As Charleston’s Lowcountry area experiences notable growth, the demand for enhanced pediatric healthcare services has intensified. In response, Roper St. Francis Healthcare has announced a collaborative venture with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to establish a new 10,000-square-foot Children’s Health Unit in West Ashley. This facility is poised to represent a significant advancement in pediatric care, offering vital resources aimed at supporting families with children requiring medical attention.
This groundbreaking initiative marks a historic moment for children’s inpatient care in South Carolina, as it symbolizes the first partnership of its kind between these two esteemed healthcare institutions. The collaboration reflects over 150 years of shared commitment to delivering compassionate and high-quality healthcare in the Charleston area. Roper Hospital, which opened its doors in 1856, served as a primary teaching facility for the Medical College of South Carolina—now known as MUSC—thereby establishing a longstanding partnership that has profoundly influenced healthcare education and delivery in the region.
Scheduled to commence in early 2024 at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, the new Children’s Health Unit will provide 16 private rooms, alongside a dedicated playroom designed to enhance the healing experience for young patients. The integration of MUSC Children’s Health, known for its distinguished pediatric care, into this unit further reinforces their mission to support the most vulnerable demographic within the state.
This new unit is more than just a facility; it embodies a commitment to evolving alongside the community’s needs and fortifying the future landscape of pediatric healthcare in the Lowcountry. With many families currently facing challenges in accessing appropriate healthcare services, this development aims to address those concerns by fostering a robust healthcare infrastructure that will benefit future generations. The collaboration ensures that routine lower-acuity conditions can be managed in-house, effectively reducing patient transfers to the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and allowing families to maintain proximity during critical treatment periods.
Assurances have been made regarding the high standard of care within the new Children’s Unit, which will see MUSC pediatric hospitalists collaborating with Roper St. Francis pediatric nurses, all of whom are certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Support will also be provided by an MUSC Child Life specialist to cultivate an environment conducive to the unique developmental needs of children.
This partnership exemplifies the strengths of both Roper St. Francis Healthcare and MUSC, merging a commitment to community-driven care with a wealth of pediatric expertise. As leaders in the healthcare field, both organizations express a shared aspiration to deliver healthcare marked by excellence, compassion, and innovation, as they embark on this new chapter together in service of Lowcountry families.
Megan Baker, M.D., serves as the chief clinical officer at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, while Mark Alexander Scheurer, M.D., is the chief of Children’s and Women’s Services at MUSC. Their collaborative vision seeks to uphold and enhance the wellbeing of children in the region, ensuring that they receive the comprehensive care they deserve.
