CareSouth Carolina Sees Several Statewide Award Winners

Three CareSouth Carolina employees were named recipients of awards by the South Carolina Primary Healthcare Association.

Tracy Hunter Named Recipient of the SCPHCA’s ‘You Make the Difference Award’

Tracy Hunter, a Patient Experience Technical Advisor at CareSouth Carolina, was recently awarded the You Make the Difference Award by the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association (SCPHCA).

Santrice Hailey, the Director of Administrative Services at CareSouth Carolina, nominated Tracy for the award.

Tracy has been an employee of CareSouth Carolina for 14 and a half years, starting as a Medical Office Assistant and advancing to her current role. She is highly valued by her colleagues and is known as the "right hand" to Medical Office Assistants (MOAs) as she answers calls, emails, and trains MOAs while being attentive to their needs.

Tracy also conducts "mini audits" to identify areas where CSC teams need improvement and she works closely with them until they have mastered the required skills. During the pandemic, she served as the front-office staff for all major off-site COVID-19 testing, screening over 300 patients.

Tracy's contributions to CareSouth Carolina have been significant, and her dedication to serving others is evident in her work. She has played an essential role in ensuring that the MOA staff passed their audit in every category, a feat never achieved before.

In her response to the award, Tracy thanked her colleagues, including Santrice Hailey, for their mentorship and coaching since she joined CareSouth Carolina in 2008. Tracy is proud of her work and is passionate about serving others.

“First of all, I want to thank God,” Hunter said. “I want to thank CareSouth Carolina, my Operations Department, front office, and all of my CareSouth Carolina family.”

She lives by two mottos, "while I live, I will graciously serve," and “the strength of the team is each individual member.” She said she is honored to work for an organization that allows her to play a vital role in helping and serving her community.

Denise Ellis, the Chief Personnel Officer at CareSouth Carolina, remembers hiring Tracy in 2008 and says, "even during her interview, I could tell that she cared deeply for the community and embodied the mission of CareSouth Carolina.”

“She has proven herself over and over again,” Ellis said. “As a Patient Experience Technical Advisor, she is in a position to let her light of compassion shine for all to see. And she does!”

Tracy's work has helped many patients in the Hartsville, Chesterfield, and Cheraw communities. Her contribution to CareSouth Carolina and the community is appreciated, and she is a deserving recipient of the You Make the Difference Award.

Pat Graham named recipient for the SCPHCA’s ‘Award of Excellence’

Pat Graham, the site administrator at CareSouth Carolina’s McColl Health & Wellness Center, has been awarded the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association's Award of Excellence. The award was presented to Graham at the SEA Retreat in Charleston, SC.

Graham, who has worked at CareSouth Carolina for 20 years, expressed her surprise and humility at being given the award.

"I was completely shocked,” she said. “I was cooking lunch that Sunday and my staff called me. It was totally unexpected. What an honor to be given an award like that for excellence for the whole state. I’m very humbled by that. It was totally unexpected.”

Graham's career at CareSouth Carolina began as a PRN-Floater in the Society Hill office. She worked in several positions, including Medical Records, Care Manager, and then became a Patient Advocate at CareSouth Carolina’s McColl office. She stepped into the role of site administrator at McColl seven years ago, and Graham said she relishes the opportunity to help patients every day and create a positive work environment for her staff.

Her colleagues praised her leadership and dedication to her work.

"This award comes as no surprise. I have worked with Pat at CSC for the past 20 years, and she has always exhibited excellence in her work. It has been a privilege to watch her become the leader she is," said Chaneka Pigatt, Deputy Operations Office. “Pat is the embodiment of excellence in her service to our McColl office staff, our McColl patients, our McColl community in which she works and lives, her coworkers, and family. I am so very proud to have Pat as part of my Site Administrator Team.”

"If there ever is an award for 'Excellence,' Pat Graham deserves it as a genuine person caring for patients and staff alike above and beyond on a daily basis," added Peggy Foster, Chief Operations Officer. "She is a prime example of one coming to work at an FQHC, growing and learning along the way with new opportunities – then being trusted in a leadership position to inspire others to 'catch the vision' and 'serve in the mission.'"

Outside of work, Graham enjoys spending time with her family and going to church. Her dedication to her work and her community has earned her the recognition of her peers and the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association.

Daniela Martinez honored with SCPHCA’s Personal and Professional Achievement Award

Daniela Martinez, CareSouth Carolina’s ROADS Administrative Coordinator, was recently honored by the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association as the Personal and Professional Achievement recipient at the SEA Retreat held in Charleston, SC. This recognition is a testament to Daniela's exceptional work and her dedication to serving the community.

Daniela joined CareSouth Carolina in 2017 as an MOA (Medical Office Assistant) at one of the organization’s busiest offices. She then moved to the ROADS mobile program in 2019 as an administrative assistant, where she continued to excel. Her leadership skills were recognized, and she was promoted to Administrative Coordinator in 2021. Daniela leads the administrative team of the ROADS program and is the first point of contact for all 58 schools that the program serves.

Daniela’s outstanding work at CareSouth Carolina, particularly her involvement with the ROADS program, has positively impacted the community. The ROADS mobile initiative offers comprehensive, remote medical care to the communities it serves and features three fully-equipped medical exam units staffed with a nurse practitioner, LPN, and medical assistant.

As a bilingual individual originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, Daniela connects with Spanish-speaking families on a personal level and goes the extra mile to reach out to those families. She has long dreamed of becoming a United States citizen, and in 2022, she started the process of becoming one while still excelling in her position at CareSouth Carolina. On February 8, 2023, Daniela officially became a United States citizen and was recognized at the Naturalization Ceremony in Charleston, SC.

“Daniela is an example of how hard work and perseverance in the health center world can also lead to personal achievements,” CareSouth Carolina Associate Medical Director Jeri Andrews said in her nomination.

Daniela believes that her work at CareSouth Carolina has allowed her to connect with the community and make a significant impact.

Outside of work, Daniela enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, stepdaughter, mom, and brother. She has accomplished a great deal both personally and professionally and continues to be an integral part of the CareSouth Carolina team.

CareSouth Carolina is a private, non-profit community health center delivering patient-centered health and life services in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. CareSouth Carolina operates centers in Bennettsville, Bishopville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Dillon, Hartsville, Lake View, Latta, McColl and Society Hill.

Services provided by CareSouth Carolina include family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, women services, OB/GYN, HIV/AIDS primary care, dental, chiropractic services, pharmacy, geriatrics, social services, clinical counseling, laboratory, 4D ultrasound, X-Ray, migrant services and veterans choice provider.