From staff reports
Twelve Beaufort Memorial PATH (People Achieving Their Highest) graduates are the inaugural students to complete and pass the hospital’s first National Certification Exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), which demonstrates the employees have achieved the highest standards in their chosen field and have shown proficiency in their skill levels. The milestone also marked the first time that Beaufort Memorial has hosted the national exam on its campus.
The exam, held March 29, had a pass rate of 92.3%, nearly 15% higher than the NHA’s national average of 78%.
“We are extremely proud of our employee graduates and the future their hard work affords them,” BMH President and CEO Russell Baxley said in a news release. “They are shining examples of our mission and vision, and our shared commitment to the helping our employees achieve their goals.”
The hospital hosted a special pinning ceremony April 19, recognizing the dozen newly certified graduates:
Certified Clinical Medical Assistants: Sonya Davis, CCMA; Jessica Gibbs, CCMA; Jaime Maynor, CCMA; Shelby Swain, CCMA.
Certified EKG Technician: Jamie Harmon, CET.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician: Vickey Heyward, CPT.
Certified Patient Care Technician: Tonya Coaxum, CPCT; Juliette Heyward, CPCT; Madelyn Mieras, CPCT; Gabriela Portela, CPCT; Edwina Register, CPCT; Leah Simmons, CPCT.
Also being celebrated at the ceremony were the four newest PATH graduates and 16 new participants who will be the program’s fourth cohort.
The next cohort of PATH students will include employees pursuing a Medical Coding certification, a new pathway recently added to the roster of allied healthcare programs available to Beaufort Memorial employees.
The Beaufort Memorial PATH Program has been showcased by the South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA) as an innovative example of workforce development. The program, which welcomed its inaugural class last May, is designed to help staff learn new skills, earn advanced certifications and grow their careers at Beaufort Memorial.
Structured to allow staff to continue working in their current role while participating, it includes scholarships, clinical training, traditional education, and non-traditional financial assistance to encourage and incentivize individuals to advance their careers and support a better healthcare network.
Community members interested in learning how they might join the team at Beaufort Memorial and grow their career through the PATH Program should visit BeaufortMemorial.org/PATH or attend an RSVP-only career fair on Wednesday, May 3, in Bluffton. Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/JobFair for details about the job fair and to reserve a spot.
