McLeod Dillon is pleased to announce that Michelle Gilchrist, Case Management; Sonya Goins, Medical Surgical Services; Metro Goodyear, Medical Surgical Services; Tammy King, Case Management; and Emily Long, Education have been selected to receive the 2016 Palmetto Gold Award.  Overall, eighteen McLeod Health Registered Nurses were selected.  These nurses represent McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Behavioral Health, McLeod Loris Seacoast and McLeod Dillon.  They join the ranks of the 137 previous McLeod nurses who have received this outstanding award.
The Palmetto Gold Award is a program that was started by various nursing organizations throughout South Carolina as a platform to recognize nursing, and support nursing education with scholarship funds.  
“Our nurses are to be commended for devoting their considerable skills and talents to the selfless service of others,” said Marcia Wilds, Associate Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer at McLeod Dillon.  “Being honored as part of this elite group of South Carolina nurses speaks to their high level of skill.  The Palmetto Gold recipients are leaders in the field representing a philosophy of commitment to caring for the individual patient that underlies the profession of nursing and the mission of the McLeod organization.”
Michelle Gilchrist, RN, of Dillon, SC, has twenty years of experience as a registered nurse (RN).  Michelle is a Case Manager at McLeod Dillon where she evaluates discharge needs and establishes a patient-centered transitional plan of care for the patient.
At the hospital, Michelle serves as a member of the Safety Champion Committee, participates in interdisciplinary care conference meetings each day, and serves as preceptor for students.
Michelle has been recognized by patients numerous times with many “WOW” cards complimenting her care.
Michelle is active in the community where she has volunteers her time at health fairs and in nursing homes. She also serves as the VP of the Women’s Health Ministry at her church.  Michelle is also a member of the Dillon County Collaborative Council.
Sonya Goins, RN, of Clio, SC, has three years of experience as a registered nurse (RN).  Sonya cares for medical surgical patients at McLeod Dillon.  
On her unit, Sonya’s serves as a charge nurse and is a preceptor for new nurses. She is a champion for evidence-based, best practice care.  
Sonya has been recognized by her peers numerous times with “My Caring Comes First” awards for demonstrating the values of McLeod Health.  Her patients recognize her with many “WOW” cards and notes complimenting her care.
Sonya is very involved in her community where she volunteers at her daughter’s school, is an Assistant Sunday School Teacher, and educates individuals in community on various health care topics.  
Metro Goodyear, RN, of Marion, SC has four years of experience as a registered nurse (RN).  Metro cares for medical surgical patients at McLeod Dillon.  
At the hospital, Metro is a member of his unit’s employee Retention Committee. He serves as a charge nurse, is a preceptor for newly hired nurses, and is also cross-trained to work in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit.
Metro was selected by his peers as Nurse Rookie of the Year in 2014. He is also a recipient of the McLeod Merit Award, the highest peer recognition program at McLeod Health that recognizes employees for consistently exceeding the standards of excellence and quality set by McLeod and demonstrating cheerful and compassionate service to others.  
Metro has been recognized by his peers numerous times with “My Caring Comes First” awards for demonstrating the values of McLeod Health.  His patients recognize him with many “WOW” cards and notes complimenting his care.
Away from work, Metro displays a true servant’s heart.  He sponsors a family at Christmas, participates in summer “fan” drives for the elderly, volunteers in an Adopt-a-Highway program and is a caregiver. As a result of dedication and service to the community, Metro was the recipient of a Community Nursing Award.
Tammy King, RN, ACM, of Nichols, SC, has twenty years of experience as a registered nurse (RN).  Tammy is a Case Manager at McLeod Dillon where she evaluates discharge needs and establishes a patient-centered transitional plan of care for the patient.
Tammy also has a passion for education.  She shares her knowledge as a CNA Instructor at Northeastern Technical College and assists in the education of student interns at the hospital.
Tammy is a member of the Dillon County Collaborative Council where she works alongside of community agencies to remove barriers to patient’s health care needs.
Tammy was recognized as Nurse of the Year in 2010 at McLeod Dillon.  She is also a recipient of the McLeod Merit Award, the highest peer recognition program at McLeod Health that recognizes employees for consistently exceeding the standards of excellence and quality set by McLeod and demonstrating cheerful and compassionate service to others.  
Tammy is a member of the American Case Management Association and the Medical Reserves.  She is an active church member.
Emily Long, RN, of Latta, SC, has nine years of experience as a registered nurse (RN).  Emily is a Nurse Educator at McLeod Dillon where she trains and instructs nursing on the ever-growing skill sets required in today’s health care industry.
Emily is actively engaged in many committees at the hospital, including Baby Friendly Initiative, Medication Safety, Pain Management, Service Excellence, Survey Readiness and Organizational Learning.  She is a member of the AHEC Advisory Committee and is a BLS Instructor.  Emily has participated on lean improvement work to improve patient flow in Emergency Department.
She is also an active member of the hospital’s American Heart Association Team and March of Dimes Team.
Emily has been recognized by peers numerous times complimenting her work.  

About the
Palmetto Gold Award
Each year, employers from across a wide variety of South Carolina health care settings nominate outstanding nurses from their organizations to be considered as one of the 100 nurses honored with this prestigious award.  The nominators are asked to provide evidence of how the nominee demonstrated excellence to the profession by addressing the following criteria.  Those areas include: promoting and advancing of the profession of nursing; displaying of caring and commitment to patients, families, and colleagues and demonstrating leadership by assisting others to grow and develop.
This is a competitive process and usually several hundred nominations are submitted with only 100 being selected. Each year the competition for the Palmetto Gold Nurse Recognition Program is becoming more stringent as the number of nominations increases. To select the 100 RNs, a team of six nurses from across the state participate in a blind review process.  The nominees are not referred to by name or place of employment on the nomination sections seen by the judges so they are unaware of who they are or for which institution they work.  
“Excellence in patient care and a commitment to the nursing profession are valued in the selection criteria for Palmetto Gold,” said Tony Derrick, Chief Nursing Officer, McLeod Regional Medical Center. “Our nurses contribute to the overall high quality outcomes of care for our patients and the profession of nursing.  Palmetto Gold Nurses and all of our McLeod Nurses truly promote high standards of nursing care for South Carolina. McLeod is proud to add these eighteen winners to the distinguished list of McLeod Health Palmetto Gold Award winners.”  
The recipients of the 2016 Palmetto Gold Award will be recognized at the Palmetto Gold Gala, April 16 in Columbia. To support the future of nursing, the proceeds from the Palmetto Gold Gala, are used to provide scholarships to each of the approved registered nursing programs in South Carolina.  In 2008, the Renatta Loquist Graduate Nursing Scholarship was created to honor Mrs. Loquist, a member of the original Palmetto Gold committee and a leader in nursing in our state. This scholarship is for $2,000 and has been awarded each year. Since its inception, Palmetto Gold has awarded over $300,000 in nursing scholarships.