No one could have predicted that COVID would be gripping communities for a second straight year. While Broward Health was at the forefront of rolling out vaccine sites and monoclonal antibody clinics across the county, there were several additional noteworthy accomplishments for the one of the nation’s 10 largest public healthcare systems. Here’s a look back at Broward Health’s significant moments in 2021:
COVID Response
In December 2020 and moving into 2021, Broward Health led the roll-out of community, stand-up vaccine sites throughout the county, partnering with the City of Fort Lauderdale, InterMiami CF and the Florida Department of Emergency Management to set up a site at InterMiami CF Stadium. The site vaccinated up to 2,000 patients daily. In total, 115,000 vaccinations were administered. Then, along with state officials, local officials, and community leaders, Broward Health opened multiple mobile sites to better serve Broward County’s most underserved and high-risk populations.
Broward Health was also at the forefront of administering monoclonal antibody therapies soon after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use for both Eli Lilly’s and Regeneron’s antibody treatments. Studies suggested that the new therapies reduced the risk of hospitalization and death among recently diagnosed people with elevated risk factors. Broward Health went on to open clinics during the surge, transitioning patients directly from the Emergency Department to the infusion clinic to prevent unnecessary illness and free space in the ER for critically ill patients.
New Leadership
In spring 2021, Broward County native Shane Strum assumed the role of President and CEO of Broward Health. Strum is a recognized leader with decades of executive experience and a 30-year legacy of public service, where he led initiatives that have lowered costs of prescription drugs, expanded telehealth services, improved transparency and quality in healthcare, and increased awareness of mental health and substance abuse issues throughout the state. Prior to joining Broward Health, Strum was previously chief of staff to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Under his direction, Broward Health has announced several milestones and initiatives in 2021.
Capital Improvements
Broward Health completed a $52 million expansion of the Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital NICU that will enhance the immediate and long-term outcomes of infants born at risk. Designated as a Level III Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center, this is one of only 11 RPICC sites in Florida where a comprehensive team of board-certified neonatologists, nursing specialists and pediatric specialists provide comprehensive, multi-disciplinary care for critically ill newborns.
Both Broward Health Coral Springs and Broward Health Imperial Point opened new cardiac catheterization labs and interventional radiology suites to provide patients with access to critical life-saving cardiac procedures close to home. Each state-of-the art suite includes procedure rooms, pre-and-post-procedure patient care bays, an isolation room, a room devoted to echo cardiograms, diagnostic stress lab stations and an expansive waiting room equipped with the latest patient monitoring technology. Broward Health, which has made a multi-million-dollar investment in cardiac service line upgrades, has a more than 50-year history in advanced cardiac care.
Lifesaving Technology and Treatments
New robotic technology continues to provide the best possible care for orthopedic, oncologic, bariatric, urologic, gynecologic, and pediatric patients at Broward Health. Broward Health has not only invested in telehealth programming and a Nurse Connect phone service for patients, but also expanded genomics and precision medicine to provide personalized care. Among the technology advancements are:
WATCHMAN FLX: Broward Health Medical Center was the first hospital in Broward County to offer patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) an alternative to long-term blood thinners with the next-generation WATCHMAN FLX Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) implant. The WATCHMAN FLX, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, may reduce the risk of stroke in patients with NVAF who need an alternative to oral anticoagulation therapy.
Stereotaxis: This global leader in innovative robotic technologies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias has partnered with Broward Health Medical Center to establish a robotic electrophysiology robotics lab to expand access to advanced minimally invasive treatment of heart rhythm disorders in Florida. Broward Health Medical Center will be the only hospital in South Florida offering robotic technology to treat patients suffering from arrhythmias and is the first in Florida, and among the first in the nation, to adopt the latest Genesis Robotic Magnetic Navigation system.
eICU: Broward Health’s Intensive Care Units were integrated with Philips eICU, the largest tele-ICU network in the U.S., offering centralized, remote clinical surveillance by medical professionals, proprietary algorithms that provide early warnings for proactive care and continuous programmatic improvement. This transformational critical care tele-ICU program provides 24/7/365 remote monitoring for the vitals of patients in ICU, using artificial intelligence to provide the best medical counsel to bedside caregivers. Integrating A/V technology, predictive analytics and data visualization with advanced reporting capabilities equates to better outcomes, faster discharges and a better patient experience.
Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS): Broward Health utilizes the UAS, the only FDA-approved implantable device to combat obstructive sleep apnea, which can lead to other health issues, including moodiness, memory loss and even stroke, heart attack and death. Inspire delivers a mild stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, which controls tongue movement and prevents the tongue from blocking the airway. By stimulating these muscles, the airway remains open during sleep. Unlike other common treatments, with Inspire there is no mask, no hose, and no noise.
Education
During 2021, Broward Health expanded its Graduate Medical Education Program across all four of its hospitals as the system continues to serve the community as an academic center of excellence in training. New training programs were launched in general surgery, internal medicine, and emergency medicine at Broward Health North and psychiatry at Broward Health Imperial Point, bringing the number of programs at Broward Health to 13. As Broward Health North transitions to an academic hospital, the GME general surgery residency there allows the hospital to help fill the physician shortage and the critical need for doctors in the state and locally.
Community Impact
Broward Health continued to impact local communities in extraordinary ways. Broward Health’s Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center served 11,000-plus medically at-risk children and families and continues extensive HIV/AIDS research. Through the highly effective Vaccinate Broward and Mobilize to Immunize campaigns more than 800 children across Broward County were vaccinated.
For Thanksgiving, Broward Health served approximately 800 meals to the homeless and hosted a turkey basket distribution to underserved families just in time for the holidays.
Recently, Broward Health donated $250,000 worth of PPE and medical supplies to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. About 60 pallets of supplies, including face masks, surgical gloves, ponchos, sanitizers, isolation gowns and other items that can be used for health care, COVID mitigation and preservation of health and wellness, were shared with community partners for distribution in Haiti.
