Health care is an ever-evolving industry, which means that change is not just normal, its constant.
That was especially true for Martin Memorial Health Systems in 2008. In September, the health system announced that Mark E. Robitaille, senior vice president and chief operating officer since 1991, would replace retiring president and chief executive officer Richmond M. Harman, who had served in that role for 19 years and had been with Martin Memorial since 1975.
“I am excited and honored to be taking on this new role,” Robitaille said. “Martin Memorial holds a special place in this community and I am dedicated to continuing that legacy of care.”
Robitaille, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, has more than 30 years of experience helping healthcare providers deliver care to communities. As chief operating officer at Martin Memorial, he was responsible for oversight of the health systems two acute-care inpatient hospitals, as well as outpatient services, ambulatory care, the human resources divisions and other healthcare-related services.
Christina Cullinane, R.N., B.S.N., O.C.N., Total Cancer Care clinical research coordinator, educates physicians and patients about the Total Cancer Care Program.
For years, Robitaille has been heavily involved in working with the burgeoning life sciences industry that is emerging on the Treasure Coast. The Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center at Martin Memorial, which is affiliated with the esteemed Moffitt Cancer Center, has been a leader in the area for cancer clinical trials.
In January, Martin Memorial and Moffitt Cancer Center announced a joint collaboration in an exciting new program that features state-of-the-art cancer research between Moffitt and affiliated healthcare providers.
This collaboration will develop a new research initiative to improve cancer prevention and treatment by using molecular technology to enhance the ability to diagnose and treat patients. Tumor tissues from patients at Martin Memorial will be collected and the biological markers unique to each tumor identified. Researchers will then analyze patients responses to specific treatments.
In its second year, Martin Memorials Frances Langford Heart Center continued to provide life-saving care to residents of the Treasure Coast. In October, the heart center performed its 500th heart surgery since opening in August 2006. More than a thousand others have received angioplasty providing critical heart care close to home.
With cancer and heart disease so prevalent in our community, Martin Memorial decided to eliminate one of the leading contributors of both illnesses on its campuses tobacco use.
Beginning on Oct. 1, each of Martin Memorials 12 locations became completely tobacco free inside facilities and out. It included not just Associates, but patients, visitors, physicians and anyone else who comes to a Martin Memorial facility.
Martin Memorial also continued its battle to build a new hospital in western St. Lucie County. The health system received a certificate of need from the state in 2007, but that was challenged by two HCA Inc.-owned facilities in the county. An administrative hearing took place in November 2008 but results were not available by press time.
In the meantime, Martin Memorial announced in April that it will be building an off-site emergency department at the health systems current facility in St. Lucie West. The emergency center will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, but will not provide inpatient beds. It will be staffed and equipped to handle many of the same emergencies a hospital would, though patients with more severe injuries or ailments will be taken to appropriate facilities.
Finally, the Martin Memorial Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary, highlighted by the 14th-annual Chrysanthemum Ball on Nov. 1. The event raised $1 million, with half of the funds going toward a digital mammography unit, and the other establishing the Chrysanthemum Ball Endowment Fund, which will fund projects for the next generation of patient care.
Health care is an ever-evolving industry, which means that change is not just normal, its constant. 
