This marks the fourth year in a row that Palms West receives this distinction
 
March 31, 2021 –  Palms West Hospital is among the top 10 percent in the nation for Patient Safety,  according to new research by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems. Each year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions using Medicare data, and all-payer data from 16 states for bariatrics and appendectomy procedures.* 
 
Healthgrades Specialty Excellence Awards recognize hospitals with superior performance in specific specialty lines and specialty focus areas. “The importance of hospital quality is top of mind for consumers, as they are becoming more aware of the differences of care provided by different hospitals. Consumers can feel confident knowing that hospitals that are recognized for their performance in Patient Safety provide high quality care and superior outcomes,” said Dr. Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades. 
 
“We are honored to receive the Patient Safety Award, for a fourth year. This recognition validates Palms West Hospital’s long-standing commitment to patient safety, clinical quality and the care experience.” said Josh DeTillio, CEO. “As we continue to expand to meet the growing needs of our communities, we remain dedicated to keeping our patients’ safety a top priority.” 
 
The Patient Safety award speak directly to the initiatives Palms West Hospital has undertaken to reach this quality achievement. In addition to following safety protocols, the hospital has employed the use of evidence-based standards of care, bar-coded medication administration, physician order entry (POE) and technology such as UV light to support cleanliness goals – among a few.
 
Palms West Hospital was also recognized for the following clinical achievements: 
 
•Recipient of the 2021 Healthgrades Coronary Intervention Excellence Award
•Healthgrades Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Sepsis in 2021
•Healthgrades Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke in 2021
•Healthgrades Five-Star Recipient for Total Knee Replacement in 2021
 
For its analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 45 million Medicare inpatient records for nearly 4,500 short-term acute care hospitals nationwide to assess hospital performance in 32 common conditions and procedures, and evaluated comparative outcomes in appendectomy and bariatric surgery using all-payer data provided by 16 states. Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected) and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected). View the full list of Specialty Excellence AwardTM recipients here. The complete Healthgrades 2021 Report to the Nation and detailed study methodology, can be found at https://partners.healthgrades.com/healthgrades-quality-solutions/healthgrades-quality-awards/. 
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About Palms West Hospital
 
Palms West Hospital is a 204-bed acute care full service facility combining high quality, patient-driven care and state-of-the-art technology to serve residents of Palm Beach County and beyond. The hospital employs over 1,200 employees, has a medical staff of 655 active physicians and a Graduate Medical Education Program. We offer a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services including: 24/7 Emergency care, stroke center designation, comprehensive surgical services, cardiac catheterization, an orthopedics and spine institute, and maternity services with a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (level II NICU). 
 
Palms West Hospital is a recipient of numerous awards, recognitions and accreditations from a number of organizations, among them, The Joint Commission. Our more recent recognitions include Healthgrades’ 2020 Coronary Intervention Excellence Award, 2019 Gallbladder Surgery Five-Star Recipient, Healthgrades’ 2019 General Surgery Excellence Award, Healthgrades’ Patient Safety Excellence Award, Press Ganey’s 2019 Guardian of Excellence Award, Children’s Oncology Group (COG) accreditation in 2019 and Blue Shield’s Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery.
 
 
* Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2017 through 2019 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. For appendectomy and bariatric surgery, Healthgrades used inpatient data from 16 states that provide all-payer data for years 2016 through 2018. 


Graduate Programs Include Business, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing and Public Affairs  
 
 
 
March 30, 2021  – Several Florida Atlantic University graduate programs are included in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” for 2022. Each year, U.S. News’ ranks professional school programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing, including specialties in each area. The Best Graduate Schools rankings in these areas are based on two types of data: expert opinions about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students. The data for the rankings in all six disciplines came from statistical surveys of more than 2,125 programs and from reputation surveys sent to more than 23,000 academics and professionals, conducted in fall 2020 and early 2021.
 
For the 2022 edition, U.S. News also published fresh academic reputation rankings for graduate programs in public affairs, public health schools and programs, and library and information studies, and for Ph.D. program rankings in economics, English, history, sociology, political science, and criminology and criminal justice.
 
Among the FAU programs listed in the 2022 “Best Graduate Schools” are the part-time MBA at No. 115 (up from No. 138 in 2021); overall engineering (No. 154-202); computer science at No. 122 (up from No. 127 in 2021); electrical engineering (No. 155); mechanical engineering at No. 139 (up from No. 160 in 2021); environmental engineering (No. 98); overall medical school (No. 93-123); medical school primary care (No. 93-123); nursing doctorate at No. 60 (up from No. 62 in 2021); and overall public affairs at No. 83 (up from No. 90 in 2021). 
 
New this year, as part of the medical school rankings, FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine is ranked No. 24 in the nation in the “Most Diverse Medical Schools” category. U.S. News worked with the Robert Graham Center, a division of the American Academy of Family Physicians, as the data provider, to publish four new exclusive standalone rankings. One such ranking is the “Most Diverse Medical Schools,” which is based on the percentage of underrepresented minority students (Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander) enrolled in fall 2020 based on what medical schools reported to U.S. News. 
 
 “We are delighted to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report for our graduate programs in business, engineering, nursing, medicine, education and public affairs,” said Bret Danilowicz, Ph.D., FAU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I especially want to thank and congratulate our exceptional faculty, students and staff, who are without question, among the best in the nation. This latest achievement reflects our university’s commitment to student success and ranks us with the nation’s most prestigious graduate programs.”  
 
To gather the peer assessment data, U.S. News asked deans, program directors and senior faculty to judge the academic quality of programs in their field on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding). In business, education, engineering, law, nursing and medicine, U.S. News also surveyed professionals who hire or work with new graduates. The schools supplied U.S. News with the names for those surveyed for peer assessment and the professionals in each field in summer 2020. 
 
As prospective students research course offerings and weigh schools’ intangible attributes, the information on the U.S. News website can help applicants compare concrete factors, such as student faculty ratio and job placement success upon graduation. Use the rankings to supplement – not substitute for – careful thought and individual inquiries. 
 
 
 
 
About Florida Atlantic University: 
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu. 
 


Physicians from Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center & West Boca Medical Center to be honored for the work they perform at our hospitals 
 
March 30th, 2021 – The Palm Beach Health Network hospitals: Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center, and West Boca Medical Center, are celebrating National Doctors’ Day by paying tribute to their physicians for their service, skill and compassion. The observance commemorates the nation’s doctors, who have dedicated themselves to service by helping to save lives and ensure the good health of US citizens.  This year’s theme of, “Thank you for your extraordinary strength, courage and dedication,” is truly appropriate when we think of the challenges of the pandemic, and the outstanding group of physicians these hospitals are honoring for the work they perform each and every day.  
 
“On behalf of all our Governing Board members, and all of our employees, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our physicians, the leaders of healthcare in Palm Beach County,” said Maggie Gill, chief executive officer of the Palm Beach Health Network.  “I believe strongly in the value of saying thank you every day, but this national observance falls during a time when we are all working tirelessly to bring this pandemic to an end, all while ensuring our hospitals are safe. We pause to honor the contributions of our physicians for their dedication to the health and wellness of our community.”
 
Celebrated on March 30th each year, Doctors’ Day was officially established in 1991 when President George Bush issued a proclamation in observance of the day. March 30th also marks the anniversary of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery by Dr. Crawford W. Long in 1842. National Doctors’ Day is commonly celebrated in healthcare organizations, as a day to recognize the contributions of doctors to individual lives and communities. 
 
 
About the Palm Beach Health Network:
The Palm Beach Health Network is one of the largest healthcare networks in Palm Beach County consisting of, Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center, along with various ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient facilities and urgent care centers. All of our hospitals have received prestigious awards and accolades, national rankings and multiple accreditations. We are dedicated to the standards of excellent patient care that are the hallmark of the Tenet brand. 
 


March 29, 2021 – Governor Ron DeSantis signed CS/SB 72 – Civil Liability for Damages Relating to COVID-19. The bill provides crucial liability protection to individuals, businesses, educational institutions, religious organizations, and health care providers for liability claims related to COVID-19.
 
Governor DeSantis was joined at the bill signing by Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Senate President Wilton Simpson, Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls and members of the respective chambers. Also in attendance at the event was Highway 85, a Tallahassee-based band whose presence was to highlight an industry that has been curtailed due to liability concerns from COVID-19.
 
“Over the course of the past year, our state’s businesses, health care providers and other organizations have been forced to operate in fear of frivolous lawsuits with no merit threatening their livelihoods,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Thanks to the hard work of President Simpson, Speaker Sprowls, and quick passage by the House and Senate, that fear ends today with my signing of SB 72, which provides much-needed liability protections against COVID-19 related litigation. As we move forward in our state’s economic recovery, this good piece of legislation will provide Floridians with greater peace of mind as they go to work, go to school, and go about their daily lives.”
 
“Businesses across Florida have done all they can to safely reopen and keep people employed during a period of extreme uncertainty. Additionally, our hardworking and dedicated health care providers have been on the front lines of this pandemic from day one, putting their own health in jeopardy to help others,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson. “SB 72 will protect those who have served our state in this unprecedented time of need. It is an honor to join Governor DeSantis and Speaker Sprowls to watch this bill become law.”
 
“This law is a victory for all Floridians. It keeps Florida’s economy open, saves jobs, and protects businesses against frivolous lawsuits while ensuring that lawsuits with merit can move forward,” said Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls. “Starting now, businesses and health care providers who are doing the right thing won’t have to work and live in fear that a frivolous COVID lawsuit could jeopardize their livelihood. I am proud of the collaboration between the Florida House and Senate to deliver this good bill to Governor DeSantis’ desk and to see it signed into law today.”
 
“I was proud to stand with Governor Ron DeSantis today as he signed vital COVID-19 liability protections into Florida law to protect our businesses, job creators, and our health care heroes,” said CFO Jimmy Patronis. “This is a huge win for Florida and a major step to get Florida’s economy back on its feet and ensure our state fully recovers from this pandemic. As my top priority this legislative session, I was proud to travel the state fighting for these critical protections. No doubt, this is the single most important piece of legislation that unifies families in our state and a huge milestone for businesses and health care workers who no longer have to live in fear of frivolous COVID-19 litigation. By passing this significant legislation, the Governor and Legislature have stepped up to give businesses the confidence they have needed to keep their doors open and continue to serve their communities.”
 
Among other measures, CS/SB 72 provides immunity from COVID-19 related claims for individuals, businesses, schools, and houses of worship if a good faith effort was made to comply with health standards and guidance related to COVID-19. The bill also creates strong affirmative defenses for health care providers that substantially complied with and relied upon health standards.
 

 

 
 
 
 


SATURDAY MAY 22, A NATIONAL DAY OF HOPE FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN 43 STATES
 
“NAMIWalks Your Way” will increase awareness and provide needed funds for NAMI Miami’s free services amidst the continued mental health struggles of the community due to the  COVID-19 pandemic 
 
March 30, 2021 – In honor of Mental Health Awareness month in May, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Miami is hosting Miami-Dade County’s first Walk for Mental Health, “NAMIWalks Your Way,” on May 22, 2021 from 9 am – 4 pm. The hybrid outdoor and virtual event, Miami-Dade County’s first walk to raise awareness and funding for local mental health support, still has sponsorship and walk team opportunities available for those interested in participating. 
 
The walk is designed to combat the stigma of mental health conditions and raise funds for NAMI Miami’s free programs such as support groups, peer mentoring programs, outreach and educational classes. Despite of the physical challenges presented during the pandemic, NAMI Miami aided more than 8,000 students, young adults, adults, families and local leaders with its prevention, education, mental wellness and support programs. These programs are always offered at no cost to participants, led by NAMI trained peer-leaders and remain confidential. 
 
 
“Psychological distress in 2021 amid the pandemic caused a marked increase in the demand for mental health services in our community,” said Susan Racher, NAMI Miami Board President.  “Our goal is to provide mental health for all and we can begin to achieve that with such supportive partners in our inaugural Walk including Segal Trials, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and many community partners, volunteers and friends.   
 
According to a recent survey conducted by PEW Research Center, about a fifth of U.S. adults (21%) are experiencing serious psychological distress. And 28% of respondents have stated the outbreak has changed their lives in a major way. The psychological and financial effects of the pandemic add urgency to NAMI’s outreach efforts. NAMI Miami’s free programs augment clinical and therapeutic care according to evidence informed standards. 
 
NAMI Miami-Dade will kick off the event the week prior to May 22, presenting live-streamed speakers, entertainment and other activities during the week leading up to May 22.  These programs will foster a sense of community, showcase sponsors, and raise awareness about the crucial wellness resources that NAMI Miami provides during these trying times. Miami-Dade County Public Schools counselors will be leading walk teams as part of NAMI’s partnership with the District in “Ending the Silence" youth and family awareness programming.   
 
Sponsorship benefits are available for this historic inaugural event and range from $250 to $15,000. Sponsors will have the opportunity to join other organizations, corporations, foundations and individuals on a national level while supporting the effort to increase awareness of mental health challenges during one of the most arduous years in history.  
 
The event will allow “Walk Teams” to take part by choosing safe activities like walking the beach, a park, around a neighborhood, practicing yoga, organizing safe group activities outside or live- streaming a skill such as cooking, dancing or painting. Team leaders will recruit members to join them, and to help fund-raise via email, social media or phone calls.  
 
For more information, registration and/or donations, visit NAMIWalks.org/Miami; email Kris Eschman at Kris@NAMIMiami.org or call 305-665-2540.   
 
 
 
About the NAMI Miami-Dade County 
NAMI Miami-Dade County is an affiliate of the nation’s largest peer-led mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of individuals affected by a mental health condition and their families. Approximately 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness in a given year, yet in Miami-Dade less than 35% will receive the mental health services they need and deserve. NAMI Miami-Dade offers free, safe, and confidential mental health support, education, and advocacy for individuals and their families and friends in both English and Spanish. For more information, call 305-665-2540, email Kris@NAMIMiami.org or visit NAMIMiami.org and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Meetup at @NAMIMiami.