HealthFirst Opens New Mt. Pleasant Office

HealthFirst opened its fourth urgent and primary care practice in the Charleston area today at a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting in Mount Pleasant.

The new facility at the corner of U.S. 17 and Hwy. 41 offers emergency, primary, chronic and specialty care in one facility with convenient hours.

"We are excited to serve our community East of the Cooper," said Frank Wells, the practice's chief operating officer. "Our patients repeatedly asked us to open an office closer to their homes in Mount Pleasant. We will combine our high-quality medical care with the lowest co-pays, just like we have done since 2004 in Charleston."

This new practice was built with patients in mind, said Dr. Bo Machado, HealthFirst medical director.

"Every bolt in this building has a purpose... Every window, every light switch, every door and every light was thought about with the patients in mind," Machado said.

Machado started the practice 8 years ago with the idea of making healthcare more easily obtainable. Previously he had been a firefighter and EMT and then after medical school worked in emergency departments at various hospitals.

He left a successful career in that field to start HealthFirst after being inspired by a sermon at SeaCoast Church. Machado and Wells remain focused on faith as they expand the business.

"We got rid of all the obstacles to quality, urgent medical care that everyone hates," Machado said. "God took a negative and turned it into a positive."

The new facility had a soft opening on Saturday when it saw approximately 20 patients. Monday marked its first official day of business. The practice is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is closed Sunday.