Questions answered

Asha Vista Behavioral Institute is proposing to open a 78-bed, short-stay inpatient psychiatric hospital in an existing healthcare building in the region. The hospital will care for adults experiencing mental health crises such as major depression, mood disorders, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder in a structured hospital setting.

The hospital is designed to serve adults from Horry and Georgetown counties and surrounding South Carolina communities who are experiencing an acute mental health crisis and need short-term stabilization in a hospital setting. These are local community members, including family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, who currently have to travel out of the area to receive inpatient care.

Most patients will stay less than 10 days. The focus is crisis stabilization, supporting individuals through an acute episode and facilitating a smooth return to their homes, families, and outpatient providers as soon as it is clinically appropriate.

Asha Vista will care for adults experiencing acute mental health conditions such as major depression, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, and related crises that require short-stay hospital treatment and close clinical monitoring.

The care we provide is short-term inpatient psychiatric care focused on those in mental health crises and is only licensed to provide psychiatric care, not substance use care. The clinical team will provide hospital-level care to stabilize symptoms, adjust medications when appropriate, and develop an appropriate plan for returning home. While we understand some patients may also have a history of substance use, the hospital’s primary purpose is psychiatric stabilization and connecting people to the right mix of follow-up services after discharge.

Safety is built into every part of inpatient psychiatric care. The hospital will follow strict state licensing requirements, pursue accreditation, and implement internal policies that include secure entrances and exits, staffed units 24/7, clinical risk assessments, and clear protocols for emergencies. These safeguards are standard in modern psychiatric hospital design and operation.

The hospital is being designed to be a quiet, clinically focused setting that supports community health. By offering short-stay psychiatric care close to home, it can reduce emergency room boarding, shorten long-distance transfers, and keep families more involved in treatment. Thoughtful site design and strong safety protocols are intended to ensure that the facility functions as a low-impact healthcare neighbor while providing meaningful benefits to the broader community.

Yes. Before opening, the hospital will be licensed by the State of South Carolina and will pursue accreditation from recognized hospital accrediting bodies. Licensing and accreditation both require detailed review of protocols, clinical quality, staffing, and facility standards, all of which continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis.

An opening date will depend on the timing of approvals, permitting, and construction or renovation work needed to meet hospital standards. After all approvals are in place, the team will complete the build-out, hire and train staff, and conduct readiness activities. Because of these steps, there is not yet an official opening date, but the goal is to move steadily and responsibly toward opening to serve our community.

Community perspective is an important part of planning. Residents can share questions, ideas, and experiences through public meetings, listening sessions, and the contact form on this site. Thoughtful feedback helps shape how the hospital communicates, how it partners with local organizations, and how it continues to be responsive to community needs over time. Asha Vista’s goal is to be a trusted, long-term healthcare provider and community partner.

The primary focus of the hospital is to care for residents of Horry and Georgetown counties and the surrounding region who currently struggle to find beds close to home. Today, many people travel hours for inpatient care. Bringing care closer to home helps families stay involved in treatment and reduces the burden on local emergency services.

Right now, when no local psychiatric beds are available, law enforcement and EMS often spend many hours transporting people in crisis to distant facilities and monitoring patients in crowded emergency departments. By adding inpatient psychiatric capacity in the region, the hospital is intended to reduce long transports and ER boarding times, allowing first responders and hospitals to focus more of their time and resources on other emergencies in the community.

The hospital is expected to create new healthcare jobs (clinical, support, and administrative), as well as indirect benefits for local businesses that serve staff and visiting families. Over the long term, stronger mental health infrastructure can support a healthier workforce, reduce avoidable healthcare costs, and contribute to overall community wellbeing.

Asha Vista welcomes ongoing questions and ideas from residents, local leaders, and community organizations. You can use the Contact Us form on this site to share feedback or request a conversation. As planning continues, Asha Vista may also host or join community meetings and small-group discussions to answer questions and listen to what matters most to you.