Lexington Medical Center and MUSC Health have released the results of a community health needs assessment the organizations worked on together. The project revealed access to care, clinical preventive services, mental health and obesity, physical activity, and nutrition are the most significant health challenges facing community members in the Midlands.
“The information gathered in this report will help us to better understand health issues, health behaviors, social issues, and other risk factors affecting the health and wellness of our neighbors and help us make the Midlands a healthier place to live,” said Tod Augsburger, president and CEO of Lexington Medical Center.
In 2022, Lexington Medical Center, MUSC Health, and other partnering organizations gathered comprehensive feedback through more than 1,150 surveys, more than a dozen interviews, and a focus group in Lexington and Richland counties.
Access to Care
Fifteen percent of survey respondents stated they did not have a primary care provider or health center where they could receive routine medical care. When routine medical care and preventive measures are neglected, risk for serious, acute conditions and medical expenses rise considerably.
Clinical Preventive Services
Nearly half of survey respondents rated their health as poor or fair. Routine physical exams, disease screenings, and immunizations have been highlighted as critical preventive services to reduce premature death and disability. Yet, thousands of South Carolinians forgo preventive services due to a list of barriers.
Mental Health
Survey respondents said the top barrier to mental health treatment was shame and embarrassment. About half of all people in the United States will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder in their lifetime according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, South Carolina has a significantly fewer number of mental health providers compared with other states. Research shows adults and children with undiagnosed and untreated mental health issues are at higher risk for unsafe behaviors including alcohol and drug abuse, violent or self-destructive behavior, and suicide.
Obesity, Physical Activity, and Nutrition
According to county health rankings, 36 percent of adults in South Carolina are obese. The state also rates seventh highest in the nation for diabetes. While Lexington and Richland counties have lower rates of physical inactivity than the rest of the state, they’re still higher than the country. Survey respondents said the top barrier to eating healthy foods was cost and that being physically active was a personal choice.
These important findings will help organizations focus our efforts and take steps to make the Midlands healthier.
“I am optimistic and energized as a healthcare partner and personally as a community member about what we have learned,” said Matthew Littlejohn, MHA, FACHE, CEO of MUSC Health Midlands. “This is only the beginning of good things to come and the hard work we can do together to impact the overall health of Lexington and Richland Counties.”
Several additional organizations worked together on this project, including the Alliance for a Healthier S.C., South Carolina Hospital Association, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Lexington Medical Center is a 607-bed hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It anchors a health care network that includes five community medical centers and employs a staff of more than 7,800 health care professionals. The hospital was ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro and No. 2 hospital in South Carolina by U. S. News & World Report and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by SC Biz News, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. Lexington Medical Cancer Center is an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence and has a clinical research and education affiliation with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina’s first HeartCARE Center. The network also has an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, an Alzheimer’s care center, and more than 70 physician practices. Lexington Medical Center operates one of the busiest emergency departments in South Carolina, treating nearly 100,000 patients each year. The hospital delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries.
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research, and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students in six colleges—Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy— and trains more than 900 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $298 million in research funds in fiscal year 2022, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding, with more than $220 million. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.
As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highestquality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 16 hospitals (includes owned and affilated), with approximately 2,700 beds and four additional hospital locations in development; more than 350 telehealth sites and connectivity to patients’ homes; and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2022, for the eighth consecutive year, U. S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.
MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $5.1 billion. The nearly 26,000 MUSC family members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates, and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.
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