

Medicare and Supplemental Coverage

All three Grand Strand hospital systems accept traditional Medicare and the major Medicare Advantage networks (Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Blue Cross). Specific in-network status depends on your plan and the year; always confirm at the time of relocation. Several Medicare Advantage plans have built specifically for the Strand market with strong dental, vision, and over-the-counter benefits.

For relocation buyers moving from a state with strong Medigap competition, you'll find SC's Medigap market workable but not as competitive on premiums as some northern states. Your CPA or a Medicare advisor can walk through whether your current Medigap plan transfers or whether to switch at the move.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best hospital in Myrtle Beach?

Grand Strand Medical Center (HCA) is the only Level I adult trauma center on the Grand Strand and is the destination for serious trauma cases. For non-trauma care, Tidelands Health, McLeod Health, and Grand Strand Medical Center compete on specific service lines — the right hospital for a particular condition depends on the condition and your physician's recommendation.

Are there enough doctors in Myrtle Beach for retirees?

Yes for most needs. The Grand Strand has solid community primary care and specialty networks across all three hospital systems. The honest answer for retirees moving from a major metro: routine and specialty care are well-covered; sub-sub-specialty care for complex cases sometimes requires a 2-hour drive to MUSC Charleston, though the new MUSC-Tidelands partnership is bringing more academic-tier care to the Strand.

What's the nearest academic medical center to Myrtle Beach?

MUSC Charleston — about 95 miles, 2 hours 5 minutes south. One of the major academic medical centers in the Southeast. With MUSC's 2025 controlling-interest acquisition of Tidelands, more MUSC-affiliated specialists and protocols are coming directly to the Grand Strand.

Is the new McLeod Carolina Forest Hospital open yet?

Partially — first patients were admitted in January 2026. The full opening (including ER capacity expansion) is targeted for fall 2026. It's the first new hospital in Horry County since 2011 and meaningfully expands healthcare capacity in the fastest-growing inland part of the Strand.

Which Grand Strand hospital handles trauma?

Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach. It's the only ACS-verified Level I adult trauma center on the Strand and the SC DHEC-designated Level II pediatric trauma center.

Does Tidelands take Medicare?

Yes, all three Grand Strand hospital systems — Grand Strand Medical Center, Tidelands Health, and McLeod Health — accept traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage in-network status depends on the specific plan and year — confirm before you switch your Medicare benefits to a new SC residence.

How long is the drive from Myrtle Beach to MUSC Charleston?

About 2 hours 5 minutes (~95 miles) via Hwy 17 South. This is the closest academic medical center for complex cases that exceed what the Grand Strand systems handle locally.

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This page is general information, not medical advice. For specific health conditions and provider recommendations, consult with your physician.