SouthCoast Health, a leading regional medical network serving the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Founded in 1996 when 20 local physicians joined forces to pioneer a collaborative model of patient care, the practice has grown into a comprehensive healthcare organization spanning 16 locations in nine cities.

“When people look at SouthCoast Health today, they see a much larger organization than the one we started 30 years ago,” said CEO John Marrero. “We don't measure success by the volume of patients walking through our doors. We measure it by whether our patients are living healthier lives because of the care they receive.”

In its early years, the organization achieved a major milestone by purchasing and transforming a vacant grocery store on Eisenhower Drive in Savannah into a centralized medical campus. This early accomplishment established SouthCoast Health’s long-standing legacy of multi-specialty teamwork under one roof.

Today, SouthCoast Health patients have access to adult and pediatric primary care along with a large array of services and specialty departments. The latter includes allergy and asthma; cardiology; endocrinology; eye care; imaging; infectious disease; nephrology; physical therapy; podiatry; and surgery. With this level of coordinated care, patients can choose SouthCoast Health with confidence.  

Over the past three decades, SouthCoast Health has grown intentionally alongside rapid population growth in areas such as Bryan County, ensuring families receive high-quality care close to home.

SouthCoast Health’s 30-year history features key achievements in medical technology, clinical quality, and community involvement:

• Pioneering Technology & Partnerships: SouthCoast Health was the first multi-specialty practice in the region to adopt Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in the early 2000s. In 2019, the practice formed a strategic alliance with Privia Health, combining local autonomy with digital tools like online appointment scheduling, virtual visits, and a streamlined patient portal.

• Nationally Recognized Quality Care: Participating as an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), the practice tracks evidence-based metrics to ensure top patient outcomes. Key achievements include recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Diabetes Recognition Program and receiving Privia Health's prestigious Jim Sams Clinical Excellence Award for outstanding diabetic patient outcomes and value-based care.

• Community Investment: SouthCoast Health has served as the title sponsor of the annual United Way Turkey Trot in Daffin Park since its inception in 2009, bringing thousands together every Thanksgiving to raise vital funds for Savannah-area charities.

• Crisis Resilience: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the practice expanded telehealth, established the community’s first drive-up mobile testing facility, and partnered with local leaders to operate a mass vaccination site.

“As SouthCoast Health looks to the future, we’ll continue to grow, invest in the latest technology, and meet the community where they are with our patient-centered philosophy at the forefront,” Marrero said. 

To learn more about SouthCoast Health, visit SouthCoastHealth.com. Those interested in SouthCoast Health’s healthcare services can schedule an appointment online.