The Age of Technology
In 1976, SGH technicians began using ultrasound equipment to monitor pregnancies. An endoscopy department opened, and in 1977, the hospital obtained a $550,000 EMI scanner, the first full-body CT scanner in South Carolina.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Spartanburg General expanded its commitment to educating medical professionals. The Department of Medical Education was established in 1970, making Spartanburg General the first hospital in South Carolina approved by the American Board of Family Practice for family practice residencies and the fifth chartered Family Medicine program in the nation.
In 1981, Spartanburg General’s Pharmacy Residency Program earned accreditation from the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, which allowed post-graduates a year-long experience in different specialties to prepare them for supervisory positions in other hospital pharmacies.
Technological improvements and a growing staff of medical residents called for more space. In 1972, Gov. John C. West presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the $3.5 million ambulatory care, education and administration building. The building offered a modern outpatient service unit and an emergency department equal to the task of serving 40,000 patients a year.
A new name – a new way of providing health care
The 1980s heralded a new direction for Spartanburg General Hospital as it moved from a community institution to a regional tertiary care hospital.
The hospital added home health and hospice programs to provide end-of-life care and support for patients and their families. In 1984, Spartanburg General’s In-Patient Hospice Unit – the first in the two Carolinas – opened its doors.
Cardiac care was also advancing. The hospital established a cardiac rehabilitation program to treat patients with heart conditions. Surgeons performed Spartanburg General Hospital’s first open-heart surgery in 1981.
The hospital opened a new Sleep Disorders Center—one of the first programs of its kind in the Southeast.
Spartanburg General was also at the forefront of cancer research. In 1983, a $150,000 National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant enabled the hospital and its staff to participate in the National Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), the first of many cancer research projects at the hospital.
During the hospital’s celebration of its 65th birthday in 1986, the decision was made to change the institution’s name from Spartanburg General Hospital to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center (SRMC).
The 95-bed Regional Heart Center opened in 1988. It was the first in the Carolinas to consolidate the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of heart diseases under one roof.
The new Heart Center brought the total number of beds at SRMC to 588.
In 1988, medical advancements included hyperbaric oxygen therapy and magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI.
In 1994, SRMC purchased the building and equipment of Doctors Memorial Hospital on Serpentine Drive. Renamed the Spartanburg Hospital for Restorative Care, the hospital serves acutely ill patients who need care longer than is provided in a traditional hospital setting.
The eight-story Rose and Walter Montgomery Patient Tower opened in 1994. Designed to meet new demands for patient comfort and family involvement, the tower also brought services physically closer to one another to make the operation of the hospital more efficient.
In 1996, the Regional Outpatient Center opened. Built on the grounds of the former nurses’ residence, the building consolidated all outpatient services.
SRMC also consolidated its women’s services areas at the hospital by opening the Regional Center for Women in 1996.
The Rx Robot entered the scene in 1997, continuing the hospital’s role as an important innovator in health care. The robot minimized medication errors and ensured that expired medications were disposed of immediately.