McLeod Health Seacoast Continues to Grow for the Community

By Jennifer Hulon

The landscape of Little River, South Carolina, looks remarkably different than in years past. Much of this change is the result of McLeod Health Seacoast’s transformation from a modest outpatient center into a vital healthcare hub serving the rapidly expanding North Myrtle Beach community.

With a vision of offering top-tier care close to home, McLeod Health Seacoast has become a critical part of the region's healthcare infrastructure, offering services that are both cutting-edge and patient-centered.

The progress of McLeod Health Seacoast has been marked by strategic expansions that address both the growing demand for healthcare and the changing landscape of medical technology. A key example is the addition of a new patient tower, which increased the total licensed beds to 155.

This increase in bed capacity ensures that McLeod Health Seacoast can continue to provide high-quality care as the demand for healthcare services intensifies.

As the population of North Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas continues to grow, so does the need for specialized services – particularly in cardiology. McLeod Health Seacoast rose to the challenge of meeting the need with the addition of diagnostic cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology labs in 2019.

These labs have allowed the hospital to expand its heart care offerings, ensuring access to essential treatments like heart catheterizations and electrophysiology studies close to home.

The addition of these labs set the stage for an even more significant development in 2023 when McLeod Health Seacoast introduced percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

This procedure allows the hospital to treat patients with coronary artery disease by using a catheter to clear blocked or narrowed arteries, offering both emergent and elective treatment options that can help prevent heart attacks and improve long-term cardiovascular health.

Today, McLeod Health Seacoast offers some of the most advanced surgical technologies available. The hospital has embraced robotic surgery for minimally invasive procedures in urology, general surgery, and gynecology, as well as knee and hip replacement surgeries, offering faster recovery times and better outcomes.

These innovations not only enhance the surgical experience for patients but also reflect the McLeod Health Seacoast commitment to providing the latest in medical care.

For bone and joint health, McLeod Health Seacoast offers a full spectrum of orthopedic services, from joint replacements to sports medicine and spine care.

With comprehensive care for all extremities, McLeod Health Seacoast helps patients stay active and mobile.

McLeod Health Seacoast provides specialized rehabilitation services including cardiac, pulmonary, physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Each program is carefully tailored to meet the unique needs of every patient, supporting recovery from illness or injury, improving mobility and communication, and helping patients regain independence, contributing to improved health outcomes and quality of life.

For many people in their 50s and 60s, health concerns often are problems they believe can be postponed.

McLeod Health Seacoast seeks to change this mindset by offering preventative care aimed at identifying serious health issues early when treatment is most effective.

Women in this age group are also provided with advanced breast health services such as mammography, breast MRI and Whole Breast Ultrasound for dense breast tissue – vital tools for early cancer detection.

Similarly, for those with a smoking history, low-dose CT scans to screen for lung cancer are available, helping to detect the disease at earlier and more treatable stages.

The McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research, a department of McLeod Regional Medical Center, opened on the campus of McLeod Health Seacoast in 2025.

As the only comprehensive cancer center in Horry County, this facility provides advanced treatments, including medical oncology, infusion services, radiation oncology, and breast surgery, all under one roof.

Despite the many excellent changes throughout McLeod Health Seacoast, the priority remains constant: delivering the care patients expect and deserve.

Whether it is expanding surgical services, enhancing cardiac care, or continuing to invest in advanced medical technology, the hospital is dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of the community – both now and in the future.

McLeod Health Seacoast has more than 300 providers on the medical staff caring for patients as well as nearly 400 compassionate and attentive volunteers.

McLeod Health Seacoast provides more than basic care, which is what truly sets it apart. With its comprehensive service offerings, cutting-edge technology, and a deep commitment to the local community, McLeod Health Seacoast is more than just a place to receive treatment, it’s a symbol of progress, innovation, and hope for the North Myrtle Beach area, promising that high-quality healthcare is always just around the corner.