Health care in the Oconee community

A survey required each year by the federal government has been completed by the Oconee Memorial Hospital, and last night the president of the GHS Oconee campus shared the results—the good and the bad.  Hunter Kome spoke to a meeting of the Oconee Memorial Holdings Board which governs the property used by the Greenville Health System at its Oconee campus.  When compared to other rural communities, Oconeeans enjoy good access to care.  Low income members say they can get health care, though at times they must go to the emergency room to get it.  Like the rest of the country, Oconee needs more primary care doctors.  With the retirement of two psychiatrists, the county no longer has anyone who practices that type of care to those in need of mental health services.  The survey, called Health Community Assessment, is a requirement of the IRS and is needed by the hospital to justify its non-profit status.