The University of South Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness established the USC Ham Coordinating Committee (UHCC) in 2004 to increase public awareness of this important asset, while advocating for ham radios to be used as a redundant communication system by state and local agencies.  The UHCC is headed up by Bill Dease, KI4PKO, whose leadership continues to grow and strengthen the committee.  Members are committed to providing training and leveraging resources to obtain funding for the SCHEART project, which has become a major force driving the UHCC and its partners.

The success of the original Hospital Emergency Amateur Radio Team (HEART) that was established to support hospitals , during emergencies to facilitate coordinated responses, and patient movement also supports the American Red Cross, state and local government , and SKYWARN.  The success of this system led to the expansion of the HEART system into a state-wide initiative known as the South Carolina Healthcare Emergency Amateur Radio Team (SCHEART).

The UHCC membership represents public and private organizations.  In addition to the USC-CPHP, very active members include Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), Carolina Amateur Radio Emergency Services (CARES), the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV), South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), HEART, South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA), York Technical College, among other concerned state and local agencies/organizations.