Rep. Roach on MMJ patients and doctors: They are “Drug Seekers and doctors who just want to get rich.”

Patients using flower or high THC products, medical specialists who certify their use, and the Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs) are all on high alert! A few state lawmakers have the medical marijuana program in their crosshairs. Rather than hearing proposals to make the MMJ program more robust, this fringe group of lawmakers is calling for CAPS.
 
Patients, caregivers, and loved ones are seeing the legislative process play out firsthand. Thanks to TheFloridaChannel.org showing committee hearings live, MMTCs engaging their patients, and advocates reporting from Tallahassee, the movement is more engaged than ever before. Representatives of the Florida Cannabis Action Network, Florida for CARE, Sunshine Cannabis, and the NORML affiliates are in Tallahassee meeting with lawmakers and keeping the community informed through video, social media, radio, and print news. These groups are supporting calls to action as the bill, HB 1455 moves through its committee assignments.
 
House Bill 1455, by Representative Spencer Roach (R) of Lee Co., limits the potency of flowers at 10% THC and concentrates at 60% THC. Patients who use high concentrations of THC in flower or concentrates won’t be simply buying more, the bill also CAPS the total milligrams of THC a patient can receive every 35 days. While there is an exception, high potency product availability will be limited. The existing MMTC’s have until June 2022 to comply with the new product requirements under the proposed law; but, there is no guarantee they will be able to produce enough flower under 10% THC to meet demands.
 
Cannabis Specialists – those doctors who certify patients in the program – are impacted by this proposed legislation. The bill CAPS free enterprise by mandating the Department of Health pre-approves all advertising done by MMJ practices. There are no guidelines proposed in the bill, no time limits on decisions by the Department of Health, and no appeals process.
 
HB 1455 already passed two of its three committee assignments in the Florida House. Lawmakers are voting along party lines, but behind the scenes, Republican House members are disturbed. They are hearing from constituents and friends who need high THC products. Some are in-the-know about high THC/CBD concentrates in high doses for treatment of cancer, something that would be eliminated under these proposed limits. During the first committee hearing, Republican Rep. Killebrew (Polk Co.) expressed his dislike of the bill. He voted with the Democrats on amendments to expand conditions and make the bill better but ultimately voted to pass the bill out of committee. In its second committee, Representative Trabulsy (R) St. Lucie Co, voted no on the bill, a courageous vote since opposing leadership is a sure way to get opposition in the next primary election.
 
Florida has a complicated love/hate relationship with Cannabis. Voters love it. In 2016, the medical marijuana constitutional amendment garnished over 71% of the vote. Today, regardless of party affiliation, more than 50% of all demographics now support safe, legal access to recreational Cannabis. But lawmakers, influenced by Drug-Free America founders and Republican king-makers Mel and Betty Sembler, still hear echoes of reefer madness. Those lawmakers are powerful and bipolar on Cannabis; loving FDA-approved Cannabis drugs, hating Democratic Secretary of Agriculture Nikki Fried being in charge of hemp, and intolerant of Cannabis flower being called a medicine.
 
Patients lose under HB 1455 and its Senate companion SB 1958 by Senator Ray Rodrigues, also of Lee Co.
 
Advocates have been vocal about the choices patients face if HB 1455 / SB 1958 becomes law. If safe, legal access to medical-grade Cannabis isn’t an option, they will go back where they came from. Some will return to the illicit market, but more will seek the chemical cocktail covered by insurance companies. When the legal flower isn’t an option, patients caught with flower may get an option to choose substance abuse treatment to avoid jail time.
 
The Florida Senate has held the line the past two sessions when THC caps on flowers were proposed. Senator Jeff Brandes, chair of the first committee assignment in the Senate has no interest in hearing the bill. That roadblock makes it harder for the bill to get to the Governor’s desk, but it isn’t impossible. Florida Cannabis Action Network and our partners will continue to follow all the actions in Tallahassee.


Trulieve Opens in Sebring, Clearwater and Tampa

 
 
One Plant Opens New Dispensary in Bonita Springs


Spielberg, Scorsese, Cameron, Tarantino. The Mount Rushmore of directors. While the title of "Director" is probably on their business card, if you were to ask them to describe what they do, they would probably answer you in one word. "Storyteller." While everyone has a story to tell, not everyone can tell a story.

I’ve spent twenty-five years focusing on narrative and the importance of Storytelling as a documentary filmmaker. I also have a wealth of experience working in television advertising as a director and producer. I’ve learned that everyone has a story, but not everyone can tell their story authentically and compellingly.
           
What we used to consider entertainment has been re-labeled as "content." Business owners would contact me and request estimates to produce videos for their website. The scenario would go like this. "We have a script, and we want it to say this, or can you help us make it look and sound like this commercial we saw on television.”
 
Most of these people had no copywriting or advertising experience, but they had built a business from the ground up.
 
As a business owner myself, I can empathize. They were successful entrepreneurs and thought, I can do this! I’d say, "that’s great that you have a script, but does it reflect your business and who you are as a business owner? And does it have the message that you have in mind? Is this the message your audience expects from you?
 
I’d ask them to tell me about the business’s history, who started it, and why. We would talk about the ups, downs, goals, competitive advantages, and where they wanted to go. The answers to these questions are still fascinating to me. They stirred my curiosity and creativity because they had the context. Through communication and conversation, a story would begin to take shape and was often the complete opposite of the initial concept.
 
Social media platforms disrupted traditional storytelling mediums of radio and television by democratizing who can tell a story, when they can tell that story and how they can tell it. There have been tremendous upsides in the forms of creativity, inclusivity, and a massive reduction in costs that leveled the advertising playing field for businesses, non-profits, and individuals. Using strategic planning and targeting, we can all find an audience that aligns with our values and wants to hear our story.
 
But there also are downsides. Businesses and organizations often miss the mark, using a scattershot approach of posting an abundance of "content" that doesn’t have context. It lacks narrative and devalues their story’s significance. It also lacks authenticity. While it may be easy to grab a stock photo or video and attach some relevant terms about your business, today’s consumers value and appreciate authenticity and will see through regurgitated attempts to engage them.
 
We’re in an era where a company’s story and the founder’s journey drive consumer engagement and decision making. Spanx and its founder Sara Blakely come to mind. She’s transparent about her journey from fax machine salesperson to CEO of a company that is a staple in the women’s shapewear market. She owns her narrative about the ups, downs, dreams deferred, and her eventual success. Her narrative is authentic, and it makes her story and the story of her company compelling.
 
We’re now living in what will be forever known as the "new normal," and we’ll be talking about the COVID era for the foreseeable future. The last year has been challenging for all of us and crippling for the healthcare sector. The narrative we’re currently experiencing adds value to who we are and where we want to go. We will be telling the story of workers on the front lines of COVID, the lives lost, the lives saved, and most importantly, how this event changed our lives. Storytelling is and will always be a valuable tool as we move forward because it teaches, challenges, and inspires us!
 
So, how will you make use of your narrative? How will you tell your story? Will it be authentic and compelling?


COVID-19 is wreaking havoc in all areas of our lives, but for those who have been infected, there is the added impact the disease may have on our heart. While it is impossible at this time to know the lingering effects COVID-19 has on the heart, there are patients who have tested positive for the disease that may experience heart complications as a result.

“There are patients infected with COVID-19 who are also diagnosed with myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, which can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle,” said Arnoux Blanchard, M.D., a cardiac and internal medicine specialist with the Broward Health Physician Group. “Or they may experience arrhythmic complications. Patients at higher risk of these complications are those who have been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, high blood pressure or other chronic underlying conditions.”
 
A significant amount of media coverage has surrounded athletes with COVID-19 and how it effects their hearts. Research continues to show that athletes, particularly younger ones, are at higher risk of myocarditis. An MRI for at-risk athletes can determine if the inflammation has resolved or if there is scar tissue that could lead to arrhythmias.
 
An unintended consequence of COVID-19 has been that some patients are delaying annual heart screening or avoiding the hospital even if they are experiencing a cardiac event. Broward Health continues to see a decrease in the number of patients seeking emergency care, and patients are presenting more ill than in the past.
 
“What happens is that their condition continues to worsen and when they do call 911, the situation has become dire,” said Dr. Blanchard. “Time is muscle. The longer you wait to take care of your heart muscle, the more muscle you will lose.”
 
In addition to the decrease in the number of patients coming to the Emergency Department, healthcare providers also have noted a decrease in the number of patients who are scheduling routine screenings and tests. That can lead to serious health outcomes and sometimes death. This is particularly true when it comes to matters of the heart.
 
The stress created by COVID-19 and the emotional, economic and social impact of the disease continues to take a toll on many patients, exasperating heart conditions that already existed or causing health issues that weren’t experienced prior to the pandemic.
 
“Listen to your body and don’t ignore your health,” added Dr. Blanchard. “Today it is easier than ever to speak to your healthcare provider via telehealth or by phone. Share your concerns with your healthcare provider and let them guide you.”


HCA Healthcare Broward County facilities honored for clinical excellence in recent Healthgrades analysis 
 
March 29, 2021 – HCA Healthcare’s Broward County Hospitals, Northwest Medical Center in Margate, University Hospital and Medical Center in Tamarac and Westside Regional Medical Center in Plantation – are proud to announce that they have received national recognition for demonstrating exceptional quality of care, according to research released by Healthgrades, a leading online resource connecting patients to information about physicians and hospitals. The three facilities cumulatively amassed more than 20 awards across various clinical service lines.
 
Healthgrades annually evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals across the country for 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions using Medicare data. Healthgrades awards are the result of rigorous analysis and have far-reaching impacts for patients. Evidence shows that patients treated at hospitals with 5-star ratings have a lower risk of dying and a lower risk of experiencing one or more complications during a hospital stay than if they were treated at hospitals receiving a 1-star rating in that procedure or condition.
 
These recognitions are a testament to the high quality of care available to patients through this connected network of hospitals across the Broward community.
 
Northwest Medical Center was recognized for clinical achievements including but not limited to: 
•One of Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention™ for 6 Years in a Row (2016-2021)
•Recipient of the Healthgrades Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award™ and among the top 10% of hospitals evaluated for Bariatric Surgery for 3 Years in a Row (2019-2021)
•Five-Star Recipient for Coronary Bypass Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
•Five-Star Recipient for Pacemaker Procedures for 3 Years in a Row (2019-2021)
•Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
“We are honored to be recognized by Healthgrades and proud to continue building upon Northwest’s legacy of clinical excellence and delivering high-quality care to the communities we serve,” said Kenneth Jones, chief executive officer (CEO) of Northwest Medical Center. “These awards shine a light on just a few examples of our team’s deep and ongoing commitment to the care and improvement of human life.” 
 
University Hospital and Medical Center was recognized for clinical achievements including but not limited to: 
•Five-Star Recipient for Total Knee Replacement in 2021
•Five-Star Recipient for Total Hip Replacement in 2021
•Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 6 Years in a Row (2016-2021)
•Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
•Five-Star Recipient for Gallbladder Removal Surgery for 3 Years in a Row (2019-2021)
•Five-Star Recipient for Appendectomy for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
“For more than 40 years, the University Team has provided integral comprehensive quality care to Tamarac and surrounding communities,” said Ben Harris, CEO of University Hospital and Medical Center. “We are proud to receive such high distinctions from Healthgrades as these awards further demonstrate our commitment to excellent patient care.”
Westside Regional Medical Center was recognized for clinical achievements including but not limited to: 
•Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for 4 Years in a Row (2018-2021)
•Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
•Named Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Overall GI Services in 2021
•Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
•Named Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Treatment of Stroke in 2021
“Westside is proud to offer our community with 24-hour comprehensive medical, surgical and diagnostic services, including cardiology, stroke and orthopedic care,” said Barbara J. Simmons, RN, CEO of Westside Regional. “We are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care, starting with rapid diagnosis and treatment and continuing through rehabilitation and recovery.”
 
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/ .
 
 
 
 
 
About HCA East Florida Broward Market Hospitals:
Northwest Medical Center, Plantation General Hospital, University Hospital and Medical Center and Westside Regional Medical Center are facilities of HCA East Florida. HCA East Florida is the largest healthcare system in Eastern Florida and an affiliate of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). HCA East Florida has 14 hospitals, multiple ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices, and free standing emergency care facilities, as well as a supply chain center and an integrated regional lab. Together, HCA East Florida employs more than 18,000 employees and has nearly 7,000 physicians on staff. For more information, visit HCAEastFlorida.com.
 
HCA EAST FLORIDA
Aventura Hospital and Medical Center + Highlands Regional Medical Center + JFK Medical Center + JFK Medical Center North Campus + Kendall Regional Medical Center + Lawnwood Regional Medical Center + Mercy Hospital + Northwest Medical Center + Palms West Hospital + Plantation General Hospital + Raulerson Hospital + St. Lucie Medical Center + University Hospital and Medical Center + Westside Regional Medical Center