Taking the Pulse: a Health Care and Life Sciences Podcast

Heather and Matthew sit down with Community Integrated Management Services CEO Peter Leventis to discuss how the independent association, which is made up of 14 federally qualified health clinics, provides care to more than 350,000 patients across South Carolina. We dive into what CIMS is doing to adjust their services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of community health centers in health care systems, and more. Listen now to episode 22 of Taking the Pulse!

On this episode, Heather and Matthew dive into the valuation sector with guest Will Hamilton, a health care valuation consultant with BuckheadFMV. We discuss the importance of fair market valuation in the health care industry and how it has exploded in growth, the financial impact COVID-19 has had on health care providers and how it affects valuations, and more. Listen now!

For episode 20, Heather and Matthew are joined by special guests Angela O’Neal, attorney and Director of Nextra Solutions, along with the legendary Dawn Staley, Coach of the University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball team. We discuss how COVID-19 has dramatically altered the sports industry, what leagues at the college and professional levels are doing to safely bring back games, and how the pandemic and recent social justice movement has impacted athletes. Tune in for all that and more!

For episode 19, Heather and Matthew sit down with Dr. Bill Massey, the Chief Scientific Officer of Vikor Scientific, to learn about the specifics of COVID-19 testing and how the pandemic has forced the life science company to quickly pivot their business. Dr. Massey, a world renowned neuropharmacologist and pharmacogeneticist, discusses how Vikor has dramatically increased their workforce and equipment capacity, recent developments in the types of tests and their efficiency, and the state of testing and tracing in South Carolina. Tune in now!

Heather & Darra dive in with South Carolina Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman to discuss the challenge of operating schools and maintaining instruction during the pandemic. Tune in as we cover strategies for reopening, the delivery of broadband services for virtual learning, how educators and administrators are adjusting, and much more. Listen now!

Heather and Darra sit down with South Carolina Senator and Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey to discuss how the pandemic is impacting the Statehouse- from reopening procedures for schools and plans for absentee voting, to creating a new budget for the state and much more. Hear Shane provide insight on what the South Carolina legislature plans to address during their September session as the COVID-19 pandemic continues – listen now!

On this episode, Heather, Matthew and Darra dive into the current landscape of the health care industry and the trends and changes Matthew and Darra are seeing as they serve clients amid the pandemic. They provide insight on how COVID-19 has forced organizations outside of the health care system into participating in major health care decisions, the upward trend in employers closely monitoring employee’s health, the consolidation of providers, and what organizations are doing to stay innovative and agile. Listen now!

For episode 15, we’re joined by Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina President Tom Keith. Tom and hosts Heather and Matthew discuss how the non-profit world has reacted to COVID-19 and what the Sisters of Charity Foundation is currently doing to support organizations throughout South Carolina. Tom gives insight into how the pandemic has altered how the Foundation assists communities, including the formation of new partnerships and quickly awarding nearly 30 grants to address COVID-19 related problems. Listen now to hear how Sisters of Charity has adjusted, it’s rich history, the future of non-profit and public health partnerships, plus much more.

Heather + Darra sat down with South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services Executive Director Sara Goldsby to discuss how the stress and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on mental health and exacerbated substance abuse issues in individuals throughout the state. We discuss exactly what DAODAS is and their resources for SC citizens, how they've used telehealth to maintain their services and social media to track alcohol and drug abuse trends, and demographic changes in overdoses since the pandemic began. Stream the full episode now. 

We jumped into the frontlines of health care workers with this episode, where Heather and Matthew interview Dr. Mitch Nimmich about what it's like to treat COVID-19 patients at Lexington Medical Center. We discuss how his team is doing - and what they are doing to make critical care patients feel more comfortable, even in the isolation of the COVID ward. Dr. Nimmich shares how he and the medical staff manage the stress associated with a quarantined unit, plus much more.