November Grand Rounds


Governor Crist Names Senator Jeremy Ring Chair of Competitiveness Task Force Biotech


TALLAHASSEE — Governor Charlie Crist today announced Senator Jeremy Ring as the chair of the Task Force for the Study of Biotech Competitiveness. Created by the 2007 Florida Legislature, the task force will study economic policies necessary for increasing Florida’s competitiveness in attracting and retaining biotech manufacturing and distribution businesses.

“The number of biotech companies that have chosen to establish a presence in the Sunshine State demonstrates our success in strengthening Florida’s attractiveness to the world’s top R&D organizations,” Governor Crist said. “We must continue to focus on ensuring Florida maintains a competitive edge, while securing the biotech industry’s key role in our economic development strategy.”

The 17-member task force will also evaluate Florida’s education and workforce training opportunities to ensure a workforce prepared for jobs in biotech. The task force will recommend changes to the state’s corporate tax structure, water policies and health insurance policies to ensure they support the biotech industry.

“Now more than ever we must rely on innovation to strengthen our economy," Senator Ring said. "Floridians should be proud of the investments made in biotech, to help assure long-term economic stability and growth.”

The task force’s recommendations are due to the Governor, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2009. The task force members – seven appointed by the Governor and five appointed by the each the President of the Senate and five by the Speaker of the House – will receive assistance from the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development.


Jewett Orthopaedic Convenient Care Center Launches Saturday Service to Better Meet Community Demand for Walk-In Care


WINTER PARK — Just in time for the fall sports season, Jewett Orthopaedic Convenient Care Center in Winter Park, Central Florida’s first walk-in center dedicated solely to treating broken bones, sprains, strains and lacerations, has extended its services, opening on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The Orthopaedic Convenient Care Center opened in 2007, serving 9,100 patients in its first year. This year, Center staff expects to see 12,000 patients by year’s end. Prior to the Center opening, when someone broke a bone, their only option was usually a visit to an emergency room where they might wait six hours or more for treatment. This is because most orthopaedic physicians’ offices are booked up two to three weeks in advance. In addition, traditional urgent care centers typically don’t treat broken bones because they lack the necessary orthopaedic specialists on staff. Meanwhile, Central Florida’s emergency rooms are overwhelmed with patients, and because they are not life-threatening, orthopaedic problems typically fall to the bottom of the triage list.

Located at 801 S. Orlando Avenue, Suites A-K (entrance on Minnesota Avenue), the Center is staffed to provide diagnosis and care for a wide variety of school, sports, work and everyday injuries. It houses an MRI as well as digital imaging, including a state-of-the-art PACS (picture archiving and communications system), a technology that some local hospitals have secured in recent years but is rarely found in physicians’ offices. Additional services include physical therapy and a full range of orthopaedic braces.


Nemours Celebrates The Arrival Of The Brightstart! Dyslexia Initiative Mobile Classroom In Orlando


ORLANDO — Nemours, one of the nation’s largest children’s health systems, celebrated the arrival of its new Nemours BrightStart! Dyslexia Initiative mobile classroom in Orlando with a press conference on October 7. In June 2008, three Nemours BrightStart! mobile classrooms were unveiled in Jacksonville, FL to move the Nemours legacy of medical expertise from the clinic to the community.

It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of American children enter kindergarten behind their peers. Students who struggle in the classroom early on may suffer educational, social, emotional and economic consequences. Unfortunately, most dyslexia, which occurs in 15 to 20 percent of the population, is not identified until third grade or later. To combat these issues, Nemours BrightStart! was created to help increase early detection of reading difficulties. To date, the Nemours BrightStart! Dyslexia Initiative has provided nearly 10,000 screenings of early literacy skills to pre-K students.

The new Nemours mobile classrooms offer:
The largest mobile classroom measures 40-feet long and provides about 270 square feet of uniquely designed space with two intervention rooms and one observation office.
The two smaller units are 22-feet long and have about 90 square feet of uniquely designed space with one intervention room each.


Florida Hospital Receives Consumer Choice Award for13th Consecutive Year


ORLANDO — The National Research Corporation (NRC) has named Florida Hospital one of the nation's top hospitals in its list of 2008-09 Consumer Choice Award winners. This is the 13th year the NRC has awarded hospitals whose consumers have recognized them for providing quality health care services and the 13th year Florida Hospital has been an award winner.

The award distinguishes hospitals that local residents identified as having the highest quality and image in more than 250 markets throughout the United States. In a survey of more than 200,000 households nationwide, Florida Hospital was considered one of the top hospitals in these areas.

The accolade is based on National Research Corporation's 2008/2009 Healthcare Market Guide, the nation's largest and most comprehensive study of its kind. Of the more than 3,200 hospitals named by consumers in the study, the winning facilities rank highest in their regions. Specifically, the criteria considered in the composite score included best doctors, best nurses, best overall quality and image and reputation.


Darren Wagner Has Joined RJ King


Darren Wagner has joined RJ King & Associates Healthcare Real Estate Advisors, Tampa, as VP Medical Leasing and Sales. Darren has been a leader in the healthcare real estate sector for over 20 years. With the addition of Mr. Wagner, RJ King & Associates continues to be positioned as a leading medical real estate services provider in the state of Florida specializing in the brokerage, leasing and management of medical office buildings and healthcare facilities.


Health First Health Plans Welcomes Two Industry Leaders


ROCKLEDGE — Health First Health Plans announces the hiring of two well respected industry leaders who are joining the HFHP leadership team.

Dr. Miguel Fernandez has joined Health First Health Plans as Vice President–Medical Director. He is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist by training who previously worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida where he was Senior Medical Director for Healthcare Programs based out of Jacksonville. Dr. Fernandez’s prior experience also includes four years with Humana Healthcare. His primary responsibilities at Health First Health Plans include provider network and clinical issues, which includes oversight for medical expense/utilization management and physician/provider management.

Also joining Health First Health Plans is Jim Gillespie, who will serve as Vice President of Information Systems and Operations. His responsibilities include Information Systems, Claims Operations, Support Center, and Facilities. His previous positions include Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Operations for CMM Medi-Share, Chief Technology Office of Chiara Corporation, and Senior Consultant for Rational Software Corporation.


Fox Global Health Adds Two New Talent Acquisition Managers


Altamonte Springs — Fox Global Health, added two new Talent Acquisition Managers to their Team.

Nina Chavez, Nina has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, From Florida Southern College. Nina was most recently Recruitment Manager for Norwegian Cruise Line and managed 17 exempt level field recruiters across the country and 4 in-house recruiters. She has Medical recruitment experience with K-Force and Smith Hanley.

Tiffini Taylor, Tiffini has an AA from Valencia College, A BS in Finance from University of Central Florida and is currently working on a BS in Accounting. She most recently was a Staffing Manager with Robert Half.


More UCF Medical School Faculty Appointments for PMC’s Medical Staff


TITUSVILLE — Parrish Medical Center (PMC) is pleased announce that six members of the medical staff have been appointed to the volunteer faculty of the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine. The physicians include:
• Kantilal Bhalani, MD, Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Laurence Conley, MD, Emergency Medicine
• Daniel Cuscela, DO, Radiation Oncology
• Ara Deukmedjian, MD, Neurosurgery
• Manuel Quintana, MD, Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Rodolfo Torres, MD, Family Medicine
Each of the physicians will serve as Assistant Professors within the Department of Medical Education and will be responsible to:
• Present lectures, leading group sessions and demonstrating skills to first- and second-year students
• Serve as preceptor, clinical role model and medical resource to first and second year students
• Provide instruction in the core clerkships and electives for third and fourth year students
• Mentor students by sharing real-life experiences, demonstrating professionalism and providing moral support and encouragement
• Actively serve on select academic advisory committees


Mark Carey Promoted to Program Manager for Seminole Community College's Respiratory Care Program


SANFORD — Mark Carey has been promoted to program manager for the Respiratory Care Program at Seminole Community College.

Carey, 52, started at SCC in 2007 as clinical coordinator for the Respiratory Care Program after 30 years as a respiratory therapist at Florida Hospital.

Carey was selected National Volunteer of the Week by the American Lung Association, and Volunteer of the Month for April 2008 by the American Lung Association's local chapter. He began volunteering in the Open Airways program in 1995.

Carey is also a medical service corps officer in the Air Force Reserve, with the rank of major. SCC's Respiratory Care Program was recently lauded for its high ratio of credentialed therapists by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Carey takes over management of the program from Steve Shideler, who oversaw SCC's Respiratory Therapy program for 30 years before leaving this fall to become Cardiopulmonary Sciences program director at the University of Central Florida.


South Lake Hospital Opens Additional Digital Mammography Suite


CLERMONT — South Lake Hospital Honey Jean Smoak Mammography and Imaging Center provides a variety of preventive diagnostic services for women including digital mammography. South Lake Hospital was the first hospital in Central Florida to offer digital mammography technology and was pleased to announce the addition of a second digital mammography suite this month. The new suite is equipped with GE technology that provides unparalleled precision and intuitive operation for faster exams, fewer retakes and added patient comforts. “The additional digital mammography suite will allow us to enhance our mammography services by increasing exam availability to women in our community,” stated Leslie Longacre, chief executive officer, South Lake Hospital. “The new suite coupled with the conveniences of weekend hours, easy scheduling and patient-focused care provides exceptional services for women in south Lake County.”


South Lake Hospital’s Cancer Survivorship Series to focus on nutrition and Exercise


CLERMONT — This month’s Cancer Survivorship Series will be Thursday, November 20, from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. and is titled, “Positive Strategies to Manage your Mood,” presented by Tori Kelley, PhD, LMHC, Central Florida Mental Health, Inc. After November’s program, the series will start back up in January 2009 and will run through April 2009.

To register for one or both programs, please call (352) 394-4071, ext. 4412. South Lake Hospital is a not-for-profit acute care community hospital, in partnership with Orlando Health. For more information on South Lake Hospital, please visit http://www.southlakehospital.com.


Florida Hospital DeLand Purchases DeLand Surgery Center


DELAND — The DeLand Surgery Center, 651 West Plymouth Avenue, was purchased by Florida Hospital DeLand for 1.7 million on September 30.

Set to reopen in 2009, the 9800 sq ft medical center, located across the street from the main hospital building, will house all outpatient gastrointestinal procedures.

The new location will provide comprehensive gastrointestinal (GI) services for patients with diagnoses that include peptic ulcer disease, malignancies, reflux and heartburn, pancreatic and liver ailments, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and others.

The center’s staff will include four board-certified gastroenterologists, David Elijah, M.D., Paul B. Goldberg, M.D., Bharat Patel, M.D. and Martin Prado, M.D.

Along with preventative and therapeutic measures to care for patients, outstanding service, convenient hours and the latest technology are among the other benefits patients can expect to experience at the new center.

The center will be redesigned with patient comfort and privacy in mind and is another step Florida Hospital DeLand is taking to further improve patient experience and satisfaction.


Florida Hospital DeLand Diabetes Center Receives ADA Recognition


DELAND — The Diabetes Center at Florida Hospital DeLand has earned recognition from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for their Diabetes Education Program

"Achieving ADA recognition for our education program means that we are meeting the rigorous standards of quality required by the American Diabetes Association in order to provide comprehensive education to our community,” said Diabetes Educator Joyce Parrillo, RN, CDE from Florida Hospital DeLand.

Parrillo has taught over 200 patients this year alongside of registered dietician, Luisa Cordero.


Cape Heart Group Granted Accreditation


Cape Heart Group located in Merritt Island was granted accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL). The Cape Heart Group Echocardiography Laboratory is one of the first one thousand echocardiography labs in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to be so recognized for its commitment to high quality patient care and its provision of diagnostic quality testing. Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary. Accreditation status signifies that the facility has been reviewed by an independent agency that recognizes the laboratory’s commitment to quality testing for the diagnosis for heart disease.


Parrish Medical Center Earns Honors


TITUSVILLE — ADVANCE for Nurses newsmagazine announced Parrish Medical Center (PMC) is one of the select “top hospitals” in the magazine’s second annual Readers’ Choice survey for the state of Florida. PMC was the only hospital selected in any category in East-Central Florida.

Voting was open to registered nurses (RNs) who ranked a selected hospital in areas that matter to nurses: quality of care, organizational culture, professional development, communication and retention efforts. Parrish Medical Center scored highly for quality of care.

ADVANCE provided a list of 279 hospitals in Florida and invited readers to rank their facility by responding on a 1–5 scale to 10 statements in five different categories. From this list, participants voted on 108 different hospitals. Sixteen hospitals were honored across five categories.

Nurses from across Florida voted in the unscientific online poll, which was available on the ADVANCE for Nurses Web site from March through July. The Readers’ Choice results are featured in the Oct. 13, 2008, issue and can be found on its Web site in the regional section at nursing.advanceweb.com.

Technology, evidence-based practice and ongoing education are key to the successes among hospitals that provide top-notch quality of care, according to ADVANCE survey respondents. Those earning high marks also focused on patient- and family-centered care.