Live Oak Mental Health & Wellness earns safety and quality awards

Live Oak Mental Health & Wellness, Trident Medical Center’s 60-bed mental health hospital, is celebrating its second anniversary with a series of awards that highlight the hospital’s focus on patient and staff safety and quality.

Rick Paczkowski, regional vice president of behavioral services, HCA Healthcare South Atlantic Division, said, “The awards are a recognition of the commitment our colleagues share to provide safe and compassionate care to every patient every day.”

The awards include:

The Zero Harm Award from the South Carolina Hospital Association recognized Live Oak’s reduction in suicide risk.

The Guardians of Excellence Award from PressGaney recognized the hospital’s commendable patient experience scores on its Adult Units.

The Gold Seal Award from Mental Health America recognized Live Oak’s leadership in creating a culture that promotes employee mental health and wellness.

Paczkowski added, “Caring for people with mental health disease is truly a special calling. We are mindful that every day we have to earn the trust of our families and our community that patients being cared for at Live Oak Mental Health & Wellness are in very good hands."

When Live Oak Mental Health & Wellness opened in 2025 it was the first mental health hospital to open in the South Carolina Lowcountry in more than 30 years.  The hospital provides inpatient and outpatient services to adolescents (12+) and adults.