Nov. 1 Brings a New Care Network to 36 South Carolina Clinics

On Thursday, Prisma Health said it had reached a deal with Novant Health for 36 urgent care clinics in South Carolina. The transaction is expected to close on Nov. 1. Once completed, the sites now known as Doctors Care will operate under the Prisma Health Urgent Care name.

Prisma Health says the ownership change should not interrupt patient care. People will still be able to seek same-day visits in person or online. The clinics will continue to provide lab services, X-rays and respiratory testing. They can also send patients directly into Prisma Health's larger network for primary care, specialist care or hospital treatment. For patients, the key details to watch are whether their usual clinic stays open and how referrals will work after the switch.

Most locations are expected to keep serving patients at their current addresses. Prisma Health has left open the possibility that a few clinics may be combined with nearby sites. The system says it intends to keep the urgent care employees. If a location is consolidated, affected workers would be offered roles at neighboring clinics.

Prisma Health leaders presented the move as a way to make timely care easier to connect with the rest of its services. Dr. Jonathan Gleason, its executive vice president and chief clinical officer, said the added clinics would widen access across the state and strengthen links between same-day care, providers, specialists and hospitals. Steven Celestina, regional vice president of operations for Prisma Health Urgent Care, praised the incoming staff's experience and patient-first approach. He said their knowledge of local communities should help maintain the level of care residents rely on.