Department of Health and Environmental Control
- Columbia, SC, USA
- www.scdhec.sc.gov
Who We Are
DHEC is charged with promoting and protecting the health of the public and the environment in South Carolina. With more than 3,800 employees working in 100 locations across the state, our vision is healthy people living in healthy communities. This vision is supported by the agency’s four divisions:
Environmental Affairs issues and enforces environmental permits and operates the state’s ocean and coastal resource management program.
Healthcare Quality oversees the licensing and certification of healthcare facilities, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers, and drug control enforcement.
Public Health operates the agency’s public health and state laboratory functions, including 72 local health departments.
Operations provides strategic planning, project management, information technology, communications, legal services, human resources, and facility support.
Vision
Healthy people living in healthy communities
Mission
To improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians by protecting and promoting the health of the public and the environment.
Values
- Embracing Service - We embrace our responsibility to reliably serve our communities, our customers, and each other in a respectful manner, relying upon clear and uncompromised commitments to integrity, trust, dependability, and responsiveness.
- Inspiring Innovation - We encourage and empower our teams to find creative solutions to promote and protect the health of the public and the environment.
- Promoting Teamwork - We foster an inclusive and collaborative environment, valuing the diversity of thoughts, experience, and expertise of every team member, our stakeholders, and our communities
- Pursuing Excellence - We are steadfast in our commitment to the highest achievable standards of quality and professionalism in our pursuit of healthy people living in healthy communities.
What We Do
If you've received a birth certificate in South Carolina, visited a state health department, recycled your cans and bottles here, eaten at a restaurant, breathed in the air, or swam in the state's waters - DHEC has touched your life.
Just a few of the DHEC's services include providing vital health care services, coordinating disease control, monitoring and regulating pollution, ensuring food safety, supporting healthy nutrition, responding to natural disasters, providing research and statistics on the state's health and environment, and much more.