2 Providence Hospitals nurses receive 2015 Palmetto Gold award
May 7, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Two nurses from Providence Hospitals were honored at the South Carolina Nurses Foundation’s 2015 Palmetto Gold Gala. The honor, limited to the state’s top 100 nurses, included Providence’s Joanne Carelli and Cynthia Hughes. The two were honored at the annual gala for exemplifying excellence and outstanding commitment to the profession.
These women have now joined a prestigious group of more than two dozen past honorees from Providence Hospitals who continue to serve and contribute to the high-quality care patients receive at Providence. In honor of Nursing Week, their portraits will be displayed during a ceremony to be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2015, at 1 p.m. in the downtown hospital.
Since 2001, the Palmetto Gold Nurse Recognition and Scholarship Program has honored outstanding registered nurses throughout South Carolina. Each spring, the Palmetto Gold Gala is held to recognize nurses who exemplify high standards of health care. The proceeds generated from this gala contribute to the Palmetto Gold scholarship fund for RN students.
More information on the Palmetto Gold program: http://www.scpalmettogold.org/
MORE ABOUT THE PROVIDENCE PALMETTO GOLD RECIPIENTS:
Joanne Carelli, BSN, CNOR: An operating room nurse for more than 35 years, Carelli’s experience, kind demeanor and compassion are evident in her nursing practice. She graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Nursing in 1978 and earned her certification as a perioperative nurse, the gold standard in nursing care. Carelli has collaborated with and led a variety of teams including the LEAN process improvement team, the surgical services committee and a trial of a surgical safety checklist introduced by the World Health Organization. She has won numerous awards including employee of the month, highest patient satisfaction on her unit and the highest 3 Star Rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for an impressive 16 consecutive rating periods. In her spare time, Carelli volunteers at Pawmetto Lifeline pet shelter and participated in a mission trip to Guatemala with the Catholic Diocese of Charleston. She is also a veteran who served during Desert Storm in the Navy Reserve Nurse Corps.
Cynthia Hughes, BSN: Hughes obtained her nursing degree from Midwestern State University after serving in the Air Force for four years. Her colleagues cite her as a role model for compassionate care and outstanding leadership. She has served on numerous committee and group initiatives including the LEAN team, multi-unit redesign team and the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) coordination team. She is involved in many professional groups including General Cardiology Council, Electrophysiology Council, Congestive Heart Failure Council, South Atlantic Society of Electrophysiology for Allied Professionals and Institutional Review Board member. She is also the Chest Pain Center Accreditation Coordinator. Hughes has served in several volunteer roles, including AHA Heart Walk Champion, the Go Red Campaign for Women, STEMI education and EMS outreach and providing the community with cardiovascular screenings and education.
About Providence Hospitals, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System
Providence Hospitals is the leading provider of cardiovascular and orthopedic services in the Midlands. Providence is composed of two hospitals, 13 physician practices, a network of rehabilitation centers, two sleep centers, a school of cardiac diagnostics and an accredited chest pain center. In total, Providence employs more than 2,000 dedicated staff.
Founded in 1938 by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, Providence is known statewide for outstanding clinical quality and compassionate care. The Providence open-heart surgery program has ranked consistently in the top 15% of open-heart programs for the past six-and-one-half years. Both the orthopedics and cardiac services have received the South Carolina BlueCross BlueShield Blue Distinction Center designation. For more information, visit www.providencehospitals.com.
