A South Carolina Supreme Court decision may end a nearly 15-year legal battle to build a hospital in Fort Mill.
Piedmont Medical Center CEO Mark Noscaka was thrilled with the decision.
“We’ve never been closer. Never been closer,” he said.
This saga dates back to 2005 when Piedmont first sought state approval to build a 64-bed hospital in Fort Mill. The South Carolina health department approved that request. But Atrium Health, then Carolinas HealthCare System, and two other hospitals challenged that decision. Atrium also wanted to build a hospital in Fort Mill. And the case has been tied up in the courts ever since.
Ronald Helms has been a Fort Mill Council member for 10 years. Helms says Fort Mill’s population has grown significantly since 2005 and the need for a hospital is greater than ever.
"I spent 24 hours in the emergency room because there were no beds available," said Helms.
There are other hospitals nearby, Piedmont has another hospital in Rock Hill and Atrium has one just over the border in Pineville. Piedmont Medical Center says it plans to build the hospital close to I-77 on South Carolina Road 160. Nosacka said the hospital is still working out details before beginning construction.
“We’re just anxious to get started. We’re going to build that hospital," said Nosacka.
In a statement, Atrium Health said it is disappointed by the ruling and is reviewing the decision.