Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy the great outdoors! But before you head out, it’s important to take precautions and protect yourself from the harmful effects of UV rays. Here are some ExperTIPS to keep in mind:

1. Wear Protective Clothing
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from UV rays is to wear protective clothing. This includes long-sleeved shirts, pants, and hats with wide brims. Look for clothing made with UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) fabric, which is specifically designed to block out UV rays.

2. Use Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a must-have when spending time outdoors.

According to the CDC’s Sun Safety information it is recommended that you put on broad spectrum sunscreen that filters out both UVA and UVB rays and has an SPF of 15 or higher before you go outside. Don’t forget to put a thick layer on all exposed skin. Get help for hard-to-reach places like your back. And remember, sunscreen works best when combined with other options.

Sunscreen is not recommended for babies who are 6 months old or younger. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends keeping infants out of the sun during midday and using protective clothing if they have to be in the sun.

SPF: Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF), which is a number that rates how well they filter out UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher.

Reapplication: Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

Expiration date: Check the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than 3 years. Its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.

3. Seek Shade
When possible, seek shade during the hottest parts of the day, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the sun’s rays are the strongest. If you’re at the beach or pool, consider bringing an umbrella or setting up under a shady tree.

4. Wear Sunglasses
Protect your eyes from UV rays by wearing sunglasses with UV protection. Look for sunglasses that block out 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays.

5. Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is important for overall health, but it’s especially important when spending time outdoors. Be sure to bring a water bottle with you and drink regularly to stay hydrated.

By following these UV safety tips, you can enjoy the outdoors while protecting yourself from harmful sun rays.

While we hope you won’t need us, we’re here for you throughout the summer. ExperCARE is open 7 days a week, extended hours, and we treat all ages. Stay safe and have fun!

Did you know that May is Urgent Care Awareness Month? This month, we recognize the importance of urgent care centers in providing timely and convenient medical care to patients.

Urgent care centers, such as ExperCARE, are facilities that provide medical care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. They are a great alternative to emergency rooms, which can often have long wait times and high costs. Urgent care centers are typically open outside of regular business hours, making them a convenient option for patients who need medical attention quickly. All ExperCARE centers are open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. No appointment is ever needed, however, you can book ahead for your convenience at any ExperCARE location!

During Urgent Care Awareness Month, it’s important to remember the benefits of these facilities. They offer a wide range of medical services, including treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, X-rays, lab testing, and vaccinations. Additionally, they often have shorter wait times than emergency rooms and are more affordable than traditional medical facilities. At ExperCARE, most all patients are in and out in less than 60 minutes!

Urgent care centers can be especially beneficial for those who do not have a primary care physician or who need medical attention when their doctor’s office is closed. They are also a great option for those who need medical attention while traveling or who are unable to get an appointment with their regular doctor. Urgent Cares bridge the gap between primary care and emergency care, offering a crucial resource for individuals in need of immediate attention.

At ExperCARE, patients can use their insurance or we offer affordable cash pay options.

Urgent Care Awareness Month is a reminder of the important role that urgent care centers play in providing accessible and affordable medical care to patients. If you or a loved one needs medical attention for a non-life-threatening condition, consider visiting an ExperCARE today and see why we’re the regions most-loved, first-choice, for on-demand healthcare.

Calling all moms! We know you’ve been looking for a reason to get out of the house and enjoy some sun, so we’ve got something that we think is going to help you do just that. We’re on the hunt for one lucky mom to win a beach tote filled with $150 worth of prizes! To enter, visit us on Facebook or Instagram, like the Giveaway post, tag 3 friends, and share the post with your friends!

This giveaway closes at noon, Friday, May 12th!

This giveaway is open to residents of the United States. The prize will be shipped directly from ExperCARE to the winner!

Gift includes:
-Beach Tote with detachable cooler
-JBL Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
-Sun Bum gift set with Sunscreen, after sun gel, and chap stick
-Set of Face Masks
-Beach Towel

And More!

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!

This past week, ExperCARE Founder and CEO, Catherine Grant was featured on WTOC.

Article: Urgent cares see increase in patients due to high wait times at emergency rooms

BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) – Emergency rooms in our area are being overwhelmed with patients every day.

WTOC checked in with urgent care providers to see how this is affecting them.

The CEO of Expercare said their urgent care facilities in Bryan and Chatham counties saw a surge of patients during peak COVID times but now they’re starting to see a normal influx of patients walking through their doors.

Catherine Grant says everyone can help with high emergency room wait times by coming to urgent cares when experiencing minor issues.

She says they can see anywhere from 30 to 100 patients a day but wait times in the urgent cares are much shorter than in emergency rooms.

She says any time you’ve been in a trauma related accident or feel like you have a life-threatening emergency you should go to the hospital.

“If you’ve got sudden loss of vision or sudden vision changes or sudden stumbling, something that’s indicating something going on in the brain. Sub sternal chest pain that radiating to the shoulder and concerns for that potentially being a heart attack,” said Grant.

She says it’s vital the community works together during this healthcare crisis.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

LINK: https://www.wtoc.com/2023/02/17/urgent-cares-see-increase-patients-due-high-wait-times-emergency-rooms/

An article from Reflections Richmond Hill, Spring 2022 Issue

WORDS BY DR. JAY JAY HENDRIX  PHOTOS BY ERIN HIXSON PHOTOGRAPHY

My heroes make waves. They have common attributes: brave, resourceful, yet humble – living as if rules are “guidelines” and traditional roles are to be challenged. As a consequence, they’re amusingly misunderstood.

Who inspires you?
A family member, neighbor, celebrity, or teacher? Perhaps a parent who set a standard and held you to it? People with traits you admire and aspire to imitate?

Catherine Grant’s mother emphasized one of the same valuable lessons for her daughter as my dad did for me: Never need to depend on someone to take care of you. No doubt, given her example, her daughters will perfect this strength.

Raising three daughters is an enormous challenge in itself. Ask me how I know. When considering the possibilities for Catherine’s girls, a familiar saying comes to mind, “If you see her, you can be her.” Little girls need examples in a variety of roles to know they have options. Sometimes rather than plotting a course for us to follow, the people we admire inspire us instead on an uncharted journey.

“Who inspired you?” I asked.

Encircled by stacks upon stacks of books confirming her thirst for growth, Catherine answered without a second of hesitation, “My mom.”

She vividly described an iconic mother-figure, content to earn the “degree of Mrs.,” required to shift direction by a marriage that didn’t work, a twist among many that would set the foundation for the building of her daughter’s tenacity. Beyond the quintessential story of a mom needing to work with her child in tow, the stage was set for an inquisitive daughter to inherit a relentless work ethic and commitment to excellence. Catherine was eight when her mother re-married. Poppy, as he was lovingly known, became a piece of her balance. With his selfless love and encouragement, he helped her mother lay the foundation- the forging of an entrepreneur. She learned early that work was her way to achieve her goals, and she set sail on that sea.

Catherine’s accolades and accomplishments are expanding in much the same fashion as the business she co-founded. Since opening the first urgent care center in Richmond Hill in 2009, she has been stacking recognitions and awards as neatly as the books surrounding her CEO chair. With her at the helm, ExperCARE is opening a fifth location.

Motivated to be a part of the solution to what she considers to be a “broken” system, Catherine envisions “healthcare the way it should be,” patient-focused with an improved standard of care. “People deserve better care,” and together with her leadership team, ExperCARE is advancing that mission.

Leadership, business fundamentals, self-improvement, and biographies make up Catherine’s reading collection, but she is clear about her Source. One of her guiding Bible verses is from Philippians 4:13 “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

“We all need a True North.” Catherine relies on her relationship with Jesus to provide truth, wisdom, and discernment. “I want to have a tangible impact by helping others experience Him.”

What are you building?

Catherine’s answer to this question again hails her mother’s recurring influence. She believes that what we hear as children becomes our inner voice, and she heard the incessant message, “With hard work, you can be and do anything.” Work does not intimidate Catherine, nor does challenge. In fact, challenge propels her to thrive. The inner voice she now conjures in the face of adversity repeats, “You were created for this.” Together with Scott, her husband, counsel, and confidant, the Grant’s are building full steam ahead.

Catherine’s waves extend beyond business to create broader change for a better world. Alzheimer’s, childhood cancer, and United Way fundraising; serving on boards for community development and healthcare advancement; and volunteering to mentor future business leaders are among her commitments to advocacy.

All of the accomplishments in her wake haven’t changed Catherine’s ultimate goal: to be more like the person who inspires her by exemplifying unconditional love. “In a broken world, my mom has been able to love others even when they were not easy to love.”

Her three young daughters, Grayson 12, Madison 9, and Emerson 1, are watching, and if their mother’s accomplishments seem impressive, I predict a tsunami. Catherine describes them as fearless and passionate. Grayson helped build the recycling program at school, and together with sister Madison, they worked diligently to raise funds for a clean water project in Zimbabwe. Their mom recognizes that her most important role is to encourage her daughters to become all that they were created to be, just like the person who inspired her.

Our daughters are watching; and so are our sons. May we inspire them and others to make waves. Waves are shifting and fading, but the changes they create are immensely powerful, enduring, and inspiring. May we never underestimate ripples.

ExperCARE Health is a longtime supporter of The Ronald McDonald House Charities and has renewed their partnership for the 2022 year. After a challenging year, RMH Charities hold a special place in the heart of ExperCARE CEO and Founder, Catherine Grant.

“We are grateful to be able to support the Ronald McDonald House again this year. The work they are doing in our community, and beyond, makes such a meaningful impact to the families they serve,’ shares Grant,  ‘Last year, I got to understand on a more personal level the enormous blessing the Ronald McDonald House is, shortly after my niece was born at only 31 weeks. My sister and brother-in-law were able to stay there, very close to the children’s hospital in Philadelphia, so that they could focus all their time and energy on our sweet Mabry throughout her time in the NICU. The house provided an incredible home away from home for them during a very challenging time. We will forever be grateful to them and are honored to help pay that forward to hopefully bless others in their time of need.”

The Ronald McDonald House in Savannah provides a home away from home for seriously ill or injured children and their families who are receiving treatment at local area hospitals. “We’re serving every illness and injury in children from newborns to 22 years of age, said RMH CEO and Executive Director, Bill Sorochak. “Every dollar raised and donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire stays here in our community, not a single penny leaves. With our newest Corporate Sponsor, ExperCARE, their sponsorship & donations are making an immediate impact in our mission, and we can see that in our families’ faces.”

 

Last year, the Ronald McDonald House provided 4,500 family-night stays. The Savannah House has been serving families since 1987, and with its 13 rooms, compassionate and dedicated staff, it may be the most important house a child will ever visit. To learn more about Ronald McDonald House, and the good they do in our community, click here.

 

ExperCARE Marketer, Becca Rivera was recently elected to the Board of Directors of local networking organization, Buy Local Savannah! Buy Local’s mission is to support independent, locally-owned and operated businesses in the greater Chatham County area, to maintain our unique community character, provide continuing opportunities for entrepreneurs, build our community economic strength, and prevent the displacement of community-based businesses by national and global entities.

ExperCARE has been locally owned and operated since opening in June of 2009. “Supporting local business has always been something I’m incredibly passionate about,’ says Rivera, ‘The greater Savannah area has such an incredible local business community that has supported ExperCARE since day 1! I am SO excited to partner with this awesome board and continue to advance the mission of Buy Local Savannah!”

To learn more about Buy Local Savannah and the impact of buying local, visit, www.buylocalsavannah.com.

To read more about the 2022 Board of Directors, click here.

Since ExperCARE opened its newest urgent care clinic at 818 Abercorn St. in downtown Savannah November 2020, new patients have streamed in, often referred to the clinic by concierges at various hotels and vacation rentals.

To thank these concierge leaders for placing their faith in ExoerCARE’s convenient, high-quality service, we hosted a socially-distanced, COVID-friendly luncheon for the Savannah Concierge Group on the outdoor patio at Collins Quarter at Forsyth on Thursday, Feb. 4.

The Savannah Concierge Group was established as a concierge networking group by Mickey Minick of Kelly Tours, well known for taking out-of-town tourists to all of Savannah’s most beloved places in comfort and style.

At the luncheon, ExperCARE’s Vice President of Operations Spencer Gambrell welcomed the group at lunch and then took them across the street for a tour of the new state-of-the-art clinic and a question-and-answer session with ExperCARE’s highly-skilled and professional team.

“We are so grateful for the generous support we have received for our newest location,” said ExperCARE Founder and CEO Catherine Grant. “We wanted to personally thank the concierges for referring business to ExperCARE and let them see for themselves everything our clinic has to offer their guests.”

If you are ready to book your appointment so you can experience our award winning healthcare at ExperCARE click here.





We were so excited Patty Turner from WSAV’s The Bridge featured our newest ExperCARE location at 818 Abercorn St. in downtown Savannah on their television show!  We took Patty around our newly renovated, state-of-the-art facility and talked about why ExperCARE strives every day to be the first choice for your healthcare needs. This interview gave us a chance to talk about how ExperCARE got started in 2009 in Richmond Hill. This community rallied behind our vision and their continued support, great reviews and word of mouth referrals made it possible for ExperCARE to grow to three convenient locations!

Thank you Patty and the team at WSAV’s The Bridge for telling the ExperCARE story to their viewers!

Video

https://www.wsav.com/shows/the-bridge/expercare-comes-to-historic-savannah/

Transcription of Video

PATTY TURNER: Access to healthcare just got easier in the Savannah area with the expansion of this local medical facility by one of Savannah’s very own, Catherine Grant. So, what’s offered there? Come inside with us to the newest ExperCare at 818 Abercorn to find out.

TURNER: This is exciting, Catherine. This is your third location?

 CATHERINE GRANT: Yes.

 TURNER: It’s downtown, historic Savannah.

 GRANT: Mmhmm.

TURNER: How did this come about? And, what does this mean for folks who live in the historic area?

GRANT: Well, we’re so excited. We’ve been around since 2009. We actually were founded as the Urgent Care Center of Richmond Hill, in Richmond Hill, but rebranded when we came to Savannah, which was in 2016, early 2016, with our first location in Savannah on Mall Boulevard. And, so, we’ve been looking in the downtown market for a number of years actually to find the perfect place where we have parking because we know that’s important — especially when you ‘re not feeling well – and came across this about a year ago, this opportunity and decided we were going to do a big renovation project and provide access to on-demand healthcare for the residents, the visitors and the businesses in the downtown community, so, we’re thrilled.

TURNER: So, what do you offer here at ExperCare in downtown Savannah?

GRANT: So, we offer all — it’s probably easier to say what we don’t do. But it is truly walk-in access to care for urgent care, for routine care, for occupational health. We see all age groups. We’re open seven days a week. We’re open extended hours. Everything from illness, to injury to routine testing sorts of things, vaccines, all sorts of things.

TURNER: Ok, since you’re talking about vaccines of course I need to ask you about Covid and the Covid vaccine. Do you do the Covid testing here and when the vaccines are ready will you be able to offer them?

GRANT: So, as far as testing, we started in this very early and so in the middle of March right when Covid testing became a thing. ExperCare was very involved and so, yes, we consider ourselves experts in the testing realm. We have rapid, antigen testing available on site at all of our locations including downtown. We added a car side visit which means patients who are having symptoms or think they may have been exposed are not actually seen in the clinic. We go to them and see them in their car. And we’re able to do that 15-minute test. We’re also able to send off a PCR test and get those results in as soon as 24-48 hours. And, then the vaccine, that’s all, that’s all the talk right now. So, the vaccine, yes, it should be available soon we’re all hearing. We are in line, signed up and registered to be a distributor of that and we hope to know more about it just as soon as details are available and how we can be part of that initiative as well.

TURNER: So, how did you get started in the urgent care business? Do you have a medical background or what is your background?

GRANT: So, my background. I was trained as a physician assistant, a PA. I’ve been a PA over 16 years now – I can’t believe I’m saying that. And so, trained and worked in several different areas, worked in plastics, worked in physical medicine, rehab and orthopedics and moonlighted some in urgent care. And, when I married my husband and moved to Richmond Hill there was such a need for healthcare. There was just no access to healthcare there. So, for on-demand healthcare. People had to drive to the ER in Savannah. And so, it was this beautiful sort of combination of the rebirth of the urgent care industry (we used to call them doc in the boxes, right, back in the ’80s) And, so back then it may have been more of a compromise to go there because nothing else was open. So, the rebirth of urgent care was less of a compromise and more of a first choice sort of thing. And so, as that industry was coming up we saw this opportunity in this community that needed healthcare. So, we decided, “We can do that,” and we can do it and deliver excellent customer service, excellent healthcare and obviously, we were right. The community loved it and they’ve just been rallying around us since then. So, we added back into Savannah very close to where I grew up in Mayfair and now downtown.

TURNER: That’s got to be really rewarding for you to offer this now downtown and see how this is growing and you’re serving the people you grew up with.

GRANT: Yes, it’s such a humbling thing to be able to give back and to be part of creating solutions in a community that you’ve grown up in and that you love and are passionate about. So, I have to pinch myself sometimes because it’s one of those things. I’m excited to get to do it. It’s not a “have to” kind of thing. It’s a lot of fun.