Federally qualified health center outlines expanded services and recent openings in Hampton County

A representative for a federally qualified community health center updated Hampton County Council on the organization’s services, recent expansion and patient mix in Hampton County.

Dr. Faye L. Hokey, a pediatrician and presenter for the health center, told the council the organization operates as a federally qualified community health center (FQHC) and meets federal program requirements to offer reduced fees for uninsured patients and maintain a patient‑majority board. “We only get about 25% of our budget from the federal government,” she said, explaining the center’s funding and program obligations.

Nut graf: the health center said it provides a broad range of primary and specialty services across multiple sites, is expanding a location that had been operated by another provider, and served nearly 3,000 individual Hampton County patients in 2024.

Key points from the presentation

- The center described its footprint and services: 11 center locations (with a recent opening at the Harrison Peoples Medical Center in Barnville), 10 school‑based health centers, three mobile units, five pharmacies, adult and pediatric medicine, OB/GYN care, dental services, imaging (X‑ray, mammography, ultrasound), nutrition and mental‑health counseling, telehealth, and medication‑assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.

- Dr. Hokey said the organization has a $37,000,000 budget, more than 300 staff members, and recorded about 18,000 patients or 60,000 patient visits systemwide last year; in Hampton County specifically the center saw almost 3,000 individual patients in 2024 and had seen roughly 2,500 already in 2025 after the recent expansion.

- The center’s board is required to be majority patients; Dr. Hokey named Audrey Hopkins Williams and Daniel Anderson as board members representing Hampton County.

- Dr. Hokey said the center is expanding pharmacy delivery and on‑site OB/GYN, nutrition and behavioral health at the newly acquired Barnville location and that mobile units provide medical and dental services to county schools.

Council engagement and public responses

Council members asked about screening events and community outreach; Dr. Hokey said the center would help coordinate a men’s screening event. One council member provided a personal endorsement of care received at the center for diabetes management.

Speakers

- Dr. Faye L. Hokey — role/title: pediatrician and presenter; affiliation_type: nonprofit/health center; first_reference at 327.54. - Keisha Austin — role/title: Executive Assistant (health center); affiliation_type: nonprofit; first_reference at 382.40. - Melissa Major — role/title: Chief of Finance & Operations (health center); affiliation_type: nonprofit; first_reference at 382.40. - Audrey Hopkins Williams — role/title: Health center board member (Hampton County representative); affiliation_type: citizen/nonprofit; first_reference at 506.915. - Daniel Anderson — role/title: Health center board member (Hampton County representative); affiliation_type: citizen/nonprofit; first_reference at 506.915.

Clarifying details

- Health center system budget: $37,000,000 (presenter stated). - Staff: more than 300 employees. - System patients/visits (last year): about 18,000 patients / 60,000 visits. - Hampton County patients (2024): almost 3,000 individual patients; early 2025 counts ~2,500 after expansion to Barnville. - New/expanded site referenced: Harrison Peoples Medical Center in Barnville; center partnered with Lowcountry Rural Health Education Consortium following Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s exit from that site.

Proper names

[{"name":"Harrison Peoples Medical Center","type":"facility"},{"name":"Beaufort Memorial Hospital","type":"organization"},{"name":"Lowcountry Rural Health Education Consortium","type":"organization"},{"name":"Audrey Hopkins Williams","type":"person"},{"name":"Daniel Anderson","type":"person"},{"name":"Dr. Faye L. Hokey","type":"person"}]

Authorities

[{"type":"other","name":"Federally qualified health center program requirements","citation":"federal program rules (not specified in transcript)","referenced_by":["presentation of FQHC status"]}]

Actions

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Discussion versus decisions

- Discussion: Dr. Hokey presented the center’s services, recent expansion and patient data; council members asked follow‑up questions about screenings and community outreach. - Direction: Council members and staff discussed facilitating community screening events in coordination with the center. - Decision: No formal council action was recorded on this item during the meeting.

Provenance

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Salience

{"overall":0.60,"overall_justification":"Health services expansion and access matter to residents; the presentation detailed services, patient counts and a local site reopening.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Directly affects Hampton County residents who receive health services.","attention_level":"medium","attention_level_justification":"Informational presentation with local service implications."}