South Carolina Physician Receives Outstanding Achievement Award
Recognized for Leadership, Service, and Improving Medical Care for Patients

Raleigh, NC – Edward Behling, MD, Chief Medical Officer at HopeHealth and a practicing family medicine and hospice and palliative care specialist in Florence, SC, has been awarded Constellation Quality Health’s Timothy Llewelyn, MD, Memorial Award in recognition for his outstanding achievements in the medical field and dedication to quality health care for patients. The award, along with a $2,500 check, which Dr. Behling donated to KidzKonnect4Jesus—a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing, education, and medical care to people in southern Belize—was presented October 28th at the Southern Medical Association’s annual meeting in Greensboro, NC.

Dr. Behling is recognized for successfully working with the American Medical Association to help raise the standard of care for patients with hypertension and with Harvard University to help raise the standard of care for patients with hyperlipidemia in the Florence area and among disparate populations. His achievements in cardiovascular health contributed to the CDC designating HopeHealth as a Million Hearts Hospital and Health System Recognition Program. HopeHealth was the first Community Health Center to achieve this award, acknowledging its innovative care strategies and prevention and treatment achievements.

Dr. Behling is also recognized for driving quality measures within HopeHealth and overseeing the development of effective supervision/collaboration software for physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. He helped create a multi-disciplinary Annual Wellness Visit team that works with MCOs, providers, and clinical pharmacists, and continuously provides a clinical learning environment for medical students and residents, as well as for nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Dr. Behling serves on the USC School of Medicine’s Advancement Committee and the Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina and completed his residency at McLeod Regional Medical Center, where he practiced family medicine for 20 years before joining HopeHealth, a designated Federal Quality Health Center, in 2011.

“Dr. Behling’s record of achievements and commitment to improving the standards of health care to underserved populations is an inspiration to the medical community and merits receiving the prestigious Llewelyn Memorial Award,” said Constellation Quality Health President and CEO Steven Martin. Established in 2015, the Llewelyn Memorial Award honors the life and memory of one of Constellation’s long-serving board members, Timothy Llewelyn, MD, for his decades of service to the South Carolina medical community and many other professional, civic, and community activities.

About Constellation Quality Health
Constellation Quality Health, formerly known as CCME, is a leading health care quality organization dedicated to bringing clarity and insight to the big picture in health care. Through cutting-edge technology, data analytics, and deep industry expertise, Constellation Quality Health provides actionable insights and strategic guidance to improve system performance while providing patient-centered, cost-effective care. For more information, please visit www.constellationqualityhealth.org.