Personal Injury Attorneyin Orangeburg, SC.

The Medical University of South Carolina’s health system plans to take over The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg and its affiliated clinics. It will become the 15th hospital in MUSC’s system.

MUSC’s board of trustees approved a letter of intent for the arrangement Feb. 10.

MUSC will have a long-term lease and operations agreement with the Orangeburg hospital, which is owned by Orangeburg and Calhoun counties but also operates a large Emergency Medical Center in Bamberg County. Final details of the agreement and some regulatory approvals are still being finalized, MUSC said.

County officials and state legislators have been in talks with MUSC about some type of arrangement since last summer about taking over the health care system which took a hit during the pandemic, said Dr. Patrick Cawley, CEO of MUSC Health.

“They were coming out of COVID struggling,” he said. “That’s not uncommon. There are a lot of hospitals in the nation struggling after COVID.”

Last year was the worst year financially for hospitals since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with about half of U.S. hospitals in the red financially at the end of the year due to rising expenses outstripping revenues, according to a survey by analyst firm Kaufman Hall.

The connection began with more informal talks about how MUSC could help, and the two sides were encouraged to work together for research and to improve access to care by a proviso passed last year by the S.C. Legislature. But as MUSC got to know the hospital and community better “we agreed — both sides — that it would better for MUSC to take a more formal role and (for the medical center to) really become part of the MUSC family,” Cawley said.

“Regional Medical Center has cared for this community for over a hundred years and partnering with MUSC Health confirms our commitment to the patients we serve,” Dr. Lucius Craig, chair of the medical center’s board, said in a statement.

The plan is to work with the Orangeburg health system’s current administration on a path forward, Cawley said.

“Whenever MUSC has welcomed a new hospital to our family we work with the current team and we develop plans for the future,” he said. “And then begin to make them part of MUSC.”

The Orangeburg system has about 100 doctors and in addition to the large Emergency Medical Center in Bamberg has dozens of outpatient offices throughout the counties, Cawley said.

For patients, it means that services will continue but “we’ll bring new services to the counties, we’ll being new technology to the counties and more than likely you’ll be able to stay in those counties for your care, rather than travel somewhere else,” he said.

A new drive-thru coffee store is coming to Orangeburg.

Scooter's Coffee is under construction on Chestnut Street, next to the O'Reilly Auto Parts in the area that separates Broughton Street from Chestnut Street.

“Orangeburg represents an important part of our development territory, which is why the Chestnut Street location is one of the first of many new locations to open throughout the state this year,” franchisee Andrew Reed said.

The targeted opening date is mid to late June, Reed said.

The restaurant will be open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The restaurant will employ 20, including managers and baristas.

Scooter’s Coffee is best known for its drive-thru format, specialty coffee and baked-from-scratch pastries.

It sells hot drinks such as its signature Caramelicious, which has caramel sauce, hot milk and espresso. The drink is topped with whipped cream drizzled with more caramel.

Other hot drinks include coffees, mochas, lattes, cappuccinos and hot chocolate. The restaurant also has iced drinks, blenders, smoothies and teas, according to its website.

Food includes maple waffle sandwiches, burritos, bagels, bacon ciabatta sandwiches and desserts such as cinnamon rolls, blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies.

Reed is joined in the ownership of the restaurant with Joseph Walker III. The name of their franchise entity is WalReed Bev Company LLC.

It is the franchise's first entry into The T&D Region. The men will own 32 stores across the Midlands, portions of the Upstate, Florence and Aiken/Augusta.

“Local municipalities were and continue to be very receptive to having us join the community, and that played a big role in our decision to prioritize Orangeburg on our list,” Reed said.

"Scooter's Coffee locations tend to perform well in small-mid size markets, due to a shared emphasis of our core values, and we can't wait to open in Orangeburg and deliver on the Scooter's brand promise: Amazing People, Amazing Drinks ... Amazingly Fast," Reed continued.

Boyer Construction out of Columbia is the general contractor.

Scooter’s Coffee was created in 1998 when Don and Linda Eckles opened their first drive-thru coffeehouse in Bellevue, Nebraska.

The very first Scooter’s Coffee location was known as “Scooter’s Java Express.” The name focuses on the mission to keep customers happy by helping them “scoot in and scoot out” quickly.

Scooter's now has about 500 locations in 28 states across the nation and has commitments to build new stores in 30 states.

There are almost 70 Scooter’s Coffee locations under development throughout South Carolina.

For more information about the business visit the website: scooterscoffee.com

Surgeon Lucius Craig, M.D., chief of the medical staff at what was the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg, is happy that it’s now part of MUSC Health. “This is going to improve care in this area for today and for our children's grandchildren, in this area. That is amazing, and we're all a part of that,” Craig said at a ceremony marking the occasion.

“This is a part of history. Local and county officials, and also the state legislators, saw the importance of the role that this hospital plays in the delivery of care in this area and in South Carolina. To that effect, we explored options for an affiliation with a larger health care system. Ultimately, we determined that MUSC will be the most beneficial option.”

The Regional Medical Center and MUSC Health reached a long-term lease and operations agreement, announced on March 1. The goal is to improve research and access to health care in rural areas and communities that don’t have enough medical options. MUSC Health will run not only the Orangeburg hospital but also an Emergency Department in Barnwell and clinics serving patients in Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties.

Many speakers at the celebration credited the deal to the efforts of state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter. She’d been worried about the hospital’s financial well-being and future and was thrilled to see it join MUSC Health.

“Do y'all know that less than 10 months ago, this proviso, y'all, was inserted into the state budget, suggesting to MUSC that they create this partnership? And Lord, here we are less than a year later,” Cobb-Hunter told the crowd gathered in a tent on the Orangeburg hospital’s campus.

The partnership was also welcome news to James Lemon, D.M.D., chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Medical University of South Carolina, for personal reasons. “My hometown Barnwell, South Carolina, is 35 miles from here. So this area is very close to my heart. I've been treated in this hospital. It is close to many of you today, and this is a momentous occasion for those of us who have lived here and live here,” he said.

“We have a higher purpose as our state's only comprehensive academic health system. It's a great privilege, duty and responsibility to the citizens of South Carolina to deliver outstanding – outstanding – health care, educate future health care providers, and through research, we must help increase and improve the health and wellness of our entire state.”

A fellow MUSC Board of Trustees member, Barbara Johnson-Williams, spoke as well. She lives in Orangeburg, sometimes called “the Garden City.” It’s home to between 12,000 and 13,000 people and has two well-known college campuses: Claflin University and South Carolina State University as well as Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

“This community deserves respect, compassion, collaboration, integrity and innovation. And at its core, these values are what drive MUSC forward and make necessary advances, changes and improvement in local care delivery,” she said.

“I'm thrilled that as a result of this new relationship, our community is going to have health care, as it's so richly deserved, right here in our backyard with an unprecedented level of connectivity to the highest specialized care that MUSC is known for.”

State Rep. Russell Ott was equally jubilant, calling the event a historic celebration. State Sen. Vernon Stephens drove the point home, praising the fact that rural health care is improving in quality and becoming more accessible and affordable.

“When you look at the Regional Medical Center and where we were and where we should have been and where we are going, you can only say, ‘Thank God,’ for he has truly smiled down upon us. And it is our day; it is our day to be excited about living in rural South Carolina,” Stephens said.

MUSC President David Cole, M.D., emphasized the value of having good care close to home. “We know that strong health care facilities are often at the heart of a community's long-term success. My belief is together we'll be able to ensure the health care and well-being of this community and be an asset for the economic growth and the economic future. I have high confidence that we will succeed as we continue to move forward. This new relationship today is a key first step.”

MUSC Health CEO Patrick Cawley, M.D., described what the relationship will mean for the Orangeburg hospital and its affiliated clinics. “First, we're going to recruit more physicians, more nurses, more allied health workers to meet specific community needs most effectively. Second of all, we'll develop and apply best practices to improve care delivery and to decrease health disparities. Third of all, we'll look at implementing and expanding telehealth services and use technology to enhance quality, safety and access to care,” Cawley said.

“It also means offering health care providers and clinical staff training and skilled development opportunities. It also means establishing future graduate medical education opportunities, which is important for MUSC.”

Cole later toured the Orangeburg hospital with chief operating officer Sabrina Robinson. She said she’s excited about the changes coming to her campus. One key change sprang to mind. “Access. Access for our patients, bringing them back home. Bringing our employees back home. Employees and patients both leave the market. So we’ll be able to care for them here.”

Employees on hand for the celebration enjoyed snacks and got MUSC Health bags and other gifts to mark their new affiliation. That included certified nursing assistant Rosalind Curry. “I think it’s going to be an awesome time. I think it’s going to be really good,” she said.

Crystal Frazier, an onboarding coordinator in Human Resources, said the agreement means new ways of working. “I like it. It’s so different from what we had. The programs, the process of onboarding and orientation. Systems also.”

Craig, the surgeon who led the celebration, said the new ways are welcome. “This is a win-win for this community and also for MUSC.”

First patients arrive at MUSC Health Black River Medical Center in rural Williamsburg County, grateful for high-tech hospital close to home.

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THOMASTON, Ga., January 4, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the fastest-growing express car wash companies in the country, opened their new Orangeburg, SC, location on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 2790 North Road.

To celebrate their grand opening, the new Orangeburg location is offering free washes from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through Wednesday, Jan. 11. Additionally, new members can join any monthly unlimited membership plan for just $9.99 for the first month - now through March. Once a new membership is activated at the new North Road location, customers can use unlimited wash memberships at any Tidal Wave location.

"This is our second location in Orangeburg," said founder and CEO Scott Blackstock. "We're excited to open this brand-new Orangeburg location and offer the community two convenient and industry-leading express washes. Whether you are already familiar with Tidal Wave, or have never tried us before, now is a great time to stop by our North Road location and experience our industry-leading car care technology. We've been operating in South Carolina since 2014, and we're looking forward to serving more communities in the state as we continue our expansion in the year ahead."

Tidal Wave Auto Spa was founded by Scott and Hope Blackstock in 1999. Together, they committed to building an exceptional car wash experience with the highest-quality washes, best-in-class locations, and top-tier customer service. In 2022, Tidal Wave introduced Graph-X4 as their premium wash option - providing powerful four-layer protection for your vehicle from dirt, pollutants, and UV rays, plus the ultimate sparkle. Each Tidal Wave location has an after-care cleaning area with complimentary cleaning sprays, towels and vacuums to spruce up the interior of your vehicle for no extra cost.

Stop by for a single wash or join Tidal Wave's Unlimited Wash Club for the best value and car wash experience. Members enjoy 30 days of unlimited washes for just one low monthly payment. Wash once a day, every day. Plus, unlimited wash plans can be used at any Tidal Wave location in the country. Tidal Wave also offers discounted monthly family plans and fleet plans - perfect for businesses with multiple company cars.

Give the gift of a clean car for the new year with a Tidal Wave gift card. An ideal choice for the holidays, birthdays or celebrations, a Tidal Wave Auto Spa gift card can fit any gift-giving need. Gift cards are reloadable and can be purchased online or at the nearest Tidal Wave location. For more information, visit https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/gift-cards/.

Tidal Wave is committed to giving back to the communities they serve - and makes it easy to raise funds for schools, churches, civic groups, sports teams and more through their fundraising program. For more information about Tidal Wave Auto Spa's fundraising program, please visit http://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/fundraising.

About Tidal Wave Auto Spa

Tidal Wave Auto Spa is an industry-leading conveyor car wash company founded in 1999 by Scott and Hope Blackstock in Thomaston, Georgia. Tidal Wave is committed to providing cutting-edge car care technology, pristine customer service and attractive locations that are welcomed into their communities. In 2020, Tidal Wave partnered with Golden Gate Capital to facilitate their accelerated growth across the country. The company currently has 139 locations across 21 states. Tidal Wave has been recognized as one of the top 10 conveyor car washes and was included in the 2020 Inc. 5000 list for America's Fastest Growing Companies. The company has a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, and since its founding has given more than $1 million to organizations serving individuals with special needs.

Source: Tidal Wave Auto Spa

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - Orangbuerg County will be the host of a global solar panel manufacturer’s first U.S. manufacturing plant.

Hounen Solar announced plans to invest $33 million in a new manufacturing operations facility that will create 200 new jobs.

The plant is located at 145 Millennium Drive, the company will be leasing a 200,720-square-foot plant. The plant will not only be the first United States plant for Hounen Solar but also the first South Carolina location for the company.

Governor Henry McMaster said “Hounen’s investment in Orangeburg County not only adds to the state’s growing renewable energy economy but also shows that South Carolina is a place where companies in every industry can thrive. We look forward to creating a strong partnership with Hounen for years to come and seeing the impact of these 200 new jobs.”

The Orangeburg County facility will allow announced plans to invest $33 million in a new manufacturing operations facility that will create 200 new jobs. to develop, manufacture and sell one gigawatt (GW) crystalline silicon PV panels in the U.S.

“We are excited to announce our first manufacturing operations in the United States. Our new solar panel assembly plant will allow us to produce one GW crystalline silicon PV panels for markets in the U.S. We are grateful for the help and support of the South Carolina team and look forward to providing more economic opportunities in the state,” said Hounen Solar Chief Executive Officer Jufang Lv.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved the job development credits related to this project and also awarded Orangeburg county a $500,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) grant to help with the costs of building improvements.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - More rain for tonight with low temps in the upper 50s, then another system moves in Sunday bringing another chance of rain.

FIRST ALERT HEADLINES

FIRST ALERT WEATHER SUMMARY

We see more rain chances this evening as a coastal low pressure system continues to kick moisture our way. Temps are cool with highs in the upper 50s.

Friday we have a few more rain chances in the morning hours, mainly scattered. Chances are around 40%. Then clouds stick around with an east flow providing cool air keeping temps well below average. We could see a break in the clouds by the afternoon and evening, so we bumped up the temp a little to 75.

Saturday is warmer as we lose the east flow. Morning lows are in the low 60s and highs reach the low 80s. There’s a cold front that’s approaching from the west and it will bring a 20% chance of showers.

A cold front approaches from the west overnight into Sunday. This gives us a 50-60% chance of rain and thunder for the overnight period to the morning hours. Lows are in the upper 60s and highs reach the low 80s.

The front stalls a little and brings a 30% chance of morning showers Monday. We are cooler with highs in the upper 70s. Temps remain cooler than average for Tuesday and Wednesday as well with mid to upper 70s for highs.

FIRST ALERT FORECAST

Tonight: Rain showers continue and start to taper off into the early morning hours, lows are in the upper 50s.

Friday: Cloudy skies in the morning with a 40% chance of some showers. Then the chance of rain goes down during the afternoon and highs are in the mid 70s.

Saturday: Partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of showers and storms. Highs are in the low 80s.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of thundershowers. Highs are in the low 80s.

Monday: 30% chance of morning showers then drier air for the afternoon, highs are in the upper 70s.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with highs in the mid 70s.

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Copyright 2023 WIS. All rights reserved.