Trident Medical Center Employee Named ER Nurse of the Year in South Carolina
In Charleston, South Carolina, Trident Medical Center’s Trauma Outreach Educator, Michelle Houck, RN, TCRN, has been honoured with the prestigious title of Emergency Nurse of the Year. The accolade was presented by the South Carolina EMS Association at their annual conference, where Houck’s consistent dedication to her role was highlighted as notable.
Houck’s colleagues and EMS providers have consistently regarded her as the reliable “go-to” person in times of need, earning her the respect and admiration of her peers. The consistently efficient and trustworthy service she surrounds herself with has given her a well-earned reputation.
Michelle is a critical component of the Trident Health trauma program, according to Dr. Seon Jones, the program’s medical director and a Trauma surgeon. Jones appreciates Houck’s significant contributions to the program, particularly her focus on community education and injury prevention initiatives.
Last year, Houck guided over 150 community and professional injury prevention education programs throughout South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Additionally, she emerged as a key figure in training nurses on patient treatment methods in the context of trauma.
The Trident Medical Center, where Houck works, treated nearly 2,500 trauma patients last year, the highest number in any trauma center in the Charleston region. Over the last five years, the hospital has provided trauma care for more than 11,000 patients. Alongside this, more than 170,000 patients received care at a Trident Health emergency department.
Continuing Commitment to Trauma Education
Trident Health runs emergency departments out of Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center, as well as four freestanding ERs – Brighton Park Emergency, Centre Pointe Emergency, James Island Emergency, and Moncks Corner Medical Center. With plans underway to begin construction on a fifth freestanding ER, Johns Island Emergency, later this year.
Beyond her clinical proficiency, Houck invests a considerable amount of her time in community service, making her a remarkable individual within her field. She shows considerable initiative in organizing and managing EMS education and outreach programs, contributing directly to community EMS improvements by providing continuing education and unique courses unavailable to most EMS providers.
At the South Carolina EMS Association meeting, it was noted that Houck’s commitment to community wellness extends far beyond hospital walls, impacting the entire Lowcountry region. She offers “Stop the Bleed” classes at community events, collaborates closely with local law enforcement to distribute free gun locks and educate the public about firearm injury prevention, and visits local retirement homes to carry out injury and fall prevention assessments and education.
Michelle Houck’s combined efforts on clinical excellence, passionate healthcare delivery, community engagement, and leadership have not only earned her the Emergency Nurse of the Year award but also make her a remarkable representative of Trident Medical Center’s dedication to trauma care.
