The National Institutes of Health awarded nearly $470 million to build a national study population of diverse research volunteers and support large-scale studies on the long-term effects of COVID-19. The NIH REsearching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative(link is external) made the parent award to New York University (NYU) Langone Health, New York City, which will make multiple sub-awards to more than 100 researchers at more than 30 institutions and serves as the RECOVER Clinical Science Core. This major new award to NYU Langone supports new studies of COVID-19 survivors and leverages existing long-running large cohort studies with an expansion of their research focus. This combined population of research participants from new and existing cohorts, called a meta-cohort, will comprise the RECOVER Cohort. This funding was supported by the American Rescue Plan.

NIH launched the RECOVER Initiative to learn why some people have prolonged symptoms (referred to as long COVID) or develop new or returning symptoms after the acute phase of infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The most common symptoms include pain, headaches, fatigue, “brain fog,” shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, fever, chronic cough, and sleep problems.

“We know some people have had their lives completely upended by the major long-term effects of COVID-19,” said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. “These studies will aim to determine the cause and find much needed answers to prevent this often-debilitating condition and help those who suffer move toward recovery.”

Data from the RECOVER Cohort will include clinical information, laboratory tests, and analyses of participants in various stages of recovery following SARS-CoV-2 infection. With immediate access to data from existing, diverse study populations, it is anticipated researchers will be able to accelerate the timeline for this important research.

“This scientifically rigorous approach puts into place a collaborative and multidisciplinary research community inclusive of diverse research participants that are critical to informing the treatment and prevention of the long-term effects of COVID-19,” said Gary H. Gibbons, M.D., director of NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and one of the co-chairs of the RECOVER Initiative.

Researchers, people affected by long COVID, and representatives from advocacy organizations worked together to develop the RECOVER master protocols that use standardized trial designs and research methods to enable uniform evaluation of study populations across studies and the ability to quickly pivot the research focus depending on what findings show. This approach allows for data harmonization across research studies and study populations.  Data harmonization allows data to be compared and analyzed, which will facilitate the research process and provide more robust findings. 

Studies will include adult, pregnant, and pediatric populations; enroll patients during the acute as well as post-acute phases of the SARS-CoV-2 infection; evaluate tissue pathology; analyze data from millions of electronic health records; and use mobile health technologies, such as smartphone apps and wearable devices, which will gather real-world data in real time. Together, these studies are expected to provide insights over the coming months into many important questions including the incidence and prevalence of long-term effects from SARS-CoV-2 infection, the range of symptoms, underlying causes, risk factors, outcomes, and potential strategies for treatment and prevention.

“Given the range of symptoms that have been reported, intensive research using all available tools is necessary to understand what happens to stall recovery from this terrible virus. Importantly, the tissue pathology studies in RECOVER will enable in depth studies of the virus’s effects on all body systems” said Walter J. Koroshetz, M.D., director of NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and one of the RECOVER co-chairs.

Research opportunity announcements were issued in February 2021 and awards to launch the RECOVER Clinical Science Core and Data Resource Core were announced in June. An award in support of a RECOVER Biorepository Core has also been made to the Mayo Clinic for approximately $40 million to collect, curate, and distribute comprehensive source of clinical samples for additional research studies. The Cores provide coordination and infrastructure for the RECOVER Initiative, including supporting the activities of the investigator consortium and ensuring that all data are harmonized and shared among researchers. In May and June, short-term awards were provided to more than 30 institutions to develop the master protocols.

These awards pave the path to gaining greater understanding of the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and enabling researchers to identify potential interventions and preventive strategies.

About the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): NINDS is the nation’s leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. For more information, visit www.ninds.nih.gov.

About the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): NHLBI is the global leader in conducting and supporting research in heart, lung, and blood diseases and sleep disorders that advances scientific knowledge, improves public health, and saves lives. For more information, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.



October 26, 2021

Structural Heart and Imaging Virtual Symposium: Structural Advances in Mitral and Tricuspid Transcatheter Therapy from the Eyes of an Imager

Website: https://cmeonline.baptisthealth.net/echo-symposium-2021

Provider: Baptist Health South Florida

Contact: Julie Zimmett, juliez@baptisthealth.net, 786-596-8612

Miami Brain Virtual Symposium

December 3, 2021

Website: http://MiamiBrainSymposium.BaptistHealth.net

Provider: Baptist Health South Florida

Contact: Julie Zimmett, juliez@baptisthealth.net, 786-596-8612



New PSMA PET imaging agent provides Memorial Cancer Institute patients more accurate and earlier detection of metastasized or recurrent prostate cancer

September 16, 2021 – Implementing the latest technologies in prostate cancer care, Memorial Healthcare System became South Florida’s first hospital system, and among the first nationally, to utilize PYLARIFY (F-18 DCFPyL), post FDA approval. Pylarify is a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET imaging agent that targets and identifies suspected metastasis or recurrence of prostate cancer. Pylarify was developed to target PSMA, a protein that is overexpressed on the surface of more than 90% of primary and metastatic prostate cancer cells. Once Pylarify binds itself to the PSMA protein, it lights up, enabling the PET scan to detect and locate the disease.

“Conventional imaging has significant limitations in detecting prostate cancer, both in initial staging and when the cancer has recurred or spread after initial treatment,” said Dr. Jonathan Silberstein, Chief of Urology and Uro-Oncology, Memorial Healthcare System. “The evolution of imaging technology through this agent allows us to detect the cancer in a much earlier time period, so we can direct therapies more efficiently.”

The collaboration between specialists highlights Memorial Cancer Institute’s multidisciplinary approach in treating prostate cancer patients. A dedicated team of cancer experts in radiology, medical oncology, urology and radiation oncology work together to provide patients with better options that advance prostate cancer care.

Dr. Ignacio Castellon, Chief of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Cancer Institute, whose team administers cancer treatment to control or eradicate malignant cells, adds, “The PSMA PET scan highlights exactly what areas we need to treat and whether we should take a more localized treatment approach or offer more systemic treatment to achieve optimal results for our patients.”

“This transformative diagnostic tool helps clinicians develop treatment plans based on a much more accurate understanding of a patient’s distribution of disease,” said Dr. Barbara Raphael, Chief of Nuclear Medicine, Memorial Healthcare System and Medical Director of PET Imaging Institute of South Florida. “This is a game changer for radiation oncologists, urologists and medical oncologists as they are able to be more precise in treating patients, and even more important for the millions of men who have prostate cancer and have historically had no answers as to the extent of their disease. Pylarify takes them out of the dark and provides them with hope that they will finally have answers.”

For more information, patients can contact the Memorial Cancer Institute at 954-265-4325 or visit www.petimagingflorida.com/pet-scanning-for-prostate-cancer/. Patients will need a signed order from their treating physician prior to scheduling a PSMA PET scan.

Lantheus, the manufacturer of Pylarify is evaluating a PSMA therapeutic agent for targeted prostate cancer therapy, which will complement its detection technology.

About Memorial Healthcare System

Since its inception in 1953, Memorial Healthcare System has been a leader in providing high-quality healthcare servicesto South Florida residents. Today, it is one of the nation’s largest public healthcare systems and highly regarded for its exceptional patient- and family-centered care.  Among its facilities are Memorial Regional Hospital, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Memorial Regional Hospital South, Memorial Hospital West, Memorial Hospital Miramar and Memorial Hospital Pembroke, Memorial Home Health Services, Memorial Manor nursing home and a variety of ancillary healthcare facilities that round out the system’s wide-ranging health services. For more information, visit www.mhs.net. 



CMS Should Also Correct the ACO ‘Rural Glitch’ As Soon As Possible

WASHINGTON – In formal comments submitted in response to the proposed 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations (NAACOS) called on the Biden administration to hold off on requiring clinical quality measures to be reported electronically until data interoperability is widely available. While thankful for a three-year delay in ACOs’ move to electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs), NAACOS offered several ways to improve the way ACOs report and are measured on quality, which is a hallmark aspect of ACO programs. The final Physician Fee Schedule Rule will be published later this fall.

The use of eCQMs would move ACOs away from manually abstracting data from patient charts, but also its use requires providers working in ACOs to aggregate data from their various electronic health records (EHR) systems, which is mostly not possible today. Because ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other providers who come together to take accountability for the cost and quality of beneficiaries, they are by definition multiple groups of providers, who often work with different EHR systems. According to a NAACOS survey of ACOs this spring, nearly half of ACOs’ participating practices use 11 or more EHRs, and the biggest barrier cited for movement to eCQM reporting was the lack of EHR standardization. Because of this, NAACOS calls on CMS to work with ACOs and the EHR vendor community to find solutions to data aggregation problems. Until these solutions are widely available, eCQMs should not be mandated for ACOs.

“CMS must avoid making eCQMs mandatory until standard data fields exist across EHRs, and true interoperability is achieved,” the letter states. “Instead, CMS should make the use of eCQMs optional until standard data fields exist across EHRs, and true interoperability is achieved.”

Among our other comments, NAACOS suggests CMS:

  • Abandon the strategy of aligning ACO quality with the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) quality assessments. 
  • Revise the new Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) quality performance standard since it is inappropriate to compare ACO quality performance to MIPS quality performance.
  • Remove the all-payor requirement for ACOs reporting eCQMs and instead urge CMS to require reporting on a sample of ACO assigned patients meeting the denominator criteria.
  • Improve education and guidance provided to ACOs to support their successful transition to eCQM/MIPS CQM reporting and the new Alternative Payment Model [APM] Performance Pathway (APP) reporting and assessments that have been created to evaluate their quality performance in the MSSP.

Last year when the healthcare industry was in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, CMS finalized a move to eCQMs for ACOs, among other changes. The move required ACOs in the MSSP to aggregate data from disparate EHR systems, which are not interoperable, and to report on quality data on all patients regardless of payer, raising issues with collecting data from non-ACO providers and on patients with no direct connection to the ACO. The move could also widen health disparities as ACOs’ quality performance could be misrepresented as differences in quality when variation is likely due to patient access to care or complexity. In May, 11 leading healthcare organizations called on the Biden administration to delay and make significant changes to quality reporting for ACOs — citing rushed implementation, still unanswered questions on changes, and potential negative consequences to patient care.  

NAACOS also urges CMS to fix the ACO “rural glitch” by making formal regulatory changes to remove ACO-assigned beneficiaries from the regional reference population, which should be implemented as soon as possible. The rural glitch systematically penalizes an ACO when it reduces costs. Specifically, when an ACO lowers the total cost of care for its assigned population, it also reduces the average regional costs and diminishes the positive effect of the regional adjustment. This defeats the purpose of a benchmark that is based in part on regional expenditure data, which CMS has acknowledged is fair and necessary for a viable ACO program long-term.



September 16, 2021 – Throughout this pandemic year, Holy Cross Health has recognized its healthcare workers who have demonstrated the loyalty to serve patients and the community with compassionate care. From those honorees, Holy Cross Health has named the Colleague of the Year, Director of the Year and Leader of the Year, recognizing them in a recent special ceremony.  

“All of our colleagues bring to life our core values and serve with compassionate care each time they serve our patients and their families, as well as when they interact with each other,” said Stonish Pierce, COO of Holy Cross Health. “To say this past year was extremely challenging is an understatement. We are proud of our entire Holy Cross team, particularly these associates who truly stood out as leaders during the pandemic.”  

Holy Cross Director of Laboratory Services Angie L’Heureux

Pompano Beach resident and Holy Cross Director of Laboratory Services Angie L’Heureux was selected as the non-profit hospital’s Director of the Year. L’Heureux played a vital role throughout the pandemic and as a long-tenured colleague of Holy Cross Health’s Regional Health Ministry, she has embodied and demonstrated Trinity Health’s mission and core values for more than a decade. L’Heureux demonstrates rapport with her leadership colleagues, has garnered respect from senior leadership and engaged her colleagues and partnering physicians. L’Heureux served on the hospital’s COVID-19 steering committee, quickly pivoting the Holy Cross ministry’s testing efforts in partnership with physician leadership and ensuring her team provided consistent communication of supplies necessary to facilitate ongoing patient care. She responded to reimagining her department as a true service line to contribute to the Holy Cross ministry financially in order to uphold the legacy and aspirations of the Sisters of Mercy. 

Leader of the Year was presented to HUB C3 house supervisor, Youdeline Balzora, a supervisor on the night shift who was recognized as a role model in translating vision into reality and empowering colleagues to reach their full potential. The 18-year veteran of Holy Cross has received numerous recognitions from the emergency department for her ability to help with any situation that she has faced. The Holy Cross inpatient staff acknowledges her as always being there to lend a hand, an ear or a prayer, resolving patient, family, staff or physician concerns. A resident of Coral Springs, Balzora treats everyday as God’s work in this ministry where she embodies the Holy Cross Health mission, vision and core values.   

Youdeline Balzora, a supervisor on the night shift

Holy Cross respiratory therapist Kurt Kamrad was named Colleague of the Year. He was so instrumental in the Covid pandemic by helping to craft policy and procedure to keep Holy Cross colleagues safe, staying focused in the crisis and helping others to see that calmness and clarity would persevere. He is admired for his courage to not shy away from the challenge but rather hit it head on and conquer. Kamrad joined Holy Cross in 2018 following graduation from Keiser University. He completed his rotations at Holy Cross and knew he wanted to be a part of the team. Previously Kamrad served as a firefighter and paramedic, skilled in the field which serves him well in his medical career. Kamrad is a resident of Pembroke Pines. 

Holy Cross respiratory therapist Kurt Kamrad

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.