Award funding continues to be a transformative force in advancing quality healthcare and enhancing patient experiences across South Carolina. This year, 10 exceptional practices were honored with funding awards from the South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) Foundation, under initiatives led by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. These awards support practices that champion the Patient-Centered Medical Home model, which emphasizes whole-person, patient-focused care.
A total of $400,000 is available for distribution by the South Carolina Office of Rural Health and the South Carolina Medical Association Foundation, with each organization eligible to distribute a maximum of $200,000 in awards that shall be no more than $20,000 per practice, enabling them to implement innovative quality improvements and expand patient services.
“I’m passionate about the Advanced PCMH Awards because the opportunity allows practices to showcase how they go above and beyond,” said Claudia Cartledge, MPH, MSW, Project Director of Practice Innovations at SCMA. “We’ve supported many practices on their transformative journeys to becoming patient-centered medical homes, and it’s phenomenal to be a part of their growth.”
The 2025 PCMH Awardees Are:
• Grand Strand Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Little River: Dr. Daniel Shuler, Medical Director
• Hope Health of Timmonsville, Timmonsville: Dr. Edward Behling, Medical Director
• Tandem Health Adult Medicine, Layfayette Drive, Sumter: Dr. Bhatraphol Tingpej, Medical Director
• Pelican Pediatrics, Folly Beach: Dr. Eliza Varadi, Medical Director
• Prisma Health Family Medicine, Forest Drive, Columbia: Dr. Johan Hernandez, Medical Director
• Parkside Pediatrics: Five Forks, Simpsonville: Dr. Stephen Jones, Medical Director
• MUSC Children’s Health, West Ashley (Formerly Coastal Pediatric Associates), Charleston: Dr. Kimberly Caristi, Medical Director
• Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health System, Okatie: Dr. Jamie Singleton Hunter, Medical Director
• Spartanburg Medical Center-Center for Pediatrics, Spartanburg: Dr. Jaime Brown, Medical Director
• Palmetto Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic-Downtown, Columbia: Dr. Deborah Greenhouse and Dr. Jonathan Brock, Medical Directors
“The funding means a lot to us” said Dr. Daniel Shuler, Medical Director, Grand Strand Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. “I have practiced for 40 years; we have been a medical home for our patients for a long time, and the PCMH funding helps us document how we practice medicine. We can show rather than just tell.”
“When other practices see that we are a medical home for patients, they will recognize that they are doing it too, especially pediatricians. We are ‘home’ for generations of families,” Dr. Shuler added. “As a beach practice, we also take pride in being a medical home for tourists; we interact with them like we do all our patients. While they are on vacation, they come to us each year.”
Healthcare practices have utilized PCMH award funding to enhance services and implement innovative patient care initiatives to adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape. “Ultimately, the patients benefit the most,” Cartledge added. “When we partner with healthcare teams, we aim to fuel their passion for transformative care and understand what their goals are and what are the needs of their patient population. Once a practice meets and demonstrates the rigorous PCMH standards, and they apply for the SCMA Advanced PCMH Award, our team steps in with targeted support to help them achieve their goals.”
Once they receive the award funding, practices can invest in game-changing tools such as peak flow meters and continuous glucose monitors, and training for their staff to deliver that high-touch support, according to Cartledge.
“Beyond the clinic walls, these practices forge partnerships with local car-seat programs, clothing banks, and food pantries, making sure families have everything they need for their well-being,” she said. “Watching clinicians leverage this support — evolving workflows, deepening patient trust, and witnessing real health breakthroughs — reminds us why the SCMA Advanced PCMH Award exists: to empower teams to create healthier, more resilient communities every single day.”
Since first earning recognition as a patient-centered medical home in 2017, adult medicine at the Lafayette location has proudly maintained this designation year after year.
“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering coordinated, comprehensive care that always puts our patients first, and it speaks to the dedication of our incredible staff,” said Joyce Bair, Director of Risk Management and Quality Assurance.
Spotlight on Impact
Tandem Health Adult Medicine, Sumter
Recent funding will help Tandem Health build on its patient-first foundation and set a new standard for patient care by:
Enhancing Patient Outreach — Tandem Health are partnering with a professional outreach organization to strengthen how they connect and engage with patients. This means addressing needs faster, sending timely reminders, and ensuring no one falls through the cracks when it comes to receiving care.
Upgrading their Website for Better Access — The website is being redesigned to be more user-friendly, and accessible, making it easier for patients to navigate and find the resources they need.
“These initiatives are about more than technology — they’re about creating a smoother, more supportive healthcare journey for every patient we serve,” said Bair. “By improving connections and access, we’re fostering healthier lives and building stronger bonds with our community.”
Pelican Pediatrics in Folly Beach
“Pelican Pediatrics, under the leadership of Dr. Eliza Varadi, has expanded its services to address behavioral health needs,” said Cartledge. “Dr. Varadi, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is multilingual, a certified lactation specialist, and personally develops tailored care plans for her patients needing close monitoring to address barriers and achieve goals towards optimal care. Her commitment to providing comprehensive medical care has made Pelican Pediatrics a trusted medical home for her patients.”
Parkside Pediatrics in the Upstate
PCMH funding has enabled Parkside Pediatrics in the Upstate to unfold quality initiatives for four years. Those initiatives include:
2020: Parkside Pediatrics maintained well-child checkups and ensured a safe environment during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic by renting large tents and moving sick visit operations outdoors. This allowed them to continue essential sick care while keeping patients and the team safe.
2022: The practice focused on analyzing quality metrics and identifying areas for improvement, and subsequently invested in provider education and training to enhance its performance on selected metrics, ensuring continued high-quality care.
2023: Parkside Pediatrics launched their Chronic Care Management program to better serve patients with ongoing health challenges. This program improved care coordination, education, and follow-up, leading to better outcomes for their chronic care patients.
2025: Award funds were strategically allocated to enhance their Asthma Action Plans and purchase additional Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) machines. These investments have improved asthma care management and contributed to better clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
“Parkside Pediatrics remains deeply committed to providing exceptional, patient-centered care, ensuring every patient feels loved, valued, and well-served as they strive for excellence in all aspects of their patients’ healthcare journey,” said Dr. Stephen Jones, Medical Director.
“A patient-centered medical home is more than just a practice model — it’s a commitment to meeting patients’ needs comprehensively. A PCMH is a philosophy of health care delivery that encourages providers and care teams to meet patients where they are, for the simplest to the most complex conditions,” said Claudia Cartledge, MPH, MSW, who helps the SCMA navigate the Advanced PCMH Award process.
The PCMH Model of Care
Learn more about PCMH and if your practice qualifies for the SCMA Advanced PCMH Award:
Claudia Cartledge: claudia@vistaconsultingsc.com
Ryan Judd: ryan@vistaconsultingsc.com
Scott Hultstrand: scott@vistaconsultingsc.com
