Dorchester County, MUSC Health, and local partners break ground on new primary care center in St. George

Dorchester County Government leaders joined representatives from MUSC Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, the South Carolina Office of Mental Health/Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center, and elected and appointed officials in celebrating the groundbreaking of MUSC Health Primary Care, a single-story 6,336-square-foot health care facility that will serve St. George and the surrounding communities.

To fund this project, Dorchester County is using a $1 million USDA grant and approximately $2.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to renovate the St. George space, which once operated as a former women’s detention center, into a health care hub.

“Dorchester County continues to innovatively consider the County’s future needs and use our existing resources to expand public services to our community,” said Dorchester County Council Chairman David Chinnis. “The renovation of this facility will bring additional public health services closer to home for residents in the western part of the county and further complement their existing healthcare options.”

MUSC Health will lease the health care facility, which includes seven exam rooms for primary care and occupational health services. There will be by-appointment and virtual visits available, including annual wellness exams, sports physicals and vaccinations; nutritional and diet support; sick and injury visits; chronic condition management; hospital discharge follow-up visits; and point-of-care laboratory testing.

The Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center, part of the South Carolina Office of Mental Health, will also provide services in the facility. Their operations will include offering assessments, individual and family therapy for children and adults, nursing services, peer support, etc.