Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital launches Dr. Charles White Intermediate Care Unit

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Named for the late Dr. Charles H. White Sr., Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital’s new Intermediate Care Unit has recently opened to serve patients who need care at a level between intensive care (ICU) and medical-surgical care (also known as “med-surge”).

Charlene Brogdon, RN, the unit nursing director said, “This is an evolution from what we previously called the telemetry unit. We saw a growing need for specialized mid-level care for patients who fall between those needing intensive care, where each nurse cares for only two patients, to those who are stable and can be cared for on the medical units.  Intermediate Care falls right in the middle where patients need close monitoring but don’t require ICU-level supervision.”

The Intermediate Care unit is already serving patients and includes rooms specially equipped for COVID patients. The unit is located near the ICU and has significant technology upgrades that enhance patient monitoring and safety. In addition, Brogdon said, nurse leadership collaborated with Prisma Health’s corporate education department to design specialized training for nurses to enhance their critical care skills in preparation for joining the unit team.

Development of the unit, an approximately $250,000 project, received funding from the Dr. Charles White Endowment, established in 2001 by Mrs. Charles H. White Sr. in memory of her late husband, a pioneer in the medical field and renowned Tuomey physician. The fund is used to cover costs associated with education, equipment, training and other services, particularly related to cardiac care.

Jeff Faw, executive director of the Tuomey Foundation, said, “The Dr. Charles H. White Sr. Endowment has been instrumental in supporting this new unit for acute patient care. From the furnishings to the equipment upgrades, the Intermediate Care unit signifies the White family’s continuing generosity and healthcare legacy in our community.”

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 acute care and specialty hospitals, 2,947 beds, approximately 300 outpatient sites, and nearly 5,000 employed and clinically integrated network physicians and providers, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area that covers 50% of South Carolina. Prisma Health’s 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.