Manny Linares, Chief Executive Officer at North Shore Medical Center, recently announced the appointment of Carmen Gomez as director of human resources.

Gomez has more than twenty years of experience as a director in human resources, primarily working at Coral Gables Hospital in that capacity.

Carmen earned her degree in professional studies with a concentration in human resources from Barry University in Miami Shores, FL. She is also a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).



The Florida Hospital Association (FHA) has completed an analysis of the proposed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule governing the use of intergovernmental transfer (IGT) funds and has determined it will cost Florida’s hospitals more than $4 billion over the next five years. The proposed rule, which was published on January 18, 2007, negates the policies adopted and approved by the federal government for Florida’s Low Income Pool (LIP) program, Medicaid, and the care afforded by these programs.

“This proposal will have a disastrous impact on Florida’s hospital community'” said Wayne NeSmith, President of the Florida Hospital Association. “We are asking the Florida Congressional Delegation to protect our state’s hospitals from these cuts and the communities we serve,” said NeSmith.

The analysis developed by FHA shows the annual financial impact on hospitals in Florida exceeds $932 million per year. The rule drastically changes the way Florida funds its Medicaid LIP program. The LIP program provides special Medicaid payments to hospitals based on the amount and types of services provided including pediatric, trauma, rural, and graduate medical education. “If this rule is allowed to go into effect, hospitals across the state and the country will be forced to dramatically reduce services and in some cases, hospitals will close,” according to NeSmith.

FHA will continue to meet with the Florida Congressional Delegation and work closely with the American Hospital Association (AHA), the National Association of Public Hospitals (NAPH), and the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida on a Congressional solution.



VITAS has promoted Dean A. Robertson to senior director in the legal and regulatory affairs department. The national hospice company is based in Miami.

Robertson has served VITAS for six years as senior corporate counsel. He has 12 years of legal experience in insurance defense, medical malpractice and commercial and employment matters. He was previously an associate in the litigation department of Hinshaw and Culbertson, a national law firm.

Robertson is a member of The Florida Bar and is involved in The Florida Bar 17th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, The Florida Bar Equal Opportunities Law Section, the South Florida Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Caribbean Bar Association.



Patients at North Ridge Medical Center can now have a different kind of visitors: therapy cats.

The Animal Assisted Activities program will serve to enhance the quality of a patient’s stay at NRMC by improving their health and rate of healing via the positive physiological effect of human-animal interaction.

While pet therapy is not new, bringing the pets to a hospital is and having cats as part of the therapy group is unique. Traditionally, pet therapy has been utilized mostly in nursing homes featuring dogs only.

“Pet therapy is in line with our hospital’s unique approach of friendly medical care with a smile,” said Dianne Aleman, North Ridge Medical Center CEO. “We try to go out of our way to make our patients feel at home while under our care, and having a therapy dog or cat come by a patient’s bed and visit makes a hospital stay even more comfortable. It makes total sense for a hospital to offer this bona-fide, holistic therapy to patients.”

The AAA adds to the patients’ sense of caring and distracts them from their suffering. It also combats loneliness and pleasantly provides the patients a reprieve from the hospital regimens. Patients are consulted prior to visits whether they would like a visit and to ensure they have no pet allergies.



Attorney Alan T. Dimond was elected Chairman of the Jackson Memorial Foundation for 2007-2008 by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Dimond, who has been at Greenberg Taurig since 1975, is a Principal Shareholder in the firm, and specializes in commercial litigation.

Dimond, who has been actively involved with the Foundation for more than 10 years, has held a variety of positions, including Secretary, Treasurer and Vice Chairman.