Ramona Midkiff

By: Chaunte’ Causey, Communications Manager, PCC

Meet Kathy Garris Schwarting, the CEO and founder of Palmetto Care Connections!   

🏥 Kathy leads PCC with a focus on ensuring access to healthcare services across rural communities in South Carolina. She was inspired to create PCC because she believed telehealth was a practical solution for bringing healthcare services to underserved rural areas.   

🌐 One of her proudest moments was when PCC began the journey of leading digital literacy trainings along with providing much-needed internet services and devices to rural and underserved communities across South Carolina. What better way to assist our patients than to teach them how to conduct a telehealth visit with their health care provider and gain better access to health care services. This program has provided our entire team with a sense of accomplishment and purpose as our participants are so thankful for the support  

🤝 Kathy says the most rewarding part of her role is working alongside a passionate and dedicated team, united in the mission to serve communities across the state.  

Guided by her mantra, “A person’s zip code should not define his or her quality of life,” Kathy is deeply committed to creating opportunities for all.   

🏈 Outside of work, Kathy is a true sports fanatic! With a husband and two sons who played college football and now coach, her weekends are often filled with cheering from the sidelines.  

Thank you, Kathy, for your leadership and dedication to making a difference in the lives of so many!  

By: Chaunte’ Causey, Communications Manager, PCC

February marks School-Based Health Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the successes of school-based health centers and raise awareness about their vital role in improving access to healthcare for children and adolescents.

Access to healthcare is essential for a child’s growth, development, and long-term well-being. Unfortunately, many children and adolescents face challenges that prevent them from receiving the medical attention they need. School-based health centers help bridge this gap by bringing healthcare directly to schools—where students already spend the majority of their time.

At Palmetto Care Connections, we are proud to partner with Bamberg Family Practice and the dedicated school nurses serving Bamberg County School District to offer telehealth visits for students. Their commitment to student health ensures that children receive the care they need in a safe and familiar environment.

Recognizing Our School Nurses:

Bamberg Schools:

• Richard Carroll Elementary School: Sharon Smoak and Mary Bunch
• Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School: Michelle Kinsey
• Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School: Savannah Brown

Denmark Schools:

• Denmark-Olar Elementary School: DeEboney Chisolm
• Denmark-Olar Middle and High Schools: Tara Chavis

District Float Nurse: Amber Funderburk

These healthcare professionals play a crucial role in keeping students healthy, identifying potential health concerns early, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed in school and beyond.

As we observe School-Based Health Awareness Month, let’s recognize and support the incredible work of our school nurses, healthcare providers, and educators who make a lasting difference in students’ lives. By prioritizing school-based healthcare, we are investing in a healthier future for our children and communities.

The Palmetto Connect Team remains committed to closing the digital gap and expand access to care in South Carolina. As part of our ongoing Digital Literacy project with the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, we recently took another significant step by expanding access to digital tools for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Through a grant, we distributed 23 internet-capable tablets to residents in Spartanburg County and 25 devices to qualifying residents in Aiken and York Counties. These devices ensure recipients have the necessary tools for virtual healthcare access, reinforcing our efforts to connect communities with essential telehealth services.

To help recipients make the most of their new devices, Palmetto Care Connections developed a series of online modules designed to strengthen digital skills. These modules cover key topics such as device operation, email communication, internet navigation, cybersecurity, telehealth usage, and health literacy. By completing these modules, participants gain confidence in using their tablets independently, empowering them to take full advantage of digital tools for managing their health.

We are grateful for the continued support of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which enables us to provide these vital services. This initiative is just one of the many ways Palmetto Care Connections is working to advance access to healthcare in South Carolina and beyond.

Source: Dykema

On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed new rules to make permanent some telemedicine options introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules include creating special registrations for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine and requiring state-specific approvals to follow both federal and state laws.

These rules only apply if a patient has never had an in-person visit with their provider and is being prescribed controlled substances. Once a patient has seen a provider in person, they can receive prescriptions through telemedicine indefinitely. Telemedicine visits that don’t involve prescriptions are not affected.

You can read more just click here.

Palmetto Care Connections proudly celebrates Dr. Meera Narasimhan, a board member, for receiving the Dean’s Distinguished Career Achievement Award from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. 

This prestigious honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to health care, including championing mental health legislation and technology-driven initiatives in South Carolina and beyond. According to the University of South Carolina’s School of Medicine, Dr. Narasimhan has been actively involved in rural health initiatives both within the state and globally, addressing health disparities through innovative technology. 

As a valued member of our board, we deeply appreciate Dr. Narasimhan’s efforts to connect rural communities with quality health care. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Narasimhan on this well-deserved recognition. 

Source: Center for Connected Health Policy; Rural Telehealth Research Center

How did relaxed telehealth policies during COVID-19 shape access to health care? The Rural Telehealth Research Center’s latest brief uncovers surprising insights into telehealth’s role in access, costs, and outcomes across underserved communities.

Read article

Source: Chaunte’ Causey, Communications Manager, Palmetto Care Connections

On December 18, 2024, the Palmetto Connect team took a step forward in its mission to bridge the digital divide and expand access to care. We partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services in South Carolina for a Digital Literacy project to improve access to healthcare for a targeted Medicaid population.

Thanks to a grant, we were able to send 24 internet-capable tablets to residents in Florence and Horry counties. These tablets will allow these residents to access their healthcare providers from the comfort of their own homes.

To meet the needs of this population, Palmetto Care Connection created online modules to help this population enhance their digital skills. The modules cover topics such as device basics, email usage, internet navigation, cybersecurity, telehealth, and health literacy. After completing all their modules, participants are encouraged to use their tablets independently, helping to build confidence and deepen their engagement with digital tools.

With this grant, we expanded our outreach to over 30 counties in South Carolina. This success reflects the dedication of the Palmetto Connect team and underscores the importance of providing access to technology and education for Medicaid beneficiaries. By enhancing digital literacy, the initiative improves participants’ ability to engage with health and telehealth resources and promotes broader access to digital opportunities in their daily lives.

We are thankful for the support of the Department of Health and Human Services which allows us to provide these services. This is just one way the PCC is tackling access to healthcare in South Carolina and nationwide.

Source: Chaunte’ Causey, Communications Manager, Palmetto Care Connections

Kudos to Palmetto Care Connections Founding Board Member, Dr. James McElligott, for being honored with the 2024 Marion Woodbury Leadership Excellence Award at the Medical University of South Carolina.

According to a news release from MUSC, The Marion Woodbury Jr. Leadership Excellence Award is presented annually for meritorious service to a member of the MUSC Health leadership team. This award recognizes leaders who have served as role models for MUSC Health’s values, with a particular focus on innovations that transform MUSC Health.

Dr. McElligott oversees the activities of the MUSC’s Center for Telehealth while also co-chairing the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance. He has been a board member of PCC for nearly 15 years.

We want to congratulate Dr. McElligott, on this well-deserved recognition of his leadership and dedication to advancing telehealth innovation.

We appreciate his unwavering commitment to telehealth and expanding access to care in South Carolina!

Source: Chaunte’ Causey, Communications Manager, Palmetto Care Connections

Jessica Samuel, a Digital Literacy Analyst with Palmetto Care Connections, recently achieved a milestone by completing SC Thrive Benefits Training. The comprehensive program equips professionals to better assist clients in navigating and applying for critical assistance programs.

The training provided detailed guidance on the do’s and don’ts when supporting clients, ensuring interactions remain both ethical and effective. Participants reviewed programs administered by agencies such as the Department of Social Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Welvista, Internal Revenue Service, and Social Security Administration.

Jessica gained experience in helping clients apply for essential services, including Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly known as Food Stamps), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Welvista’s prescription assistance. A significant component of the training emphasized referring clients to partner organizations when additional help is needed.

Using the SC Thrive Hub platform, Jessica successfully navigated realistic family scenarios, completing applications and refining her skills in real-time. This accomplishment highlights her commitment to providing valuable assistance to those in need and strengthens PCC’s mission of empowering community members through digital literacy and resource access.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Spectrum joined the Town of Norway and the South Carolina Broadband Office for a holiday event on Saturday, Dec. 7 to celebrate the launch of gigabit broadband and other Spectrum services to more than 575 homes and small businesses in Norway, South Carolina. As part of the launch, Spectrum will also make available a Spectrum WiFi access point, which will be open to all users for one year.

Combined with the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) grant of $940,500, total project investment for the Main Street grant program, including $1.2 million from Spectrum, is $2.2 million.

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