1300 Hospital Dr #220
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Could you imagine going through life every day with near-debilitating, chronic back pain? Back pain is one of the most common ailments in America - it's estimated that 8% of all adults, or 16 million people, suffer from chronic back pain in the U.S. every year. If you've never experienced a back injury or pain, be thankful. Chronic back pain affects every aspect of a person's life, from participating in sports to limitations with everyday activities, like cooking dinner. In fact, many people with chronic back pain can't even make a reliable living and put food on the table. Almost 83 million workdays are lost every year due to choric back pain.
The inability to work and provide isn't just a physical issue - it can become an emotional one too. Many people suffering from chronic back pain also suffer from depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, in the past, chronic back pain sufferers wanting to avoid addictive medications and invasive surgeries had few viable relief options. However, if you're suffering from a chronic back issue like sciatica, a pinched nerve, or a bulging disc, pain relief may be closer than you think.
Modern chiropractic care and, more specifically, a spinal decompression chiropractor in Charleston, SC, may be the long-term solution you need for chronic back pain.
A common misconception is that chiropractors only adjust your back and neck when, in fact, they treat the whole body with all-natural treatments. Here at Elite Healthcare, our doctors focus on your overall health, not just pain. We want to find and address the underlying causes of your symptoms. If you're unfamiliar with an integrative approach to medicine, this strategy may seem new. Our chiropractic care is less about putting a band-aid on the problem and more about finding a natural, long-term solution to your pain.
Fortunately, our experienced chiropractors provide the best in natural pain relief. Prescription and over-the-counter pain medications mask the symptoms you're experiencing versus getting to the cause of your pain. Pain is often the result of your spine being out of alignment, which leads to nerve issues. Once your spine is back in alignment, the nerves function correctly again.
Because our chiropractic center offers a combination of different therapies and non-surgical treatments, we provide a comprehensive approach to healing. Depending on the extent of your back problems, spinal decompression therapy may be the answer to your chronic pain problems.
Initially developed in 1985 by Dr. Allan Dyer, spinal decompression has been used by chiropractors for years. Unfortunately, spinal decompression is often passed over as a viable treatment, despite its numerous benefits.
In the past, patients suffering from chronic back pain issues like herniated discs were usually prescribed powerful medications. They were instructed to refrain from physical activities, referred to a physical therapist, and sent on their way. While physical therapy has an important role in back pain recovery, some back conditions need a more comprehensive treatment approach. For those patients, surgery seemed like the only option.
Today, patients with chronic back pain have many more options to consider. One of the most effective treatments for serious back pain is spinal decompression. This proven therapy, provided by Elite Healthcare, has been shown to significantly reduce pain and help patients live a normal, even active lifestyle once again.
Spinal decompression, also called Lumbar Cervical Decompression Therapy (LCD Therapy), is a very effective non-surgical solution to chronic back pain problems. If you're like most patients, your back pain is caused by disc issues related to your spine. This type of therapy uses computer technology and a spinal decompression machine in cityname, state, to stretch your spinal column slowly and gently, relieving abnormal pressure on the discs in your back, which sit in between your vertebrae.
This precise stretching action causes negative pressure to form inside the discs in your back, making them retract. With time, this negative pressure causes a reverse vacuum of sorts that actually draws your protruding discs into place. When pressure is removed from the disc segments in your spine, you experience much-needed pain relief.
The primary purpose of spinal decompression therapy is to provide you with immediate pain relief while creating a healthy environment to heal your spinal disc condition. Some of the most common conditions that spinal decompression therapy treats include:
This happens when spinal discs in your back are pushed outside of the spinal canal. When pushed outside of their usual space, these discs can put pressure on the nerves in your spine, resulting in localized pain and pain throughout your body. If a bulging disc is left untreated, it has a high chance of rupturing, which can necessitate surgery and longer recovery time.
Herniated discs are discs in your back that fracture or crack and leak fluid. The fluid or gel that leaks from a herniated disc may irritate the nerves in your back. When this happens, you may experience an intense burning sensation that shoots up and down your lower back and legs.
As you grow older, joints in your body, like your knees and hips, begin to wear away with time. The same thing can happen to the discs in your back. Often caused by heavy lifting or a family history of spine problems, degenerative discs are painful and can lead to serious situations. In advanced cases, bone spurs can form and affect the nerves of your spine.
When a herniated disc or bone spur begins to put pressure on the nerves in your back, it often causes sciatica. Sciatica is a common back problem that causes pain to radiate from your lower back down your legs via your sciatic nerve. Sometimes, this pain is only felt in one of your legs.
This condition is similar to arthritis of your spine, where the cartilage inside your facet joint breaks down and becomes inflamed. The result is often intense neck and back pain. It's most often caused by degenerative changes in the joints located between the bones of your spine.
This painful condition manifests when the space in your backbone is too small. When this happens, pressure impacts your spinal cord and the nerves that travel through it. Like other conditions treated by a spinal decompression therapy cityname, state, stenosis is caused by wear-and-tear in your back, which forms arthritis.
This term is often used to classify a range of back problems, most often caused by a pinched nerve root in your spinal column. This pinched nerve root may occur in different locations down your spine, like the lumbar or thoracic areas. Usually caused by a narrowing of the space where your nerve root leaves the spine, symptoms of this condition include pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness.
If you're looking for a safe way to relieve your chronic back pain, spinal decompression should be on your list of treatments to consider. This painless procedure is backed by research showing higher success rates in many patients when compared to spinal surgery. Unlike many medications, spinal decompression from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine is designed to correct the condition you're facing while also minimizing costs and eliminating recovery and downtime.
Some of the most popular reasons why patients choose spinal decompression over surgery and other treatments include:
Invasive procedures, like back surgeries, often leave the patient racked with pain, long recovery times, and complications. Sometimes, the surgery doesn't work as intended, leaving the patient responsible for a therapy that didn't work correctly. As a non-invasive treatment, spinal decompression therapy can treat back and neck pain without needles, incisions, or harmful manipulations of the spine.
Getting back pain relief from surgery is far from guaranteed. However, because spinal decompression targets the underlying causes of your back pain, it's a much more effective long-term treatment. Spinal decompression is not a quick fix. When coupled with positive lifestyle changes like losing weight, you can maximize the pain-relieving benefits of spinal decompression.
Surgery of the back and spine requires the patient to be bedridden and uncomfortable for days and even weeks. Recovering from back surgery is no easy feat and often requires strong pain medications to help. Sometimes, back surgeries don't go as planned, causing complications and worse scenarios. Spinal decompression, on the other hand, is very effective and doesn't require much recovery time at all. Once your spinal decompression session is over, you'll probably be able to drive yourself home from our office.
One of the least talked about issues with back pain medications is that they only treat the pain, not the underlying causes. For many patients, relying on meds to relieve back pain fosters dependency on pain pills. Pain pill addiction is a very serious issue in the U.S., often leading patients down a dark path. With spinal decompression, you won't have to worry about taking pills for pain relief. That's because the root causes of your back pain are addressed, not just the symptoms.
If you were to look at the cost of surgery and subsequent years of prescription medication, you might be shocked. When compared to spinal decompression, surgery is a much more expensive treatment to consider. You've got to take the cost of surgery into account, but also the fact that you'll be forced to take time off work. By choosing spinal decompression therapy, you're choosing a safe, non-surgical treatment that doesn't require any time off work.
Spinal decompression relieves pressure on disrupted discs, causing them to retract back into place. This revolutionary treatment also lets oxygen, fluids, and nutrients re-enter your spinal discs, which provides additional healing.
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By now, you probably have a better idea of how spinal decompression can help rid your life of back pain. But spinal decompression treatment does more than help with bulging discs, herniated discs, arthritis, and more. It has also been shown to provide patients with important quality-of-life benefits.
As mentioned above, harsh surgeries leave you bedridden and unable to work for long periods of time. Spinal decompression allows you to jump right back into the workforce, so you can continue providing for your family. Plus, reducing your back pain naturally increases your mobility since you won't be stressing about hurting yourself while moving. Instead, you'll be living in the moment.
One of the worst symptoms affecting people with back pain is the inability to sleep well. Sleeping with back pain can be horrible, causing you to toss and turn to find a comfortable spot. As soon as you find one and get settled, your back starts to hurt again. It's a vicious cycle, but adjusting your spine and relieving pressure with spinal decompression will help you get a good night's rest.
Did you know that when your spine is decompressed, it helps fluids circulate throughout your body? These fluids actually flush your lymphatic system, which helps support your overall immune system. Better circulation also benefits your brain and can help boost concentration and memory. The improved circulation from spinal decompression may also distribute oxygen and nutrients to your skin, creating a multi-benefit effect.
We are happy to answer your questions, and help you find the services you need. Please message us to get started.
At Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, we practice an integrated approach to pain relief and chiropractic care. Our goal is to restore your spine to its proper alignment, which speeds up your recovery time and prevents additional injuries. If chronic back pain has taken over your life, it's time to visit our chiropractic office for a thorough evaluation.
Ask yourself this: Have you been suffering from headaches and sleepless nights due to muscle strain? Is your ability to work and put food on the table compromised due to a pinched nerve? No amount of over-the-counter pain medication can provide a long-term fix for such an issue. Thankfully, our chiropractors have years of experience providing relief to patients just like yourself.
After a comprehensive exam, our doctor will create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your body. That way, we can address the full scope of your symptoms by correcting any root causes of your back pain.
From minor chiropractic adjustments to spinal decompression treatment, we'll find the solution that your back and body need to heal correctly. If you're ready to get back on the road to better health, we're here to help every step of the way. Contact our Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine today to get started.
(843) 936-6238
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 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.
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