McLEOD HEALTH CHERAW 19 MAY 2017

Construction project will expand emergency care in Chesterfield, Marlboro and surrounding counties to better serve patients

Community leaders and McLeod Health representatives participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Emergency Department at McLeod Health Cheraw. Pictured from left to right: Roger Jones, Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce; Meriba Scoggins, McLeod Health Cheraw; Dr. Gabe Simpson, McLeod Health Cheraw; Sully Blair, McLeod Health Board of Trustees; Mary Anderson, McLeod Health Board of Trustees, Debbie Locklair, McLeod Health; and Dale Locklair, McLeod Health.

McLeod Health held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Emergency Department at McLeod Health Cheraw on Thursday, May 18, 2017.

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 an unceasing effort to meet the health needs of the region.

Expansion of the Emergency Department at McLeod Health Cheraw underscores this commitment by McLeod Health to provide treatment, services and health care to the residents of Chesterfield, Marlboro and surrounding counties.

The current Emergency Department (ED) at McLeod Health Cheraw was originally designed to serve between 8,000 to 10,000 per year. In 2016, the ED staff cared for nearly 22,000 patients.

The new, 23-bed Emergency Department will be designed to serve 25,000 patients per year. All rooms will be fully private, and capable for emergency department care. Two of these rooms will be dedicated to advanced resuscitation of critical patients, while four will provide safe and comfortable holding for psychiatric patients.

During the ceremony, remarks were given by Meriba Scoggins, Administrator for McLeod Health Cheraw; Dr. Gabe Simpson, Chief of Staff and Medical Director of the ED for McLeod Health Cheraw; Dale Locklair, Senior Vice President of Planning and Construction for McLeod Health; Roger Jones, President, Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce; Mary Anderson, McLeod Health Board of Trustees Member; Sully Blair, McLeod Health Board of Trustees Member, and Deborah Locklair, Senior Vice President and Regional Administrator for McLeod Health.

“Cheraw and all of Chesterfield and Marlboro Counties are so fortunate to have McLeod Health offering excellence in healthcare,” explained Roger Jones, President of the Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce. “The new emergency addition will better serve the residents of our communities and shows the confidence that McLeod has in this entire area and the commitment from them to meet our healthcare needs.”

“As a resident of Chesterfield County and a school teacher in Marlboro County, both communities share a special place in my heart,” said Mary Anderson, McLeod Health Board of Trustees. “As a Cheraw Chamber member, I see firsthand what having a viable hospital can do for economic stability and development.

“We can have the best team of caring doctors, nurses and staff, and patient volume greater than ever expected, but until we have an Emergency Department with adequate space for our teams to work and citizens to be served, there is still room for improvement,” continued Anderson.

“Luckily, thanks to the vision of McLeod’s leadership, the values and mission of our organization, the incredible group of our caregivers and support staff and the voice of our communities, the time has come, and today is the day,” concluded Anderson. “We have been looking forward to this for a long time and how sweet it is to actually hold the golden shovel of growth and progress in our hands.”

“When I think about community, I think about how powerful that word is. I think about what happens when communities come together like today. We have been given an opportunity and need to embrace this blessing, support it and be ambassadors for McLeod,” said Sully Blair, McLeod Health Board of Trustees and Marlboro County resident.

“The healthcare services in both of our communities continue to expand thanks to McLeod Health and we are here celebrating the groundbreaking of a new Emergency Department that we desperately need,” concluded Blair. “The goal is to provide us with top quality and convenient care and McLeod is exceeding in that promise to our residents. They want us to know that this is our hospital and they are committed to us.”

The new Emergency Department is scheduled to open to the public in April of 2018.