J. Scott Broome, CEO, Catawba Division, Serving Lancaster, Indian Land, Chester, SC

Invest: met with J. Scott Broome, division CEO of MUSC Health, to discuss MUSC’s strategic expansion in northern Lancaster County, including the challenges and milestones of building a new hospital, its anticipated economic and community impact, and the health care services it aims to provide to meet the region’s growing needs.

What have been the key takeaways in terms of service growth or accomplishments in the last 12 months?

2024 has been a milestone year for MUSC, marked by significant achievements and growth.

First, a bit of context: this year, MUSC is celebrating its bicentennial, commemorating 200 years since its founding in 1824. For most of that time — about 195 years — our hospitals were based primarily in Charleston, SC. However, things started changing in 2019 when MUSC began acquiring hospitals outside the Charleston area, expanding into regions like Lancaster and Chester counties.

In 2024, we reached several important milestones. We celebrated our 200th kidney transplant since launching the transplant program in 2022, and by year’s end, we had exceeded 220 transplants. We also performed our 1,000th robotic surgery using the Da Vinci robotic system and introduced robotic-assisted total joint replacements. Additionally, we launched spine and neurosurgery services at Lancaster Medical Center, marking the first time these specialties have been available in the region.

2024 truly feels like the culmination of years of dedicated effort. Since acquiring the Lancaster hospital in 2019, we’ve focused on expanding services, strengthening our physician network, and laying the foundation for sustainable growth. This year, those investments have translated into meaningful milestones that enhance the care we provide to our communities.

How has rapid population growth influenced MUSC’s decision to expand in the region?

The rapid population growth in northern Lancaster County has been a key driver of MUSC’s strategic expansion. Lancaster County has experienced robust growth, particularly in its northern region, while Chester County has seen an increase in industrial development.

In northern Lancaster, population growth has outpaced the existing health care infrastructure.

Currently, there’s no hospital or emergency department in the northern part of the county. While there are a few physician offices, urgent care centers, and an outpatient surgery center, comprehensive health care services are not readily available. The new hospital in Indian Land will address these critical gaps. It will offer services such as women’s health, including labor and delivery, inpatient hospitalization, and a variety of surgical specialties like orthopedics, spine, and urology. It will also house an emergency department — the only one in the area.

Planning for this hospital began before 2019, but because South Carolina requires a Certificate of Need (CON) to establish certain health care facilities, we had to navigate that process. MUSC applied for the CON in 2020 and received approval later that year. However, a competitor appealed the decision, leading to a prolonged legal process. In August 2023, the CON was upheld, clearing the way for full-scale design and construction.

The hospital will be built on an 87-acre campus in Indian Land, with plenty of room for future expansion. The initial phase includes a 150,000-square-foot hospital and a 60,000-square-foot medical office building. This campus is designed to grow alongside the community, starting with a comprehensive range of services and scaling to meet evolving needs over time.

How has Lancaster County’s government supported this effort?

Since Indian Land isn’t an incorporated municipality, the Lancaster County government has been the primary authority for oversight and support. Dennis E. Marstall, the County Administrator, and his team deserve particular recognition for their thoughtful and proactive approach.

The county has recognized the need for infrastructure in this rapidly growing area, addressing everything from roads and schools to health care facilities. They’ve been deliberate in balancing development with maintaining the community’s character. Despite the challenges of managing such rapid growth, the county has not been a barrier to our progress. On the contrary, they’ve evolved their processes to accommodate new demands while ensuring sustainable development.

Beyond health care, what broader economic or community benefits do you anticipate the new hospital will bring?

The new hospital will be a significant economic driver for the region. Initially, it will create around 400 well-paying jobs with comprehensive benefits, and that number is expected to grow as the hospital expands. These employees will contribute to the local economy by buying homes, shopping at local businesses, and dining at area restaurants.

For a sense of scale, MUSC’s Catawba Division, which includes Lancaster and Chester counties, currently generates approximately $500 million in annual economic impact. The addition of this hospital, along with hundreds of new jobs, is projected to increase impact even further, likely adding over $100 million to the local economy. Beyond the direct economic benefits, having a local hospital enhances the community’s overall appeal, attracting more families and businesses to the area.

Could you elaborate on how you’re building up service lines to meet the community’s needs?

One of our key goals is to provide comprehensive, high-quality health care close to home. For critical emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, and trauma all have critical time windows within which treatment significantly impacts outcomes. Having a hospital nearby improves survival and recovery rates for these emergencies compared to traveling farther to facilities in Charlotte or Rock Hill.

We’re also committed to making routine care more accessible. When health care services are located near where people live and work, it becomes easier for them to prioritize their health—whether for preventive care or managing chronic conditions. This leads to better compliance with evidence-based practices and leads to improved overall health outcomes.

Additionally, we’re addressing specific community needs by expanding our surgical capabilities, including advanced robotic-assisted surgeries, and offering specialized services like kidney transplants. All these efforts align with our mission to deliver the best care to South Carolinians, keeping it local while ensuring high-quality outcomes.