Have You Ever Thought of Healthcare Like This?
With all the talk of healthcare, everyone seems to think they know all they could know on the topic. Unfortunately, I and other members of the Cantey team were proven wrong. There was plenty left to learn about those that live in the same county that consistently struggle to receive basic healthcare.
When the Cantey team goes out into the community, it is not just a service to our community but changes our mindset on what is really happening around us and different ways we can help. The Community Medical Clinic of Kershaw County (CMC) is an organization that Cantey partnered with in the effort to help them achieve their goal of providing much-needed healthcare to our neighbors making this a healthier county along the way. Organizers at the CMC put together a "Wellness Bus Tour" and invited the Cantey team to see exactly what they do on a day to day basis.
After boarding the bus, we arrived at our first stop in Camden, SC to tour the CMC's location there. Susan Reed was the first to speak, knowing plenty about the clinic to tell the "Wellness Riders" after being a volunteer for nearly 30 years. Susan has a special passion for the work she does and the bonds she has made with the patients and other employees of the clinic.
Cantey team members, Portia and Lauren listen as one of the longtime patients of the clinic shares her story. This particular patient made us laugh but there was also sorrow in knowing how severe her story was. She credits the clinic for keeping her alive, not knowing where she would have been without the assistance of her new found friends there.
Another longtime patient wrote a poem in order to properly express just how important this service was to her, her family, and others in the community. She is now not only healthy but volunteers at the clinic to give back the blessing she received. Hearing these stories was mind-altering to members of our team here at Cantey. We were not only unaware of the need for these services but this experience was making it extremely clear just how real that need was.
After our stop at the Camden CMC location we yet again boarded the bus to visit some of the more rural areas in Kershaw County. These are areas where even just a basic grocery store is hard to come by, causing residents to either drive quite a way to purchase fresh foods or survive of what food they can purchase at a convenience store.
Our first stop in the rural areas of Kershaw was Buffalo Baptist Church that serves as a satellite location for the CMC. Residents of this area can be seen for their healthcare needs weekly. The church has made it possible for many people to get the care they need thanks to their generosity and welcoming spirit.
The final stop of our tour of rural Kershaw County was at North Central High School. Principal Branham spoke about the satellite clinic the CMC helped him organize in the school for the students. Often, students do not get the medical care they need but with this clinic available they can not only be seen by a professional but not miss school time because they are sick. Principal Branham said that this service has greatly increased the students' attendance and he hopes it would assist in bringing up the graduation rate.
The Cantey team of "Wellness Riders" learned what it truly takes to service a community by providing healthcare. There were many aspects of this that we ourselves, who live in the county, did not know about. For me, this changed the way I view healthcare in my community in many ways I had never thought of. Everyone should be given the opportunity to succeed in having a healthy and full life. The Cantey team would like to thank the CMC of Kershaw County for putting together such an eye-opening experience. We are proud to stand with you in your mission to provide quality medical care and tools for our neighbors to lead healthier lives. Live well Kershaw County!