CareSouth Carolina’s Kaitlin Hughes Honored with SC Champion of Practice Transformation Award

CareSouth Carolina is proud to announce that Kaitlin Hughes, BS, RMA, Director of Mobile and Telehealth Services, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Champion of Practice Transformation Award at the South Carolina Primary Healthcare Association’s Clinical Retreat.

This prestigious award honors an individual who exemplifies leadership and innovation in improving access to care, and Kaitlin’s impact over the past several years has done exactly that. Through her vision and drive, she has transformed how health services are delivered to some of South Carolina’s most vulnerable populations—especially children in rural and underserved communities.

“I'm honored to receive the Champion of Practice Transformation Award,” Hughes said. This reflects the dedication of so many working to improve care, drive innovation, and put patients at the center of all we do. True transformation is always a team effort.”

 

For the past 3.5 years, Kaitlin has led the rapid expansion of CareSouth Carolina’s virtual care programs across 38 schools and youth residential facilities. By building strong partnerships with school administrators, nurses, and community leaders, she has helped bridge critical gaps in access to care, while also reducing missed classroom time for students.

Kaitlin also oversees CareSouth Carolina’s ROADS (Reaching Out and Delivering Services) mobile medical unit program, which currently provides healthcare services in 57 schools. Under her leadership, CareSouth has integrated mobile and virtual care into a single, seamless system—bringing healthcare directly to the children and families who need it most.

Her leadership has attracted significant support and investment, including several hundred thousand dollars in USDA grant funding to expand telehealth infrastructure in high-need areas. In 2022, her efforts were nationally recognized when Palmetto Care Connections named CareSouth Carolina’s telehealth program the “Telehealth Program of Excellence.”

"Kaitlin has played a pivotal role in the continued success of our school-based telehealth program,” Jeri Andrews, Chief Medical Officer, said. “Through her leadership, the program has evolved into a model of best practices that is now being looked to by organizations across South Carolina. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of watching Kaitlin grow into a remarkable leader. Her dedication, innovation, and drive continue to inspire those around her, and I am excited to see all she will accomplish in the future."