December Grand Rounds


New OCMS Web site

The Orange County Medical Society is pleased to announce the launch of our new and improved website, which can be accessed by visiting www.ocms.org Not only is the new website visually appealing and easy to navigate, it also includes new features such a pictorial directory of OCMS physician members, maps to event locations, advertising opportunities and much more!
We hope you find our new website useful. As always, we greatly welcome and value any feedback you may have. If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, please feel free to email us at mboscan@ocms.org or frontdesk@ocms.org

New Audio CD By Medical Marketing Specialist Andrea T. Eliscu Reveals Four Secrets To Positioning Physicians For Success

ORLANDO — Medical marketing specialist and author Andrea T. Eliscu's latest book, A+ Marketing: Proven Tactics for Success, is now available on audio CD through the Medical Group Management Association's on-line store (MGMA) at www.mgma.com.
As healthcare shifts from a physician-driven world to one where patients, as consumers, increasingly hold the power, Eliscu's audio book focuses on how to successfully market medical practices and healthcare organizations. She believes in moving beyond the "four P's" of marketing – product, price, place and promotion – to what she hails as the cornerstone to survival: the "four A's" – access, availability, accountability and accommodation.
Providing action plans and examples from successful practices, Eliscu helps listeners identify cost-effective marketing opportunities in their own communities. Topics covered include maximizing profit potential through retail medicine, gaining a fresh understanding of patients' needs, providing exceptional customer service, building effective community relations, developing "bullet-proof" referral relationships and managing media messages.
"Making my book available in an audio format allows today's busy healthcare professional to easily access the information and incorporate best practices into their organization," explains Eliscu. "I really want to see physicians and healthcare providers succeed and to do so in this day and age, they simply cannot function in a silo. They must be catalytic -- creating the connections, changes and creative strategies that will capture and retain their key customers – from patients to referral sources to even their own staff."
To learn more or purchase A+ Marketing: Proven Tactics for Success, visit www.medicalmarketinginc.com or call MGMA toll-free at 877-275-6462.
A registered nurse with 42 years of health care experience, Andrea Eliscu serves as president of Medical Marketing Inc., the consulting firm she co-founded in 1984, and has authored two other books – Ready –Set – Market! and Position for Success! Strategic Marketing for Group Practices. A graduate of Michael
Reese Hospital and Medical Center School of Nursing, and the Holt School at Rollins College, she serves as a national resource on healthcare marketing, speaking at seminars and conferences throughout the country. She currently volunteers her time providing leadership on the council of governors of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, the advisory board of the University of Central Florida's College of Health and Public Affairs and the boards of Cornerstone Hospice and Women Playing for T.I.M.E. Eliscu can be reached at 407-629-0062, mmiandrea@sprintmail.com or visit www.medicalmarketinginc.com.

About MGMA
MGMA, founded in 1926, is the nation's principal voice for medical group practice. MGMA's more than 21,500 members manage and lead 13,500 organizations, in which almost 270,000 physicians practice. MGMA's core purpose is to improve the effectiveness of medical group practices and the knowledge and skills of the individuals who manage and lead them. MGMA headquarters are in Englewood, Colorado. Please visit www.mgma.com.

Seminole County Health Department Helps Women Fight Breast Cancer

SANFORD — A couple of month's ago, Loretta Milwood felt a lump in one of her breasts. Concerned and having no health insurance, she went to a local hospital for help. The hospital then referred her to the Seminole County Health Department's Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP), a program that helps uninsured women with breast cancer concerns.
The BCCP offers free pap smears and mammograms for eligible women 50-64 years old. The goal of the program is to reduce the impact of these cancers through education, early detection, and treatment and to save lives. Funding comes from the federal & state government and donations and enables the SCHD to help approximately 450 women with Pap smears, if necessary, and mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsy's, if necessary. If a problem is detected then the program aids women with the Medicaid application process. Since July 1st, 2008 four women who received services through this program, were diagnosed with breast cancer. That's just in the first 15 weeks of the fiscal year.
However, funding is not enough to help all of those that request our help. The SCHD finds itself managing services to help women through out the year. Funding has been consistent at 450 services a year; donations allow the program to help more in the community.
Loretta had never heard of the BCCP but called and came in for an appointment. The SCHD was able to get her a mammogram in 9 days, it was abnormal. The SCHD was then able to get an ultrasound to confirm the abnormal result within another 4 days. Just two weeks later she had a biopsy and followed up with an oncologist just a week later, when the surgery occurred.
The result of the pathology report shows that the cancer was small and had been caught in time. The surgery was able to clean out all of the cancer; however, follow up is needed to determine if one is truly cancer free. Radiation was prescribed and she has started the treatments. Chemotherapy was also recommended, the she believes that her faith has sustained her and that is what is the necessary since it was caught early. She said she is blessed!
Before Mrs. Milwood was diagnosed with cancer, she would not call that name – "Cancer." She said, "Along with my faith in God and the BCCP and their workers I faced a giant cancer!" Today she is grateful and healthy willing to give back to those that helped her when she needed it most. Loretta has decided to volunteer for the BCCP and help the program in anyway she can.
For more information, please call Denise Ward at 407-665.3384

Florida Hospital DeLand Offers New Treatment for Stroke Survivors

DELAND — October 27, 2008 ¾ Approximately 780,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke, which means, on average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds, according to the Stroke Association.
Treatment options have been limited for post-stroke patients, especially for those who suffered a stroke years ago or have little movement.
Florida Hospital DeLand has launched a breakthrough treatment approach in upper extremity stroke rehabilitation from Saebo, Inc. - the SaeboStretch, SaeboFlex and SaeboReach.
Florida Hospital DeLand is the first in West Volusia County to offer such innovative programming with a Saebo trained technician.
"Saebo Arm Training is for people who have suffered a stroke and have lost the use of their arm and/or hand," said Nicole Scheiman, Occupational Therapist at Florida Hospital DeLand. "Even if it has been many years since the stroke, Saebo Arm Training may assist in regaining arm and hand use again."
The SaeboStretch is a revolutionary hand splint used for recovery after a neurological injury such as a stroke. The splint, unlike rigid splints of the past, helps to prevent joint damage while improving and maintaining range of motion.
The SaeboFlex is a custom-fitted dynamic hand orthosis designed to increase arm and hand movement for the same type of injuries. It is designed to help patients with grasp and release activities with the involved arm and hand, while the SaeboReach is an extension piece on the SaeboFlex which gives the elbow more range of motion.
Both occupational therapists, John Farrell and Henry Hoffman, the creators of the Saebo products, designed their products with the idea that stroke patients never reach a "plateau" – there is a chance for further recovery. People up to 20 years post stroke can possibly benefit from these breakthroughs.
"Saebo products are an exciting new option for stroke patients," Scheiman said. "They are a great treatment option, in conjunction with other stroke rehab services, that give hope to patients who suffered a stroke years ago and to those who have lost hope."
SaeboStretch, SaeboFlex and SaeboReach are an Occupational Therapy Service in Rehabilitative Services at Florida Hospital DeLand.

Health First Health Plans Ranked One of the Highest Rated Plans in the Entire Nation

U.S. News & World Report ranks HFHP one of America's Best Health Plans!
ROCKLEDGE — In the latest rankings of hundreds of health plans across America, U.S. News & World Report has rated Health First Health Plans among the elite group of top 25 plans in the entire United States. The U.S. News & World Report/NCQA 2008-2009 America's Best Health Plans rankings place the Health First Health Plans Medicare plan at twenty-two overall across the nation.
The new survey also found the Health First Health Plans Medicare plan to be the second highest ranked Medicare plan in the entire state of Florida, behind a smaller regional plan only offered in the Tallahassee area.
The survey shows that Health First Health Plans was rated higher than hundreds of other health plans across the U.S., including both larger national plans as well as smaller regional plans.
In addition, Health First Health Plans' Commercial plan received exceptionally high marks in the survey. The U.S. News & World Report/NCQA 2008-2009 America's Best Health Plans rankings also listed the Health First Health Plans Commercial plan as the second highest ranked commercial plan in the entire state of Florida, behind the same smaller regional plan only offered in the Tallahassee area.
"It's an honor to have received such exceptional rankings," said Health First Health Plans Chief Executive Officer Peter Weiss, MD. "The U.S. News ratings are among the most rigorous in the nation, so to be among their elite health care plans is a testament to our dedication to offer our customers a truly superior product."
HFHP serves over 63,000 residents, is the dominant local health insurer, and has been operating for 11 years in Brevard County and the city of Sebastian in Indian River County. HFHP was founded as part of Health First, a not-for-profit family of healthcare services that also includes Cape Canaveral Hospital, Holmes Regional Medical Center, Palm Bay Community Hospital, and Health First Physicians. For more information, visit www.healthfirsthealthplans.org or call 321.434.5665