COVID-19 RESPONSE - updated 6/15/20

What we’re doing during COVID-19?

  • Healthy Tri-County Communications                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
    • Healthy Tri-County website COVID-19 Response page created for up-to-date resources and information.
    • The Health team has been working with the Communications team to ensure all pertinent Healthy Tri-County and other health-related topics are promoted through HTC E-News, Facebook, and other media platforms. 
    • Soft Launch of the Community Resource Hub on the HTC website May 15, 2020.
  • Executive Briefing: COVID-19 Public Health Update with Taylor Lee, Public Health Director of the Lowcountry Region hosted by Trident United Way on May 7, 2020.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has broadened our use of the Duke Endowment Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas (HPHC) grant which promotes healthy eating, active living and chronic disease prevention.  We will be coordinating disbursing $25,000 to food pantries, including giveaways across the Tri-County.
  • Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) promotion has been ongoing by program staff and members of Healthy Tri-County over the last few months to include integration into an academic workshop and other presentations during the pandemic. 
  • Our program staff are keeping in close contact with our partners remotely; checking-in regularly, polling our workgroups and members to make sure they have access to resources to remain engaged and connecting them with resources whenever possible.
  • We are communicating and collaborating with our core partners, members and the community to investigate the most relevant topics as we pivot our Conversation on Race and Health Equity to a virtual offering as we focus on longer-term response and recovery from COVID-19.
  • National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is the CDC-recognized lifestyle change program focusing on healthy eating and physical activity.
    • Social distancing guidance to slow the spread of the coronavirus required the rural DPP cohorts to pause and pivot from the plans to deliver the program in-person.  Our program staff assisted Lifestyle Coaches, supported by the SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare Rural Innovation grant, with the transition of service delivery to distance learning in the targeted rural communities of Hollywood and Moncks Corner.
    • Our program staff is keeping in close contact with the TUW Accelerator Investment Program at AccessHealth Tri-County Network.  As the lead program for our Diabetes Prevention Program Expansion Project, AccessHealth has hired two additional staff supported by the investment to deliver DPP across the Tri-County area. 
    • Additionally, the AccessHealth program has used this unprecedented time for professional development.  For programmatic alignment, current AccessHealth teammates completed online training to be Lifestyle Coaches leveraging the TUW funding support.  These strategically planned activities will build the program’s capacity to increase DPP offerings across the Tri-County with a diverse team of coaches. 

As we continue to tackle the ever-changing public health needs within the community during the pandemic, we are still looking to the community to:

  • Spread Awareness about the 2019 CHNA data among local elected officials, community leaders and within your social networks.  The racial disparities and health inequities identified have been amplified by the pandemic.
  • Join Healthy Tri-County either as an individual or organization.  We need you now more than ever!
  • Learn more by emailing HTCsupport@tuw.org to request the complete 2019 CHNA data file from Trident United Way so you can further analyze to inform strategies and community health programming in the new normal.
  • Use the data from the 2019 CHNA county profiles and report to guide-specific actions you or your organization can take.
  • Keep it social by promoting and sharing the 2019 CHNA data on your social media platforms.

 

The health and safety of our community is a top priority for all of us involved in Healthy Tri-County (HTC). The COVID-19 outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation.  Focus from Healthy Tri-County is on education and awareness in preventive measures to be proactive.

The HTC Core Partners are monitoring the situation closely and staying in regular contact with government agencies charged with protecting the public’s health. You may have questions about what is being done to keep the community healthy. We want to share links to vital information and services below for you, your families, your staff and your clients:

Access to Care Information 

UPDATE: Charleston County Government’s Pubic Safety Directorate and Fetter Health Care to Open COVID-19 Mobile Screening and Testing Sites CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS (5/1/2020)

UPDATE: MUSC Health expands COVID-19 telephone screening options - CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS (4/17/2020) 

UPDATE: Hospital Needs During COVID-19

SCHA is looking to recruit those healthcare workers willing and able to provide additional support to our hospitals during this time of crisis. CLICK HERE

Free Virtual Screenings:

MUSC Health

Roper St. Francis Healthcare

Agency Resources

CDC CDC COVID-19 Updates and Resources

SC DHEC SC DHEC COVID-19 Updates and Information
or call the DHEC Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. 

If you are looking for COVID-19 test results, please call the health care provider/facility who collected the sample. Results cannot be obtained from the DHEC Care Line.

211 Helpline SC211 Coronavirus Resources

SCHA SC Hospital Association COVID-19 Updates and Resources

SCDHHS South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Updates and Information  

SCDMH South Carolina Department of Mental Health Resources  

SC Thrive Covid-19 Resources

TUW Trident United Way COVID-19 Response and Resources

Additionally, HTC is postponing large meetings and when possible offering virtual/teleconference opportunities. If you are involved in workgroup or subcommittee and need information on an upcoming meeting please reach out to HTCsupport@tuw.org or Debbie at dmann@tuw.org.

Meeting Updates:

Tri-County Health Improvement Plan (TCHIP) Workgroup Meeting
The next meeting will Friday, May 15th at Trident United Way, 6296 Rivers Ave., N. Charleston.

Access to Care Subcommittee Meeting
Thursday, April 16th 2:00pm at Trident United Way (there is a call-in option for this meeting.)

We will update this page as new information becomes available.