SC Dept. of Public Health celebrates one year, launches SC Healthcare Compass

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO)–The South Carolina Department of Public Health is celebrating its first anniversary as an agency.
Officials say highlights of the first year include the state’s highest national health ranking in 35 years… releasing the state’s first ever childhood cancer report, and successful emergency response during Hurricane Helene.
The Department of Health was created after what was the Department of Health and Environmental Control was split into smaller agencies.

“Our first year of DPH was packed with wins worth celebrating, challenges worth remembering, and, like a thread through it all, our vision of healthy people living in healthy communities,” said Dr. Edward Simmer, interim DPH director. “Of course, none of this would have happened without our dedicated team of amazing people who come to work every day focused on making the lives of South Carolinians healthier and better.”

Also on Tuesday, the Department of Public Health and the Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina launched the South Carolina Health Compass.
Officials say the compass is an online collection of data dashboards containing the most comprehensive county-level health information available.
“The South Carolina Health Compass is a comprehensive project that makes critical data more accessible than ever,” said Dr. Edward Simmer, interim DPH director. “A project like this could not be achieved without continued collaboration and the strong partnerships we’ve worked to developed across our state. This project allows us to create something that can be used by anyone to help improve the health of South Carolinians for years to come.”