January 22, 2019: This week, the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston was pleased to welcome Dr. Edward O’Bryan, Chief of MUSC’s Division of Global 
Health and Telemedicine. The focus of Dr. O’Bryan’s presentation was Telehealth, also referred to as Virtual Care.
We are all familiar with urgent care centers that have become more prevalent in recent years. They generally offer non-emergency diagnostic and treatment at lower cost for many patients. There are some drawbacks to visiting these centers: still relatively high cost for some services, lower level of care, exposure to germs, etc. Virtual Care uses technology to allow access to a wider range medical expertise reaching more people by using technology. Users can communicate with medical professionals using a web questionnaire, telephone, or video interview. MUSC has recently rolled out Www.muschealth.org/virtual-care, and the program was made available to their employees and students in November of 2018. It is now open to others across the state.
Dr. O’Bryan said that based upon activity to date, 85% of visits are handled via questionnaire. The median response time to these is only 9 minutes! 10% of visits are done by phone with the remaining 5% on video conferencing. The system is set up to quickly determine if an in-person visit is needed. For instance, if user indicates “chest pain” the system automatically refers the patient out at no charge. According to user surveys, 94% would recommend the service to others.
Telehealth is the future and MUSC is a leader in the state and nation in this field. South Carolina is one of the top 2 states in access to, and use of, telehealth services. Many private insurance companies see the benefits in telehealth – lower cost diagnostics and treatment and preventative care. Many are now offering their own telehealth services. However, Dr. O’Bryan cited a few reasons why MUSC’s system is a better option for users, employers, and insurers. First, the advantage of having local doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician attendants. Many insurance telehealth services only will have out of state non-MD’s responding to patients. MUSC can also offer the service at a lower cost because they are able to capture future “downstream revenue” from the users for treatment.
MUSC is offering the service at no cost to SC employers as a pilot program for one year. At the end of the year, they have data to show the savings to both the employees and insurers. Cost for continuing the service would be based upon the savings that the company realizes in reduced premiums among other factors.
Dr. O’Bryan was kind enough to allow time for several questions from the group. He promised to send out a link and promo code for all to use:
Www.muschealth.org/virtual-care
The current promo-code is: MUSCCARES4WORKERS
Jeff Webb, Keyway Committee
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
- Virginia Lee gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Marie-Anne Erki introduced Visiting Rotarians and guests.
- President Alex Dallis presented Health and Happiness.
- Jim Geffert introduced our keynote speaker, Dr. Edward O’Bryan of MUSC, who discussed virtual urgent care.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
January 29, 2019 | Issue 4917 | President: Alex Dallis
COMING EVENTS
- January 29- Dr. Gerrita Postlewait, CCSD Update
- February 5 – Brig. General Milford Beagle, Commanding General Ft. Jackson
- February 12 – Pat Keaveney, USS Charleston, March 2 christening
- February 19 – No Meeting
- February 26 – Mark Sloan, art exhibit
NEWS BRIEFS
Reading Partners Recognized with RCCF Grant
RCCF Chair Paul Stoney was pleased to introduce Katie Qualls with Reading Partners to our club this past Tuesday. Reading Partners was a recipient of an RCCF Grant this Fall. Our club’s donation was used to purchase additional books for their Read Aloud Library located at North Charleston Elementary. The program at North Charleston Elementary serves 40-60 students with the help of 50-70 community volunteers. Each of the 1 on 1 tutoring sessions begins with tutors reading aloud to the students a book from the Read Aloud Library to model mature, fluent reading. Reading Partners has programs in schools throughout Charleston and are looking for volunteer tutors. They currently have around 200 students on the waiting list for this program. If you would like to get involved, Carroll could put you in contact with the appropriate person. Congratulations to Reading Partners! Our club is pleased to support their efforts to build the next generation of reading lovers in our community.
January Dues Statements
January dues statements were emailed to all members prior to the holidays. Prompt payment is appreciated. A second notice was emailed to all those who haven’t paid last week. If you did not receive your statement or it got misplaced, please let Carroll know and she’ll gladly send it to you.
International Committee Accepting Grant Applications
The International Project Committee is now accepting grant applications for international projects that you may be involved. Rotary is dedicated to building international relationships that improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio. Grants will range from $500-$2500. Deadline to submit an application is March 1st.
Hibben Warming Shelter Volunteers
The Warming Shelter located at Hibben United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant is once again opening their facility as a refuge from the cold. Recently, our Rotary Club made a financial donation to this needed outreach. The Board is in hopes that several Rotarians would be willing to volunteer once or more. Contact Rotarian Cecil Mills for detailed information on volunteering at the Shelter – cmills@sonitrol.com.
Rotarian Speaking at St. Andrews Rotary Club
Our own, Owen Clary, will be the keynote speaker at the St. Andrews Rotary Club meeting this Thursday, January 31 at 12:30pm at Bessinger’s Barbeque on Savannah Highway. Owen will discuss “Rotarying Around the World”. This is a wonderful opportunity to get a make-up credit and also support one of our club members.
Rotarian Featured Speaker at Charleston Library Society Events
Rotarian Dr. John Scott Cowan, who is a yearly visiting Rotarian from Canada to our club, is scheduled to be a featured
speaker at two events hosted by the Charleston Library Society in February. The Charleston Library Society has graciously offered to extend its Library Society member rates for these two events to members of our Rotary Club.
The February 6 program is one hour, from 11am to noon, and is $15 for non-members and $10 for CLS members and for Rotary members. The title of the program is The Educated Citizen and Democracy. This talk contains dangerous ideas. Some may be useful in understanding past elections and bracing for coming ones. But at its heart, it is about misconceptions about education, and about what constitutes the core suite of knowledge and analytical skills needed to be able to fully exercise our rights and meet our obligations as free citizens of a democracy. It also touches on why public discourse and it reportage has become less brainy and more chaotic, despite the proliferation of higher education.
The February 20 program is 3 hours, from 10am to 1pm, and the non-member price is $35 and member price, both for CLS members and Rotary members, is $25. The title of the discussion is Best Friends, Whether We Like It or Not: US-Canada Relations and Interactions 1760-Present. This topic will cover the history of the relationship between the US (or its precursor colonies) and Canada (or its colonial precursor) from the fall of Quebec near the end of the French and Indian War to the present. The impact of each on the other, in terms of flow of people, of trade, of conflict or cooperation, and of cultural interaction will be covered. Perspectives on identities in the 40 years following the Declaration of Independence and a somewhat new take on the War of 1812 will be covered. The shift from cautious friendship after 1870 to the closest of allies today will be addressed, and contemporary relationship challenges related to trade and defence will be analyzed. The sequence will be talk of 1hr 20 min, break 15 min, Q&A and discussion, 45 min, concluding talk, 25 min.
The Charleston Library Society’s website is www.charlestonlibrarysociety.org, and their phone number is 843-723-9912. Members can sign up for either of these events on the CLS website or by phone.
Our Club is on Instagram
Our club launched an Instagram account this week. Please be sure to follow us at @ChasRotaryClub, which is our Twitter handle, as well.
Members are encourage to follow all of our social media channels and share posts with their followers too! We also need members to send us picture of anything they do that relates to Rotary – service projects, meetings, events, etc. We would love to keep our accounts full of smiling Rotarians! Photos can be send to Mike Sottak, mikesottak@gmail.com, or Rob Byko, rob@bykorealty.com.
MEMBER NEWS
Member News
Congratulations to Virginia Lee, Nick Galizia and Kelsey Willey on receiving their BLUE membership badges this past Tuesday! These new members have been active members in our club and successfully completed all their Red Badge requirements.
Rotary Foundation Chair, Karl Riner, proudly presented several of our members with Paul Harris Fellow recognitions this past Tuesday.
Nick Galizia – PHF
Rob Byko – PHF
Kerby Teller – PHF
Sandy Morckel – PHF + 2
Herb McGuire – PHF + 4
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of US$1,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. We appreciate their dedication and continuous support of The Rotary Foundation.
Proposed New Member
The following membership candidates have submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:
Leo J. Ruettiger – sponsor: Heidi Finniff; classification: Chiropractic
Jeremy Divis – sponsor: Charlton Wieters, classification: Lab Equipment/Sales
In the event you know Leo or Jeremy, please tell a member of the Board how he will serve the ideas of Rotary.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Tim Donnellon
- Joined: 2013
- Sponsor: Past President John Tecklenburg
- Membership Involvement: Education & International Committees, as well as various volunteer service projects.
- Classification: Commercial Insurance
- Profession: Senior Environmental Broker with Burns & Wilcox
- Something Unique About Yourself: Play ice hockey at the Carolina Ice Palace with the “Rusty Blades” organization
Birthdays
- January 30 – Debbie Barton
- February 1 – Bob DeGraff
- February 3 – Skip Fink
By the numbers
Attendance on January 22, 2019: 65
Not in attendance: Baggs, Bailey, Barton, Baus, Beam, Bishop, Bullard, Buzon, Carico, Channell, Clark, Coghill, Cole, Cooper, E., Cooper, J., Crouch, Deavenport, Dewey, Donnellon, Drafts, Dukes, Embry, Fink, Finniff, Gill, Hudnall, Husser, Jones, C., Kaynard, Kerrigan, Livingston, Moring, Plotner, Ravenel, Raver, Rich, Riley, Rust, Saboe, Savage, Schmidt, Shahid, Sidebottom, Smith, M., Sottak, Strickland, Taylor, Tecklenburg, John, Tecklenburg, Joseph, Weber, Welborn, Whitaker, Williams, Woodell
Out of Town Make-ups: None
WELLNESS TIP
Get Outside Often
It’s easy to avoid going outside in winter. A covered garage can make it easy to go from your car to your office then back to your car again to arrive back home without ever feeling that icy sharpness on your face.
But staying inside for days on end, with nothing but artificial warmth and sniffing companions for company, is why most people get sick over winter.
Choose a day when the sky is blue and clear or it’s not raining. Dress warmly, and step out and feel that winter sunshine. Admire how beautiful and clean your world looks when there is snow on the ground. You’ll feel much better for it.
AREA CLUB MEETINGS
Mondays
- Summerville – Oakbrook: 7:30 a.m., Monday, Westcott County Club, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, North Charleston
- North Charleston: 12:30 a.m., Monday, Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Blvd, North Charleston.
- Summerville Evening: 5:30 p.m., Monday, Montreux Bar and Grill, 127 W. Richardson Ave., Summerville
Tuesdays
- East Cooper Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Cooper River Room at Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant
- Charleston: 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Hall’s Signature Events, 5 Faber, Charleston
- Goose Creek: 12:45 m. Tuesday, Gilligan’s, 219 St. James Ave., Goose Creek
Wednesdays
- Daniel Island: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Daniel Island Club, 600 Island Park Dr., Daniel Island
- St. John’s Parish (John’s Island): 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, 2817 Maybank Highway, Unit 1, John’s Island
- Mount Pleasant: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Harbor Breeze Restaurant, 176 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant
- Summerville: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sticky Fingers, Summerville
Thursdays
- North Charleston Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Embassy Suites, 5055 International Blvd., North Charleston
- Moncks Corner: 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Gilligan’s Restaurant, Moncks Corner
- St. Andrews (West Ashley): 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Bessinger’s BBQ, 1602 Savannah Highway, Charleston.
Fridays
- Charleston Breakfast: 7:30 a.m., Friday, Harbour Club, 35 Prioleau St., Charleston
SOCIAL MEDIA
Our Rotary club actively uses social media — and we encourage you to interact with us through social media.
- We’re on Facebook. Take a look at our page and be sure to “like us”.
- We’re on Twitter. You can follow us @chasrotaryclub.
ABOUT THE KEYWAY
The Keyway has been published weekly as a newsletter for the Rotary Club of Charleston for more than 90 years.
- President: Alex Dallis
- Keyway editor: Don Baus don@sgaarchitecture.com
- Executive secretary: Carroll Schweers, carrollschweers@gmail.com
- Mailing address: Rotary Club of Charleston, P.O. Box 21029 ,Charleston, SC 29413-1029
- Copyright 2018, Rotary Club of Charleston. All rights reserved.