Palms West Hospital is pleased to announce that Michael Patterson has joined the hospital as Chief Operating Officer. Michael comes to Palms West Hospital from a local affiliate HCA facility, JFK Medical Center, where he was Vice President of Operations since 2006. Prior to JFK Medical Center, Michael worked in various HCA facilities handling day to day operations for many medical practices, clinics, and facilities.

Michael received his BS Degree in Health Services Administration from University of Central Florida and an MBA and Masters of Healthcare Administration from Georgia State University.



Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue (BSFR) is the first metropolitan fire rescue system in Florida and one of only five in the nation to start cooling heart attack victims in the field to increase survivability. The procedure, called hypothermic resuscitation, is so unique that patients must be transported to an “ICE” (Induced Cooling by EMS) Center for treatment. Cleveland Clinic in Florida is proud to be one of only four recognized “ICE” Centers in Broward, and the only one in the southern and western portions of the county to offer this service. The city of Weston wholly supports this program through its commitment to the community and partnerships with Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue and Cleveland Clinic in Florida.

Chief of EMS Stephen Krivjanik said, “This is the second and final phase of enhancing our pre-hospital cardiac resuscitation program. Studies show that the sooner you can lower the body temperature in heart attacks, the better the prognosis for the patient.”

Hypothermic resuscitation or “ICE” involves both external and internal (systemic) cooling of heart attack patients using chilled intravenous solutions and medications. All BSFR rescue units are equipped with temperature-controlled cooling units that maintain the solutions at 0-5 degrees Centigrade (33-34 degrees Fahrenheit) for immediate administration. Additionally, all BSFR firefighter/paramedics are trained in this procedure and protocol enhancements.

When at the “ICE” Center, a specially trained 24/7 Intensive Care team continues the cooling process with advanced computer-controlled intravascular technology to maintain an appropriate temperature. Cleveland Clinic is one of the first South Florida hospitals employing the system, in place of more traditional cooling methods to induce hypothermia in order to lessen or prevent neurological damage from cardiac arrest.

“Using the intravascular cooling catheter allows us to more precisely control both the cooling and warming process,” explains Paul Adams, D.O., M.A., chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Cleveland Clinic in Florida. “We are pleased to be able to work with Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue in Weston to provide this high quality continuum of care to the community.”

While heart attack victims may survive the initial cardiac event, secondary neurologic events may cause brain damage and death. By cooling the patient this way, brain swelling can be reduced and preservation of cells can greatly enhance an intact neurologic outcome. Adds Chief Krivjanik, “What we’re seeing already are heart attack patients that we’ve resuscitated walking out of the hospital, able to return to their homes, their families, and continue living a quality life.”



SpecialtyAutomated ™ recently revealed their new computerized test, the Online Trail Making Test Part B ™ , at Mae Volen Senior Center. The Online Trail Making Test Part B ™ was a hit.

This is the very first time ever that this test, originally developed in 1944 as part of the Army Individual Test Battery, has been successfully automated in a completely online and self-service format available in numerous languages. Online Trail Making Tests ™ level the playing field for people of all ages, cultures, and educational backgrounds.

Trail Making Tests are regularly issued on paper or with the aid of an administrator to obtain a snapshot of general brain function of patients. Trail Making Tests Part A and Trail Making Test Part B are widely used to screen for brain function, brain injury, dementia, and various psychiatric illnesses. However, the use of paper and pencils render these traditional tests as environmentally destructive. Paper and wood products threaten forests, destroy trees, and constitute a significant amount of municipal solid waste burden. The Online Trail Making Tests™ are therefore ideal, green alternatives to these traditional brain assessments.

Since several versions of the paper and pencil-based Trail Making Tests exist, the Online Trail Making Tests ™ represent the first for a rapid, standardized, and objective Trail Making tool that can be used by clinicians, physicians, and government agencies. Instant scores and feedback are automatically provided. Online Trail Making Tests ™ are also designed to engage individuals with special needs and disabilities, who are typically excluded from traditional trail making tests when they are unable to write or hold a writing instrument.

Studies show that the Online Trail Making Tests Part B ™ may be used to evaluate individuals for nursing home admission, assisted living admittance, 24-hour retirement community care evaluations, or as potential indicators for driving problems. In fact, the American Medical Association recommends the Trail Making Test Part B as one of two cognitive assessments for senior drivers.

Sandy H. Straus, CEO and Chief Engineer with SpecialtyAutomated, said that the debut of the Online Trail MakingTests ™ at Mae Volen Senior Center showed that officials at Mae Volen share the same vision of supporting seniors as well as people of all ages who require brain function assessments. Data collected from the exhibit will be used for technical publications to improve cognitive screenings and motorist safety.

“Every clinical environment, state motor vehicle department, and transportation agency can benefit from our online tests to save significant time, labor, and other expenses. Any agency in need of streamlining its operations will now want to add our Online Trail Making Tests ™ to their repertoire.” added Straus. “Our exciting, online static and dynamic visual acuity screening tests are also must-haves for clinicians and agencies.”

SpecialtyAutomated Systems Corporation offers the largest selection of proprietary multimedia and interactive online tests for vision, knowledge, cognition, and driving skills.

This year, Mae Volen Senior Center celebrates its 40th year as a premier facility in Boca Raton that provides special health and human services programs to seniors to supplement their daily activities at home.



Three Miami Children’s Hospital (MCH) pediatric specialty services are among the best in the nation, according to U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” issue, dated June 9. MCH was the only children’s hospital in Florida to be listed in more than one subspecialty category – heart and heart surgery program was listed 13th in the nation; neonatology program was ranked 17th in the nation; and neurology and neurosurgery program was ranked 22nd.



Dawn Javersack has been named Chief Financial Officer of Broward Health.

Javersack spent nearly 20 years with West Penn Allegheny Health System in Pittsburgh. Most recently, she served as CFO for Allegheny General. She was also vice president of finance for the not-for-profit system, which includes six hospitals, a trauma center, 35 outpatient and diagnostic facilities, home health and hospice. Prior to that, Javersack was director of finance for the system’s Western Pennsylvania Hospital.