Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on January 25.
The National Guard has once again returned to provide crucial support to Tidelands Health as the Omicron variant fuels record numbers of COVID-19 cases statewide.
Four National Guard medics arrived Tuesday and immediately began assisting Tidelands Health team members in the emergency departments at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet and Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital. The support is another indication of the seriousness of the latest surge, which has led to a record number of cases statewide, a rising number of hospitalizations and a shortage of available caregivers.
The National Guard has provided crucial support to Tidelands Health during previous surges, assisting in the health system’s ERs, testing locations and regional vaccination sites.
“The professional and skilled National Guard medics have come through for us and our community once again as we weather this latest COVID-19 surge,” said Ashley Capps, vice president of nursing and operations at Tidelands Health. “They always jump right in and work well with our team to help us provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients and serve our community. We expect COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations to continue rising in the coming days and weeks, so we welcome the extra hands of these skilled medics.
“While we are grateful for their ongoing support, we are also eager for the day when our dedicated health care professionals are no longer faced with these overwhelming COVID-19 surges.”
Tidelands Health emergency departments in Murrells Inlet and Georgetown have been inundated with patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, as well as those with the normal array of illnesses and conditions that require emergency care. Individuals without symptoms who simply want a COVID-19 test should not go to the ER; instead, find a convenient, free testing site through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control at scdhec.gov.
Tidelands Health leaders continue to encourage community members to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which provides strong protection from serious illness from COVID-19. Individuals should also receive a booster dose of the vaccine when eligible, as a booster dose dramatically increases protection against the Omicron variant.
People can get the lifesaving vaccine and booster at no cost at three Tidelands Health regional vaccination sites:
- Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital, Harris Medical Pavilion entrance, 606 Black River Road, Georgetown. Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tidelands Health Medical Park at The Market Common, 2200 Crow Lane, Myrtle Beach. Every Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The Compass Professional Center, 10607 Highway 707, Myrtle Beach. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
About Tidelands Health
Tidelands Health is the region’s largest health care provider and MUSC Health affiliate, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 60 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners work side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region – promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.
Contact:
Dawn Bryant, Senior Communications Strategist
dbryant@tidelandshealth.org, (843) 652-1636
Original source can be found here.
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