Dr. Jason Harrah (at center) with McLeod Family Medicine Carolina Forest cuts the ribbon to building one on the McLeod Health Carolina Forest campus. He was joined by his physician partners and the physicians of Atlantic Urology Associates. From left to right: Dr. Christopher Stanley, Dr. Sara Camarata, Dr. Ashley Locklear-Batton, Dr. Harrah, Dr. Robert Jansen, Dr. Brian Roberts, Dr. Timothy Gajewski and Dr. Glenn Gangi.

McLeod Health has opened its first building on the 43-acre expansion designed to provide services to meet the healthcare needs of residents within and around the Carolina Forest area. An Open House and Ribbon Cutting Celebration was held at the new McLeod Health Medical Office Building in Carolina Forest on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.

“This first phase of Carolina Forest carries on McLeod Health’s vision to improve the health of people in Horry county by providing preventative care through physician offices,” said Monica Vehige, Administrator and Chief Operating Officer for McLeod Loris Seacoast. “Based on national statistics, Horry County has a significant shortage of primary care physicians and other specialists. McLeod looks forward to our campus filling this gap by providing better access to medical care thus improving the health of the population we serve.”

Attendees of the open house had the opportunity to tour the new facility and meet the physicians of the first practices located in the new building: McLeod Family Medicine Carolina Forest and Atlantic Urology Associates.

“Providing quality healthcare is not a concept that is created entirely in a boardroom,” said Ronald Fowler, a member of the McLeod Health Board of Trustees representing Horry County. “For McLeod Health that understanding is no different. The decision to come to the Carolina Forest community was not a decision solely based upon data and consultants but upon the long held understanding that providing a choice in quality health care was a fundamental right of a community’s citizens. Understanding the diversity of the growing medical needs of the local communities, McLeod’s healthcare leaders have long viewed a move into the Carolina Forest community as a platform for providing advanced quality healthcare to a vibrant and expanding region,” said Mr. Fowler.

Dr. Jason Harrah with McLeod Family Medicine Carolina Forest shared during his remarks, “I chose to join McLeod Health because of their breadth and depth of services and specialists. This continuum of care by this growth into the Carolina Forest community reflects the concern for wellness of the citizens in this area.”

“Quality is the McLeod Health keystone,” said Dick Tinsley, McLeod Health Senior Vice President and Regional Administrator. “We believe this project will improve the health and well-being of the people living in Carolina Forest.”

This facility is the first phase of the Carolina Forest project which includes a two-story facility that will house McLeod Family Medicine Carolina Forest and Atlantic Urology. It has also been structurally designed to offer space for an Emergency Care Center. The Emergency Department area is pending certificate of need approval.

Four additional structures will occupy the property. Building two is under construction with plans of opening in the fall of 2017. This building will be home to McLeod Cardiology Associates currently located on 82nd Parkway. Plans for the remaining structures will be announced.

A temporary modular unit will offer care to patients of the McLeod Neurology Seacoast and McLeod Cardiology Associates until building two is completed.

McLeod Family Medicine Carolina Forest is located at 101 McLeod Health Blvd., Suite 201, in Myrtle Beach. They are accepting new patients and same day appointments are available. For appointments, contact (843) 646-8001.