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News & Blogs

Stay up to date on the latest news from Fetter Health Care Network by signing up for our newsletter and viewing updates from our team below.

News & Blogs

Stay up to date on the latest news from Fetter Health Care Network by signing up for our newsletter and viewing updates from our team below.

Want to stay informed about what’s going on with
Fetter Health Care Network?

Sign up for our quarterly e-newsletter, which features updates on our centers, services and providers. 


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Want to stay informed about what’s going on with
Fetter Health Care Network?

Sign up for our quarterly e-newsletter, which features updates on our centers, services and providers. 


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Latest News

May 17, 2022

Skin Cancer Awareness Month: Prevention and Education

May means more than the return of the Lowcountry summer sun. It’s also Skin Cancer Awareness Month! Each year, medical professionals and patients alike come together to spread awareness that can help save lives from this deadly disease that affects one in five Americans throughout their lifetime. At Fetter, our team is committed to providing you with reliable, high-quality care that extends beyond our offices. 

With beach days and cookouts well underway, we encourage you to use this blog as a sun safety guide. Protect yourself today, tomorrow and every day to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and smiling in the Palmetto State sunshine.

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer occurs when the body’s unable to control the production of irregular skin cells in the skin’s outermost layer. Due to damaged DNA, these irregular cells continue to multiply, causing cancerous tumors to form. This type of cancer is most commonly caused by extended and unprotected exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and affects all skin types – regardless of race.

There are several forms of skin cancer, including basal and squamous cell skin cancer, melanoma, Merkel cell skin cancer, Lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma. While these diseases can affect everyone, certain characteristics may put you at increased risk, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such as a lighter complexion, skin that burns or freckles easily, a family history of skin cancer and more.

Signs of skin cancer may include:

  • Unusual discolorations of the skin
  • Irregularly shaped or spreading skin spots
  • New spots or moles on the skin
  • Sores that do not heal
  • Red or swelling moles

The American Cancer Society offers a full list of signs with example images in their guide, “How to Spot Skin Cancer.”

How can I protect myself from skin cancer?

Skin cancer is dangerous, but it’s also highly preventable! While regularly scheduled screenings and doctor’s office visits are your best strategy for early detection, there are many simple steps you can take right now to help protect yourself and your loved ones from this deadly disease.

  1. Apply sunscreen when heading outdoors. Sunscreen is your most important weapon in the fight against skin cancer. Always use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen. Those of SPF +15 are recommended for daily use, or SPF +30 with water resistance for extended periods outdoors or physical activity, especially after swimming or sweating. Reapply sunscreen every two hours in the second scenario.
  2. Cover unprotected, exposed skin. If you are heading out without sunscreen, you should wear clothing that will conceal any unprotected skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Darker, tightly woven materials are better here than see-through clothing. A large brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses can also provide extra defense to your eye, head, face and shoulders.
  3. Find shade when possible. The sun’s rays are at their strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During this time, try finding yourself a nice shady spot to escape and relax. This can be beneath the comfortable shade of a big tree or under your beach umbrella.
  4. Avoid indoor tanning. Tanning in and of itself is not necessarily a sign of healthy skin. In fact, it’s evidence of skin damage! Avoid any forms of indoor tanning, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, as these methods expose users to high UV levels, which can cause skin cancer, cataracts and eye cancer.
  5. Perform monthly self-exams. While your medical provider will be able to detect signs of cancer during your annual screenings, monthly self-exams act as an extra line of defense for your skin health. No one knows your body better than you! If you notice unusual skin features like those above, reach out to your doctor and schedule an appointment.

Fetter is here in the fight against skin cancer!

If you believe you’ve detected signs of skin cancer, Fetter Health Care Network is here for you! Our reliable medical team can provide assistance and referrals with a catalog of dermatology professionals in our health care network. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our team, or visit our site to learn more about our full list of services.


April 29, 2022

Good Cholesterol Levels and How To Achieve Them

Are you watching your cholesterol? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 93 million Americans over the age of 20 live with high cholesterol. That’s almost 40 percent of the country’s population who are at risk for heart disease and stroke. However, while high cholesterol is common for many U.S. adults, it is also controllable and preventable with the right knowledge, lifestyle choices and screenings.

What are healthy cholesterol levels?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by the liver and found in cells. When present in the right amount, cholesterol is used to aid in producing sex hormones and bile and serves as a building block for human tissues. While already naturally produced by the liver, foods high in trans fats and saturation can cause cholesterol overproduction, resulting in clogged arteries and life-threatening complications. 

Your total cholesterol number is determined by high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides. HDLs, or “good cholesterol,” help protect you from heart disease. LDLs, or “bad cholesterol,” block blood vessels and increase your risk. Triglycerides are fat that acts as the basis for cholesterol. 

When analyzing your cholesterol levels, the higher the HDL and lower the LDL, the better.

According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the following results are considered ideal for someone with “good” cholesterol levels:

  • HDL Cholesterol: 60mg/dL or higher is preferred. 40mg/dL is passable for men. 50 mg/dL is passable for women.
  • LDL Cholesterol: Less than 100mg/dL is ideal. Less than 70mg/dL if the individual has coronary heart disease, blood vessel disease or diabetes.
  • Triglycerides: Less than 100mg/dL is ideal. Less than 149mg/dL is passable.
  • Total Cholesterol: Less than 200mg/dL is the goal, but the lower this number, the better.

Adults 20 or older should have their cholesterol tested every four to six years, as advised by the American Heart Association. Those with a family history of high cholesterol should be tested more regularly. Your physician can easily assist in testing cholesterol levels through a blood test called a lipoprotein panel. 

Please note: Patients receiving this panel must fast for nine to 12 hours prior.

What can I do to lower my cholesterol levels?

Regardless if high cholesterol is hereditary or the result of unhealthy habits, there are steps you can begin to take that will help reduce your levels and risk of adverse side effects.

Eat a heart-healthy diet.

A healthy diet makes for a happy body. Those looking to lower cholesterol should begin by cutting back on fatty and processed foods, like fast food, butter and sweets. While tasty, these foods are high in trans and saturated fats that cause LDL levels to rise. Instead, try substituting these unhealthy options for plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, low-fat dairy, chicken and more.

Get active. 

Exercise is a great way to improve cholesterol levels and your overall health! Getting active can increase good cholesterol, lower bad cholesterol and help you lose weight, which is also shown to reduce LDL levels. Exercise can also positively impact your mental health, helping to reduce stress, which studies have shown to negatively affect cholesterol.

Take your medicine.

Along with changes to your lifestyle, your doctor may also prescribe medications to help reduce cholesterol levels. These medications commonly include statins (drugs that reduce the liver’s LDL production and aid it in removing already present LDL), Niacin (a B vitamin that helps regulate LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels) and more. Taking this medicine consistently is key to its effectiveness.

Fetter is here for you!

If you have a family history of high cholesterol or are looking to understand your current health, Fetter Health Care Network is here for you! Our team of reliable health care professionals can conduct the appropriate testing and help you create a treatment plan that’s best for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at your nearest Fetter location, and visit us online to learn more about our services.


March 29, 2022

The History of Fetter Health Care Network

As a leading Federally Qualified Health Center (FHQC) in South Carolina, Fetter Health Care Network is committed to serving all those within our Lowcountry community, regardless of their ability to pay. Our more than 50-year legacy as a source of modern care for Charleston’s low-income population has a history that has guided our decisions and services since our very beginnings.

1967 – 1988: Fetter’s Beginnings

First founded in 1967, Fetter began as the Franklin C. Fetter Family Health Center, located in the basement of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The center was named after Dr. Franklin C. Fetter, the former Dean of MUSC and a key member of the concerned citizen group who helped this project acquire funding.

Other important citizens in this effort included Father Henry Grant (a community organizer), former S.C. Senator Herbert U. Fielding, former U.S. Senator Ernest F. Hollings and Mr. J. Arthur Brown (a community leader).

The operation was established as a small demonstration project funded by the Federal Office of Economic Opportunity to provide a full range of health care services to Charleston’s low-income community.

Over time, the project would evolve and expand along with its client base, with the facility recognized as an official Community Health Center under Public Law 9564, Section 330, of the Federal Regulation.

In 1970, Franklin C. Fetter Family Health Center would relocate to an independent location at 51 Nassau Street. The center received status as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 1975.

As the need for our assistance grew, so did our reach throughout the Charleston area, with facilities opening in communities across the Lowcountry. In 1983, the Cross Health Center was founded to assist patients in the Cross community, with the Summerville Health Center opening its doors five years later. 

2001 – 2010: Fetter’s Story Continues

The start of a new century was a call to action. Fetter’s commitment to its Lowcountry community would motivate our further expansion to service more counties, neighborhoods and neighbors across the state. 

In 2001, Fetter Health Care Network would emphasize the health of our local children with the launch of Enterprise Pediatrics. This new pediatric location would serve community members in and around the Union Heights community.

In 2008, our mission to do more would continue. Fetter would see the grand opening of our Walterboro Health Center in Colleton County, as well as the East Coast Migrant Head Start seasonal care site two years later in 2010.

2011 – 2019: Fifty Years of Affordable Care

Promoting the health of our patients requires an ability to evolve with their needs. The decade between 2011 and 2021 would be filled with the launch of various new Fetter locations and initiatives.

In 2011, Fetter launched a new facility to service the mental health needs of our Lowcountry communities: our Charleston Dorchester Mental Health clinic. In 2012, we focused greater attention on our families of Charleston by opening the Hollywood Family Health Center. In 2014, we began offering increased oral and dental health care services through our Community Dental Center and also opened our Johns Island Family Health Center.

In 2017, our health network celebrated 50 years of care by rolling out an array of new seasonal sites (Fields Farm Camp, Willow Swamp Road Camp, McCune Branch Camp, Williams Center Camp and Packaging Shed Housing Camp) and a school-based service location at Baptist Hill Middle High School. 

The following year, Fetter’s Thaddeus J. Bell M.D. Family Health Center and pharmacy opened to patients in the Summerville area. Rose D. Gibbs, MD Family Health Center, along with a new pharmacy at Elijah Wright Family Health Center, expanded our reach and increased health care access in Berkeley County. We also celebrated the launch of new mobile dental services and expanded school-based programs at Jerry Zucker School of Science.

2020 – 2021: The Fight Against COVID-19

Though the new decade did not begin as many had hoped, Fetter doubled down on our commitment to the community. As COVID-19 swept across our community, our team served as an essential resource for those in the Lowcountry. Fetter Health Care Network led the way on the front lines in the battle against this deadly virus, providing more than 20,000 COVID tests throughout four counties while operating a new Mobile Medical Unit and renovating our Enterprise Pediatrics Health Center.

In 2021, Fetter aided in our nation’s vaccine rollout, administering more than 20,000 COVID-19 vaccinations in four counties. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Conservation would recognize Fetter Health Care Network as one of the first “Community Heroes in South Carolina” for these efforts.

Fetter for the Future

Our history is still being written today! As Fetter’s care continues to expand across Lowcountry, we still uphold our goal of providing patients with quality, affordable health care. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment, or visit us online to explore our complete list of services.


Fetter Health Care provides a “Good Faith Estimate” for health care upon request to the uninsured and those choosing to not use insurance. To learn more, visit our Billing & Insurance page. 

Fetter Health Care Network is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n). This health center receives HHS funding and has federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status with respect to certain health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.

 

51 Nassau Street Charleston, SC 29403 Phone 843-722-4112

© Copyright Fetter Health Care Network | 2024

51 Nassau Street Charleston, SC 29403 Phone 843-722-4112

Fetter Health Care provides a “Good Faith Estimate” for health care upon request to the uninsured and those choosing to not use insurance. To learn more, visit our Billing & Insurance page.

Fetter Health Care Network is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n). This health center receives HHS funding and has federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status with respect to certain health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.

© Copyright Fetter Health Care Network | 2024

Patient Portal Notice

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our patient portal. At this time, patients are unable to schedule appointments online. We are sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding, as our staff is working to resolve the issue. Please call 843-722-4112 or call the location nearest you to schedule your appointment.