In these hectic, technology-driven days, it is easy to feel lost in the shuffle. Automated voices answer phones, the same questions have to be asked over and over and, in the world of specialization the “one-stop-shop” seems to no longer exist.

Never are we more acutely aware of this lack of human touch and accessibility than in times of medical crisis. Patients diagnosed with cancer are sent from office to office, getting referrals, and taking tests--but they are rarely assured that one dedicated team will see them through the tough times ahead. Medical centers may have all the latest technology but patients must brave traffic to reach them. Others recovering from injury are released after a successful surgery with little emphasis on necessary rehabilitation.

Often, it feels as though there is no cohesion, no sense that each facet of modern healthcare a patient experiences is part of a greater whole. Instead, every step of the way can be fraught with a scary sense of restarting at the beginning and struggling to explain things like “pain” and “confusion” to a system, rather than a person. Each floor, each building within a hospital system seems its own entity; having access to one entity rarely feels like having access to all.

At Roper St. Francis Healthcare, we have embarked on a new age of healthcare guided by the same principles that have led us for generations. We will serve our patients to even more effectively meet the needs of Charleston’s growing population. Roper St. Francis Healthcare is committed to ensuring that the unified sense of care that has helped make our hospitals great will continue to characterize our mission and our service.

Growth is certain, but accessibility and personal care will not be sacrificed as our system expands.   As our vibrant community grows around us each piece of our family of hospitals will be driven by our unwavering commitment to superior patient care, doctor involvement, and use of state-of-the-art technology to augment the skills of people, not as a substitute for them. Our journey will be challenging but will bring great results.  It is an endeavor worth undertaking and with your help, we will succeed.