OrthoCarolina Scotland and Scotland Health Care System have recently joined in a collaboration to enhance physical therapy services at Scotland Memorial Hospital.

“We made the decision to consolidate this much-needed service with the hospital in order to better benefit the community and our patients,” said Dr. Rick Alexander, an orthopedic surgeon with OrthoCarolina Scotland.

Gary Hatchell and Chuck Jackson have relocated to the hospital’s Community Health and Rehabilitation Center, where Hatchell is now director of rehab services.

“They both are very organized and extremely knowledgeable and will provide at the hospital the same great service our patients have received here at OrthoCarolina,” said Alexander. “Gary is a superb leader, well positioned to lead the excellent staff of the department.”

Robin Crump, the prior director, was recently promoted to head up the hospital system’s new operational excellence department.

After an absence of seven years, Hatchell expressed excitment about returning to his former department and position.

“I feel right at home coming back into the hospital,” Hatchell said. “This is a great place to work and a great place to provide physical therapy. OrthoCarolina patients will find this a fairly seamless transition; they will only be coming to a different location. They will receive the same excellent care as always.”

A number of issues, including a lack of space for the physical therapy service at OrthoCarolina Scotland, necessitated the move to Scotland Memorial Hospital.

“It just made sense to approach the hospital about collaborating with them,” said Alexander. “A fifth physician, a physiatrist, is joining the practice later this fall and space is needed for him. It’s a win-win situation for the practice and the patients. This collaboration increases the ability to offer better equipment, increased service, and enhanced care to all rehab patients.”

Officials said the partnership is one in a series of improvements in orthopedic service.

“This partnership is another example of the health care system working with our key physicians to provide better and more coordinated care to the communities we serve,” added Greg Wood, Chief Executive Officer. “This move, along with the Joint Camp and a new orthopedic nurse navigator starting on August 1, is all about providing the best orthopedic care to our patients in Scotland, Robeson, Marlboro, and Richmond counties.”