Palmetto Infusion Palmetto Infusion is the national leader in ambulatory infusion services. Founded in 1999, the SC-born company has grown tremendously, employing more than 300 team members, and serving over 7,000 patients in four states, with 22 ambulatory infusion centers throughout the southeast.
Palmetto Infusion was founded by Michael Busbee and Connie Hartley, who soon partnered with Gary Cooper—owner and operator of the home care business, Winyah Home Health, that Palmetto referred its patients to. The team sought to overcome pervasive healthcare issues for immunocompromised or chronically ill patients, and their timing was no coincidence. The late 1990’s marked a momentous period for the biopharma industry as biologic infusion treatments entered the market. These drugs soon became available at hospitals and specialty doctors' offices, and patients began to treat themselves with the drugs at home—something previously reserved for antibiotics or fluids only. But Busbee, Hartley, and Cooper realized their unique ability to develop a new standard of care. With Palmetto Infusion, they could bring multiple patients out of their homes and under one roof, while providing critical oversight and monitoring by RNs, physicians, and pharmacists — and in a setting that was, of all things, enjoyable. Accessibility played a role in this groundbreaking model, as low-cost treatment options and easier access to care were created. Clinic access was simple, with touches like flat parking lots and single-level buildings, and strategically located to save patients hours-long drives to specialty doctors' offices or hospitals in larger cities.
Success came early for Palmetto Infusion, and they continue to experience steady growth long after opening their doors. However, a risky proposition in 2019 would hold the key to Palmetto Infusion's current day success and exponential growth, as Cooper (Chairman) and Goodall (Palmetto Infusion CEO) identified a private equity partner with an appealing offer and shared values — a rare combination. Cooper had previously sold and bought back the company in the mid-aughts, and when assessing private equity partners, he realized how much more was at stake—not only financially, but for the culture that his leadership team had so painstakingly built. Though most companies sell to private equity firms at their exit, Palmetto Infusion did the opposite. Due to Palmetto Infusion’s leadership and financial stewardship, Palmetto Infusion didn't have an actual need for the private equity money through Carousel Capital, but as Cooper stated, “We used the money to ignite our fire."
This private equity partnership was the final stage in Palmetto Infusion’s transformation. It allowed the company to remain entirely devoted to their team, and by extension, their patients. The ongoing and significant investment in their people has built a team who takes true ownership over patient care and the company's ongoing evolution.
Palmetto Infusion now spans more than 20 ambulatory infusion clinics throughout the Southeast, alongside a growing home infusion segment. The company plans to continue building a strong regional presence with a greater reach in the Carolinas and Georgia, while also expanding to other southeastern states. Above all, they plan to perpetuate the company's entrepreneurial culture while staying true to their humble, homegrown beginnings as a company that values its interpersonal relationships and patient-first mentality above all else.
