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 No matter your age or lifestyle, it’s important to know that the place you call home is one that will provide the quality of life you deserve.You’ll be glad to know that here in the greater Charleston area, there are skilled doctors and state-of-the-art hospitals nearby to serve your health-care needs. Area residents enjoy the highest quality of life and the local medical community is no exception. Whether it’s an emergency, complicated treatment or routine preventive care, area health-care providers are ready to provide expert medical care. The greater Charleston area, comprised of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, is home to four major hospital systems. These range from local, non-profit community hospitals to state institutions for teaching and research as well as national health-care organizations. Roper St. Francis Healthcare is the South Carolina Lowcountry’s only not-for-profit health-care organization. The 594-bed health system is comprised of more than 20 facilities in four counties. Anchored by Roper Hospital and Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, the health system includes more than 20 facilities conveniently located throughout the region. These include freestanding centers for 24-hour emergency and urgent care, diagnostic laboratory and radiology, outpatient surgery and more. Roper St. Francis Healthcare is Charleston’s largest private employer with more than 3,800 employees. Its medical staff includes more than 700 physicians representing every medical specialty. Earlier this year, Roper St. Francis was recognized as one of the Top 100 Integrated Health Networks as named by Verispan in Modern Healthcare magazine. Roper St. Francis Healthcare has a clear mission: “Healing all people with compassion, faith and excellence.” In 2005, the organization contributed more than 32,500 hours of staff time and $34.1 million to benefit the community. Recent examples of community outreach initiatives include the placement of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public and private schools and other popular gathering places in the metro area and new technology now available in more than 40 area EMS units, which allows the transmission of 12-lead EKG (heart monitor) readings to local hospitals. Both are designed to provide area residents with quick and effective care in the event of a heart-related emergency and are made possible through funding support by the Medical Society of South Carolina, a group of private practice physicians and founding members of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. Roper St. Francis Healthcare physicians are nearly 100 percent board certified, far exceeding the national average of 60 percent. Since 1824, The Medical University of South Carolina has provided education and health services for the citizens of South Carolina. What began as a small private college is now a state university with three separate hospitals. From 2003-04, MUSC had over 27,000 inpatient admissions and almost 630,000 outpatient visits. In 2005, for the ninth-consecutive year, MUSC was included in the list of the country’s best hospitals for treatment of digestive diseases by U.S. News and World Report. MUSC’s hospitals include the University Hospital, the Institute of Psychiatry, Storm Eye Institute and the Children’s Hospital. The Medical University Hospital includes specialists from more than 35 different fields such as neurology, cardiology, critical care medicine and nine surgical specialties. Staying up to date on the latest technologically advanced capabilities is extremely important to the hospital. At MUSC’s Institute of Psychiatry, doctors are dedicated to working along with patients to overcome their psychiatric and emotional health problems. Recognized as one of the nation’s top 10 psychiatric research centers, the Institute is dedicated to discovering new solutions leading to better care. For over 30 years, Storm Eye Institute has been South Carolina’s center for the management of serious eye conditions. Applicants of the teaching program at Storm Eye Institute are among the best from across the country. For the third year in a row, MUSC Children’s Hospital was recognized in CHILD magazine as one of the top 25 children’s hospitals in the U.S. The 128-bed, state-the-art facility provides services for children all the way from birth to 18. The Charleston Memorial Hospital, a 172-bed facility, is also linked with the Medical University of South Carolina. Trident Health System provides health care at several facilities throughout Charleston and the surrounding areas. Trident Medical Center, located in Charleston, is a 296-bed hospital. With 94 beds, the Summerville Medical Center of the Trident Health System has a prestigious reputation for its cardiac services, sleep lab and women’s services. The hospital even offers “home-like” birthing suites. Trident Health System’s Moncks Corner Medical Center offers a broad range of services such as general radiology, mammography, laboratory drawing station, and ongoing health education programs. The Center also offers Trident’s Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation for those injured through physical activity. In Mount Pleasant, East Cooper Regional Medical Center was the first hospital in South Carolina to be recognized for service excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Program. Opened in 1986, the 100-bed facility strives to be the primary healthcare facility in its community, providing service in women’s care, general surgery, neurosurgery and more. East Cooper is a part of the nationwide Tenet Healthcare Corporation. Dedicated to extending patient care from injury or illness to a full recovery, Health South Rehabilitation Hospital of Charleston is the only free-standing rehabilitation center in the Lowcountry. The 46-bed hospital is a full-service facility, specializing in strokes, brain injuries, amputees and neurological disorders. The hospital also offers classes for victims of health problems in the community that are on their way to a full recovery. While sticking to the Naval Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment, the Naval Hospital Charleston, provides service to over 60,000 beneficiaries, almost half of which are retirees and their family members. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROPER ST. FRANCIS HEALTHCARE Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital 2095 Henry Tecklenburg Drive Charleston, SC 29414 843-402-1000 www.ropersaintfrancis.com/bssf Charleston Memorial Hospital East Cooper Regional Medical Center HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Charleston MUSC Children’s Hospital MUSC Institute of Psychiatry MUSC University Hospital Roper Hospital Storm Eye Institute at MUSC Summerville Medical Center U.S. Naval Hospital |
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