City: Myrtle Beach, SC

Category: Health Care

Telephone: (843) 692-1000

Address: 809 82nd Parkway, Myrtle Beach

Description: Grand Strand Regional Medical Center is a 219-bed acute-care facility that offers an array of medical services on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The medical staff numbers more than 900, with more than 250 physicians on call. Grand Strand Regional was named as one of the top 100 hospitals in the country for cardiovascular care, with two operating rooms dedicated solely to open-heart surgery, angioplasty, and other heart-related procedures. The hospital is noted for its state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization and diagnostic laboratory, stents, and cardiac rehabilitation. A rehabilitation center houses exercise equipment and supervised programs for cardiac patients that include fitness, nutritional counseling, education, and risk education.In 2008, 400 cardiac surgeries were performed with success rates exceeding state and national averages. The need for local services was apparent: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in South Carolina and accounts for 40 percent of all deaths statewide. Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach answered that need by building a 14,600-square-foot, $5.9 million surgical addition to the hospital that includes an eight-bed surgical intensive-care unit and two operating suites. A satellite pharmacy services the operating rooms and the surgical intensive-care unit.The emergency department is a designated trauma center using electronic technology that includes a hyperbaric chamber commonly used in treating diving accidents, wounds, and burns. Emergency also offers Care Express to treat minor injuries and illnesses for anyone without a local physician. Care Express is open to new residents and visitors alike. Grand Strand Regional emergency services is also the proud owner of HeartLink, a cardiac transport ambulance for those in need of acute care. All of Grand Strand’s emergency department physicians are board certified in emergency medicine. For added convenience, an outpatient pharmacy is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week.Grand Strand Hospital operates an accredited community cancer program in Horry and Georgetown Counties. It is also a member of the National Consortium of Breast Centers, and oncology physicians and nurses are board certified. Mammography is available at the hospital and at diagnostic centers in Little River and Surfside Beach. Radiation therapy is available at a nearby facility, and a cancer registry is employed to track patient treatments and follow-up through a national data bank. Grand Strand Medical utilizes minimally invasive breast biopsy (MIBB) and a sentinel node biopsy program.Grand Strand Regional Medical Center has six affiliates throughout the Grand Strand to provide quality, convenient health care. These affiliates are at the Grand Strand Regional Diagnostic & Women’s Center, South Strand Ambulatory Care Center, Grand Strand Regional Medical Center Wound Care Program, North Strand Diagnostic Center, North Strand Senior Health Center, and the South Strand Senior Health Center on the campus of Community Medical Center–South Strand.Hospital officials work especially hard at preventive care and community education through an annual health fair held on the first Saturday in February and a cardiac wellness program that includes the Mall Walkers Club, the Cardiac Lifelong Program, and ongoing community cholesterol screenings.Other community programs include prostate cancer screening and a teddy bear clinic for children—an annual event at Grand Strand Regional aimed at allaying children’s fears of hospitals. Preschoolers bring their “injured” teddy bears into the emergency room, where doctors and nurses apply bandages, splints, stitches, and the odd button.