Susan Gaymon awarded Palmetto Health’s James E. Lathren Lead by Example Award
November 17, 2017
Susan Gaymon, administrative director at Palmetto Health Tuomey, is the recipient of the prestigious James E. Lathren Lead by Example Award for 2017. The Lead by Example Award is awarded annually across the health system to one exemplary leader for their outstanding work ethic, trustworthiness, discernment and compassion. Nominated by other leaders, this leader is a person who values the work of others and models Palmetto Health values and behavior expectations.
Gaymon has worked at Palmetto Health Tuomey for more than 30 years. She is responsible for five departments —Children’s Center, Nursery, Labor and Delivery, Women’s Center and the Emergency Department — and daily demonstrates her breadth of knowledge and “incredible proficiency” in caring for both patients and team members.
Michelle Logan-Owens, Palmetto Health Tuomey’s chief operating officer, said, “The greatest measure of a leader is their willingness to put the needs of their team before their own. Susan has always made team members and those we serve her top priority. Her commitment to our mission and vision has been unwavering, and she is most deserving of this incredible honor.”
From setting up interpreters for Spanish-speaking patients to coordinating and overseeing the Special Needs Shelter during the recent hurricanes, Gaymon works closely with her patients to make sure their stay is as comfortable as possible.
In her nomination, Gaymon was described as a nursing leader who diligently fosters a team environment, values the work of others and constantly strives to infuse Palmetto Health pride into every team member. The nomination highlights her “whatever it takes” quality motto, ensuring that patient satisfaction is maintained in all phases of care and customer service. Because of her commitment to the equal and fair treatment of all, the nursing units she is responsible reflect some of Palmetto Health’s highest HCAHPS scores, a patient satisfaction survey required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for all hospitals in the United States.
Gaymon received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in nursing from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. She and her husband, Hugh, have three children and two grandchildren. Gaymon is a huge Gamecocks fan.
About Palmetto Health
Palmetto Health, the largest health care system in the South Carolina Midlands region and one of the state’s largest employers, comprises more than 15,000 team members, physicians and volunteers working together to fulfill Palmetto Health’s Vision: To be remembered by each patient as providing the care and compassion we want for our families and ourselves. The system includes six acute-care hospitals in the Midlands—Palmetto Health Baptist, Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge, Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, Palmetto Health Heart Hospital, Palmetto Health Richland and Palmetto Health Tuomey. In the South Carolina Upstate region, Palmetto Health also co-owns Baptist Easley Hospital. Recognized nationally as one of the best places to work and receive care, the system also includes the Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group, the region’s largest multispecialty group, which serves as the entry point to the health care system with more than 500 providers serving patients in more than 80 practices and nearly 100 locations. Palmetto Health also is supported by two 501 (c)(3) foundations, and trains the next generation of physicians through its 24 residency and fellowship programs affiliated with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. For more information, visit PalmettoHealth.org or call 803-296-CARE (2273).
