Even if other parts of life were upended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Linda Rogers wasn’t about to stop going to her rehabilitation appointments.
Three times a week since March, the Myrtle Beach resident and breast cancer survivor, 69, has gone to Tidelands Health Rehabilitation Services at Murrells Inlet to improve her strength. She was referred to the clinic by her cardiologist after experiencing fainting episodes, a side effect of her breast cancer medication.
“I can wear my mask and continue to go because I feel like continuing to build up strength and doing what my doctor says is more important than staying home and sitting around waiting until this is over,” says Rogers, who underwent a double mastectomy in August 2015. “We don’t know when this is going to be over.”
Like many people, Rogers is concerned about the risk of getting COVID-19 when she leaves her home, but she knew from experience just how seriously Tidelands Health takes cleaning and disinfection.
“Tidelands Health was extremely clean, even before the pandemic,” she says. “They cleaned everything the minute you got off a piece of equipment. I didn’t have any hesitation about going.”

The additional safety measures put in place in response to the pandemic only further reassured Rogers. Tidelands Health has implemented a series of extra precautions at all of the health system’s 60-plus care locations as part of the organization’s ”Safe in our Care” initiative.

The initiative includes Safe Care Navigators, who screen patients for symptoms of COVID-19, provide hand sanitizer for hand hygiene and answer safety-related questions, enhanced check-in and check-out procedures, designated social distancing zones and enhancements to the organization’s already-stringent cleaning protocols in lobbies and exam rooms. In addition, all patients, visitors and team members are required to wear a face covering or mask in all Tidelands Health care locations, and e-visits are available at physician offices and rehabilitation clinics.
“I felt very safe,” Rogers says. 

Rogers has enjoyed continued improvements since she began working with Pam DiGiovanna, a physical therapist at the Murrells Inlet rehabilitation clinic. Together, DiGiovanna and Rogers have focused on improving her total body strength, including her hands, shoulders, core and legs. Rogers has also received care at Tidelands Health Neurological Rehabilitation Center for vertigo, another side effect of her breast cancer medication.

“She has made significant strength gains,” DiGiovanna says. “She’s really motivated and has done a great job learning all the exercises.”
Between working with DiGiovanna and the salt tablets she’s taking to help maintain her hydration levels, Rogers says she hasn’t experienced any fainting episodes since beginning her physical rehabilitation regimen.
On Thursday, she was discharged by DiGiovanna with a custom-tailored plan that will allow her to continue building her strength independently at home.
“I’ve had very, very good care,” Rogers says. “I have been very pleased.”