CMC Orthopaedics continues to expand to meet growing demand

When Dr. David Beck arrived at Conway Medical Center’s orthopaedics office in October 2020, the fledgling practice consisted of Beck and two other doctors.

Since then, CMC Orthopaedics has added a hand surgeon, a spine surgeon, a joint surgeon, a sports medicine physician, and a second pain management doctor, along with other positions. CMC also opened a surgical center at Health Plaza South in Socastee.

“The growth of our group has been pretty impressive,” Beck said.
It’s also vital.

As Horry County’s population grows — the number of residents has surged by more than 30% since 2010 — so does the demand for orthopaedic care. CMC doctors often see patients with foot and ankle arthritis, plantar fasciitis and many other ailments. They handle everything from sports injuries to joint replacements.

“Conway has historically had a private group covering their orthopaedics,” Beck said. “We came in and I don’t think there’s really been an effect on either one of us in terms of how many patients we can see and need to see in a day. There’s definitely room for us and probably more orthopaedists in the area due to everybody coming in and an aging population.”

Despite launching early in the pandemic, the growth of the practice hasn’t slowed.  “Keeping up with what this area needs is going to be the hardest part,” Beck said.

While many orthopedic challenges are unexpected, Beck says some problems are preventable.

“General health is probably the most important: keeping our body mass low and taking some of the stresses that our joints could see off by doing that and staying active,” Beck said. “Low-impact exercise is great for all joints. … A big problem we’re seeing in this area is folks developing diabetes, and that really goes a long way with foot health and care, especially once neuropathy sets in. We’re seeing a lot of foot and ankle conditions associated with diabetes that could have been prevented.”

Most musculoskeletal problems can be treated without surgery, but when surgery is necessary, CMC’s orthopedic staff uses state-of-the-art technology to get the best outcomes.

For more details about CMC Orthopaedics, click here or call 843-347-8041 to set an appointment.