Wagener Medical Center reopens

Back open: The Wagener Medical Center reopened on Feb. 1. There to celebrate were CNA Althia Toney, Wagener Councilman George Smith, RN CPC Rebecca Grady, Debbie Sanders, Dr. Vasant Garde, Wagener Mayor Mike Miller and South Carolina Solutions representative Heather Eddins. Staff photo by Haley Hughes.

WAGENER -- The Wagener Medical Center is open again after a period of uncertainty.

The center closed late last year after Barnwell County Hospital, which was operating the center, withdrew to merge with Bamberg County Hospital and create a regional health care system.

As a result, the town was left without a health care clinic, said Mayor Mike Miller, who realized very quickly the potentially harmful impact to the community's "vulnerable" population.

"We realized we had to do something fast," he said. He could not abide the idea that an elderly person on a fixed income may have to drive 30 miles - with gas at nearly $4 a gallon - to get a $2 prescription.

The town contacted the South Carolina Office of Rural Health, which agreed to provide assistance, and also enlisted the help of Dr. Vasant Garde, who ran a private practice in the small community.

Garde is a retired surgeon and currently practices general medicine.

"I have always been interested in Wagener. I like their approach. It's the same as my approach to provide health care," said Garde. "It hurts you to see someone make that much effort to get to one place (their doctor's office). If people were willing to drive to see me (in Lexington), I asked, 'Why can't I drive myself to see them?' We just want to make sure people get the care they need."

Garde agreed to move his practice into the clinic to be joined by Dr. William Clark.

The clinic, which was built by the Town of Wagener in the late 1950s, was renovated with the help of many who regularly stayed past midnight to get the job done. Much of the equipment and furniture was federal surplus. The clinic officially opened on Feb. 1.

"Knowing their place is here, people will sleep better," Miller said.

The clinic, located at 120 Louie Drive in Wagener, is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and open a half-day on Friday.

Patients are encouraged to call ahead to make an appointment to cut down on their waiting time. The clinic's number is (803) 564-8803.