We aren't guaranteed much as adults, but if there's one thing we can count on, it's that our bodies change as we get older. For men, that's especially true. One day you're lifting heavy weights and nailing your cardio regimen without having to stretch before or after. And then, in what seems like the blink of an eye, you start to slow down a little. You begin to notice aches and pains in places that weren't there before. You can't just go out for a night on the town, imbibe until your heart is content, and expect to wake up refreshed.
And while headaches and achy joints can be treated with ice and anti-inflammatory medicine, other aspects of aging aren't as easy to treat. You've probably guessed at this point what we're talking about: erectile dysfunction, or ED for short. When brought up to most men, those are two words that cause a guttural reaction of fear and trepidation.
While just about every man fears ED, millions suffer from it - almost 10% of the male population between the ages of 40 and 70. So, if you're beginning to have trouble performing in the heat of the moment, you're definitely not alone. You may be experiencing symptoms like:
Trouble Achieving an Erection
Trouble Maintaining an Erection
Lower Libido
Less Sexual Pleasure
Premature Ejaculation
Inability to Achieve Orgasm
However, at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, we understand that stats won't do anything to address the stress and anxiety you're facing in relation to erectile dysfunction. You need a viable solution - a science-backed treatment that doesn't require strange pills or invasive surgeries. As a fully integrated multidisciplinary clinic in Mount Pleasant, we have what you've been searching for: softwave therapy for ED in Charleston, SC.
To fully grasp the benefits of using soft wave therapy for erectile dysfunction, you must first understand what causes ED to begin with. Put simply, erectile dysfunction is the inability to get an erection and keep it throughout sexual intercourse. You should know that it's not uncommon if you have erection trouble. However, if your inability to "get it up" becomes a common occurrence, you may be suffering from ED.
Erectile dysfunction doesn't just affect your penis - it also affects your wellbeing and relationships. It can lower your confidence, cause a large amount of stress that affects your ability to work, and may even cause contention with your partner.
You hear it all the time - as men get older, they often lose the ability to get erect. But why? As men age, the blood vessels in their penis start to fill up with micro-plaques, causing them to deteriorate. When these blood vessels deteriorate, it's more difficult for them to have steady blood flow. And that's the key to ED - having the constant blood flow to get and keep an erection. That's where the science-backed effectiveness of Softwave therapy swoops in to save the day.
Shockwave technology has been around for decades. It has been used at the highest-level research and medical facilities like the Cleveland Clinic and Memorial Sloan Kettering. However, Softwave therapy is a more refined, effective way to treat erectile dysfunction and also advance tissue healing.
Softwave therapy works by using electrohydraulic spark gap technology at its core. Its innovative design features a parabolic reflector applicator that produces very effective, low-intensity shock waves that are unfocused. Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine's Softwave applicator spreads energy to a large area of both superficial and deep tissue, creating a biological response that kickstarts your body's natural healing process.
For men suffering from ED, it is a revolutionary breakthrough treatment that doesn't require harmful surgeries or side effects from pills. In fact, it has been FDA approved for many uses, including improved blood flow, which is often the root cause of erectile dysfunction.
Book AppointmentUnlike some more traditional treatment options, Softwave therapy gets right to the crux of the ED issue. It uses shock wave technology on a cellular level, helping to naturally heal body parts, like the penis. Some of the most common benefits of Softwave therapy include:
Additionally, Softwave treatments don't require much prep, don't have any sketchy side effects, don't require any numbing agents or anesthesia, and result in little-to-no recovery time. Sound too good to be true? Contact Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine today to learn just how effective Softwave therapy is for our patients!
Softwave therapy works by using efficient, effective shock waves that cause biological regeneration processes that heal your body using its own healing factors. It works like this: Softwaves are created via a high-energy electrical discharge in water. The voltage is discharged between the plus and minus tips of an electrode. The spark gap or arching causes an equalization of voltage between the opposing tips of the electrode, which causes a hot plasma bubble. This bubble explodes and distributes in every direction, compresses the surrounding water, and generates a pressure > 10 MPa within nanoseconds.
To sum up, Softwave therapy uses low-intensity, unfocused energy that is delivered by a reflector in parallel waves. These waves help open up the blood vessels in your penis, allowing more blood to flow. At Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, our team of expert physicians will develop a personalized Softwave therapy plan based on your body and needs. With the right number of treatments, you should be able to achieve and maintain firm erections as you did in your prime.
A Softwave therapy procedure averages 10-15 minutes but may be longer depending on treatment area and diagnosis. A gel is applied to the surface area to be treated. The applicator produces pulses as the clinician moves around the treatment area. During therapy, communication with your provider is necessary to identify treatment areas and monitor progress.
Once treatment is over, you may resume your normal day-to-day activities. In fact, most patients can have Softwave therapy while on their lunch break. You don't have to worry about recovery time, side effects, or any downtime at all.
More than 50% of men will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. If you're over the age of 30, have been suffering from ED, and don't want to rely on pills or surgery, Softwave therapy may be for you. That's doubly true if you've tried traditional treatments like Viagra and even surgery but didn't get the results you hoped for. Many academic studies about shockwave therapy for ED state that this revolutionary technology is successful where PDE5 inhibitors fail.
In fact, many urologists consider Softwave therapy the most promising ED treatment on the market. The truth is, even if you're not battling ED, men can use Softwave therapy as a preventative way to keep the magic flowing in the bedroom. Some of the key reasons to choose Softwave therapy over less effective, traditional treatments include:
If you're curious why Softwave treatments are so popular for ED, the answer is simple. Prescription drugs like Cialis and others that "treat" ED often come with less-that-savory side effects. At best, these effects are just something patients have to deal with. At worst, they can disrupt your day-to-day schedule and may prevent you from enjoying a healthy life. Sure, some men swear by the "little blue pill," but most guys aren't aware of the hidden risks with drugs like Viagra. The following side effects can be common in both short and long-term circumstances:
If you're suffering through erectile dysfunction, it's crucial to understand why it's happening. The primary reason for ED is a lack of blood flow to the penis, which makes erections difficult to get and keep. Rather than relying on prescription and gas station pills for a quick fix, more men are using softwave ED treatment in Charleston, SC for an all-natural solution minus the side effects. With Softwave therapy, you don't have to live with ED, and you don't have to suffer from scary side effects from popping too many pills.
Book AppointmentSoftwave therapy is often a more effective solution for men with ED than similar but less effective treatments using pressure waves. Softwave therapy from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine uses acoustic pulses or unfocused shockwaves with fast and steep rise times and high positive pressure. Our unfocused wave design makes it possible to spread energy to a larger area, which affects deep and superficial tissue. By targeting a larger area, a more potent biological response is often achieved, initiating your body's natural healing factors.
By comparison, radial pressure waves use acoustic pneumatic pulses with low steeping effects, slow rise times, and large negative pressures. Radial waves are shallower than the shockwaves used in Softwave technology and focus energy and pressure at the surface of the applicator.
Here's a quick breakdown of the differences between softwave therapy for ED in Charleston, SC, and radial pressure waves:
If you're new to the world of Softwave therapy, chances are you've got some lingering questions you need answered. We'll do our best to answer a few of those questions here for your convenience.
Q. Has the FDA approved softwave therapy for ED in cityname, state?
A. Yes - Softwave therapy is FDA 510(k) approved for:
Q. Is softwave therapy painful?
A. Softwave therapy does not require surgery or any invasive form of treatment. With that said, some patients describe minimal discomfort or pain during our softwave treatments. Should this occur, your medical specialist will make necessary adjustments. Usually, patients do not have to endure any pain at all and only experience a pulse or tapping feeling on their skin.
Q. How long is a Softwave treatment session?
A. An individual session only takes five to fifteen minutes. It's typically recommended that patients have treatment once a week for three to five weeks. The length and frequency of your Softwave therapy sessions will be determined after you visit our medical clinic for a comprehensive evaluation.
Q. How long does it take for Softwave therapy to work?
A. Every patient we treat is different, and as such, will have different treatment recommendations. Often, patients notice the results of Softwave therapy after the first session. However, for the longest-lasting effects, most patients need between three and four treatments, with a week of non-treatment after every session.
Q. Can I combine Softwave therapy with other treatments from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine?
A. It's hard to give a definitive answer to this question since every patient is different. It's important for you to have a full evaluation to determine the scope of your needs and the appropriate therapies. However, Softwave therapy often works very well with other treatments. In fact, other therapies offered at our medical clinic like massage therapy and chiropractic care can make Softwave treatment even more effective.
Remember - our team at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine is always happy to answer any questions you may have about ED or our ED treatments. Give us a call today - it would be our pleasure to get to know you better!
Unlike some wellness clinics, our experienced providers work together to optimize treatment for men suffering from ED. We always strive to make sexual wellbeing an accessible part of your everyday lifestyle.
That's why, at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, our mission is simple: to correct the root cause of your erectile dysfunction by taking a comprehensive, total body approach to healing and treatment. We want to address your ED problem without having to resort to chemical-based medications or unnecessary surgeries. Instead, we focus on all-natural, effective solutions like shockwave therapy for ED in Charleston, SC.
By discovering what's best for each person's individual body and needs, we can help create a healthier future for those in our community through our holistic physical medicine practices. Contact our office to learn more about Softwave therapy and how we can solve the underlying causes of your unique ED situation.
Book AppointmentCollege of Charleston Cougars (21-3) vs. Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (12-12)The Line: Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens +5.5 / College of Charleston Cougars -5.5 ; Over/Under: 148.5 (Get latest betting odds)The College of Charleston Cougars and the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens meet Saturday in college basketball actio...
College of Charleston Cougars (21-3) vs. Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (12-12)
The Line: Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens +5.5 / College of Charleston Cougars -5.5 ; Over/Under: 148.5 (Get latest betting odds)
The College of Charleston Cougars and the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens meet Saturday in college basketball action from Bob Carpenter Center. Charleston is coming off a Thursday game versus Drexel. In that one the Cougars lost by a single point. As for Delaware, they played Monmouth in their Thursday game. The Hens would go on to lose that game by eight. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Charleston Cougars
The Cougars lost just one of their first 22 games this year, a 102-86 result versus North Carolina on November 11 in just the second outing of the season. Charleston wouldn’t lose another game until falling 85-81 to Hofstra last weekend.
In the Drexel matchup on Thursday, the Cougars were up 35-27 at the start of the second half. Charleston fell behind on a 43-34 run and ended up losing a tough one 70-69. Dalton Bolon led the way on 19 points in the defeat.
Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens
Over on the Delaware side, they hit a 9-7 run over their first 16 games of the season. The Hens went just 3-4 over the next seven games, however. The losses in that span came to Hofstra, Northeastern, Drexel and Hampton.
On Thursday versus Monmouth, Delaware was up 29-25 going into the locker room. The Hens were outscored 45-33 in the second half and lost the game 70-62. Jameer Nelson was the leading team scorer on 20 points and four assists.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stick with Charleston. The Cougars are struggling a bit right now with the consecutive losses (by a combined five points), but this will be a good opportunity to bounce back. Charleston is still scoring well; they’ve hit 69 or more points in 12 straight games. As for Delaware, they had a bad second half versus Monmouth in their last outing and they’ve now gone 1-3 in the last four. Delaware lost 75-64 the last time these teams met on January 7, and I don’t see them getting any closer in this one.
After more than two decades of planning, fundraising, and construction efforts, the new International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina finally has an opening date: June 27, 2023—just after Juneteenth.The announcement comes after myriad delays to the project, which was first proposed by Charleston mayor Joe Riley back in 2000. Since then, the size and scope of the prospective museum have changed, so has its location, and securing the ...
After more than two decades of planning, fundraising, and construction efforts, the new International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina finally has an opening date: June 27, 2023—just after Juneteenth.
The announcement comes after myriad delays to the project, which was first proposed by Charleston mayor Joe Riley back in 2000. Since then, the size and scope of the prospective museum have changed, so has its location, and securing the $100 million ultimately required to realize the institution proved consistently challenging in the historic southern city still reckoning with its antebellum past.
It wasn’t until late 2019 that work on the museum broke ground. But the pandemic all but halted that less than six months later. The most recent setback came last December, when the museum postponed its planned January opening date because of faulty humidity and temperature controls in its building.
“I now have a really interesting relationship with the word ‘delay,’” said Dr. Tonya Matthews, president and CEO of the museum.
Matthews, who signed as IAAM’s inaugural head in 2021, has come to view the project’s obstacles as mere pit stops on a larger journey. “Every time I’ve looked at what we were discussing, say, five years ago,” she said, “what I realize is that, if the museum had opened at any other time, it really would have been a different space.”
“Ten years ago,” she added, “we weren’t actually going to be located at the site of Gadsden’s Wharf—and that of course has become a signature and grounding point for us.”
Indeed, it’s hard to imagine the museum anywhere else. Located on the Charleston waterfront, Gadsden’s Wharf was once the site of a prolific trading port where hundreds of thousands of slaves first stepped onto American land. It’s a location that shaped American history perhaps as much as Plymouth Rock, but until recently, there were no signs that acknowledged that past.
The IAAM will fix that. In fact, it already has: Designed by architect Henry Cobb, the museum’s building sits atop 18 one-story-tall pillars so as to not touch the ground—a sign of respect for the slaves that once walked the land below. Underneath the building is a tidal pool and an ethnobotanical “African Ancestors Memorial Garden” with indigenous plants from West Africa, the Caribbean, and South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Conceived by landscape designer and MacArthur “genius” grantee Walter Hood, the space is open to the public year-round.
Inside, the 100,000-square-foot building boasts nine exhibition spaces in which the museum will aim to tell the “full story of the African American journey, from ancient African civilization to modern day.” One room, for instance, will go all the way back to 300 B.C.E to detail the evolution of rice—South Carolina’s cash crop—while another is dedicated to the Gullah Geechee people of the south Atlantic coast.
Some 700 objects belong to the IAAM’s collection—from old slave shackles to ornate Mardi Gras costumes—and just about every one of them will be on view when the institution opens. That includes nearly 80 pieces of contemporary art, which will be displayed throughout the venue in what is being called a “floating” gallery. Among the artists represented in the collection are Nina Chanel Abney, McArthur Binion, Jacob Lawrence, Kara Walker, Carrie Mae Weems, and Hank Willis Thomas.
The mix of art and artifacts speaks to a core theme of the museum, which is, as Matthews put it, “the constant interweaving of trauma and joy.”
“[It’s] not trauma in the exhibit to the left and joy in the exhibit to the right, but much more like the African American experience itself, which is a constant weaving.”
Right now, there are roughly 30 people on staff at IAAM; come June, that number will double. Before the opening, almost all of them will undergo “cultural competency” and “cultural empathy” training—an unusual requirement for museum workers, to be sure.
When asked about the application of those training exercises, Matthews explained that, in the years and months leading up to the museum’s opening, she and her staff have gotten questions that deal with what she calls “high impact, negative emotions”: “’Are you going to yell at people? Are people going to feel mad and sad? Are they going to come out of there angry? Are they going to come out of there feeling guilty?’”
These, the museum head explained, are “questions of fear.”
“That’s where the empathy comes in,” she said. “We are not trying to inflict emotion. We want this to be an emotional place, we want this to be a place where folks can reflect and engage, but… what those emotions are—that’s not up to us. What the museum is supposed to do is to create space for whatever that is. That’s where empathy comes in.”
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Charleston Wine + Food (W+F) returns this weekend for another year of indulging in great local food and drinks, as well as discovering the massive talent the area’s industry has to offer. The festival took a break in 2021 but returned in a big way last year with a revamped and relocated Culinary Village that moved from downtown to Riverfront Park, included free family events and had an extensive list of special dinners and chefs.Last year also saw a change of leadership. Longtime W+F Director Gillian Zettler announced her depart...
Charleston Wine + Food (W+F) returns this weekend for another year of indulging in great local food and drinks, as well as discovering the massive talent the area’s industry has to offer. The festival took a break in 2021 but returned in a big way last year with a revamped and relocated Culinary Village that moved from downtown to Riverfront Park, included free family events and had an extensive list of special dinners and chefs.
Last year also saw a change of leadership. Longtime W+F Director Gillian Zettler announced her departure after the festival’s return, leading to communications director Alyssa Maute Smith acting as interim executive director.
Maute Smith officially took the helm as executive director in January, and under her leadership, W+F is emphasizing its focus on residents, the food and beverage (F&B) community and professionals in hospitality. This new direction is seen in the participants, as well as the programming and special community-focused events like the first-ever Street Fest with the City of Charleston and a new partnership with Charleston County School District, Maute Smith said.
Last year saw the relocation of the event’s Culinary Village from Marion Square to Riverfront Park with a larger set up and free access to a food truck rodeo just outside the entrance.
This year, the Culinary Village is getting another facelift by splitting into four “neighborhoods,” Maute Smith said. These neighborhoods in different sections of Riverfront Park highlight different cuisine styles, she added.
“Each one of those neighborhoods tells something about how we eat here,” she said.
One neighborhood, “Shucktown,” is focused on seafood, oysters, shrimp and other coastal cuisine. Next is the “Grillin’ and Chillin’ ” neighborhood, dedicated to Lowcountry barbecue, outdoor and live fire cooking. “Street Eats” is a call to the festival’s Saturday night internationally themed signature event, which will celebrate the variety of world cuisines that Charleston offers. Finally, local farmers and purveyors will get a chance to shine and show off their goods in the “Farm Fresh’’ neighborhood.
A food truck rodeo will no longer sit outside the entrance of the Culinary Village but instead is integrated into the Village in related neighborhoods.
Each neighborhood will also have a small demonstration stage for two chefs, restaurants or caterers to offer “bite-sized demos” of interactive, live cooking with guests. And moving across the Village and into each neighborhood throughout the weekend are three snack carts, provided by Lowe’s Foods. While the bite-sized demos, snack carts and some vendors offer samples of food, Maute Smith said the food trucks and other vendors will offer full meals to stuff your belly even more.
Culinary Village is open 1-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets for the Village are $135. A shuttle from the Charleston Visitor Center & Bus Shed in downtown Charleston to the Village is available for an additional $28.
The City of Charleston is celebrating its culinary culture with an inaugural Street Fest in partnership with W+F. Three blocks of upper King Street from John to Mary streets with an extension on Ann Street will be blocked off from 6-9 p.m. on March 2.
The free, family friendly event will feature live music and for-purchase food and beverages from local vendors, food trucks and businesses along King Street. Part of Ann Street will be dedicated for a 21-and-over wine and beer garden for attendees.
“This is just an exciting thing because upper King Street doesn’t get shut down very often,” Maute Smith said.
All of the brick and mortar restaurants on that section of King Street have been invited to “spill out” onto the street, according to Maute Smith, along with retail shops and food trucks and pop-ups like Lola’s Lumpia and Bert & T’s Desserts.
In partnership with Holy City Brewing, W+F will have its own special brew, available at the biergarten on Ann Street during the Street Fest, and all weekend at Holy City Brewing and Culinary Village.
“Making our festival more accessible and inclusive is a major goal for Wine + Food,” Maute Smith said. “Partnering with the city and our sponsors makes that possible, and we are excited to present our first-ever free feast and fest.”
In addition to partnerships with Lowe’s Foods, the City of Charleston and Holy City Brewing, W+F is launching its Charleston County School District (CCSD) and Charleston Wine + Food Scholars Program with public high schools in Charleston County. Students from culinary programs at Wando, West Ashley, Burke, Military Magnet and North Charleston high schools will be on-site throughout the festival weekend. They’ll work during opening night, Culinary Village and in the prep kitchen for a paid internship.
“This is a way that we can continue to regenerate our local F&B industry and keep really good talent here in Charleston,” Maute Smith said. “And it’s a great way to really meet that educational pillar that’s in our mission and just one of the ways that we work with the community around. But I’m personally very excited about having the opportunity to influence young students and get them excited about culinary and hospitality and the opportunities they could have in those fields.”
It’s Charleston Wine + Food weekend which means thousands of people will visit the Lowcountry to check out what Charleston-area eateries have to offer. It’s a chance to check out new places, meet new people and learn what Lowcountry cuisine is all about.
Here are 18 restaurants participating in W+F signature dinner events. While signature dinners are likely to be sold out, you can still check out these eateries during the festival weekend. There’s a reason these chefs and restaurants have a signature dinner tied to their name, after all. —Michael Pham
babas on meeting804 Meeting St. (Downtown) (843) 284-6260Babsoncannon.com
Charleston Grill224 King St. (Downtown) (843) 577-4522Charlestonplace.com
Delaney Oyster House115 Calhoun St. (Downtown) (843) 594-0099Delaneyoysterhouse.com
Frannie & the Fox181 Church St. (Downtown) (866) 246-7407Hotelemeline.com
Herd Provisions106 Grove St. (Downtown) (843) 637-4145Herdprovisions.com
Husk76 Queen St. (Downtown) Huskrestaurant.com
Magnolias185 E Bay St. (Downtown) (843) 577-7771Magnoliascharleston.com
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint1622 Highland Ave.(James Island) (843) 790-0838Martinsbbqjoint.com
Oak Steakhouse17 Broad St. (Downtown) (843) 722-4220Oaksteakhouserestaurant.com
O-Ku463 King St. (Downtown) (843) 737-0112O-kushushi.com
Pink Bellies595 King St. (Downtown) (843) 640-3132Pinkbellies.com
Post House101 Pitt St. (Mount Pleasant)(843) 203-7678Theposthouseinn.com
Sullivan’s Fish Camp2019 Middle St.(Sullivan’s Island)(843) 883-2100Sullivansfishcamp.com
The Grocery4 Cannon St. (Downtown) (843) 302-8825Thegrocerycharleston.com
The Kingstide32 River Landing Drive(Daniel Island) (843) 216-3832Thekingstide.com
The Pass207-A St Philip St.(Downtown) (854) 444-3960Thepasschs.com
Three Sirens1067 E Montague Ave.(North Charleston) (843) 573-7204Threesirenschs.com
Welton’s Fine Foods682 King St. (Downtown) Weltonstinybakeshop.com
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Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano is addressing a monthslong fight to get more money to increase the starting pay for deputies.NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano is addressing a monthslong fight to get more money to increase the starting pay for deputies.A recent bump in pay of $10,000 for both detention and sheriff’s deputies has come from money left over from the unfilled positions within the office. Graziano said she is still using that money as council mulls giving her ...
Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano is addressing a monthslong fight to get more money to increase the starting pay for deputies.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano is addressing a monthslong fight to get more money to increase the starting pay for deputies.
A recent bump in pay of $10,000 for both detention and sheriff’s deputies has come from money left over from the unfilled positions within the office. Graziano said she is still using that money as council mulls giving her additional funding.
Last week, council passed an ordinance that would give the department $3.8 million from the county’s general fund. That measure needs to go through a few more readings before it is given to the sheriff.
Graziano said they requested that money to fill all of the vacancies the department has for the remaining fiscal year, which ends in late June. The sheriff says they currently have around 30 open positions for sheriff’s deputies and fewer than 100 spots in the detention center.
She adds they have seen an increase in applicants for positions since the pay increases.
“We have seen an increase with the limited amount of advertising that we’ve done, but we haven’t started that campaign yet, and once we start that campaign, we anticipate it being much higher,” she said.
At the end of last year, the starting salary for the detention center and a sheriff’s deputy was around $36,000 and $40,000, respectively.
“There’s a history here of the status quo, following the status quo, getting a budget allocated at one amount this year, and it’s going to be the same amount next year and not accounting for any increase or very little increase,” Graziano said.
Now, the pay has jumped up to around $46,000 for the detention center and around $49,000 for sheriff’s deputies.
This took effect around the beginning of the year, and it is the first time since 2017 pay rates have gone up in the department.
“Any agency that waits five to seven years to adjust salaries beyond the market is going to struggle,” Graziano said. “As a county, they should probably start looking at this annually and not wait for four to five to six to seven years to make a market adjustment because then you’re setting yourself up for these huge increases in your budget you can’t prepare for.”
Graziano said she will use the money from the unfilled positions until she gets the money from the county.
However, she also says the salary has been one of the reasons the department has been struggling with keeping people on the books.
“We were losing them because of the money, and when you have a $10,000 difference in starting pay for deputies doing the exact same work across the street, then it’s a no brainer,” Graziano said, “but people come back to us often because they like the culture and they want to be in this agency.”
She also said council’s vote also carries a commitment to keep the new pay rates going for the next fiscal year.
Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Two North Charleston-based staffing firms have introduced virtual reality simulator assessment to test a job applicant’s skills.NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Two North Charleston-based staffing firms have introduced virtual reality simulator assessment to test a job applicant’s skills.Representatives from ProLogistix and Hire Dynamics say their virtual reality forklift simulator training is more efficient and safer. They also say the two staffing firms will now be including the simulator assessment for forklift op...
Two North Charleston-based staffing firms have introduced virtual reality simulator assessment to test a job applicant’s skills.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Two North Charleston-based staffing firms have introduced virtual reality simulator assessment to test a job applicant’s skills.
Representatives from ProLogistix and Hire Dynamics say their virtual reality forklift simulator training is more efficient and safer. They also say the two staffing firms will now be including the simulator assessment for forklift operator applicants.
Employee Bridge spokesman Jon Nikolas said Nicklas said a major reason the VR forklift simulator was added to the company’s interview process was to determine whether the interviewee’s true skill set if they come from this background of work to avoid any accidents.
“We’re hoping to provide safe forklift operators for our clients here in the Tri-County area,” Nicklas said. “That’s the main thing is we just want to keep everybody safe. The second aspect is obviously increasing productivity so if you know you’ve got a skilled forklift operator then you can hold them to a high production standard. And speed and efficiency in a warehouse is what we’re looking for.”
The simulator uses a headset and a console and those assisting with the simulation testing are able to see on displays what the operator is seeing and doing while taking these assessments. Those with three to four months of experience will be given an assessment to determine their skill level in a test that takes about 10 minutes to complete, he said. It evaluates input on controls, safety, awareness of surroundings, and speed of movement.
Those who pass the VR simulator will then take an exam through a proctored video for an OSHA forklift exam.
He said those who do not pass the VR forklift assessment after two tries are able to apply for other performance-to-hire positions within the staffing firm.
Nikolas said this is a significant investment on behalf of EmployBridge and says from a safety standpoint it lets them leverage technology and helps the recruiting process run smoother by sorting those who are qualified.
The two staffing firms will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the firms’ new merged office, located at 3290 Ashley Phosphate Rd., Unit A.
ProLogistix and Hire Dynamics put over 600 people to work each week in the Charleston area, a news release states.
Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.