March 17, 2021 – Next month, as part of its virtual “Ask the Expert” program series, the Alzheimer’s Association will bring together top medical professionals from across the state of Florida for a panel discussion on Lewy body dementia.
 
To take place April 6, “Managing Behaviors in Lewy Body Dementia” will explore how to better discern and manage behaviors associated with this particular form of dementia. 
 
“Lewy body dementia is a type of dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning and independent function due to abnormal, microscopic deposits that damage brain cells over time,” said Audrey Coachman, program manager for the Alzheimer’s Association. “At the Alzheimer’s Association, we aim to not only eliminate Alzheimer’s disease but all dementia, and we know the first step in that process is raising awareness through educational programs like this one.” 
 
Among the topics of discussion will be the burden of Lewy body dementia on caregivers and their health – a matter that will be addressed by Dr. James Galvin, professor of neurology and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
 
“Caregiving is a journey, experienced by each care provider in their own unique way,” Galvin noted. “We will discuss the positive and negative aspects of caregiving, cultural differences in caregiving, and discuss potential strategies to decrease stress, burden and grief while improving well-being and quality of life.” 
 
Another featured panelist will be Dr. Melissa Armstrong, director of the Mangurian Clinical-Research Headquarters for Lewy Body Dementia at the University of Florida. 
 
“In my part of the session, speakers will briefly discuss medications used to treat behavioral symptoms in Lewy body dementia,” she said. “Recent and ongoing research regarding medication treatments will also be reviewed.”
Other topics will include fluctuations and psychiatric features of Lewy body dementia – to be presented by Tanis J. Ferman, Ph.D., a clinical neuropsychologist and professor of psychiatry and psychology at Mayo Clinic – and a presentation from Alzheimer’s Community Educator Carol White regarding triggers and management strategies for challenging behaviors. 
 
The free program will begin at 2 p.m. EDT on April 6. To register, visit http://bit.ly/ManagingLBD or call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at (800) 272-3900.
 
 
 
 
Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our 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. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Visit alz.org or call (800) 272-3900.
 


Merck Secures 5-year Access to Data Supporting Oncology Research
 
March 17, 2021 – M2GEN, a leading oncology-focused data and informatics company, announced today a significant new five-year agreement with Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, M2GEN will provide valuable patient-consented, de-identified, linked clinical and genomic data in support of Merck’s oncology efforts.
 
This data will be accessed through M2GEN’s Oncology Research Information Exchange Network® (ORIEN ), a network of 18 leading cancer centers across the United States. ORIEN Avatar® is a collaboration between this network, pharmaceutical companies and M2GEN, which manages the program. Patients donate clinical and molecular data through their consent to the Total Cancer Care® research protocol; that data follows patients pre-and post-treatment and is then utilized by the ORIEN cancer center members and pharmaceutical partners to speed discoveries and match eligible patients to cutting- edge trials. The program represents an unprecedented, pre-competitive approach to fighting cancer, designed to accelerate the discovery and development of novel therapies for patients around the world.
 
Merck’s participation in the program builds on a history of collaboration dating back to the founding of M2GEN in 2006, when the companies operationalized a multi-year agreement based on the Total Cancer Care protocol. The collaboration with M2GEN has provided important utility in Merck’s oncology development programs including indications for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab).
 
“Merck has been a key strategic partner to M2GEN since helping to found the Total Cancer Care protocol 15 years ago, and we are very proud of what we have accomplished together,” said M2GEN President and CEO Helge Bastian, PhD. “We greatly value Merck’s long-term partnership and see tremendous potential in it for the future.”
 
“We see this new partnership as an important milestone in the fight against cancer,” said Sandra E. Peterson, Chair of the M2GEN Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to expand our collaboration with Merck to enable the development of more effective medicines and patient care.”
"Our work with M2GEN yielded valuable insights that have informed our oncology development strategy," said Dr. Eric Rubin, SVP Oncology Clinical Development, Merck Research Laboratories. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration and building on our shared commitment to improving cancer care.”
 
 
About M2GEN
M2GEN is an oncology-focused health informatics solutions company that leverages clinical and molecular data to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of personalized therapies. Founded in 2006 with a mission to enable a collaborative approach to the fight against cancer, M2GEN facilitates the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network® (ORIEN®), an alliance of leading cancer centers that participate in the HIPAA- compliant, IRB-approved protocol, Total Cancer Care®, to gather de-identified clinical and genomic patient data for research purposes. M2GEN currently has over 300K total consented patients across a network of 18 cancer centers in 10 states. Learn more at www.m2gen.com.
 


Special honor is part of Tenet Healthcare’s annual recognition program
 
March 17th,  2021 – Palmetto General Hospital announced today that Norma Montlaban, Infection Control Preventionist, has been honored by Tenet Healthcare as part of its annual recognition program. Norma has been named a “Tenet Hero” for her incredible contributions in 2020. 
 
The Tenet Heroes program celebrates those individuals who make a meaningful impact within their respective communities that goes above and beyond their daily job responsibilities. Nominated by fellow colleagues, Tenet Heroes exemplify the company’s core values and key tenets of its Community Built on Care.  
 
Norma became the "go to" person for our medical staff, clinicians and patients. They sought her expertise on patient placement, treatment modalities, discharge care, basically all questions related to Covid 19 and the ever changing guidelines from the CDC.  Norma never hesitated to answer questions, always available and ready to share her wealth of knowledge. 
 
“Norma has inspired us through her actions to make a positive and meaningful difference in our community,” said Ana Mederos, Palmetto General Hospital’s, Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful for Norma efforts, selfless nature and commitment to compassionate care particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are proud to work alongside her.”
 
 
About Tenet Healthcare
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) is a diversified healthcare services company headquartered in Dallas with 110,000 employees. Through an expansive care network that includes United Surgical Partners International, we operate 65 hospitals and approximately 550 other healthcare facilities, including surgical hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care and imaging centers and other care sites and clinics. We also operate Conifer Health Solutions, which provides revenue cycle management and value-based care services to hospitals, health systems, physician practices, employers and other clients. Across the Tenet enterprise, we are united by our mission to deliver quality, compassionate care in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.tenethealth.com. 


March 17, 2021 – Miami lawyer and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation Board Chair Ricky Patel has donated 25,000 masks to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. The masks will continue to keep frontline healthcare workers, employees and patient families safe against COVID-19.
 
The generous mask donation will make a difference at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where approximately 45,000 masks are used per week, which includes walk-around masks, procedure masks and N95 masks. 
 
The masks were manufactured by Made in America LLC, a Puerto-Rican based supply company specializing in the manufacturing of high-quality personal protective equipment, or PPE. The disposable 3 ply masks have three layers of fabric to ensure protection against large droplets and extra soft elastic ear loops.
 
“Although COVID-19 cases are declining, Nicklaus Children’s has not slowed its pandemic response as we do all we can to provide maximum safety and health for our patients, their families, and our care providers and employees,” said Dr. Chad Perlyn, President of Nicklaus Children’s Pediatrics Specialists. “We are grateful for the continuous support we receive from child champions like our Foundation Board Chair Ricky Patel, who graciously donated the 25,000 3 ply masks to our hospital. It’s a great feeling to know that the community continues to stand with Nicklaus Children’s through the pandemic.”
 
“It is important to keep our friends and neighbors in mind as we work together to keep one another safe during the pandemic,” said Ricky Patel, Partner at Farrell, Patel, Jomarron and Lopez, and Chair of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation Board. “I am honored to support Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s pandemic response efforts with the mask donation so they can continue focusing on providing the very best care to our children.”
 
To learn more about Nicklaus Children’s pandemic response, please visit https://nicklauschildrens.org/covid19. 
 
To get involved by donating to the Nicklaus Children’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, please visit https://nicklauschildrens.org/covid19fund. 
 
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with nearly 800 attending physicians and more than 475 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children’s Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org. 


March 17 2021 – As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, Palmetto General Hospital has taken all necessary steps to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients and to protect our medical staff, employees and communities.
 
In this challenging time, we recognize other medical conditions do not stop for COVID-19. This includes chronic diseases, medical emergencies, new or worsening symptoms, childbirths, and ongoing conditions like heart disease, neurological deficits, cancer care or debilitating musculoskeletal conditions. In good conscience, neither can their treatment.
 
We have taken every precaution to make our emergency departments, imaging departments, cardiac labs and operating rooms safe for this care. Infectious diseases are something we manage daily. The following resources are in place.
 
•Screening for all patients, visitors and staff prior to entry 
•Social distancing practices including limiting visitors and vendors
•Separate care pathways for potential or confirmed COVID-19 patients
•Universal masking for all caregiver’s staff and patients
•Rapid turnaround COVID-19 testing capabilities 
•Ample inventory and pipeline of protective personal equipment
•Telemedicine capabilities for virtual screening and specialist consultations
•Heightened infection prevention policies across all sites of care
 
We have also been adjusting our actions as the situation evolves and at this time, we are happy to allow visitation to our non-COVID inpatients. One visitor 18 years of age and above shall be allowed between the hours of 10:00 AM – 6:00PM.
 
Inpatient/Outpatient Surgery & Invasive Procedures: One visitor may stay in the designated waiting area until procedure/surgery is complete. Following procedure/surgery, the inpatient policy will apply if the patient is admitted. 
 
 
Labor and Delivery: One visitor for the entire stay of the mother. This may include a spouse/partner or a person designated by the patient.
Mental Health Department: One visitor at a time from 4:00 PM – 6 PM
It is our mission to provide quality, compassionate care to our community. You are central to our mission; do not delay medical care. We are here for you and we will continue to do so with resiliency and perseverance as we recover from the pandemic.