Welcome to ‘Tidelands Tuesday’ at Smith Medical Clinic

Every Tuesday, after a full day of work, a dedicated team of Tidelands Health caregivers volunteer to see another round of patients.

Physicians, nurses and other clinicians spend Tuesday nights providing care to patients at the evening hours clinic in Pawleys Island operated by Smith Medical Clinic. The team from Tidelands Health has become such a staple at the clinic that staff have nicknamed the day “Tidelands Tuesday.”

“The Tidelands Health team plays a crucial role in helping Smith Medical Clinic provide needed medical care to residents who might otherwise not receive it,” said Anne Faul, executive director of Smith Medical Clinic.

The evening clinic caters to residents in need who can’t make daytime appointments. Many patients work during the day and aren’t able to get away for a doctor’s appointment.

Joann Hashey, a nurse at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, has volunteered at the evening clinic for about two years.

“It’s just something I wanted to do. I love people,” Hashey said. “People are genuinely grateful for the services they get and are truly appreciative.

“I enjoy it. You feel like you’ve done something good.”

The clinic offers a range of services like those found at a typical physician’s practice during the day, including physicals, check-ups, care for common conditions such as high blood pressure and even diabetes education. The clinic, which opened three years ago, features six exam rooms, a small pharmacy and a mental health office.

The evening hours have been so popular with patients that leaders are trying to add an evening clinic at the Smith Medical Clinic location in Georgetown. Many of the patients at the evening clinic in Pawleys Island are coming from Andrews and Georgetown.

“If we were open in Georgetown, it would be so much easier for these patients,” Faul said.

The results she helps patients achieve through the evening sessions at Smith Medical Clinic keep diabetes educator Michele Byerly coming back to volunteer every week. Like Hashey, she never thinks about what she might be missing while spending her time volunteering in the clinic. The reward she gets through helping people makes it all worth it.

“I am really passionate about diabetes education,” Byerly said. “It’s wonderful to see the weight loss and the progress.

“I walk out of here, and it feels like I made a difference. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”