WHY DO YOU THINK CHARLESTON HAS BECOME A REGIONAL MEDICAL HUB?
For patients, Charleston health care providers represent a wide range of medical specialties provided in a competitive environment, which improves quality. Additionally, these health care services are provided in a region that has become increasingly attractive as a place to live, work, play and serve.
IN WHAT AREAS DOES CHARLESTON AS A WHOLE AND YOUR HOSPITAL IN PARTICULAR EXCEL?
Patients in our region have access to high-quality care in a wide range of medical specialties, such as advanced cardiovascular care; burn care; neurosurgery; robotics; pediatric intensive care; weight loss surgery; and trauma care. Our region is served by two trauma programs, which is rare for a market our size. Trident’s Level ll Trauma Center is one of them.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR HOSPITAL/SYSTEM’S PLACE IN THE LARGER CHARLESTON HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY?
We are in the epicenter of the region’s population growth. In addition to Trident and Summerville Medical Centers, we have emergency care access in our Moncks Corner and Centre Pointe Emergency Departments. And, based on market share, we are the region’s health care provider of choice for advanced cardiovascular care, robotics and pediatric ER care.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TO AFFECT PROVIDERS? WHAT SORT OF CHANGES MIGHT IT CREATE IN CHARLESTON’S OVERALL MEDICAL LANDSCAPE?
First, we’ve seen more of our population covered by health insurance. Our hope is that it will help reduce the occurrence of preventable chronic diseases like diabetes. For patients, it’s better to identify an emerging health condition before it becomes a medical emergency. Second, the ACA has definitely encouraged providers, hospitals and physicians to expand their information technology services.
Patients are already benefiting from new resources like the one our health system recently launched: MyHealthONE. It’s a secure online portal that provides one-stop access to patient records, lab reports, appointment scheduling and much more.
