CareSouth Carolina, Inc. is a well-established private, non-profit
Community health center that has been serving the Pee Dee region of South Carolina since its inception in 1980. Headquartered in Hartsville, SC, it has grown significantly from a small clinic with four employees to a regional health and community care system with numerous practice sites and hundreds of employees. CareSouth Carolina operates as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), committed to providing patient-centered healthcare homes and delivering integrated community services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
The organization offers a comprehensive array of services designed to address the holistic health and well-being of its patients. These include:
Primary Medical Care:
family medicine, pediatrics, women's services (including extensive gynecological services), geriatrics, and internal medicine.
Specialized Medical Services: Diagnostic radiology (X-ray, ultrasound), laboratory services, infectious disease care (including comprehensive HIV/AIDS primary health care through "Care Innovations"), and chiropractic care.
behavioral health: Clinical counseling, social services, addiction and substance abuse counseling, and mental health support.
Dental Services: World-class dentistry, including school-based dental programs like "Miles of Smiles."
Pharmacy Services: Community-based pharmacy services to ensure access to necessary medications.
Community Programs and Outreach: Initiatives like the "ROADS" mobile medical program (Reaching Out and Delivering Services) that provides remote care to schools and underserved communities, "MOBY Outreach" for mobile healthcare, and "Vantage Point" which serves as a local Area Agency on Aging and an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). They also provide community education on chronic disease prevention, nutrition, physical activity, and smoking cessation, as well as language interpretation and transportation services.
CareSouth Carolina's mission is "to enhance and improve the health and wellbeing of everyone." It emphasizes a patient-focused approach, fostering healing and caring relationships. The organization is recognized as a national model for successful health and community service delivery, leading the transformation of community-centered care. They prioritize serving vulnerable populations, with a significant percentage of their patients being low-income, children, adolescents, and ethnic or racial minorities. The organization also provides care for agricultural workers, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Beyond direct patient care, CareSouth Carolina plays a substantial role in the economic health of the Pee Dee area. In 2022, it reported a significant economic impact, contributing to job creation, salaries, and community spending, and demonstrating considerable savings to the overall healthcare system, particularly for Medicaid patients. Their commitment extends to community involvement, actively engaging in partnerships and coalitions to build healthier communities.
