<strong>By LARRY DANDRIDGE<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></strong>

<a href="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Larry-Dandridge.jpg"><img class="wp-image-46908 alignleft" src="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Larry-Dandridge-780x1024.jpg" alt="" width="106" height="139"></a>Are you trying to decide which hospital to use? If you are eligible, you may want to use a medical center that consistently ranks in the 90th percentile of all private and public hospitals for Quality of Care, according to the Healthcare Effectiveness Information System.

You may also consider the hospital that provides services not found in other hospitals. Services including a Community Resource Center, Tele-Mental Health services, a Tele-Radiology Program, record-setting turnaround times for prosthetics, three nurse residency programs, patient and family-centered care, a medical foster home, world-class lodging for patient families at no cost, mail and walk-in pharmacy, free parking, free transportation from Hinesville and Savannah, GA, Orangeburg and several coastal SC counties.

There are tremendous benefits to using a five-star rated hospital that meets 90% of its requests for appointments within 30 days, provides employment specialists, has 800 trained and dedicated volunteers, a full-service welcome center, more than seven accreditations, an employee turn-over rate of less than 7% (industry is 18%), and first-class medical clinics with expanded services in Beaufort, Ladson, Goose Creek, Myrtle Beach, SC and in Hinesville and Savannah, GA. You may also want to consider a hospital that will authorize you to use and pay for medical care from other providers if needed.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

No, I am not talking about the excellent Beaufort Memorial, Roper, Saint Francis, MUSC, and other hospitals in SC. I am referring to the Ralph H. Johnson (RHJ) VA Medical Center, which serves Vets and their families from the NC border to Hinesville, GA, and all of Lowcountry SC, inland to Orangeburg.

The RHJ VAMC is a flagship, advanced care, and teaching (tertiary) hospital, located in Charleston, SC, serving over 75,000 Vets in 21 counties. The RHJ is a 152-bed, hospital, partnered with the Medical University of SC. The RHJ also provides 20 operating nursing home care beds. Of the more than 875,000 patient appointments made through the RHJ each year, more than 870,000 of those appointments are provided at the VA or one of its outpatient clinics.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

The VA Medical System, especially our terrific RHJ VA Med Center, is not our fathers’ or grandfathers’ WWII VA. The VA offers highest quality and user low-cost medical care. There are 170 VA Medical Centers and 1,063 outpatient sites, called Community Based Outpatient Clinics or CBOCs.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

The RHJ is accredited by The Joint Commission, the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, and the College of American Pathology. The RHJ Diabetes Education program has received national recognition from the American Diabetes Association and its Baccalaureate Nurse Residency Program is accredited by A study by Grant Thornton and McKinsey &amp; Company, the RAND Corporation, and the MITRE Corporation shows the VA excelling in consistently providing the highest level of quality care for our Veterans, who often have much more complex medical needs than the general population.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

It is one of the fastest growing VA Medical Centers in the country and it has maintained its excellent quality of care, during an approximate five-to-eight percent annual growth rate, and the addition of 500 to 800 new patients every month. Volunteer drivers at the RHJ drive over 318,000 miles per year, bringing more than 6,500 Veterans, in for medical appointments.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

In 2015 the Beaufort Clinic (CBOC), more than doubled in space, occupying the 4th floor of Naval Hospital Beaufort. Beaufort’s VA Outpatient Clinic provides primary care and mental health services to over 6,000 veterans in Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper Counties. Veterans and active duty military can also receive care at the dermatology and physical therapy clinics located at Naval Hospital Beaufort. Ancillary services such as MRI, lab and x-ray are also provided through this agreement. The Beaufort Clinic phone number is 843-770-0444 and is located at 1 Pinckney Boulevard, Beaufort, SC 29902-6122.

The RHJ Pain Management Clinic offers alternative therapies such as: Acupuncture, aromatherapy, natural supplements, massage, mindful based, acceptance &amp; commitment, aqua therapy, yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong. The RHJ VA Medical Center is also committed to safe and effective management of opioid meds.

The RHJ VA Medical Center also offers dozens of events, recreation, and other support for veterans, including, but not limited to, guitar lessons, sailing, concerts, tours, exercise sessions, quit smoking help, job assistance, athletic events, and much more.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

There are too many other good things to say about the terrific RHJ VA Medical Center and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics in one newspaper article. However, you can find out much more about this wonderful Lowcountry asset, its beautiful Fisher House Charleston, and its CBOCs (remote clinics) at the RHJ web site https://charleston.va.gov/.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

If you would like to volunteer at RHJ VA Medical Center or your local CBOC or drive for the Volunteer Vets Transportation Network, contact Volunteer Services at 843-789-7230 or email VHACHAVAVS@va.gov. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected services.

Are you trying to decide which hospital to use? If you are eligible, you may want to use a medical center that consistently ranks in the 90th percentile of all private and public hospitals for Quality of Care, according to the Healthcare Effectiveness Information System.

You may also consider the hospital that provides services not found in other hospitals. Services including a Community Resource Center, Tele-Mental Health services, a Tele-Radiology Program, record-setting turnaround times for prosthetics, three nurse residency programs, patient and family-centered care, a medical foster home, world-class lodging for patient families at no cost, mail and walk-in pharmacy, free parking, free transportation from Hinesville and Savannah, GA, Orangeburg and several coastal SC counties.

There are tremendous benefits to using a five-star rated hospital that meets 90% of its requests for appointments within 30 days, provides employment specialists, has 800 trained and dedicated volunteers, a full-service welcome center, more than seven accreditations, an employee turn-over rate of less than 7% (industry is 18%), and first-class medical clinics with expanded services in Beaufort, Ladson, Goose Creek, Myrtle Beach, SC and in Hinesville and Savannah, GA. You may also want to consider a hospital that will authorize you to use and pay for medical care from other providers if needed.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

No, I am not talking about the excellent Beaufort Memorial, Roper, Saint Francis, MUSC, and other hospitals in SC. I am referring to the Ralph H. Johnson (RHJ) VA Medical Center, which serves Vets and their families from the NC border to Hinesville, GA, and all of Lowcountry SC, inland to Orangeburg.

The RHJ VAMC is a flagship, advanced care, and teaching (tertiary) hospital, located in Charleston, SC, serving over 75,000 Vets in 21 counties. The RHJ is a 152-bed, hospital, partnered with the Medical University of SC. The RHJ also provides 20 operating nursing home care beds. Of the more than 875,000 patient appointments made through the RHJ each year, more than 870,000 of those appointments are provided at the VA or one of its outpatient clinics.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

The VA Medical System, especially our terrific RHJ VA Med Center, is not our fathers’ or grandfathers’ WWII VA. The VA offers highest quality and user low-cost medical care. There are 170 VA Medical Centers and 1,063 outpatient sites, called Community Based Outpatient Clinics or CBOCs.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

The RHJ is accredited by The Joint Commission, the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, and the College of American Pathology. The RHJ Diabetes Education program has received national recognition from the American Diabetes Association and its Baccalaureate Nurse Residency Program is accredited by A study by Grant Thornton and McKinsey &amp; Company, the RAND Corporation, and the MITRE Corporation shows the VA excelling in consistently providing the highest level of quality care for our Veterans, who often have much more complex medical needs than the general population.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

It is one of the fastest growing VA Medical Centers in the country and it has maintained its excellent quality of care, during an approximate five-to-eight percent annual growth rate, and the addition of 500 to 800 new patients every month. Volunteer drivers at the RHJ drive over 318,000 miles per year, bringing more than 6,500 Veterans, in for medical appointments.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

In 2015 the Beaufort Clinic (CBOC), more than doubled in space, occupying the 4th floor of Naval Hospital Beaufort. Beaufort’s VA Outpatient Clinic provides primary care and mental health services to over 6,000 veterans in Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper Counties. Veterans and active duty military can also receive care at the dermatology and physical therapy clinics located at Naval Hospital Beaufort. Ancillary services such as MRI, lab and x-ray are also provided through this agreement. The Beaufort Clinic phone number is 843-770-0444 and is located at 1 Pinckney Boulevard, Beaufort, SC 29902-6122.

The RHJ Pain Management Clinic offers alternative therapies such as: Acupuncture, aromatherapy, natural supplements, massage, mindful based, acceptance &amp; commitment, aqua therapy, yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong. The RHJ VA Medical Center is also committed to safe and effective management of opioid meds.

The RHJ VA Medical Center also offers dozens of events, recreation, and other support for veterans, including, but not limited to, guitar lessons, sailing, concerts, tours, exercise sessions, quit smoking help, job assistance, athletic events, and much more.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

There are too many other good things to say about the terrific RHJ VA Medical Center and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics in one newspaper article. However, you can find out much more about this wonderful Lowcountry asset, its beautiful Fisher House Charleston, and its CBOCs (remote clinics) at the RHJ web site https://charleston.va.gov/.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

If you would like to volunteer at RHJ VA Medical Center or your local CBOC or drive for the Volunteer Vets Transportation Network, contact Volunteer Services at 843-789-7230 or email VHACHAVAVS@va.gov. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected services.

<em>Larry Dandridge is a patient at the RHJ VA Medical Center; an Army ex-Enlisted Infantryman, Ex-Warrant Officer Combat Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel; a past Veterans Service Officer; a volunteer Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Medical Center; the Fisher House Charleston volunteer Good Will Ambassador; the volunteer VP for Veteran Affairs for the Coastal Carolina Association of the US Army (AUSA) Chapter; the Author of the award winning BLADES OF THUNDER (Book One); the CEO of TVV Publishing LLC; a past Aerospace Company Regional Manager; the Founder of CLC Hospice LLC; a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt; a Motivational Speaker; a past University Business, Aeronautics, Military Science, and Writing Instructor; and a contributing writer for the Lowcountry Weekly &amp; Island News. You can reach Larry at LDandridge@earthlink.net .<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></em>