Emergency Care Services

When life throws you a curveball and you need medical help fast, come to Beaufort Memorial’s emergency room for quality care. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, our emergency care center is staffed with highly skilled physicians and nursing specialists who understand the importance of every second when you or your loved one needs immediate medical attention.

Expansion of the emergency center was made possible in part by a $1.5 million startup donation by Beaufort philanthropist Dr. Bruce Pratt in honor of his parents. The ED is named the George N. Pratt, MD, and Sarah Meyer Pratt Emergency Center.

Once you arrive, our emergency care nurses will ask questions about your reason for coming, medications, allergies and medical history. Your vital signs will be taken as well, including blood pressure, pulse, respiration and temperature. After the nurse assesses your needs and medical priority, you may be brought directly into the treatment area or directed to the waiting area. Patients receive medical attention based on medical necessity rather than the order of arrival.

Getting care at the right time can be a matter of life or death. If you or a loved one need emergency assistance, call 911.

If your needs are less urgent, we have several options for quick care to meet your needs.

You can reach staff at the George N. Pratt, MD, and Sarah Meyer Pratt Emergency Center in Beaufort at 843-522-5101.

If you are driving to the emergency room, we’re located at 955 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29902.

Emergency Care Options

Sometimes your need is urgent but not necessarily life-threatening. At Beaufort Memorial, we offer several options in addition to our emergency room services, including:

• Virtual Visits: Connect with a provider in minutes using your smart phone, tablet or computer for conditions like colds, pink eye, sinus infections and more — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Express Care: Walk-in or make an appointment to be treated for conditions that are not life-threatening like sore throats, earaches, strains or sprains.

Download or print our guide to help you determine which service best fits your needs.

When to Visit the Emergency Room

Determining when to visit the emergency room can be confusing, especially under stress. First and foremost, if you or a loved one are at risk of dying or being permanently disabled, it is an emergency. Call 911 to have a team of emergency responders come to you and provide care on site and en route to the emergency department.

Life-threatening Emergencies

• Choking or stopped breathing
• Head injury with passing out, fainting or confusion
• Injury to neck or spine, especially if there is a loss of feeling or inability to move
• Electric shock or lightning strike
• Severe chest pain/pressure or pain in arm or jaw
• Seizure that lasts 3 to 5 minutes
• Unusually or bad headache, especially if it started suddenly
• Inability to speak, see, walk or move
• Suddenly weak or drooping on one side of the body
• Inhaled smoke or poisonous fumes
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Poisoning or overdose

Non-life-threatening Emergencies

• Broken bones
• Abdominal pain
• Serious cuts or burns
• Conditions requiring an X-ray, CT and/or ultrasound

Get Quality Care Close to Home

When it comes to emergencies, you want to make sure you are getting the best care possible. Our newly renovated emergency center offers 26 private treatment rooms, two trauma rooms, a decontamination room and a waiting area for patients and families.

We more than doubled our space to 20,500 square feet to better accommodate our service area of Beaufort and the surrounding communities, including Bluffton, Hilton Head, Yemassee and Ridgeland.

Get the best care possible. Come to Beaufort Memorial — we’re prepared for emergencies.