McLeod Health Announces Affiliate Partnership with Clarendon Health System

McLeod Health announced a new partnership this afternoon- to affiliate and operate Clarendon Health System in Manning.
According to the Morning News, “the plan, approved by trustees from both hospitals, is effective May 25. Clarendon is licensed for 81 beds. In 2013, it completed a $22 million, 47,000 square foot expansion and renovation that included new operating rooms, an emergency department, a same-day surgery center and larger patient rooms.”
You can read all of the details about the agreement and what it will mean for McLeod and healthcare in Clarendon County, by clicking on the link below and reading the article from the Morning News:
(image courtesy: Patricia Burkett Photography)

Young Professionals to Make Special Announcement at Chamber Offices June 2

     

 

Interested in the Young Professionals of Florence group? Then make plans to join us on Thursday, June 2nd from 5:30-7 pm at the offices of the Florence Chamber for a very exciting announcement and the opportunity to check out the Chamber’s downtown space!

Enter the Chamber’s front door at the corner of Dargan and W. Evans and then make your way to the Community Room in the back for a larger space to network together. (Don’t worry, there will be plenty of people to guide you!)

For more information on how you can sign up to take part, visit the event’s Facebook page by following the link below:
Young Professionals of Florence/ Florence Chamber Event FB Page

Small Business Owners: Cloud-Based Software Could be Big Time-Saver

Want to spend more time going after new business and less time struggling with invoices, bills and receipts?? Well, there’s good news for small business owners like you, thanks to an ever-growing suite of cloud-based accounting tools.

What, exactly, is the cloud? Cloud-based software, or software as a service (SaaS,) offers users access to technology on a subscription basis. The software provider securely hosts all necessary databases and servers, and small-business owners access their data anytime, anywhere via internet connection.

Click below to find out more in this article from Entrepreneur magazine:

Entrepreneur Magazine web article: 3 Benefits of Cloud-Based Accounting Software for Small Businesses

Junior Leadership Florence County Program Receives Rotary, ArborOne Grants

From the Facebook Page of Junior Leadership Florence County:
“Junior Leadership Florence County wants to offer our sincere thanks to the Rotary Club of Florence and ArborOne, who have just recently announced grants that will enable us to keep doing what we started- helping to develop the future leaders of the Pee Dee! We simply wouldn’t be able to deliver such a fantastic program if it weren’t for our generous sponsors, volunteers and community leaders. Thank you again to Florence Rotary and ArborOne and for the continued support of Clemson Extension, FMU and the Florence Chamber. We can’t wait for you to meet the newest class of Junior Leadership Florence County!”

For more information on Junior Leadership Florence County or how you can help sponsor the program or participate, visit:

Junior Leadership Florence County website

Irby Street Improvements Continue to Impact One of Florence’s Busiest Areas

If you’ve recently driven down Irby Street, you’ve seen all the construction on the sides of the road.

The $9.4 million paving project consists of work that’s mostly taking place during the overnight hours but it’s still pretty noticeable on one of the area’s busiest streets.

So what exactly is going on and when will it wrap up? Click the article below from WBTW News13 for some answers.

WBTW web article: Irby Street Paving

Chamber Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Huntley Chiropractic

The Florence Chamber was proud to welcome one of its newest members this afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony! Huntley Chiropractic is owned and operated by Dr. Taylor R. Huntley, D.C. and is located at 1451 W. Palmetto Street, in the heart of Florence.

Huntley Chiropractic offers many services including DOT Physicals. You can get complete details on their services by stopping by or giving them a call at (843) 319-2518. Welcome to the Chamber family, Huntley Chiropractic!

To view the full ribbon cutting album, click on the link below:

Facebook Photo Album: Huntley Chiropractic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

City Center Farmer’s Market Opens Each Saturday Downtown

   

(images courtesy: City Center Farmer’s Market Facebook Page)

Looking for something fun to do tomorrow? Check out the City Center Farmers Market downtown! The market provides Florence residents, visitors and tourists with the freshest produce, dairy, artisan food and crafts that the Pee Dee has to offer! Get more info by following the link below to their Facebook page:

City Center Farmer’s Market Facebook Page

Florence County Council Moves Forward with East Palmetto Improvement Study

(images courtesy: Google Maps and Toole Design Group)

From the Morning News:

“After months of mulling, the Florence County Council voted Thursday to move forward with an improvement plan for the Highway 76 corridor from the Florence City limits to Francis Marion University.

The council unanimously authorized Florence County Administrator K.G. “Rusty” Smith Jr. to negotiate a contract with Toole Design Group to study the section of East Palmetto and present options to revamp the area.

Ideas for the plan were started when the county and city teamed up last year in an effort to address an eyesore on the same stretch – the dilapidated Palmetto Inn. An attempt to obtain a grant to clean up the site failed and talks of an overlay district sprouted.”

To read the full article and get all the details on the project, click on the link below:

SCnow.com web article- East Palmetto Improvement Study

 

Florence Officials Break Ground on $7 Million Soccer Complex

(image courtesy: scsoccer.com)

Officials broke ground Wednesday afternoon for a $7 million, 14 field soccer complex that will sit on property formerly owned by U.S. Congressman Ed Young near the intersection of I-95 and West Palmetto Street.

“This is yet another example of the collaboration between the city and the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation,” Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela said of the effort.

Construction on the complex is underway and officials expect for it to be complete in December.
Click below to read the full article from the Morning News:

SCnow.com web article- City of Florence Breaks Ground on $7 million Soccer Complex

Carolinas Hospital Medical Staff Receive Prestigious Lewis Blackman Award

Dr. Zebian, courtesy: Carolinas Hospital System

Dr. Zebian, courtesy: Carolinas Hospital System

Brian Greig, courtesy: Carolinas Hospital System

Brian Greig, courtesy: Carolinas Hospital System

Carolinas Hospital System is proud to announce that Dr. Rami Zebian, Director of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine and Brian Greig, RN, Director of Critical Care Services have received the 2016 Lewis Blackman Award.

Every year,  South Carolina’s hospital community joins together at the Transforming Health Symposium to share best practices and learn about the ways individuals and organizations are working collaboratively to transform health and health care. One of the major highlights of the event is the presentation of the Lewis Blackman Awards to honor champions of patient safety who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure quality care.

The awards are named in honor of Lewis Wardlaw Blackman, a bright, gifted, 15-year-old who died following an elective surgical procedure in 2000 due to complications related to a medical error. Helen Haskell, Lewis’ mother, has provided inspiration for the awards through her tireless and meaningful work to promote patient safety and quality improvement not only in South Carolina but throughout the country.

Dr. Rami Zebian, Director of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at Carolinas Hospital, was recognized for overseeing a sepsis collaborative focused on implementing treatment guidelines that led to a dramatic decrease in sepsis mortality and established the facility as a mentor to other health systems. “I was very humbled to receive the Lewis Blackman Award. Our oath as physicians includes “Do No Harm” and the message that Lewis’ mother conveyed allows caregivers, such as myself, to be reminded of our oath. I am honored to be a part of creating a safer medical environment for patients and caregivers,” Zebian said.

Brian Greig, RN, Director of Critical Care Services implemented regular meetings and led efforts to improve care for sepsis patients and reduce other hospital-acquired infections. “It was an honor to receive the Lewis Blackman Award, not only for me, but for our entire staff in the Intensive Care Units. Our goal is to make patient care as safe as we possibly can. We are proud to be recognized for our change in processes that increase patient safety in the Intensive Care Units at Carolinas Hospital System,” Greig said.

“Dr. Zebian and Brian Greig are champion leaders whose guidance and support play a critical role in patient safety and quality improvement. Their dedication is instrumental in creating a culture of safety and quality care as they continue to initiate best safety practices,” said Costa Cockfield, Chief Nursing Officer at Carolinas Hospital System.

Carolinas Hospital System congratulates these champions of patient safety for receiving this prestigious award.