Tidelands Health, MUSC Health strengthen affiliation to advance regional health care

MURRELLS INLET, S.C. – Tidelands Health and MUSC Health have expanded their longtime affiliation and collaboration to improve health and wellness in Georgetown and Horry counties.

In a first-of-its-kind relationship for both organizations, Tidelands Health and MUSC Health have now joined forces to meet the health care needs of Georgetown and Horry counties, giving patients enhanced access to leading medical treatment and technologies close to home. Leaders from both health systems said the enhanced relationship will bring new physicians, new technologies and new clinical services to the Tidelands region, which has been repeatedly recognized as one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States. Tidelands Health remains an independent, community-led health system, with the same name, leadership team and singular mission – “We help people live better lives through better health.”

“The best health care is local,” said Bruce Bailey, president and CEO of Tidelands Health. “When we deliver advanced health and wellness services right here in Georgetown and Horry counties, it’s better for our patients and our community. Strengthening our collaboration with MUSC Health, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, will allow Tidelands Health to better recruit needed specialists and expand lifesaving services to care for our fast-growing population close to home.

“Indeed, the value of a close relationship between our two health systems has never been more apparent than during the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as we continue to work collaboratively to streamline the COVID-19 screening and treatment process for the people of our region,” Bailey noted.

“This agreement builds on and is a logical extension of the more than 10-year collaborative relationship between our two health systems,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., CEO of MUSC Health and vice president for Health Affairs, University. “We are taking this already mutually beneficial relationship to a new level with plans to strengthen and improve access to high-quality, affordable health care in communities served by Tidelands Health and MUSC Health.”

MUSC Health is the clinical care system of the Medical University of South Carolina. Tidelands Health has long been a regional MUSC Health affiliate, and the two health systems have previously worked together in numerous ways, including:

The Tidelands Health Cancer Care Network, an affiliate of MUSC Health, which includes the MUSC Health Tidelands Health Radiation Therapy Center in Murrells Inlet.
MUSC Neurosciences at Tidelands Health, which provides advanced neurosurgery services from its Murrells Inlet location.
The Myrtle Beach-based Tidelands Health MUSC Family Medicine Residency Program, which provides three years of clinical training for newly graduated family medicine physicians.
The South Carolina Telehealth Alliance, which connects Tidelands Health physician offices and hospitals to MUSC Health experts via telehealth.
The REACH Stroke Network, which connects the advanced primary stroke centers at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital and Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital to MUSC Health.

The deeper relationship between Tidelands Health and MUSC Health presents opportunities to improve access and enhance patient care, increase access to a broader range of educational opportunities for MUSC students and position the organizations to take advantage of future strategic initiatives.

“Thanks to the stewardship of our board of trustees and vision of our leadership team, Tidelands Health is operating from a position of strength,” said J. Edward Norris III, chairman of the Tidelands Health board. “We are seeking innovative ways to grow our health system and expand the delivery of high-quality, affordable health care in the communities we serve. This expanded collaboration with MUSC Health is a win-win-win – for Tidelands Health, for MUSC Health and, most importantly, for the people of Georgetown and Horry counties. Our health systems share a vision to increase the breadth and depth of health care services available close to home.”

“MUSC Health is committed to serving the citizens of our state no matter where they are,” said James Lemon, DMD, chairman of the MUSC board. “This expanded relationship with Tidelands Health will enable our organizations to deliver greater value to patients and their families and will have a positive impact on the quality and cost of health care.”

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About Tidelands Health

Tidelands Health is the Tidelands region’s largest health care provider, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 60 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners are working side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region – promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.

About MUSC Health

As the clinical health system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest quality patient care available, while training generations of competent, compassionate health care providers to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Comprising some 1,600 beds, more than 100 outreach sites, the MUSC College of Medicine, the physicians’ practice plan and nearly 275 telehealth locations, MUSC Health owns and operates eight hospitals situated in Charleston, Chester, Florence, Lancaster and Marion counties. In 2020, for the sixth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit http://muschealth.org.

Founded in 1824, MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets of $3.2 billion. The more than 17,000 MUSC team members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers and scientists who deliver groundbreaking education, research, technology and patient care. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.