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Savannah's Memorial University Medical Center has opened a 15,000-square-foot branch office in Bluffton.

WTOC has a brief on the opening that really doesn't say much more than that.

Memorial's website offers a bit more in a press release:

Bluffton is one of the fastest growing areas in South Carolina, with a metro area population of more than 169,000. Memorial’s Legacy Center location is adjacent to the Sun City retirement community and conveniently located near the intersection of U.S. 278/Fording Island Road and S.C. 170/Okatie Highway.

“With the addition of Memorial Health, Legacy Center has truly become the most desired medical office facility in the region,” said Steve Anthony, CEO of Legacy Building Systems, LLC, the builder.

While this isn't a Beaufort issue, hospital turf wars shouldn't be ignored. Beaufort Memorial Hospital advertises in Bluffton and has a Bluffton office. 

Hilton Head Regional Medical Center advertises in Beaufort.

Memorial advertises throughout all of Beaufort County and now has a Beaufort County facility.

Meanwhile Coastal Carolina Medical Center in Hardeeville tries desperately to remain relevant. The Hilton Head and Hardeeville hospitals both are Tenet-owned facilities.

Make no mistake, this can get as cut-throat as Coke vs. Pepsi, and it's your business that they're after.

Will be interesting to see how Memorial works to expand its footprint into the Bluffton market, or whether that new office will be enough to sway patients across the Savannah River.