(Shown: At work at DMH company Premier Medical. Photo supplied.)

In another sign of the rapidly expanding life sciences industry in South Carolina, Diversified Medical Healthcare (DMH) on Feb. 23, 2022, announced plans to expand operations in Greenville County, S.C. The company’s $51 million investment will create 185 jobs, according to the Greenville Area Development Corporation. 

Founded in 2011, DMH is a holding entity with multiple brands underneath its umbrella, all dedicated to providing health care solutions or improved patient care on a national basis. 

DMH’s companies are Premier Medical Laboratory Services, CPT Medical, Vessel Medical and OnGen which between them provide expertise in the arenas of clinical reference laboratories, medical supply and equipment distribution, sterile medical manufacturing, and medical software. 

The companies combined serve customers in all 50 U.S. states and several foreign countries.

The announcement was made during a special program at SCBIO 2022: The Life Sciences Conference of South Carolina, taking place in Charleston. 

The conference was attended by more than 500 live and virtual attendees from across the country and multiple countries, indicative, GADC officials said, of the thriving industry which has expanded rapidly across the Palmetto State. 

Gov. Henry McMaster has proclaimed Feb. 21-25 as Life Sciences Week in the state, in honor of its rapid growth and opportunity to benefit all South Carolinians. 

“Our mission is to positively impact patient lives with solutions that drive the health care industry forward. All of our companies under DMH work together to address many needs within the health care industry,” said Diversified Medical Healthcare CEO Kevin Murdock. “We are extremely proud to expand in our home state of South Carolina to carry out that mission on a larger scale and are appreciative of everyone who helped to make this possible.”  

The DMH corporate headquarters is located at 6000 Pelham Road in Greenville. The announced expansion by the DMH companies will result in a portion of company operations expanding into a new 136,000 sq. ft. facility in Garlington North at 315 Tanner Price Way, Greenville. 

The expansive facility overlooks a key interstate connector in Interstate 85, ideal for the organization’s expanding business nationally as well as statewide, GADC officials said. 

The expansion also will support the company’s launch of its MyHealthPro product line, which produces retail-based genetic testing kits for at-home use. The tests, which will be sold directly to consumers, identify potential genetic markers for susceptibility and identification of medical issues.

Additionally, it will enable its in-house research and development team of scientists to further conduct vital research for the growth of their lab developed test offerings which serve the most up-to-date needs of the population.

Through this growth, all Diversified Medical Healthcare companies will continue to fill supply chain gaps and create solutions to make health care more efficient and effective for improved patient outcomes, GADC officials said. 

“I am thrilled that Diversified Medical Healthcare continues to grow and succeed in South Carolina. Today’s expansion announcement once again demonstrates that South Carolina is a place where medical companies want to do business. Congratulations to DMH, and we look forward to many more years of our business partnership,” McMaster said.

Over the last two years of the pandemic, Diversified Medical’s companies developed groundbreaking solutions for Covid-19 and provided a testing capacity of over 100,000 tests per day with 98 percent result delivery in under 24 hours. 

Its laboratory became the testing partner for state health departments and Health and Human services surge sites throughout the country. Its custom surgical procedure tray company expanded production to add in-house manufacturing of millions of Covid-19 testing kits.

The company also supported development and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and worked around the clock to achieve unmatched innovation in science and technology for the fight against Covid-19. 

“South Carolina’s life sciences sector is booming, and this latest expansion by Diversified Medical Healthcare in Greenville County is further testament to this critical sector’s growth. Congratulations to DMH on their success right here in South Carolina,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III. 

The expansion is underway and is expected to be completed by 2025. Individuals interested in joining the DMH team should email [email protected]. 

The state’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project. 

The council also awarded a $200,000 Set-Aside grant to Greenville County to assist with site preparation and building construction for the additional facility at Garlington North. 

The Greenville Area Development Corporation is a nonprofit organization established by Greenville County Council to promote and enhance the economic growth and development of Greenville County. 

Since its founding in 2001, GADC efforts have resulted in the creation of over 30,000 new jobs, nearly $6 billion in capital investment, and a cumulative economic impact of over $55 billion in Greenville County -- including an economic impact of more than $6 billion annually.