The American Heart Association presents the Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus Award to hospitals that have made a commitment to prioritizing quality care for stroke patients

North Shore Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States.  On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.  Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and speeding recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke was developed to assist healthcare professionals in providing the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treating stroke patients.

“North Shore Medical Center is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to helping our patients have the best possible chance of survival and after a stroke,” said Matthew K. Garner, President of North Shore Medical Center.  “Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis to improve outcomes for stroke patients.”

Each year, program participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients.  In addition to following treatment guidelines, participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their health and rehabilitation once at home.

North Shore Medical Center was also recognized by the AHA as a Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll-Elite Plus and Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll AdvancedTherapy award recipient.  To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. 

“We are pleased to recognize North Shore Medical Center for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.  “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”



September 22, 2021 – Scott Lipkin, DPM, has been appointed Vice President and Chief Research Officer for Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. Lipkin is responsible for the oversight and executive management of the organization’s research enterprise, including financial administration, grant management, protocol development, human subject protections/IRB and compliance.

“We are committed to research, which is more important today than ever before, and we are fortunate to have Dr. Lipkin leading this imperative,” said Brian Keeley, chief executive officer of Baptist Health. “Our focus on expanding clinical research and innovation aligns with our mission of providing exceptional care for the communities we are privileged to serve.”

“Dr. Lipkin is dedicated to helping achieve safe research procedures for patients,” said Jack Ziffer, Ph.D., M.D., executive vice president, chief clinical officer and chief physician executive of Baptist Health. “In his expanded role, he will lead the effort to transform the Baptist Health research enterprise into a nationally recognized, strategically aligned business unit.”

In addition to his new role, Dr. Lipkin will continue as chief research officer for Miami Cancer Institute, under the leadership of Michael Zinner, M.D., CEO of the Institute. In this role, he is responsible for the executive management of Miami Cancer Institute’s research program, including clinical operations, research administration, biorepository, academic affiliations, Institutional Review Board and compliance.

“I’m passionate about research and am excited about the opportunity to advance research across Baptist Health,” said Dr. Lipkin, who has more than 30 years of combined experience as an executive research administrator, human research protection program administrator, institutional review board chair, management consultant, podiatric physician and surgeon, and clinical research investigator. “It’s an honor to work with our entire research team to provide the best care and hope for patients and families.”

Dr. Lipkin earned his doctorate of podiatric medicine from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He then completed his podiatric surgery residency and served as chief resident at St. Mary Hospital in Philadelphia.

He began his career on the medical staff of the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). He was also chief of the Division of Podiatric Surgery for 10 years. He began participating in clinical research early in his career, serving as the principal or sub-investigator on numerous clinical trials related to diabetic foot wounds and wound healing.

Dr. Lipkin began taking on research positions while maintaining his clinical practice. He chaired LVHN’s institutional review board and led the organization through national accreditation. He then began serving on national panels and councils that focused on research ethics, patient safety and research compliance.

His dedication to the operational and compliance side of the clinical research continuum led him to accept a full-time role in administration in 2010. He served as the chief of the Network Office of Research & Innovation, where he created a centralized research office. In 2014, he transitioned to research consulting.

Dr. Lipkin joined Miami Cancer Institute from Ankura Consulting, where he served as the managing director of the clinical research and compliance practice. In this role, he provided research- and compliance-related advisory services to academic medical centers, cancer centers, children’s hospitals and large health systems throughout the United States.

Dr. Lipkin serves as an adjunct instructor at the Loyola University School of Law, is a member of the Council for Certification of IRB Professionals, and is a frequent presenter at professional events and conferences throughout the country.

About Baptist Health South Florida

Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, more than 23,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence,Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.



September 22, 2021 –Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale was once again nationally recognized by the American Heart Association for its continued success in using the Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure and Target: Type 2 Diabetesprograms.

Holy Cross Health received the American Heart Association’s Heart Failure GOLD PLUS with Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll for applying the most up to date evidence-based treatment guidelines to improve patient care and outcomes in the communities served.

“With compassionate, quality care, our team continues to strive for excellence in delivering advanced treatments that result in positive outcomes for our patients,” said Holy Cross Health President and CEO Mark Doyle.

The goal at Holy Cross is to reduce hospitalizations and improve heart failure patient care by providing intensive personalized therapy, developing individual programs that educate patients about heart failure, optimizing chronic medications and helping patients manage their disease. “We see heart failure management as a team effort, and it is the Holy Cross team that should be applauded for our Gold Plus recognition, which is a true testament that they go above and beyond demonstrating additional measurements to ensure patients receive the absolute best care,” added Doyle.

Holy Cross Health also was recognized with the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll for meeting quality measures developed with more than 90% of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”

Holy Cross Health has a robust diabetes program which guides patients into making achievable and realistic lifestyle changes to cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The free online portal, Holy Cross’s My Body My Health, provides trained lifestyle coaches, video lessons, easy food and activity tracking, 24/7 digital access, and an online community to build support among participants.

“We appreciate the American Heart Association’s acknowledgement of our diabetes programs, which we are very proud of,” Doyle adds. “With education and community outreach, we can have a positive impact on the lives of those who are diabetic or prediabetic.”

ABOUT HOLY CROSS HEALTH

A member of Trinity Health, Fort Lauderdale-based Holy Cross Hospital, dba Holy Cross Health, is a full-service, non-profit, Catholic, teaching hospital operating in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. Holy Cross has been named one of the top 10 hospitals in the Miami metro area and among the top 30 in the state in U.S. News and World Report’s 2020-2021 Best Hospital rankings. Through strategic collaborations and a commitment to being a person-centered, transforming, healing presence, the 557-bed hospital offers progressive inpatient, outpatient and community outreach services and clinical research trials to serve as our community’s trusted health partner for life. Holy Cross Health also encompasses Holy Cross HealthPlex outpatient facility, urgent care centers and more than 50 Holy Cross Medical Group physician practices. To learn more about Holy Cross Health, visit holy-cross.com. Connect @holycrossfl.

ABOUT GET WITH THE GUIDELINES

Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 9 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.



September 22, 2021 – Baptist Health South Florida announces the upcoming debut of its newest facility, Baptist Health Hospital, in Doral. Encompassing over 43,000 square feet of space, the two-story hospital will provide 24/7 emergency care, as well as diagnostic imaging, surgery, inpatient pharmacy and other necessary healthcare services to the Doral community.

Perfectly situated just off the Palmetto 826 highway at 9500 NW 58 Street, Baptist Health Hospital is the latest addition to the Baptist Health system in Miami-Dade County, with its grand opening slated for this fall. 

In line with Baptist Health’s longstanding commitment to providing high-quality health and wellness services to every community, the new facility will include treatment and operating rooms; 15 private inpatient beds; and an inpatient pharmacy, all in one centralized facility. With patient satisfaction in mind, the new hospital boasts a sleek, eye-catching design, providing easy-to-navigate experience for all individuals living and working in the surrounding neighborhood. 

“When people are in need of urgent medical assistance, convenience matters. The completion of Baptist Health Hospital in Doral provides members of the community with the opportunity to be at a hospital and seen by a trusted physician quickly and efficiently,” said Ana Lopez-Blazquez, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer for Baptist Health.

Board-certified doctors are available on-site, along with a team of dedicated physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners and therapists. Just as in other hospital emergency departments, doctors consult with specialists, including cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons and gynecologists, among others. The completion of Baptist Health Hospital comes three decades after the organization first planted roots in the City of Doral, and one year after the organization unveiled various offerings in the fast-growing Downtown Doral neighborhood: cardiology, orthopedics, primary care, spine care, urgent care and other ancillary services. Baptist Health continues to collaborate with area organizations to provide diverse health and wellness solutions to the community.

For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Doral.

About Baptist Health

Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, more than 23,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.



September 20 2021 –  HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) and Steward Health Care today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for HCA Healthcare to acquire the operations of Steward Health Care’s five Utah hospitals. HCA Healthcare also entered into an agreement to lease the related real estate from its owner following the expected closing.

The hospitals will become part of HCA Healthcare’s Mountain Division, which includes 11 hospitals in Utah, Idaho and Alaska.

“Utah is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, and the state’s need for healthcare continues to increase,” said Sam Hazen, chief executive officer of HCA Healthcare. “We believe the addition of these facilities will help us improve healthcare network options for patients and enable investment in services to meet increasing demand for healthcare. We look forward to welcoming them to the HCA Healthcare family.”

Steward Health Care also operates hospitals in Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The sale of these facilities to HCA Healthcare will enhance Steward Health Care’s ability to continue growing and reinvesting in other states and locations served by the health system.

Steward Health Care chairman and CEO Ralph de la Torre commented, “We are very proud of Steward’s significant contributions to the quality and efficiency of operations in these facilities. We are confident that the combination with HCA Healthcare will enable the achievement of cost savings and further improved quality of care for patients in Utah. For Steward, this transaction frees up additional capital to more deliberately invest in its accountable care model (largest in the US and #2 in shared savings for MSSP 2020) by reinvesting in risk-based opportunities and health care expansion.”

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted as transaction counsel to HCA Healthcare. SVB Leerink acted as exclusive financial advisor to Steward Health Care. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

About HCA Healthcare

Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services comprising 187 hospitals and approximately 2,000 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44 percent. HCA Healthcare is a learning health system that uses its more than 32 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives. Please click here to connect with HCA Healthcare on social media.

About Steward Health Care

Steward Health Care’s physician-led business model was built to unlock access to the highest-quality care at a sustainable cost, committed to providing personalized, ongoing medical services that positively impact patients’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Founded in 2010, Steward Health Care is the largest physician-led health care network with more than 5,500 providers and 43,000 health care professionals caring for 12.3 million patients a year through its global network of hospitals, urgent care centers, skilled nursing facilities and behavioral health services.

Based in Dallas, Steward currently operates 44 hospitals around the world, including 39 across Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah, as well as five internationally within Malta and Colombia.