South Miami Hospital is taking part in Duke University’s new Time Study that is putting wireless technology to the test. As part of the study, Coral Gables Fire Rescue paramedics are using a PDA to transmit 12-lead EKGs to the hospital’s Emergency Department staff for heart attack patients.

Armando Garcia, M.D., who heads the Heart Attack Unit for South Miami Heart Center, was involved in setting up the hospital’s participation. “We’re trying to measure how many crucial minutes can be saved by transmitting vital information to the ED staff before the patient even arrives,” said Dr. Garcia. “The outcomes are very good for patients whose arteries can be opened in less than 90 minutes. Our goal now is to get to them in less than 60 minutes.”

In the rescue truck, the patient is hooked up to the EKG machine that’s connected to the paramedic’s PDA, which sends the wireless signal to the main server in the ED. That information is transmitted to about a dozen doctors and nurses who carry pocket receivers.



Palm Healthcare Foundation is proud to announce they have awarded a $25,000 grant to Clinics Can Help (CCH) to more efficiently provide durable medical equipment to Palm Beach County’s underserved. With this grant, Clinics Can Help has been able to grow their medical equipment Lending Closet program to reach more of Palm Beach County’s less fortunate. “We are extremely grateful for this grant from Palm Healthcare Foundation,” said Owen O’Neill, president of Clinics Can Help. “As a nurse I was always meeting patients from both ends of the spectrum, those who had medical equipment they wanted to donate and those in need of medical equipment.”

(l-r) Tony Lofaso, H. Bryant Sims, Esq., Jan Rodusky of Palm Healthcare Foundation, Dr. Faustino Gonzales, Owen O’Neill.

Seeing the need and the obvious solution, O’Neill and his colleagues, in 2005, established CCH’s Lending Closet program. They began collecting supplies, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds and crutches, and were soon able to begin distributing the equipment to clinics as well as individuals. “We try to help the free clinics knowing that with support they can help a great deal of people, but we also see the need to directly help local people get medical supplies,” said O’Neill. “There are over 250,000 people at the poverty level in this county. It was our vision to provide the needed equipment and services to those who cannot afford them.”

With funding provided by Palm Healthcare Foundation, CCH has been able to purchase, insure, and fuel a truck to pick-up and deliver the equipment; purchase a cellular phone and service to coordinate deliveries; purchase a lap top; create a website; create and print brochures; and hire an accountant. These new items help to expedite the pick up and delivery of donated items, and increase awareness of the organization to reach Palm Beach County’s residents in need.



C. Lee Jackson, M.D., chairman of the Department of Urology at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, is the winner of the South Florida Business Journal’s 9th Annual Excellence in Healthcare Award for Physician of the Year. The award honors Dr. Jackson for making a significant impact on the local community and the health care industry through his practice and work in the community.

In addition, Cleveland Clinic was proud to have finalists named in three other award categories this year. Chief Executive Officer Bernardo Fernandez, M.D., was recognized in the category for Best Health Care CEO of the Year. Cathy Chang-Martinez, director of the Department of Staff Development and Education, was honored for Excellence in Health Care Education, while Cleveland Clinic’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute was recognized for Excellence in a Hospital-based Program.

Dr. Jackson received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Albion College in Albion, MI, before completing his medical degree at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His advanced training included a general surgery internship and residency, a urology residency, and renal transplantation and renovascular fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Dr. Jackson is board certified by the American Board of Urology.



Miami Children’s Hospital (MCH) website, www.mch.com, was honored by eHealthcare Strategy & Trends in its eighth annual eHealthcare Leadership Awards. The site was honored with a Distinction Award for “Best Rich Media” among hospitals nationwide with 200-399 beds.

The Best Rich Media category focuses on video, audio, podcasts, virtual tours, and special interactive applications available on the hospital website. Miami Children’s has added numerous interactive features to the website including virtual tours, an interactive department finder, medical service line videos, and a variety of video, audio and downloadable files of recent marketing efforts (television commercials, radio commercials, advertorials, annual reports, etc.).



Dr. Kathleen Papes, associate professor and associate dean for Administrative Affairs in Barry University’s School of Nursing, recently passed away at the age of 63.

Born on June 19, 1944, Papes had been a member of the Barry University community since 1989, when she began as an assistant professor in the School of Nursing. Shortly after beginning her career at Barry, Papes moved on to serve as associate professor, member of the graduate faculty, interim director of Nursing’s MSN Program and her most recent role as associate dean, which she began in 1998. Prior to joining the Barry community, Papes served as deputy director for Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in Indianapolis, Ind. Papes had been a registered nurse in Florida since 1989. She received a nursing diploma in 1965 from Saint Mary of Nazareth School of Nursing in Chicago, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Russell Sage College, a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and a doctorate degree from Florida Atlantic University.

“Dr. Papes served many roles in our program, and her presence will be greatly missed,” said Dr. Pegge Bell, dean of Barry’s School of Nursing. “Her community involvement, leadership abilities, and political involvement in health care extended to nurses across the nation and her efforts will continue despite her passage.”

An active member of the community, Papes was involved with the Boca Raton Museum of Art, the Nature Conservancy, the League of Women Voters, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Organization for Women, and WXEL public television. Papes was also a member of the Florida Nurses’ Association and the American Nurses’ Association, which she joined in 1966.

Papes’ numerous honors include: Barry University School of Nursing Teaching Award, 2005; Barry University Apple Award, 2005; Barry University Academic Achievement Award, 1990-1994, 1996, and 1998-2003; American Nurses’ Association Shirley Titus Award, 1990; and the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers Award, 1985.