On Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 1 PM, DPH will be unable to accept payments over the phone while the system is being updated.
If you need to submit a payment during this time, payments can be accepted online. Thank you for your patience.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 6, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. — National Nurses Week is celebrated annually May 6-12, and the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is using this observance to applaud the 96,260 licensed nurses across the state, including the hundreds who work tirelessly at DPH, and encourages South Carolinians to thank the nurses in their communities.
DPH’s approximately 400 public health nurses work at the agency’s clinics and in the community in every South Carolina county, where they provide a myriad of services, including those for maternal and child health, immunizations, sexually transmitted infections, and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, among others. Public health nurses at DPH also help to set strategies and policies for statewide programs and take part in emergency response, disease control and other efforts.
In April, six DPH nurses were recipients of the 2025 Palmetto Gold award: Ivy Howard, Tina Rumph, Michele D. Plenzler, Stephanie Derr, Enderia Mitchell, and Sharon Bennett. Only 100 registered nurses are selected statewide per year following a nomination process based on excellence in nursing practice and commitment to the nursing profession.
“DPH is proud and honored to celebrate our 2025 DPH Palmetto Gold Public Health Nurses for their dedication, expert leadership, outstanding practice, and achievements,” said Kathryn Gramling, DPH’s State Director of Public Health Nursing. “They embrace service, inspire innovation, promote teamwork, and demonstrate excellence as they care for our clients and their families. The positive impacts they make helps improve quality of life and promotes healthy people and communities throughout South Carolina.”
Additional highlights involving DPH’s dedicated nursing staff over the past year include:
While all nurses play an important role in the health of South Carolina communities, the nurses within DPH Healthcare Quality (HQ) play a unique role in health care. HQ currently employs 25 nurses and oversees and regulates nursing homes and acute care services like hospitals, ambulatory care facilities and renal dialysis facilities.
Through conducting inspections, surveys and investigations, DPH's HQ nurses specialize in making sure health care facilities and service providers are following health and safety standards that protect patients and ensure they receive the best possible care. HQ nurses have the unique understanding of what it means to be a nurse and work closely with other health care professionals to ensure that state and federal regulations are enforced in South Carolina facilities.
"During National Nurses Week, we proudly celebrate the vital contributions of HQ nurses,” said Gwen Thompson, DPH’s Director of Healthcare Quality. “Their deep knowledge and dedication play a critical role in guiding healthcare facilities toward excellence, ensuring regulatory standards are met, and more importantly, helping to improve the health and well-being of South Carolinians.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jun. 3, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) reminds South Carolinians of several tips to help prevent mosquito bites and eliminate mosquito breeding areas while enjoying time outside this summer.
There are at least 61 different species of mosquitoes in South Carolina, but fortunately not all of them bite people. Often, mosquitoes are simply a nuisance, but some species can pose serious health risks to people and animals by spreading disease.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 27, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health joins the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, through its Office of Substance Use Services (OSUS), in recognizing a predicted decline in drug overdose deaths in the United States and South Carolina in 2024. This encouraging trend is based on new provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 20, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is proud to spotlight the state’s emergency medical services (EMS) professionals during National EMS Week. Every day, EMS professionals help save lives and safeguard the health, safety and well-being of their communities.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 15, 2025