Page 37 - Georgetown NCG 2021

TIDELANDS HEALTH STRENGTHENS
AFFILIATION WITH MUSC

TO ADVANCE REGIONAL HEALTHCARE
A Q&A WITH BRUCE BAILEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, TIDELANDS HEALTH

Q: When did Tidelands Health's Q: Is this affiliation a merger Q: How will the expansion of the
relationship with MUSC begin? or acquisition? relationship bring more physicians to
A: Our organizations have enjoyed A: It’s important for our community to the area?
a strong relationship for more than a know this is not a merger or acquisition. A: Our elationship with MUSC has
decade, leading to numerous programs Instead, Tidelands Health and MUSC already brought more physicians to
and initiatives that have improved health Health have strengthened our longtime the area through programs such as the
and wellness within the region. affiliation to advance healthcare within Tidelands Health MUSC Family Medicine
Some examples include the Tidelands the region. Tidelands Health remains Residency Program, which was developed
Health Cancer Care Network, which an independent, locally managed health because physicians tend to remain in
includes the MUSC Health Tidelands system. Our name and our leadership the communities where they complete
Health Radiation Therapy Center in team are not changing. We continue to their residency.
Murrells Inlet, MUSC Neurosciences at be led by a volunteer board of trustees. Our expanded relationship with
Tidelands Health, which provides advanced Our mission, “We help people live better MUSC Health will build upon those
neurosurgery services from its Murrells lives through better health,” remains our efforts by positioning us to better recruit
Inlet location, and the Tidelands Health foremost commitment. needed specialists and expand lifesaving
MUSC Family Medicine Residency Q: How will the expanded affiliation services within the region.
Program, which provides three years of with MUSC Health affect the services Q: What will it mean to Georgetown
clinical training for newly graduated that Tidelands Health offers? Will County to have increased access to
family medicine physicians. there be changes to daily operations? academic medical treatment?
A: Patients are continuing to receive the
same high-quality care they’ve come to A: The expansion of our relationship with
expect from Tidelands Health, and they MUSC Health will increase the availability
are seeing the same Tidelands Health of specialized care in Georgetown and
team members. Horry counties.
The Tidelands region has already
The changes from this expanded benefited from our longstanding
affiliation are positive. It will mean more relationship with MUSC Health through
healthcare services available close to the introduction of needed services such
home, so patients won’t have to travel to as radiation therapy and neurosurgery.
Charleston as often for highly specialized Our strengthened affiliation with MUSC
care. Patients will benefit as we recruit Health offers us a chance to expand the
additional physicians, purchase leading breadth of our services even further.
technology, and expand clinical research
– delivering increased value while Q: Will this expansion give patients
controlling costs. greater access to clinical trials?
A: Tidelands Health patients have long
Q: How will Georgetown County been able to access clinical trials through
Q: Why did Tidelands Health and residents experience this expanded MUSC Health, and we expect that to
MUSC Health decide to expand relationship? What benefits will they see? continue going forward.
their affiliation? How does each A: Our expanded relationship with Access to leading clinical trials is
organization benefit? MUSC Health will bring new doctors, one of the many ways our patients and
A: This expanded collaboration with new technologies and new clinical services community have benefited over the years
MUSC Health is a win-win-win – for to our entire region, including Georgetown through our affiliation with MUSC Health.
Tidelands Health, for MUSC Health County. Area residents will benefit from The expansion of that affiliation promises
and, most importantly, for the people of more convenient access to the specialized to enhance those benefits – and the health
Georgetown and Horry counties. care they need. and wellness of our region – even further.
By more closely aligning with MUSC
Health, a nationally recognized academic
medical center, we are better able to grow
Tidelands Health to meet the health and
wellness needs of our community.
That’s good for our patients, area
residents and the business community.
Studies have repeatedly shown that quality
healthcare is critical to economic health.

32 Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce | 843.546.8436 | www.visitgeorge.com Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce | 843.546.8436 | www.visitgeorge.com 33