CareSouth Carolina's McColl Health & Wellness Center: A Beacon For The Community

CareSouth Carolina’s McColl Health & Wellness Center is much more than just a medical facility for primary care.

One of the cornerstones of CareSouth Carolina’s mission is to support the “whole patient” through prevention and treatment with an array of services under one roof. That’s why when the McColl Health & Wellness Center opened, the state-of-the-art 28,999 square-foot facility was equipped with a wellness center and gym for rehab, exercise, and physical therapy. 

CareSouth Carolina’s McColl Health & Wellness Center was funded entirely by donation

In the small town of McColl and its surrounding areas, residents faced a problem: a lack of affordable wellness centers. Enter the C.W. and Dorothy G. Love Foundation with a vision to create a place where locals could come to focus on their well-being. 

The Gym and Rehab wellness center was born, catering to those with mobility issues, cardiac issues, pain issues that require medications, and anyone who wanted to prioritize their health.

CareSouth Carolina began by looking at holistic care, recognizing that McColl's diverse population required a facility that could accommodate various wellness needs. Charles had a personal connection to the issue, with friends and community members who needed a safe place to exercise and improve their mobility. The Wellness center became a reality, complete with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, locker rooms, and even a therapy pool.

What sets the Gym and Rehab wellness center apart from other gyms is its focus on wellness for seniors and those looking to build mobility, rather than catering to bodybuilders and high-octane fitness programs. With no free weights in the facility, the Gym and Rehab center creates an inclusive environment for those who may feel intimidated or overwhelmed by traditional gym settings.

By prioritizing wellness and providing a safe and affordable space for residents to focus on their health, CareSouth Carolina’s Gym and Rehab wellness center has undoubtedly made a positive impact on the town and surrounding areas.

The McColl Gym provides a place for physical therapy & rehab to a community that wouldn’t have it otherwise

The entire left wing of CareSouth Carolina’s McColl Health & Wellness Center is equipped with a dedicated gym, rehab center, whirlpool, and therapy pool.

CareSouth Carolina partnered with Kevin Hatchell, who oversees and operates Palmetto Physical Therapy (rehab) and Pee Dee Fitness (gym), to provide services in the state-of-the-art facility.

All located in the McColl Health & Wellness Center, Palmetto Physical Therapy offers outpatient services for orthopedics, neurological, deconditioning, and weakness issues.

Most insurances require a physician's order (referral) for the rehab, which can be faxed, sent electronically, or brought in person.

The gym, Pee Dee Fitness, offers memberships for $20 per month with family plans available. The Love Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the wellness of the McColl community, saw the tremendous need for these services and worked tirelessly to bring them to fruition.

“The people that I talked to, and really the whole CareSouth team that I met with, immediately, the vision of CareSouth Carolina and their goals and values were very attractive,” Hatchell said on the partnership with CareSouth Carolina. “Those are the same values I have, and when I began to talk with them, it was a natural fit.” 

Hatchell said that the McColl Team has been welcoming and that he looks forward to continuing to grow and enhance the health of the community.

The hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, while the gym is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. 

The McColl Gym is an asset for CareSouth Carolina employees and the entire community

CareSouth Carolina has also partnered with Pee Dee Fitness through its CSC 360 Wellness Program and is offering free gym access to its employees.

As a rural community, there aren’t many options around the town of McColl for gym use. The CSC 360 Wellness Program, an initiative started by CareSouth Carolina to take care of the health of its employees by promoting healthy lifestyles, is offering this service as a way to provide even more access for its employees. 

“Most people think that a workout has to be arduous or extremely long, but simply walking on a treadmill or doing a small workout for around 15 minutes each day would improve health drastically,” said CareSouth Carolina Wellness Nurse Donna Williams. “This can easily be done during a lunch break.  A person is also much more likely to work out if they do it before they get home from work in the evening.  For many, once they arrive at their house, they are much more likely to be distracted by daily activities and chores and will not leave again to go to the gym.  For this reason, having a gym on site is a tremendous help to the wellness program.”

In addition to the medical offices for Family Primary Care and the Wellness Center, the McColl Health & Wellness Center houses Behavioral Health Counseling, Lab Services, X-Ray, Family Support Services, Senior Support Services, Dental Services, and much more.

CareSouth Carolina is a private, non-profit community health center delivering patient-centered health and life services in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. CareSouth Carolina operates centers in Bennettsville, Bishopville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Dillon, Hartsville, Lake View, Latta, McColl and Society Hill. Services provided by CareSouth Carolina include family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, women services, OB/GYN, HIV/AIDS primary care, dental, chiropractic services, pharmacy, geriatrics, social services, clinical counseling, laboratory, 4D ultrasound, X-Ray, migrant services and veterans choice provider.