Broward General Medical Center (BGMC) has been a respected leader in healthcare for more than 70 years. Over the decades many things have changed in the way healthcare is delivered, but some things have not including BGMCs mission to provide the best medical care possible.
2009 Highlights Setting regional and national standards- BGMC received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Associations Get with the Guidelines Silver Performance Achievement Award for using evidence-based guidelines to provide the best possible care to cardiac and stroke patients.
- For the second year running, Broward Health (BH) received the Broward County Emerald Award for Pollution Prevention/Hazardous Waste Reduction. BGMC celebrated by setting “green” initiatives across the campus.
- Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency awarded BGMC a Hospital Achievement Award for its attainment of a 76 percent donation rate.
- The NICU Parent Support Group at BGMCs Chris Evert Childrens Hospital (CECH) received The Becky Hatfield Family Support Award for family support.
Improving access and service
- BGMC instituted a Medicaid Out-Patient Eligibility Department (M.O.P.E.D.) to assist uninsured patients through the financial assistance application process.
- CECH opened a new Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Center. The Center features a comprehensive, child- and family-friendly pediatric cancer program staffed by two board-certified pediatric hematology/oncology physicians, and a dedicated nursing staff.
- BGMC and Kindred Healthcare settled on a transfer agreement allowing acute care patients at Kindred Hospital Fort Lauderdale to be transferred to BGMC when high-level services are required and cannot be performed in the long-term acute care hospital environment.
- BGMC hosted physicians from Columbia for a preceptorship on BHs trauma system. The effort was part of the International Trauma Critical Care Improvement Project.
Chris Evert Childrens Hospital mascot “Starsky” greets pediatric cancer patient Sophia Pouliot and her sister Gracie at the grand opening of the new Pediatric Oncology Unit in July.
- Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist David Kenigsberg, M.D., successfully performed Broward Countys first CartoSound procedure using an image integration system that offers more complete visualization of patients hearts.
- BGMC was the only hospital in South Florida invited to participate in the randomized study of intravenous Peramivir in adult and adolescent hospitalized patients with confirmed or suspected influenza infection.
- BGMC successfully treated its first patient with CoolGard 3000, a state-of-the-art intravascular cooling system that decreases body temperature subsequent to stroke and intra-cerebral hemorrhage patients to prevent neurological damage.
Recognizing the best people
- Hector Rodriguez-Cortes, M.D., passed the Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care Boards, becoming one of only 47 doctors in the United States with certification in this specialty.
- Cardiothoracic surgeon Frank P. Catinella, M.D., was appointed medical director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at the Heart Center of Excellence.
- BGMC nurses Marlo Proctor, Kim Kearney, Hope White, Elaine Miller and Lisa Bergeron were inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing.
- BGMC Trauma Center Nurse Karen Mulvaney was selected as the Florida Nurses Association District 21 Broward County Nurse of the Year.
- Violet Atanasoski-McCormack, M.D., and the Cardiovascular Research Department were honored for their successful completion as a Top 10 U.S. Enroller in the pivotal clinical trail, PLATO, with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
- Patricia Rowe-King, M.D., was named chair of the department of pediatrics.
Connecting with the community
- CECH hosted a “Lollipalooza” to showcase the family-centered care programs BH is dedicated to. The event drew local dignitaries and community members to a carnival-like day of fun and information.
- Kathleen Hinrichsen delivered her third set of twins at BGMC. Her experience at BGMC was highlighted on The Learning Channels A Baby Story.
- CECH offered free childrens vision screenings through the Eye See Kids Vision Program.
- CECH and NBC6 presented a television special Powerful Kid Care featuring the answers to South Floridas top ten childhood health and wellness questions.
- BGMC hosted community members and physicians as they shared ideas and collecting information about current treatment options for conquering cancer at the third annual Broward Health/Moffitt Cancer Center Cancer Symposium.
