Palmetto Community Care

Palmetto Community Care is a nonprofit HIV care organization in North Charleston, SC. For over 34 years, it has served as the region’s dedicated provider for HIV care, prevention, and community support. It is the only organization in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties with a sole focus on HIV. The clinic provides free, confidential care to a wide range of individuals, including LGBTQ+ people, Black and Latinx community members, those who have been incarcerated, and uninsured or underinsured adults. Services include HIV primary care, medication management, lab work, viral load monitoring, and treatment adherence support. The organization also offers case management and coordination with specialists. More than 700 neighbors receive ongoing support at any given time, and the team has provided over 3,000 free HIV and STI tests in the last year.

The organization began in 1985 as a small volunteer group called Lowcountry Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services. It was officially incorporated in 1990 as Lowcountry AIDS Services and operated under that name for 26 years. In 2018, it changed its name to Palmetto Community Care to better reflect the advanced state of HIV treatment and the broader scope of its services. The team includes Bradley Childs as Chief Executive Officer, Jill Barnes as Chief Financial Officer, and Jennifer Benvenuto as Director of Programs, who has been with the organization for 17 years. The clinic achieves a 95% viral suppression rate among clients living with HIV, meaning most reach undetectable levels. Agency hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended testing hours on Thursdays until 6:00 p.m. and shortened hours on Fridays.

Palmetto Community Care is located at 5064 Rivers Avenue in North Charleston.

The business holds a rating of 4.50 based on 52 reviews. This reflects a solid reputation among the customers it has served and a steady record of repeat and referred clients.

As the sole HIV-focused nonprofit in the Lowcountry, Palmetto Community Care provides specialized, long-term care for the North Charleston community.

Services:

• HIV & STI Testing
• Medical Case Management
• Pharmaceutical Services
• PrEP & PEP
• Support Services