Prisma Health will not reopen North Greenville Hospital emergency department, instead expanding its primary care in the area

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Prisma Health has formally notified the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control that it has closed the emergency department at North Greenville Hospital. The emergency department had been temporarily closed since April 5 as a result of Prisma Health transitioning the North Greenville Hospital into its primary inpatient facility for COVID-19 patients in the Upstate – but, before that, the emergency department had been significantly under-utilized.

“As we reviewed community use of the overall hospital, we realized that the overwhelming need in the Travelers Rest community was for additional primary care options which could provide better on-going care for that vibrant community and also help make significant inroads for additional preventive care,” said Dr. C. Wendell James, chief clinical officer for Prisma Health in the Upstate.

Prisma Health already opened a new walk-in clinic over the summer in a building adjacent to the hospital, and it has a full-time physician and nurse practitioner. As volumes increase and more space is acquired, additional providers will be added. The North Greenville campus already provides extensive diagnostic services, including mammography, MRI, CT and other laboratory services. In addition, robust virtual health visit models are in place that allow patients to connect with Prisma Health physicians by video and, if needed due to COVID-19, telephone.

While COVID-19 patients are treated throughout almost all of Prisma Health’s hospitals, the North Greenville Hospital will continue as one of its flagship COVID-19 treatment sites. James said team members there have done an exceptional job of caring for those patients.

“Prisma Health remains committed to meeting the medical needs of the North Greenville community in a manner that provides quality, accessible and affordable care,” said James. “Our goal is to improve the overall health of our communities, and managing primary-care needs like chronic disease management is a major component of that. Given the low use of the North Greenville emergency department and the proximity of other nearby emergency departments, this is a step to be smarter about how we provide care – and, hopefully, with this new clinic, we can make more of a long-term patient impact.”

When the Emergency Department was open, less than one patient presented to the ED every two hours in the nighttime. Likewise, approximately 90% of the patients who sought care could have been treated in a physician’s office or urgent care setting.

 “As our communities change, it makes sense for us to change with them. We look forward to growing more local healthcare opportunities in the future,” said James.

About Prisma Health

Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 hospitals, 2,984 beds and more than 300 physician practice sites, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually. Its goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.