Jane Bagley, RN, MUSC Health Chester Medical Center

For longtime nurse Jane Bagley, RN, MUSC Health Chester Medical Center is her second home, woven into the fabric of a life that began at the small hospital more than 50 years ago.

"I was born at this hospital when it was brand new," Bagley says. "My son and my daughter were born here, and my grandparents died here. I cared for my parents here. Chester Regional is part of my life."

Bagley, who grew up two miles from the hospital, never doubted she would become a nurse. She began volunteering at the nursing home, which was attached to the hospital, as a candy striper when she was 16 and then became a certified nursing assistant. After earning her associate degree at York Technical College and working briefly elsewhere, she took a job in the hospital's ER.

The year was 1978. Fast forward 40-plus years and Bagley, who has worked in outpatient surgery since 1987, has no plans to retire. In fact, she's invigorated by the Medical University of South Carolina's acquisition of the hospital and what it means for the hospital, the staff and the community.

"I love our hospital," she says unabashedly. "I want to see the hospital thrive and offer the support and care that our community needs, and as long as I'm physically and mentally keen I want to maintain my skills and care for our patients here."

As a longtime employee, Bagley has experienced firsthand the changes at the hospital — its expansion, its contractions and its acquisitions by multiple owners, from non-profit to for-profit and back to non-profit. But nothing compares to the excitement she is seeing among her colleagues in administration and on the nursing and medical staff.

"There's a growing spirit of optimism and pride over the many possibilities before us,"she says. "To be part of a health system with the reputation, the resources and the talent that MUSC brings to Chester is thrilling."

Bagley is particularly excited about the opportunities – continuing education for the staff and community health education for area businesses and residents, as well as the new computer system that will bring efficiencies to administrative departments and medical record keeping. She also is optimistic about additional services to complement existing ones.

"MUSC's name is a positive," she says. "Our association with MUSC will strengthen our services and hopefully bring more services to our community. Heart disease, diabetes and hypertension are major health problems here, and to have services available to residents — many of whom are elderly and have difficult traveling — will be a major step forward."

As Bagley reflects on the growth in Chester and its surrounding counties, the needs of the community and the larger role that the hospital can play, she says, "The single-most important thing MUSC Health can do for Chester is to provide the support so Chester Regional can offer the best care possible, particularly as the population grows. The population is coming to us, and our hospital can provide care immediately. MUSC's presence can help us be the best small community hospital we can possibly be.

"We need MUSC, and our community needs us."

Tony Pope, chair, MUSC Health — Chester Board of Trustees

Tony Pope is bullish on MUSC Health Chester Medical Center.

The Chester business leader and hospital board of trustees chair says the acquisition by the Medical University of South Carolina will breathe new life into the hospital.

"MUSC Health Chester Medical Center is vital to the economic health of our community, and the association with MUSC Health gives us stability and access to specialists that we didn't have before," says Pope, senior vice president and marketing executive for First Citizens Bank and a 25-year resident of the community.

"As long as we take advantage of the resources available and make strategic decisions on building something in the growth area, I think the future is very good," Pope says. "Along with education and our utility partners, the hospital is a major component of our economic development strategy, and having a solid health care infrastructure and a skilled employment base are all critical. It's a major piece of the puzzle."

Pope says limited resources and two turnovers in ownership had hamstrung (hampered) the hospital. "It's really been more of an emergency facility, although the hospital has its bright spots," he says. "Our outpatient care, and surgery and rehab centers are very good," he says.

And the outlook is getting brighter. MUSC Health has made a multi-million dollar investment to convert the hospital to an electronic records system, creating a seamless process for patients who need to go somewhere in the MUSC Health system for care. "All their information will already be in the system," Pope says.

The fact that we're part of MUSC Health means we have the ability to expand programs as needed and meet the needs of our community as it changes, he says.

Pope says telemedicine has the potential to have a huge impact on care, and he wants to spread the word about its benefits, particularly for patients who are unable to travel outside the region for care. "Telemedicine is important for our future and the health of the community," he says. "MUSC Health is a leader in telemedicine, and I think it will be a long-term cost saving for residents of our area while also giving them access to this service."

Pope says building on its partnership with Lancaster is another opportunity for Chester Medical Center.

"We're only 30 minutes apart, so we need to leverage our association and explain to patients at our hospital that we're now part of the network."

Looking ahead, Pope says expanding the hospital's visibility in the high-growth area along the I-77 corridor would be a strategic investment with a significant return.

"We have three planned residential communities that will add more than 600 rooftops," he says. "This is more than an opportunity for MUSC Health Chester Medical Center; it's filling a need for families who want quality care close to home."

"Not having to drive 45 minutes to an hour for good health care is very important. MUSC Health is considered by most to be the top health care provider in the state. Now it's our job to educate the public on what MUSC Health and our partnership provide."