Octavia Williams-Blake, Dr. Stuart Sandler, Frank J. “Buddy” Brand, II, Dale Locklair and Jeff Singletary break ground for the McLeod Occupational Health Commerce Park located at Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce City Park in Florence.

McLeod Health held a groundbreaking ceremony for McLeod Occupational Health Commerce Park on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. The ceremony was held at Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce City Park in Florence.

Committed to providing excellent quality care and improving the health care of those it serves from the Midlands to the Coast, McLeod Health continues to invest in services and technology in a continuing effort to meet the medical needs of the region.

The addition of McLeod Occupational Health Commerce Park underscores this commitment by McLeod Health to provide treatment, services and health care to area businesses and industries.

Frank J. “Buddy” Brand, II, Chairman of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership and a member of the McLeod Health Board of Trustees, said, “This day represents the body of work to fulfill our efforts in the provision of preventive and medical care to people who support businesses and industries through this service. Keeping our workforce healthy fosters economic growth and stability.”

In his remarks, Brand also explained how the McLeod Occupational Health Commerce Park will benefit the existing industries located at the Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce City Park as well as the recruitment of future industries to the Florence community.

In addition to Brand, remarks were given during the ceremony by Octavia Williams-Blake, Vice President of Workplace Health & Safety for McLeod Health; Dr. Stuart Sandler, Medical Director of McLeod Occupational Health; Jeff Singletary, Vice President of Marketing with Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc.; and Dale Locklair, Senior Vice President of Planning and Facilities Management for McLeod Health.

“The momentum we are seeing in Onsite Services mirrors the broader momentum sweeping the country,” said Williams-Blake. “More and more employers are choosing to bring healthcare directly to their worksite. Employers are experiencing the positive financial impact of having physicians and nurse practitioners onsite providing convenient, high quality care to team members and their families. Local employers often share with me how the convenience of onsite care has resulted in improved health outcomes, reduced health plan expenses, increased productivity and retention of their employees. We now provide more than 15 onsite clinics across the region in industries such as Honda, Otis Elevator, WestRock, the City of Florence, Florence County and McCall Farms just to name a few.”

The catalyst for Tuesday’s groundbreaking started with encouragement from several industry executives from the park, namely Jeff Stevens, the CEO of Pepsi and Jeff Vine who was with Johnson Controls at the time, she stated. “Because of their familiarity with the successes of our other industry clinics, they contacted McLeod to ask about bringing onsite care to each of their facilities. Thanks to their leadership, and the help of so many others, we stand here today at the start of our first near site Occupational Health Center,” added Williams-Blake.

Dr. Sandler detailed the full range of Occupational Medicine services that will be offered at McLeod Occupational Health Commerce Park. “The McLeod Occupational Health team is excited for this opportunity to care for the work-related injuries and illnesses of these businesses and industries’ employees and families. Our services will include onsite X-ray and EKG services, DOT certified exams and physicals, pre-employment physicals, and comprehensive drug and alcohol testing programs. In addition, we will also offer hearing/audiometry testing; spirometry testing, labs and lead blood testing, firefighter physicals, ergonomic and physical capacity testing, wellness programs including screenings, disease care management, flu shots and other immunizations and vaccinations, pharmacy courier services, treatment for minor illnesses, employee assistance program services and a range of programs to meet the needs of employers and the community.”

The Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce City Park is a Class-A commercial/industrial park at the forefront of the area’s economic development advances. Situated on 705 acres at the intersection of Interstate 95 and S.C. Highway 327, the park is home to FedEx, Ruiz Foods, Performance Foodservice, Johnson Controls, Monster.com, Pepsi Cola of Florence, Pee Dee Regional Water Treatment Plant and Windy Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

McLeod Occupational Health Commerce Park is scheduled to open in early 2019.