Tallahassee—The Florida Medical Association (FMA) Foundation has launched its “Help For Haiti” appeal to provide an outlet for physicians, their families and staff members who would like to donate their time, talents and resources to the earthquake victims of Haiti.

 

FMA’s Web site now directs visitors to the FMA Foundation’s “Help for Haiti” section, allowing them to make a donation or volunteer. Physicians and volunteers who are interested in traveling to Haiti to provide medical assistance can fill out an electronic information form. The Web site also provides a form for physicians to donate medical supplies.

 

FMA Vice President and FMA Foundation President Vincent DeGennaro, MD, said the site will allow the FMA to organize resources in the most effective way possible and

 

that they want to ensure that Haitians have the medical assistance they will require in weeks, months, and even years down the road, and that the FMA will continue to serve as a clearinghouse for information on how physicians and others can help.

 

“Help for Haiti” contains a number of other resources, including guidance for relief workers, information about local relief initiatives, and assessments of the public health risks.

 

After working with several publishing houses in the Orlando area, Pat Berline turned her attention to Orlando Medical News last summer, metro Orlando’s only local, editorial-driven healthcare news reaching the area’s physicians and healthcare administrators.

 

“I treat my customers as I would want to be treated,” said Berline. “I listen to what their particular needs are and help them project that into their marketing. Bottom line: their success is our success!”

 

Berline had extensive experience as an office manager and executive recruiter before moving to sales. Before relocating to Florida, she marketed Safeguard Systems, one-write pegboard systems, to doctors and dentists in a 5-county area in Northfield, Ohio. In Kissimmee, she marketed the Osceola News Gazette, The Lakes News in Lake Nona, and Osceola Community Source in St. Cloud for nearly a decade.  

 

Berline’s “pay-it-forward” attitude puts her on the community front lines, volunteering at the Osceola Council on Aging and Osceola Riders, Inc., which supports non-profit organizations, such as Osceola County School’s Oasis Program, “Dreams for Teens,” and St. Cloud Food Pantry. At Kissimmee Elks Lodge #1873, she is a 3-year trustee and house committee chairperson. The group supports the Orlando Veterans Nursing Home, Harry-Anna Trust Fund (Florida Elks Youth Camp, Florida Elks Children’s Mobile Therapy Units, Soccer Shoot, and Hoop Shoot, and the Elks National Foundation via scholarships.

 

On the weekends, the mother of five daughters, and grandmother of 13, is often on the road visiting family in Louisiana, Ohio, and around Florida. Berline and her husband, Paul, don’t hop in the typical SUV or even a sports car. Their favorite mode of travel: an ’05 Harley Davidson Road King.

 

“I take pride and have a great passion in working for Medical News, and with our great Med News team here in Florida,” said Berline. “It’s a new year, a new decade and change is upon us all. Our glasses are half full! We’re all survivors and now is the time to look forward while remembering lessons learned personally and professionally! Please share with us your victories and new methodologies, so others may begin to grow and/or start their businesses/practices through your insights. We’re only a phone call away!”

 

Contact Pat Berline by phone at (407) 414-3054 or email pat@orlandomedicalnews.com.

 

MAITLAND, FL – The Orange County Medical Society has picked Lane Mahood to serve as their new Executive Director. She replaces former Executive Director Melanie Boscan, who left to serve as Physician Liaison at Health Central.

 

Ms. Mahood previously worked in the Orlando office of United States Senator Mel Martinez as his Deputy Director of Constituent Services. She assisted constituents who were having problems with federal agencies, specializing in Medicare, Social Security, and FEMA. Working with Medicare gave her opportunity to interact with many physicians and their staffs throughout the state who were experiencing Medicare enrollment and reimbursement issues.

 

Prior to joining Senator Martinez’s staff, Ms. Mahood served as an assistant to Boston University President John Silber and has worked on several political campaigns in Florida and in Massachusetts. She is a third-generation native of Orange County, Florida.

 

MAITLAND, FL – Kevin Sherin, MD, MPH was sworn in as the 102nd President of the Orange County Medical Society at the annual installation of officers in January. Dr. Sherin has been Director of Public Health for the Orange County Health Department since 2004. He is also President of the American Association of Public Health Physicians and President of the Florida Association of County Health Officers. 

 

Dr. Sherin’s stated goals are: to partner with others and develop local strategies for health care reform which serve to benefit all of our patients; to help align physician members for expanded use of electronic medical records and e-prescribing.  

 

The 2010 OCMS Executive Committee Members are: Siva Sivanesan, MD, President Elect; Ravi Jahagirdar, MD, Vice President; Sarah Willard, MD, Secretary; Lawrence Halperin, MD, Treasurer; and Arnold Einhorn, MD, Immediate Past President. The OCMS Board Members are: David Bello, MD; Laurence Brenner, MD; James Crum, MD; Michael Muszynski, MD; Ernest Page, MD; Annapurna Pattisapu, MD; Thomas Prince, MD; George Ralls, MD; Steven Rosenberg, MD; Tiffany Williams, FSU Medical Student Representative; Ann Lopez, OCMS Alliance Co-President; and Renuka Sivanesan, OCMS Alliance Co-President.

 

A monitoring system for hand-washing compliance that uses Radio Frequency ID technology has been introduced to hospitals nationwide by Jersey City-based HandGiene Corp.

 

With healthcare facilities spending up to $29 billion annually dealing with hospital acquired infections (HAIs), the RFID system gives administrators the ability to track, improve and meet a hand-washing compliance rate of up to 100 percent.

 

The system works with a proprietary formulation of soap for restrooms and patient rooms or hand sanitizers for hallways. The fluid takes 15 seconds of friction to dissipate, ensuring non-contaminated hands. Each user is issued a name tag or wrist band that can be read by the RFID-enabled system upon entering and leaving an area as well as being at the dispensing unit. Every instance is logged into a database that can be read in real time.

 

When installed, the system assures increased accountability and compliance with established infection protocols in specific areas or throughout the facility.

 

In 2007, there were nearly 1.25 million incidents of HAIs that resulted in more than 120,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

 

The system integrates with existing legacy software for fast installment and ease-of-use. The web-based software also allows administrators to monitor specific employees, teams, departments and shifts in entire facilities or multiple locations.

 

OCOEE — Two current Trustees on the West Orange Healthcare District board will continue their service, reappointed by Florida Governor Crist to serve another four years overseeing Health Central hospital, Health Central Park, Health Central Paramedics, ExpressCare by Health Central, Health Central Surgery Center, and the District’s related healthcare facilities. The District’s board is comprised of 16 trustees who are all appointed by the Governor based on recommendations from local civic organizations.

 

Kathy Aber, writer and editor for the West Orange Times, was reappointed along with fellow Trustee Tim Keating, president of R. C. Stevens Construction Company. Each were originally appointed in 2006 and recently completed their first four-year term.

 

Winter Garden City Commissioner Gerald Jowers was appointed to the board, having served previously from 1995 to 2001. Beverly Thornton was also appointed to the board for her first term. Thornton is a long-time employee in administration of the Orange County Sheriff’s office.

 

All of the recently appointed Trustees will serve a four-year term which expires in September 2013.

 

Ocoee — Lonnie Cahoon, Health Central’s Administrator of Ancillary Services and ACHE member of five years, was recently elected Chapter Vice President of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Central Florida Chapter, for 2010. The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of more than 30,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. Cahoon’s duties will include coordinating and planning local Chapter educational and networking events and assuming the role as President during any absences. Last year, Cahoon served as the Director at Large. The ACHE Central Florida Chapter consists of four Officers, five Board Members and a Communications Chair.

 

 LEESBURG –– Leesburg Regional Medical Center and Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) have reached an agreement on a new contract that enables Humana Medicare members in Lake, Sumter and Marion counties to receive care at Leesburg Regional’s medical facilities in Lake County.

 

Under the new network agreement, members of Humana’s Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and Point-of-Service plans in Lake, Sumter and Marion counties will have access to Leesburg Regional Medical Center for all covered inpatient and outpatient services.

 

DeLand, Fla.,– Jacinta Feldman, CNM, MS has joined the medical staff at Florida Hospital DeLand and has joined the practice of Brooks & Gelman, MD, PA.

 

Feldman is a certified nurse-midwife with nearly 20 years of clinical experience in women’s reproductive health. She specializes in prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum, and well-women gynecology. She has experience in hospital, outpatient OB/GYN services, freestanding birth center, and private home birth practice settings.

 

Feldman received her bachelor of science in nursing from Florida State University, her masters of science in nursing from Georgetown University, and has advanced training from the United States Air Force.

 

She is a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives and the Healthy Start Coalition.

 

The Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation, Florida Chapter, Central Florida Office announces that Susan Greene has joined the chapter as Executive Director.

 

Prior to joining the foundation, Greene served as general manager of the University Club in Orlando, a position she also held in Jacksonville, Fla. Her career is also steeped in hospitality and private club expertise.