Chamberlain College of Nursing NR531 Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Organizations NR531 Case Study Background Information
St. Louis Medical Center (SLMC) St. Louis Medical Center (SLMC) has proudly served Summerville, Ironridge and the
surrounding communities of Chamberlain County, South Carolina, for over 50 years. The
organization has remained a key component in maintaining the health of the community
at large. SLMC has over 500 physicians, approximately 450 nurses, and is one of the
largest employers of the Chamberlain County area. SLMC takes pride in its ability to
remain a leader in the healthcare industry statewide. The hospital has a continuous
commitment to delivering the highest quality care by addressing crucial issues, such as
patient safety, technology, and expanding services to meet community needs. SLMC has
placed special emphasis on optimizing the quality of life of all those served by expanding
beyond the traditional focus on medical needs to the needs of the whole person.
SLMC has seen a sharp increase in the number of hospital admissions of elderly
patients with heart failure and cardiovascular disease. Specifically, in the last 3 years, SLMC
has had a 10% increase each year in the number of heart failure hospital admissions, of
which, most were readmissions in the same year. Even though there is an increasing trend
in the number of patients 65 years and older with heart failure on a national level,
Summerville, in particular, has had to treat explosive numbers of this vulnerable population.
Market Analysis
Summerville, SC History
Summerville is a city in South Carolina in the United States. It is bounded by Ironridge, SC, on
the West, the Atlantic Ocean on the South and East, and Chamberlain 2 Island on the North.
According to city records, the city has a total land area of 2.99 square miles. The city
government consists of a Mayor, three township supervisors, and a solicitor. Summerville has its
own police department.
By 1790, Summerville had become a thriving village with business houses dispersed among the
huts and log cabins. In 1817, a stage coach stop was added to this growing town. Harvey
Summer, a successful logger, purchased a large parcel of ground and began to sell off lots. This
brought more people to the town that was subsequently named after him. Summerville added a
steel mill, and Mr. Summer’s logging company was relocated there. By 1940, Mr. Summer’s
descendants opened an auction house after closing the logging company. This was a huge DM 8/22/2013 Chamberlain College of Nursing NR531 Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Organizations commercial attraction for the area and Summerville continued to grow. Other businesses moved
to Summerville. This commercial core was the beginning of the Summerville we know today.
Summerville has been thriving in this challenging economic time and has increased its
population by 10% since 2010. This is an upscale community with modern, well-maintained
homes. The SLMC is located within the Summerville city limits. There is also a city hall with a
WIC office, movie theatre, shopping center, restaurants, grocery store, and several homes that
line the Summerville streets. This is a suburban area with modern looking buildings and clean
streets. There is a taxi service as well as a bus that transports people around Summerville and
into Ironridge.
Summerville, SC Statistics Population in August, 2013: 16,599 SC: 4,625,364 (2010, 24th largest state) Females: 8,598 (51.8%)
Males: 8,001 (48.2%) SC Females: 51.3%
SC Males: 48.7% White: 60%
Black: 23%
Hispanic: 9.5%
Asian: 7.5% SC White: 66.2% (2008, ranked 26th)
SC Black: 27.9% (2008, ranked 14th)
SC Hispanic: 5.1% (2008, ranked 30th) Age
Median age: 64.3 years
Under 18: 18.7%
Between 18–64: 62.8%
65 and older: 18.5% SC median age: 37.9 years
Under 18: 23.7% (2009)
Between 18–64: 62.6% (2009)
65 and older: 13.7% (2009) Education
Residents 25–64 years old with high school diploma: 88.6%
SC residents 25–64 years old with high school diploma: 86.4% (2008)
Residents 25 years and older with associate degree or higher: 34.5%
Associate degrees: 10.3%
Baccalaureate degrees: 18.7%
Master’s degrees: 4%
Post Master’s: 1.5%
SC Residents 25 years and older with associate degree or higher: 30.7%
Income per capita: $74,900 SC income per capita: $33,884 (2010—ranked 45th in U.S.)
Median household income: $68,594
SC median household income: $42,580
DM 8/22/2013 Chamberlain College of Nursing NR531 Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Organizations Health Statistics
Births
Live births: 124
White: 69
Black: 41
Hispanic: 11
Asian: 3 Teen moms: 14 out of the 124
White: 4
Black: 4
Hispanic: 5
Asian: 1 Abortions: 12
White: 4
Black: 2
Hispanic: 5
Asian: 1
Infant mortality: 7
White: 2
Black: 2
Hispanic: 3
Deaths: 79
Death rate: 4.8 per 1,000
Causes of Death
Heart disease
Malignant neoplasms
Accidents
Cerebrovascular accident
Chronic lower respiratory disease
Alzheimer’s disease
Diabetes
Pneumonia
Influenza
Kidney disease White
12
10
3
3
2
2
2
2
1 Black Hispanic Asian
6
2
1
4
3
1
3
2
2
2
1
0
1
1
0
2
1
0
1
1
0
2
2
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0 Ironridge, SC History
Ironridge is a city in South Carolina in the United States. It is bounded by Summerville, SC, on
the East, the Atlantic Ocean on the South and West, and Chamberlain 1 Island on the North.
According to city records, the city has a total land area of 2.95 square miles. The city
government consists of a Mayor and City Council. The City Council has five members, including
its president, secretary, solicitor, and treasurer. Ironridge has its own police department.
Ironridge was founded in 1887 as a company town by J.J. Newberry Company as the site for its
foundry. The foundry employed as many as 6,000 workers in its prime. In 1900, 20,966 people DM 8/22/2013 Chamberlain College of Nursing NR531 Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Organizations lived in Ironridge. In 1992, the J.J. Newberry Company went out of business and the foundry
was closed.
Ironridge has been hit hard by the economic decline of our time and is in a critical stage of
urban decay or urban blight. It has lost more than 20% of its population from 2010 and
continues to deal with a large number of homeless people, increased illegal drug use, and high
crime rate. Ironridge has grungy and dilapidated buildings and homeless people clearly evident
on the streets. The mental health clinic and in-patient facility located in Ironridge typically treats
40–60 patients every day. Ironridge is also home to an OB/GYN out-patient clinic. The industrial
area near the bridge leading to Summerville has a disaster occurring. There is a taxi service as
well as a bus that transports people around Ironridge and also into Summerville.
Ironridge, SC Statistics
Population in August, 2013: 12,682 SC: 4,625,364 (2010, 24th largest state) Females: 6,899 (54.4%)
Males: 5,783 (45.6%) SC Females: 51.3%
SC Males: 48.7% Black: 48.7%
Hispanic: 32.3%
White: 10.1%
Asian: 8.9% SC Black: 27.9% (2008, ranked 14th)
SC Hispanic: 5.1% (2008, ranked 30th)
SC White: 66.2% (2008, ranked 26th) Age
Median age: 42.2 years
Under 18: 22.8%
Between 18–64: 73.7%
65 and older: 3.5% SC median age: 37.9 years
Under 18: 23.7% (2009)
Between 18–64: 62.6% (2009)
65 and older: 13.7% (2009) Education
Residents 25–64 years old with high school diploma: 44.5%
SC residents 25–64 years old with high school diploma: 86.4% (2008)
Residents 25 years and older with associate degree or higher: 19.3%
Associate degrees: 14.1%
Baccalaureate degrees: 4.2%
Master’s degrees: 1%
Post Master’s: 0
SC Residents 25 years and older with associate degree or higher: 30.7%
Income per capita: $21,679 SC income per capita: $33,884 (2010—ranked 45th in U.S.)
Median household income: $29,835
DM 8/22/2013 Chamberlain College of Nursing NR531 Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Organizations SC median household income: $42,580
Health Statistics
Births
Live births: 179
Black: 86
Hispanic: 74
White: 12
Asian: 7 Teen moms: 42 out of the 179
Black: 22
Hispanic: 16
White: 3
Asian: 1 Abortions: 19
Black: 10
Hispanic: 6
White: 2
Asian: 1
Infant mortality: 32
Black: 17
Hispanic: 12
White: 3
Deaths: 118
Death rate: 9.3 per 1,000
Causes of Death
Homicide
Heart disease
Malignant neoplasms
Accidents
Cerebrovascular accident
Chronic lower respiratory disease
Cancer
Diabetes
Pneumonia
Influenza
Kidney disease Black Hispanic White
12
8
6
10
6
2
10
4
3
9
8
4
3
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
0
1 Asian
1
1
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
1 0 References
SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Public health statistics and
information services. Retrieved from https://www.scdhec.gov/co/phsis/biostatistics/index.asp?
page=pubreps DM 8/22/2013 Chamberlain College of Nursing NR531 Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Organizations South Carolina’s Information Highway (SCIWAY). (2013). South Carolina - Fast facts. Retrieved
from http://www.sciway.net/facts/ DM 8/22/2013

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