ExperCARE Founder and CEO featured in Pooler Magazine

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This month, ExperCARE Founder and CEO, Catherine Grant, had the opportunity to speak with Pooler Magazine to share how ExperCARE is transforming the future of healthcare, company growth, and serving the community. Read more below!

Story:

Catherine Grant, founder and CEO of ExperCARE, is changing the way healthcare is done in the greater Savannah area. She has a mind for seeing what could be and taking the steps to make it happen.

“I love medicine because I love solving complex problems,” Catherine says. “I love the ability to problem solve, apply what I know, understand people and develop relationships, and then try to leave things better than I found them.”

Beginnings in Medicine

Catherine started college at Armstrong Atlantic State University in 1999 with the plan to attend medical school but when she discovered the physician assistant field, she knew that was what she wanted to do. The career path allowed her to work in a variety of specialties instead of a single focus and provided the work-life balance for a future family.

She attended South University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and then onto The Medical University of South Carolina and graduated with honors with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

After working as a physician assistant (PA) in a number of specialties including plastic and reconstructive surgery, orthopedic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation and moonlighting in urgent care, Catherine knew she wanted to do things differently.  She envisioned an customer-focused model and refused  to settle for mediocrity.

“Working in the healthcare system is what inspired me to start my own business,” Catherine says. “I’ve never done well in an environment that was just aiming to be a seven.”

The Growth of ExperCARE

In June 2009, Catherine and her partner opened the first location of ExperCARE in Richmond Hill under the original business name The Urgent Care Center of Richmond Hill.

“Our initial tagline was about providing access to high quality health care close to home,” Catherine says. “While a lot has changed with the business in almost 14 years, I have to say that primary mission still stands.”

Their community-focused approach to care with on-demand availability proved to be popular with patients in Richmond Hill. The clinic quickly expanded its services beyond urgent care to include walk-in routine care and occupational health.

With rave reviews coming from the Richmond Hill location, it was only a matter of time before people in Savannah began asking Catherine when there would be a location closer to their home.

In 2016, that idea became a reality with the opening of the Mall Boulevard location of ExperCARE in Savannah. In 2020, they opened a downtown Savannah location and in 2022 added a fourth location in Pooler. Their growth continues with locations in Statesboro, Hinesville and Rincon opening later this year.

“With the growth in Pooler and how many people are flocking to the area, we knew it was going to be important for us to have a presence there because there’s nothing like ExperCARE there,” Catherine says. “I’m pretty grateful for the ability to continue to grow at the pace we have while retaining the things that people love about ExperCARE.”

The ExperCARE Experience

ExperCARE’s mission was born out of a rejection of the cookie-cutter approach to care and an emphasis on creating a patient-first experience enhanced by technology.

“Consumer desires are changing. People don’t want to have to take off from work to go to the doctor,” Catherine says. “They want to be able to go before or after work or on the weekends. They want to live life on their terms.”

Patients never need an appointment to visit ExperCARE, and all four locations are open seven days a week to accommodate busy schedules. ExperCARE is in network with most insurance but also offers affordable, transparent self-pay rates.

“[I think people choose ExperCARE] because we are so focused on how we make people feel. Our aim is for them to leave and say ‘I’d be crazy to go anywhere else,’” Catherine says.

ExperCARE went above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were one of the first providers to offer COVID testing in the area, and worked hard to keep a consistent supply of tests and PPE even through supply shortages. Catherine takes pride in her team’s performance and dedication to the community during those uncertain times.

“I’m proud of my team’s ability to adapt and navigate in a dynamic, ever-changing environment and seeing my team step up and continue to do whatever it takes,” Catherine says.

Heart of a Leader

Catherine taught future PAs at South University for several years. Although she no longer teaches (there), she has had the pleasure of having some former students work at ExperCARE as part of their professional journey.

“Seeing smart, eager minds come together and being able to pour into them as they learn and grow is just one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done,” Catherine says. “Seeing them years later practicing medicine and changing lives and thinking you maybe even had the smallest part in that is really cool.”

From nine employees at the start to approximately 70 today, Catherine has built a team that reflects the ExperCARE values both personally and professionally.

“For any position, it’s really looking at our culture and the DNA of our organization. Our organizational values are integrity, compassion, enthusiasm, leadership and teamwork,” Catherine says. “Those values are that unchanging pillar to our overall culture.”

She places a high value on professional development with an onboarding process that includes some required reading of books about leadership, and twice yearly team gatherings build morale among the staff.

“It’s all about really getting to know the people you work with and understanding what their goals are and how we can help them get there,” Catherine says. “Sometimes that’s going to be in our organization. Sometimes we’re a stepping stone to a future goal. I think the more you can embrace that and really serve them, they will continue to serve our patients, their families and the community.”

Serving the Community

Catherine makes a difference in her community through her involvement in organizations like United Way of the Coastal Empire, where she is a member of the Board of Directors and has been recognized as part of the organization’s Women Who Rule campaign. She is also a board member of the Richmond Hill Downtown Development Authority, forging public-private partnerships to enhance the area’s economy.

Because of the drive and passion that she puts behind the causes she cares about, Catherine is a prolific fundraiser. In 2017, she chaired the Bryan County United Way annual campaign and shattered their fundraising record. She has also raised more than $63,000 for Alzheimer’s research as a participant in the Alzheimer’s Association Dancing Stars of Coastal Georgia in 2015.

She has continued to be involved with Dancing Stars of Coastal Georgia as a committee member, partner and as a pro dancer.

Outside of work, Catherine enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters. She and her family attend Compassion Christian Church, and her faith drives her decision making process in choosing causes to be involved with and her philosophy in patient care.

Looking to the Future

As ExperCARE continues to grow, so too does Catherine’s motivation to make an impact on the healthcare industry as an entrepreneur.

“I get motivated when I see how broken the healthcare system is,” Catherine says. “There’s so much room for improvement. It just takes people who know the system to think outside the box and be willing to innovate and make it better.”

 

View Pooler Magazine HERE!

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You Deserve On-Demand Access When it Comes to Your Healthcare Needs….

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What could be more immediate than your health? What could be a more pressing and time-sensitive issue? And yet, for decades the health industry expected patients to wait for hours in an emergency room or for weeks to make an appointment with their regular provider.

We saw this dilemma on the faces of my friends and family members who turned to us for help with their medical issues because they had nowhere else to go. It’s what inspired us to find a solution by opening our first urgent care location in June of 2009. The concept was simple, and effective. Quality, on-demand healthcare. No appointment necessary. No long waits. You can use your insurance, or pay affordable cash rates. But above all, access to quality healthcare you can trust, before a small problem festers and becomes a bigger one.

Nearly 12 years later, ExperCARE’s continuous expansion and growth supports the concept of  on-demand healthcare filling a much needed void in our healthcare system and in our communities. In a country that has same-day delivery for goods and services and instant delivery of entertainment, why should we wait three weeks, and sometimes three months(!!) to address a medical concern?

And yet, around the country, many people continue to wait because they don’t have access to the type of on-demand, high-quality healthcare that ExperCARE provides. According to a Merritt Hawkins study in 2017, a survey conducted in 15 major cities and 15 mid-sized markets of the United States, on average, it takes 24 days for new patients to get an appointment with a physician. That wait is even longer in Savannah, which averages 35 days. The study found that even cities with the highest doctor-to-patient ratios had long wait times.

Patients seek on-demand healthcare because of their busy schedules and the unpredictable nature of illnesses and injuries. Many can’t afford to take time off work to see a doctor or don’t want to cash in their hard-earned vacation time to sit in a waiting room.  This is one reason why our customers and their families love that we are open seven days a week, extended hours. In addition, our facilities are also open throughout the workweek to maximize availability when it is most convenient!

Did you know that at ExperCARE, we also partner with and support employers with their occupational health programs by offering a full-range of services such as drug and alcohol testing, physicals, PFT’s, audiometry, immunizations and experienced workers compensation injury evaluation and management. We understand how to serve both the employer and the employee while treating the injury appropriately and efficiently, minimizing the need for lost time, OSHA recordability, and unnecessary work restrictions.

ExperCARE’s most recent expansion and continued growth is proof that this model is benefitting not only patients and their families but also employers, providers and insurers by decreasing crowding in Emergency Departments and offering an effective alternative to healthcare access.

The fact that all major insurers have embraced our delivery model is just another example of how ExperCARE’s model of on-demand access to healthcare is also benefiting the insurance industry. The consumer-driven business model saves insurers money because people are more likely to seek non-emergent medical attention in an appropriate setting such as an urgent care versus an Emergency Room, if it’s accessible, convenient and affordable. Early detection and treatment could head off a more serious illness that might result in more expensive hospitalization or emergency care.

ExperCARE’s access to healthcare model is the wave of the future. Stop by and see Why!

Transcript of Video

We’ve been delivering care since June 1 of 2009 in Richmond Hill. I had moved to Richmond Hill not too long before that. At the time I was seeing friends and family members in my kitchen sometimes because there was nowhere to go.

There’s such a need for on-demand medical care. This whole idea of retail medicine and on-demand health care when you need it that’s not a compromise was an industry that was being born again and so I think the complement of being in this community that had a need with an industry that was on it’s way up was really an exciting time.

So, June 1, 2009 we opened our doors in Richmond Hill. And the second location is next to Dick’s Sporting Goods in Savannah right on Mall Boulevard. And our third and newest location downtown on Abercorn. It is so exciting. Who knows where we’re going to go next? Stay tuned.

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Mayor Van Johnson Welcomes ExperCARE to Downtown Savannah During Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

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It’s official! We are OPEN for business! Mayor Van Johnson helped us in celebrating the official opening of our new historic Savannah location with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Monday, November 23rd. Also in attendance for the Ribbon Cutting, ExperCARE’s Medical Director Dr. Robert Mazur, Director of Occupational Medicine Dr. David Carson, ExperCARE’s Founder and CEO Catherine Grant, Co-Founder and President of Grant Homes, Inc and Grant Built, D. Scott Grant, and several other members of our award-winning, ExperCARE team. Thank you to Savannah’s WJCL and Connect Savannah for covering this milestone event!

ExperCARE’s newest clinic will be the first of its kind in the downtown area, expanding its reach to downtown business owners, residents and out-of-town visitors. Thank you Savannah for the warm welcome, visits and letters making us feel right at home in downtown Savannah. This is ExperCARE’s third convenient location in the area.

Scott Grant of Grant Homes, Inc and Grant Built was the mastermind behind the incredible building renovation project which was done in partnership with the principles of commercial real estate company, Gilbert & Ezelle, a Cushman & Wakefield Alliance partner.  Gilbert & Ezelle are now located and operated on the second floor of the building with ExperCARE occupying the ground floor. The newly renovated, 2,000-square-foot clinic at 818 Abercorn St. is now open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. The state-of-the-art facility is equipped to handle a full-range of heath care needs, including but not limited to urgent care, such as illness, injuries, stitches/splinting and a full range of lab services, as well as routine care and occupational medicine such as physicals, drug and alcohol testing, PFTs, audiometry and access to an experienced board-certified provider, every hour that they are open.  ExperCARE offers digital x-rays on site that are overread by a board-certified Radiologist every hour they are open.  In addition, all types of COVID testing, including rapid antigen testing, PCR testing and antibody testing.

ExperCARE is In-Network with major health insurers and never requires an appointment. However, for patient convenience, you can book ahead on their website.  Affordable cash rates are also available. ExperCARE is locally owned and operated with three locations. The Richmond Hill clinic opened in 2009, followed by the expansion into Savannah on Mall Boulevard in 2016 and the newest downtown location on Abercorn Street in 2020.

To learn more about our services, our team, or see the answers to our frequently asked questions, please explore our website!  We look forward to serving you and becoming your most-loved healthcare resource in the region!

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ExperCARE Sponsors First Downtown Business Association Meeting

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After having just opened our newest downtown location on Abercorn Street, Nov 16th, we were thrilled to sponsor the Downtown Business Association’s first in-person meeting on Nov. 18. It was a pleasure to meet and mingle with the downtown business owners who will be a huge part of our new downtown clinic. We were able to share with them not only the award-winning urgent care and routine care services we offer, but also the full range of occupational medicine services, including experienced workers compensation injury evaluation and treatment, drug and alcohol testing, PFT’s, audiometry, lab and radiological testing, rapid and PCR COVID testing and much more.

We received so much positive feedback from the attendees and association members  regarding the opening of our state-of-the-art clinic in the downtown market and the significant improvement of access to excellent quality healthcare, that is in-network with insurance!  DBA members were also excited about the access for residents and the many visitors that travel to Savannah every year.

Visit Savannah President Joe Marinelli’s presence as the keynote speaker at the event was also fortuitous. Although we expect downtown businesses and residents to make up the majority of our patients, our business model also includes service to tourists visiting our great city. We are so grateful for hospitality leaders like Mr. Marinelli’s team who have done their best to encourage tourism this year and are making plans for a better 2021. We’re excited to be in the position to serve as downtown Savannah’s most-loved healthcare provider, especially as the economy and tourism industry continue to grow into the next year.

Link to Video

https://fox28media.com/news/local/downtown-business-association-visit-savannah-discuss-future-of-savannahs-tourism

Transcript of Video

Local businesses in downtown Savannah were hit pretty hard during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic, but city officials say tourists are slowly coming back to town. The Downtown Business Association and Visit Savannah leaders held their monthly luncheon today to keep business owners updated. Fox 28’s Cody Thomas was there and gave a look into the future of Savannah’s tourism during the pandemic.

Visit Savannah President Joe Marinelli calls the current state of Savannah’s tourism a “tale of two stories.”

“Sunday night, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, our occupancies continue to be low, generally in the 45 to 55 percent range. But on the weekends, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, our occupancies are getting up into the mid-70s and even mid-80s,” Marinelli said.

Marinelli said the good news is leisure travelers are coming back into town, but the bad news is there are still few business travelers and no conventions, or meetings, which keep the weekday numbers down.

“All of those kinds of events really stimulate higher occupancy numbers where we would typically be in the 70 percent range mid-week, and in the 90 percent range on the weekends,” he said.

He also said hotel/motel tax collections are running at about 48 percent of what they expected this year. But one of their main focuses remains on the Visit Savannah campaign which aims to get drive-market visitors into town.

“When tourism gets back to normal, we feel confident that we’ll rebound,” J. Parker Limited Owner Dale Parker said.  J. Parker Limited in Savannah was shut down most of April. Dale said local traffic is what kept them afloat. “That can make the difference between a business surviving and not,” Parker said.

Catherine Grant also just opened Expercare Health downtown on Monday and said though there were challenges, she’s confident in the community’s support.

Catherine Grant, CEO/Founder of Expercare Health: “It’s everything, we love to serve the visitors that come, of course for their intermittent needs, but being able to serve the communities that you live in is what it’s really all about,” Grant said.

Marinelli also said they’re continuing to market toward cities that have nonstop air service to Savannah’s airport.

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ExperCARE Opens Third Location: New Downtown Clinic to Serve Residents, Businesses and Visitors

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Continuing its commitment to convenient, efficient and consistent healthcare, ExperCARE opened a third location in downtown Savannah on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. The new, 2,000-square-foot clinic at 818 Abercorn St. will open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. The state-of-the-art facility is equipped to handle routine care, occupational visits such as employment physicals and drug and alcohol screenings, as well as urgent care, including stitches, digital x-rays, splinting, etc.. A provider and a board-certified radiologist are always available on site. “We don’t believe our patients should have to sacrifice service for convenience,” said Founder and CEO Catherine Grant. “When you’re sick or injured, you want to be seen right away in a clean and convenient location by a highly-qualified provider who accepts your insurance. We strive every day to offer the highest level of personal care and are thrilled to be adding a location in historic downtown Savannah.

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