Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and College of Engineering and Computer Science Team Up on Two New Degree Programs
 
June 21, 2021 –  Beginning this fall, Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the College of Engineering and Computer Science will offer two new combined programs in nursing and artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering.  
 
This innovative, forward-looking and convergent curriculum design was conceived by Safiya George, Ph.D., dean, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing; Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science; Javad Hashemi, Ph.D., associate dean of research, College of Engineering and Computer Science; Karethy Edwards, Dr.PH, APRN, associate dean of academic programs; and Joy Longo, Ph.D., assistant dean, undergraduate programs, both within the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. The need for such a program was recognized through a number of research collaborations and discussions between the two colleges. 
 
“Nurses spend more time with patients in clinical settings than any other health care provider. They are inherently problem-solvers and provide an invaluable perspective in the engineering industry,” said George. “Our joint programs in nursing and engineering are a ‘dynamic duo’ that will build the foundational skills to better position nursing students to participate as future health care innovators and inventors.” 
 
The combined degree programs will provide FAU bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) graduates with a leading edge in artificial intelligence, which includes algorithms, pattern matching, deep learning and cognitive computing to learn how to understand complex data. Artificial intelligence can be applied to almost every field of health care, including drug development, treatment decisions and patient care. Graduates of this new program will be able utilize knowledge to tackle complex problems that would otherwise be difficult or very time-intensive to address without artificial intelligence. FAU BSN graduates who continue on to the master’s in science (MS) in the biomedical engineering program will use engineering principles to define and solve problems in biology, medicine, health care and other fields.  
 
“We anticipate that in the future, health care delivery systems and personnel will rely more on automation and artificial intelligence,” said Batalama. “It is likely that there will be a paradigm shift in the nursing field towards a more targeted, technologically advanced and data-oriented health care delivery system. FAU wishes to be at the forefront of developing the necessary workforce for such a future.” 
 
Details of the program were developed by Mary Ann Leavitt, Ph.D., R.N., an assistant professor in the Christine E. Lynne College of Nursing; Mihaela Cardei, Ph.D., associate dean of graduate programs and a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science; and Hanqi Zhuang, Ph.D., chair and professor, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Leavitt is board certified in critical care nursing and heart failure nursing. Her current research interests include transitional care interventions for patients with heart failure to decrease hospital readmissions, and the development of skin-based wearable sensors to alert for heart failure decompensation. Cardei and Zhuang have been leading the educational efforts in artificial intelligence and data science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, which is housing the first master and certificate programs in artificial intelligence in the state of Florida. 
 
For the “B.S. in Nursing to M.S. in Artificial Intelligence Degree Program,” students will complete a BSN degree first and then continue to complete a master’s in science degree in artificial intelligence within the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. For the “B.S. in Nursing to M.S. in Biomedical Engineering Degree Program,” students will complete the BSN degree first and then complete the MS in science in biomedical engineering within the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering. Students will receive their BSN degree from the College of Nursing and their master’s degree from the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Both programs can be completed in approximately five years and provide an attractive way for students to continue their graduate work after completing the undergraduate program.  
 Both combined programs require up to 120 credits in the bachelor’s degree and up to 30 credits in the master’s degree. Students in the programs will take pre-requisite courses while pursuing the bachelor’s degree, ensuring a smooth transition into the artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering programs. The combined programs preserve and enhance the quality of both degrees and are open to Freshman Direct Admit students who have a cumulative FAU GPA of 3.25 or higher. 
Nursing students can apply to the MS program at the end of their junior year in the nursing program, after completing at least 90 credits. Bachelor’s degree students who take graduate courses in the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science may count up to nine credits of approved graduate coursework toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 
 
Students must meet the admission criteria for each program to be eligible. They also must complete these pre-requisites for artificial intelligence: methods of calculus; introduction to programming in python; and data structures and algorithm analysis with python, as part of the BSN program. Students must complete these pre-requisites for biomedical engineering: methods of calculus; genetics; introduction to programming in python or introduction to programming in C, also as part of the BSN program. 
 
 
 
 
 
About the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing: 
FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is nationally and internationally known for its excellence and philosophy of caring science. The College was ranked No.11 nationwide by U.S. News and World Report in 2021 for “Best Online Master’s in Nursing Administration Programs” and No. 32 for the “Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs.” In 2020, FAU graduates earned a 95.9% percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) and 100% AGNP Certification Pass Rate. FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). For more information, visit nursing.fau.edu.
 
 
About FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science:
The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science is internationally recognized for cutting edge research and education in the areas of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), computer engineering, electrical engineering, bioengineering, civil, environmental and geomatics engineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. Research conducted by the faculty and their teams expose students to technology innovations that push the current state-of-the art of the disciplines. The College research efforts are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Education (DOEd), the State of Florida, and industry. The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science offers degrees with a modern twist that bear specializations in areas of national priority such as AI, cybersecurity, internet-of-things, transportation and supply chain management, and data science. New degree programs include Masters of Science in AI (first in Florida), Masters of Science in Data Science and Analytics, and the new Professional Masters of Science degree in computer science for working professionals. For more information about the College, please visit eng.fau.edu.  
 
 
 
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. 
 
 
 
 


 
June 21, 2021 – LifePoint Health and Kindred Healthcare today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for LifePoint to acquire Kindred Healthcare. The combination of LifePoint Health and Kindred Healthcare will create a leading diversified healthcare delivery network with expanded services, resources and expertise to grow and invest in community healthcare while advancing LifePoint’s mission of Making Communities Healthier.
 
The transaction brings together LifePoint’s national network of community-based hospitals, providers and access points with Kindred’s expertise in delivering long-term acute care, rehabilitation services and behavioral health services. The go-forward company will be positioned to respond more comprehensively to patients’ needs across the healthcare continuum, guided by LifePoint’s commitment to quality and compliance. 
 
The combination of LifePoint Health and Kindred Healthcare creates a leading community healthcare platform and benefits from:
 
A full array of complementary services supporting patients across the healthcare continuum;
 
Standardized care at the bedside that advances clinical, quality and compliance excellence;
 
Opportunities to develop and expand critical behavioral health services across the country; and
 
Investments in services and technology for patients in new and existing markets.
 
LifePoint expects that the transaction between two companies offering complementary, distinct services will improve healthcare outcomes and access without increasing costs for patients. The combination of LifePoint and Kindred is supported by a thesis predicated on investment in community healthcare and growth – not on cost-savings resulting from bringing the organizations together. 
 
LifePoint’s healthcare delivery model is based on providing high quality care to the communities it serves. Since its founding in 1999, LifePoint has forged strategic partnerships that bring together the capabilities needed to enhance the delivery of quality care and better serve LifePoint patients and communities. This has included joint ventures with leading academic medical centers, the development of the company’s National Quality Program, service line partnerships, as well as technology advancements and investments to improve the patient and provider experience. This long track record of quality patient care and impressive industry partnerships will continue to be a focus of the combined organization.
 
Kindred Healthcare is the nation’s leading specialty hospital company with a reputation for delivering compassionate, quality post-acute care that improves patient outcomes. Guided by its mission to provide hope and healing to the most medically complex patients, Kindred has extensive clinical and operational expertise, an innovative approach to patient care and a history of embracing partnerships to improve the health of communities, especially the most vulnerable.
 
Over the last several years, Kindred has formed joint ventures and partnerships with leading hospitals across the country. This joint venture strategy has enabled Kindred to expand into new geographies, while enhancing access to value-based healthcare services. Together, LifePoint and Kindred will continue advancing this strategy, capitalizing on their combined resources and expertise to partner with respected health systems, payers and other providers to offer services in areas where they do not currently operate.
 
“Adding Kindred Healthcare to LifePoint is one of the most significant demonstrations, in our company’s history, of LifePoint’s commitment to our deeply rooted mission of Making Communities Healthier. Kindred’s focus on healing and hope, provided through its long-term acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers and most recently its behavioral health services – an important and growing need across the country – is highly complementary to the current LifePoint network,” said David Dill, president and chief executive officer of LifePoint. “We are honored to welcome Kindred’s talented group of employees and providers into the LifePoint family. We share a commitment to partnerships to benefit patients, and together, we will advance clinical and quality excellence, make healthcare more accessible and support healthier communities.”
 
“This combination with LifePoint, one of the leading community healthcare companies in the United States, is a validation of Kindred’s success. Over the last several years, we have transformed Kindred into the nation’s leading specialty hospital company, known for improving outcomes and providing compassionate care for the most medically complex patients,” said Benjamin A. Breier, chief executive officer of Kindred. “LifePoint’s investment in Kindred underscores the outstanding reputation our team has built upon a foundation of innovation, and clinical and operational expertise. Kindred and LifePoint have highly complementary capabilities and together we will be poised to further improve patient care across the healthcare continuum. The combination with LifePoint also creates enhanced career development and advancement opportunities for our Kindred teammates who have been the driving force behind our mission of delivering hope and healing to the most medically complex patients. We are excited to move forward and realize the benefits of this combination for our patients and their families, our joint venture partners, and our team members.”
 
Additionally, LifePoint will invest $1.5 billion over the next three years to improve care for the communities that the combined organization will serve. This commitment includes investments in:
 
The personal and professional growth of its employees – especially nurses and frontline staff;
 
Capital projects to improve healthcare delivery and increase access points; and
 
Technology, digital solutions, and equipment to increase local access to advanced services.
 
 
In terms of the path from signing to closing, upon receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021. In advance of completing the transaction, LifePoint anticipates providing additional detail regarding the contemplated transaction, financing, organizational structures, and exciting go-forward opportunities for the teams in Brentwood, Louisville, and at LifePoint and Kindred facilities across the country. The acquisition is not being financed with any funds that have been received as a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and related legislation.
 
Barclays and Guggenheim Securities, LLC are serving as financial advisors to Kindred and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Mintz Levin are serving as legal counsel to Kindred. Financing for the transaction is being provided by Barclays, Citi, and RBC Capital Markets. Citi and RBC Capital Markets are also acting as financial advisors to LifePoint Health. Sidley Austin LLP and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison are serving as legal counsel to LifePoint Health.
 
 
 
 
 
About LifePoint Health
LifePoint Health® is a leading healthcare company dedicated to Making Communities Healthier®.  Through its subsidiaries, it provides quality inpatient, outpatient and post-acute services close to home.  LifePoint owns and operates community hospitals, regional health systems, physician practices, outpatient centers and post-acute facilities across the country.  More information about the company can be found at www.LifePointHealth.net.
 
About Kindred Healthcare
Kindred Healthcare, LLC is the nation’s leading specialty hospital company delivering acute health services in its long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, acute rehabilitation units, and behavioral health line of business, all specializing in treating the most medically complex patients. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, and ranked as one of Fortune magazine’s Most Admired Healthcare Companies for nine years, Kindred’s mission is to help our patients reach their highest potential for health and healing with intensive medical and rehabilitative care through a compassionate patient experience. For more information, go to www.kindredhealthcare.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.


June 21, 2021 – The  Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has presented the 2021 Raymond H. Alexander, MD, FACS award to Steven Wexner, MD, PhD, FACS,  of Cleveland Clinic’s Weston Hospital in Weston, Florida. The award recognizes a chapter member for outstanding dedication to the medical profession in the field of surgery. It is the highest award given by the organization.
 
Dr. Wexner is the Chairman of the Department of Colorectal Surgery which is part of Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital’s Digestive Disease and Surgery Center. He is also the former Director of the Digestive Disease Surgery Center and the former Chief of Staff for Cleveland Clinic Florida. He hopes this award inspires young surgeons to continue to demonstrate excellence in innovation, research, education, and a commitment to optimizing patient outcomes.
 
“I am grateful to have been recognized by my colleagues in Florida as having made contributions to improve the quality of surgical care throughout the world,” said Dr. Wexner.
Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital’s Digestive Disease and Surgery Center offers patients the most advanced level of medical and surgical care, primarily focused on the safe and proven treatment of disorders related to the gastrointestinal tract. 
The Department of Colorectal Surgery is one of the most internationally renowned colorectal surgery centers and has the largest colorectal residency training program in North America. In this program Dr. Wexner and the colorectal surgery team have trained hundreds of surgical leaders throughout the world. 
 
Cleveland Clinic’s Weston Hospital is the first hospital in the eastern United States and second in the nation to earn accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) administered by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. NAPRC standards were developed to improve outcomes for rectal cancer care in order to lower rates of colostomy construction, local tumor recurrence and improve tumor-free survival rates for patients. 
The standards are consistent with Cleveland Clinic’s approach to providing rectal cancer patients with high quality care and the accreditation was achieved as a result of the multidisciplinary approach to patient care by the team of specialists at the Digestive Disease and Surgery Center. Dr. Wexner is the Chair of the NAPRC. 
 
Dr. Wexner is also a past president of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, as well as of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents of the ACS, and Chair of the ACS CoC NAPRC.
“This recognition, like our annual national ranking by US News and World Report is attestation to our referring physicians and our patients that we offer the best possible care. They can again be reassured that we are committed to continually prioritize setting the international standards for evaluation and management of our patients.”
 
 
 
About Cleveland Clinic Weston 
 
Cleveland Clinic Weston, part of Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region, is a nonprofit, multi-specialty, academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. With locations in Weston, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Parkland, West Palm Beach, Wellington, and Palm Beach Gardens, Cleveland Clinic Weston has more than 250 physicians with expertise in 55 specialties. The medical campus is fully integrated and includes diagnostic centers, outpatient surgery and a 24-hour emergency department located in the state-of-the-art hospital. Cleveland Clinic’s Florida region now includes Cleveland Clinic Indian River and Cleveland Clinic Martin Health and has hospitals and outpatient centers in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. The Florida region is an integral part of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where providing outstanding patient care is based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic are experts in the treatment of complex conditions that are difficult to diagnose. For more information about Cleveland Clinic Florida, visit www.clevelandclinicflorida.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.


 June 21, 2021 – Lee Health has established a new recognition, the High Reliability Award, that will be awarded twice a year to health system employees or teams that demonstrate a passion for delivering safe and high-quality care to our patients. The High Reliability Award is Lee Health’s most prestigious safety and quality recognition and its winners are handpicked by the health system’s chief officer leadership steam for their excellence in leadership, continuous process improvement and cultivating a culture of safety. 

 
The first High Reliability Award has been awarded to Lee Health’s Heart Central team. The Heart Central team monitors the vital signs of all hospitalized patients from centralized sites within each hospital campus 24/7 and provide urgent notification to bedside nurses or emergency response teams. 
 
Heart Central maintains a stellar track record of safety and has experienced zero telemetry-associated serious safety events since the introduction of its process improvement journey over four years ago. System Nursing Director of Heart Central, Kristy Desfosses, and members of her teams at Lee Memorial Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, Cape Coral Hospital and HealthPark Medical Center accepted the award on behalf of their colleagues. 
 
“It is an honor to recognize Lee Health’s Heart Central team with our first ever High Reliability Award. This team exemplifies what it means to create a culture that makes patient safety the top priority. The High Reliability Award recognizes more than just their past accomplishments, but also their commitment to innovating patient care and continual improvement. Creating a safe environment for our patients requires an ever-evolving 24/7 commitment to excellence, and Heart Central has set the gold standard,” said Dr. Stephanie Stovall, interim chief quality & patient safety officer at Lee Health. 
 
Lee Health’s commitment to safety is paramount in the health’s system mission of being a trusted partner, empowering healthy lives through care and compassion. Lee Health has been recognized for its exceptional safety record by national hospital rating organizations. In their last ratings, Lee Health hospitals received straight As for hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group and all Lee Health hospitals received four stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  
 
 
 
About Lee Health
Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System is the fourth largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida. With more than 11,000 employees, the system is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care and specialty physician offices.  An award-winning health care system, it provides regional programs, such as our Trauma Center and Golisano Children’s Hospital, which serve our community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.leememorial.org for more information.
 
 


June 21 2021 – June is Men’s Health Awareness Month and if 2020 taught us anything, it’s that taking care of one’s health is important. Research shows that men are 44 percent more likely to develop cancer compared to women. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 12.5 percent of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. 
 
Although this figure encompasses men from various backgrounds, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that African American men are 1.7 times likely to have cases of prostate cancer than non-Hispanic white men based on data from 2012-2016.
While many factors contribute to the development of prostate cancer, there are ways to lower your risk.
 
So, how can you take an active role in your health? Here are five tips that you can do to protect your prostate:
1.Routine check-ups
Keeping up on annual wellness check-ups and health screenings can help you stay informed about your health. During screenings, your physician can spot early signs of prostate cancer and discuss proper treatment. 
2.What’s on your plate?
A diet of fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidants, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Eating less red and processed meats and processed foods is also beneficial, not just for reducing cancer risks but for your overall health. 
3.Time to move!
There is no set routine for staying active. While you don’t have to get up and run a full marathon, exercising throughout the week can lower your risk of developing prostate cancer. Examples of physical activities include, but are not limited to: going for walks or runs, swimming, and going for a bike ride.
4.Balancing the Scale
Getting exercise and eating well can help you maintain a healthy weight as well as lose weight. Visit your primary physician for proper guidance and recommendations.
5.Talk to Your Family
It is good to know your family’s history with prostate cancer. If you have family members who have been diagnosed with it before age 65, it is recommended that you get screened. As mentioned before, African American men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Screening for this group can start as early as age 45. For more guidance on when to begin screening, talk to your doctor. 
There is no better time to get proactive about your health than now. These are just five tips to remaining healthy this month and for a lifetime. If you need a primary care physician to get your health on track, find a doctor near you by visiting BrowardHealth.org/Find-Doctor.
 
By Mehmet Hepgur, MD, hematologist-oncologist at Broward Health North Cancer Center