– Anonymous

What could possibly prevent me from ranting this month (as I have for the last three) about how crucial it is to get your COVID vaccine — it must be something incredibly momentous. And it is … the Felix’s 50th wedding anniversary. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. We must have married quite young, and you would be right. We were barely in our twenties and actually got engaged without even going on a real date. As Carol likes to say, “We were too lazy to date and equally too lazy to ever get divorced.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau a mere five percent of marriages makes it to 50 years. So, I guess we really must be Mr. and Mrs. T-Rex.

To celebrate this questionable milestone, Carol and I decided it was time (for probably only the third time in our married life) to buy a new mattress. (Yes, we’ve been sleeping on lumps and bumps for ages.) The only problem was the necessary “test drive” in the age of COVID. And despite the sales spiel about all sample mattresses being sanitized after every trial, Carol wasn’t buying it. So only after arming herself with sanitizer spray AND a personal pillowcase could we venture forth.

I think our salesperson Gloria is still reeling from the speed at which we made our choice. We walked in, listed our criteria: extra firm, low profile, and no pillowtop. She showed us 3 beds and we were done in 15 minutes. Of course she tried to sell us on the adjustable bed idea, demonstrating the remote control — at which point she got the Carol “death star glare.” So much like the way I’ve navigated the past 50 years,  Gloria quickly learned it’s sometimes just easier to back off than to engage.

I did want to give Carol (a woman of few words) a chance to comment about this upcoming milestone. However all Carol would say was, “It’s remarkable how long we have tolerated each other.”



Untreated patients end up costing the entire community

September 2021 – According to a report published in 2019 by the Florida Department of Health, 19.2% of residents in Palm Beach County are uninsured, a number that most likely is much higher today. For the past 15 years, the nonprofit program of Palm Beach County Medical SocietyServices (PBCMSS), Project Access, has provided more than $14.4 million in health care services for this population, including screenings, direct care, and assistance in finding critical community resources. The organization, however, is facing a crisis due to a lack of providers willing to treat this population.

“If every physician in Palm Beach County was willing to do their small part and join oureffort, together we could easily serve the needs of the uninsured and under insured in our community, said Dr. Maureen Whelihan, a gynecologist who has been treating patients as a volunteer for years.

Dr. Whelihan explained that Project Access makes the process easy for providers by allowing them to decide how many and what kind of patients they see. In addition, all participating physicians, hospitals, and ancillary centers receive sovereign immunity as well as CME credits.

“The staff at Project Access are professional and extremely organized,” she added. “Agreeing to see even one patient every six months can make a huge difference.”

Currently, the greatest need is for specialists, including vascular surgeons, gastroenterologists, oncologists, pulmonologists and gynecologists. Creating a network for chemotherapy is particularly urgent, as currently some patients must travel out of the County to receive care.

Dr. Andrew Larson, the Chair of Project Access and a volunteer surgeon, has seen first-hand how this community effort helps keep patients healthy and out of the emergency room. He treated a man diagnosed with pre-diabetes and an inguinal hernia.

“He never burdened the system with additional emergency room visits and received his diabetes education and monitoring through the resident clinic in an ongoing fashion,” said Dr. Larson.  “Without the guidance of Project Access staff, it is unlikely he would have discovered this resource on his own and it is very likely he would have ended up with several emergency room bills.  Our volunteers make a difference every day.”

For more information about how to be a part of Project Access, contact Karen Harwood, MSW, CCM, Director of Community Programs at karenh@pbcms.org or visit the Project Access website.  All licensed providers, including nurse practitioners, are needed.

ABOUT PALM BEACH COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY SERIVCES

The nonprofit arm of the Palm Beach County Medical Society provides and coordinates continuing medical education for physicians and allied health professionals. PBCMS Services also works to inform and educate the public about health care issues, strives to find ways to improve patient access to health care, and collects and studies information on the health care delivery system.



We are excited to announce that Miami Dolphins linebacker, Sam Eguavoen, has chosen Epilepsy Florida as his My Cause My Cleats charity of choice. We encourage you to come out for the showcase game on December 5th, 2021, to support Sam, the Miami Dolphins and Epilepsy Florida! To learn more visit https://www.nfl.com/causes/my-cause-my-cleats/. Follow #MyCauseMyCleats

KAREN BASHA EGOZI

We’re getting closer to our annual Walk the Talk events! These events help raise critical awareness and funds to benefit Floridians living with and impacted by epilepsy, and provide safe, supportive, and fun environments for our communities to come together. I encourage you to pick your favorite city and make a positive impact in your local epilepsy community. Sign up today to walk with us!

Epilepsy Awareness Month is around the corner. This November, we ask that you join the fight and talk about epilepsy to your friends and family to promote awareness and education about epilepsy and seizures. Looking for more ways to get involved? Epilepsy Florida can help you host your private fundraiser, educate your community on seizure first aid, and so much more! Call us today to learn more and join our many events and activities.

Explore our upcoming events. Get inspired by our Warriors of Adversity stories.



– Florida faces a nursing crisis! There are not enough nurses now and that trend will continue into the next decade! That is the major finding of a new report released today commissioned by the Florida Hospital Association and the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida from IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), a world leader in next-generation information and analytics that works with 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500.

The report’s projections show Florida will face a shortfall of 59,100 nurses by 2035. This includes a 12 percent shortfall, -37,400, in Registered Nurses (RN) and a 30 percent shortfall, -21,700, in Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).

“Florida needs nurses now and well into the future. A recent FHA study, prior to the current spike in COVID-19, showed an 11 percent vacancy rate for nurses this spring and that one in four nurses left their positions last year,” said Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association. “As Florida’s population continues to grow, our healthcare system must be ready to meet the ever-increasing demand for services. A strong healthcare workforce and capacity in the education system to graduate needed nurses over the coming years are critical.”

Justin Senior, CEO of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida added, “As we have seen throughout this pandemic, there is no substitute for the care of an excellent nurse. Our state’s rapid, accelerating growth is a testament to the state’s strong pandemic response and to the state’s leadership during this crisis. This growth does put a strain on existing infrastructure – including health care generally and nurses specifically.  It is our hope that this study will provide valuable information to all of those in leadership positions about the state’s near-future nursing needs.  These needs require a thoughtful, all-encompassing approach to educating, training, recruiting, and retaining Florida’s present and future nurses.  We are confident that by addressing the nursing pipeline through investments in nursing educational and training programs and in nursing schools that we can avoid nurse shortages and strengthen the state’s healthcare delivery system.”

The Nurse Workforce Projection Report found the need for nurses is not evenly distributed across the state. Florida’s major metropolitan areas are projected to largely have an adequate supply of RNs, but a shortfall of LPNs. Florida’s rural areas and panhandle will face a shortage of RNs but have a largely adequate supply of LPNs. The Villages is projected to have the largest shortage of both RNs and LPNs. Gainesville is projected to have a significant excess of both RNs and LPNs.

In the report, the Florida Hospital Association and Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida suggest addressing the nurse shortage in the coming years by expanding nursing schools and clinical training capacity, increase the number of nurse faculty opportunities, improving pass rates of the nurse licensing exams which the state ranks towards the bottom in nationally, and taking advantage of an influx of people moving to Florida by increasing funding for recruitment of nurses from outside the state.

The Florida Hospital Association and Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida also commissioned IHS Markit to conduct a similar projection for physicians. That report will be released later this fall.

A quick guide to Florida Nurse Workforce Projections Report can be found here.

The complete Florida Nurse Workforce Projections Report can be found here.

Quotes from organizations focused on nursing and nurse training can be found here.

About the Florida Hospital Association

Founded in 1927, the Florida Hospital Association is the leading voice for health care in the State of Florida. Through representation and advocacy, education and informational services, the Florida Hospital Association supports the mission of more than 200 hospitals and health care systems to provide the highest quality of care to the patients we serve. Led by President and CEO Mary Mayhew, the Florida Hospital Association has offices in Tallahassee and Orlando and is governed by a Board of Trustees and officers elected by the member institutions. For more information, visit www.fha.org.

About the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida The Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida is a 14-member coalition of teaching, public, children’s and regional perinatal intensive care hospitals that together make up only 10 percent of the state’s hospitals, yet provide the majority of the state’s highly specialized medical care, train tomorrow’s doctors, and provide almost half of the Medicaid and charity care.



Alzheimer’s Association planning return to in-person event

September 30, 2021 –The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting Palm Beach residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, Oct. 23.

While last year’s event was mainly virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alzheimer’s Association is moving forward with hosting this year’s Palm Beach Walk to End Alzheimer’s in person. Walk Director Toni Abraham, however, noted that the health and safety of participants, staff and volunteers remain the Association’s top priorities.

“All events will implement safety protocols, including physical distancing, masks where required, contactless registration, hand sanitizing stations and more,” Abraham said. “We will also be offering options to participate online and in local neighborhoods and will continue to closely monitor CDC, state and local guidelines to ensure events adhere to recommendations and are safe for attendees.”

Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony – a mission-focused experience that signifies their solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent participants’ connections to Alzheimer’s disease and their personal reasons for walking.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Florida alone, there are more than 580,000 people living with the disease and 527,000 caregivers. 

The Palm Beach Walk to End Alzheimer’s will kick off with an Opening Ceremony at 9 a.m. on Oct. 23 at Dreher Park. To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org/walk.

Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.  

Alzheimer’s Association®

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia – by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.