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Jessica M. Sibley

Ray Schroeder, CEO and founder of Interim HealthCare, left, stands with his staff at the Seneca office on Friday, celebrating 30 years of operation.

SENECA — For Ray Schroeder, life as a lawyer was losing its flare and, one day, it hit him.

“We finished with a divorce proceeding, and at the end of it no one was happy,” he said. “I thought ‘this is not what I want to do for the rest of my life.’”

Instead, he decided to give back in a way that he had yet to explore. He wanted to provide help to those who needed it most.

So, with help from friends, he founded Interim HealthCare, a company designed to give in-home care for a wide range of medical needs.

He moved to Greenville and opened his first office in 1979, unsure of what to expect.

“During that time, there weren’t many options for home care,” he said. “I remember when I got my first client. He was thrilled at the low prices, and it’s no wonder. I had accidentally given him the pay rate, because I was hiring people during that time. I’ve learned since then,” he said jokingly.

And now, Interim HealthCare has seven offices, including its nonprofit Hospice operation.

“We serve about 3,500 patients,” he said. “Looking back on 30 years, I can’t believe it. Our employees are dedicated, and our patients mean everything to us.”

In addition to providing infusions and treatments such as chemotherapy in the home, Interim HealthCare also offers a service called “Telemedicine.”

“No bigger than an average-sized phone, the system takes seven vital signs of the patient. From a weight check to blood pressure,” he said. “Then, those readings are downloaded to our system, and we can keep track of their health. It’s really something, especially for sons or daughters who can’t be close to their aging parents. We keep patients out of the emergency room.”

But, in the end, Schroeder credits his staff and a trusting community for making his dream a success.

“We are here to help,” he said. “People want to stay comfortable in their homes as long as possible, and that’s what we want to provide.”

For more information, call (800) 439-4590.

jsibley@dailyjm.com | (864) 882-2375