(l-r) Joanne Floyd, director of surgical services; Dora Rafuls, director of the maternity care center; Ana Mederos, chief executive officer; Hugo Ferrara, M.D., OB/GYN; and Ortelio Carcache director of nursing administration, celebrate the announcement of Dr. Ferrara as 2006 Physician of the Year at Palmetto General Hospital. The Physician of the Year is chosen by the Physician Satisfaction Team, which considers from those named Physician of the Month throughout the year. The committee’s nominee is then approved by the hospital administrative team. Physician of the Month winners are nominated by their colleagues and employees at Palmetto General Hospital and chosen by the Physician Satisfaction Team.



Corazon, Inc. recently announced two new additions to the team of Heart & Vascular Experts.

Steve Geyer joins as Regional Manager, Florida, where he will focus on the growth and development of Corazon’s second office location in Plantation, FL, near Ft. Lauderdale.

Nicole Furl, an experienced consultant in the financial and revenue-cycle management aspects of healthcare joins Corazon as a Consultant.

Corazon also announced the following employee promotions.

Ross Swanson, RN, MSN, has been promoted to Director, Consulting Services. Ross brings experience-based knowledge of all facets of the cardiac and vascular service line, with strengths in the areas of program development, outcomes measurement, clinical quality improvement, case management, and disease management.

Becky Ambrosini, RN, MBA, has been promoted to Senior Consultant. A clinical care expert with over 30 years of progressive clinical and management know-how, Becky has advanced knowledge and hands-on skills across the continuum of care, offering valuable insight into the establishment or evaluation of new and existing cardiovascular programs.

Loraine Buck, has also been promoted to Senior Consultant. With a notable educational and professional background and 20 years of healthcare experience, Lorraine offers a high level of expertise in both the business and clinical aspects of cardiovascular service development and evaluation.

       



Mariners Hospital has promoted Candy Fincke to assistant vice president.

Fincke joined Mariners in 1999 as a social worker. In 2000, she was promoted to director of social services; and in 2003, she was promoted to manager of administrative services.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology as well as a master’s degree in social work from Florida International University. In addition, Fincke holds a master’s degree in health services administration from Barry University.



Mariners Hospital has announced the promotion of two employees. Wes Brage has been promoted to food services manager, and Carol Welsh, R.N., has been promoted to risk manager.

A four-year hospital employee, Brage had been Food Service Supervisor. Prior to joining Mariners, Brage was head chef at Marker 88, where he was employed for 25 years.

Welsh had been an operating room nurse at Mariners prior to her appointment as risk manager. Welsh joined Mariners 18 months ago, coming to the hospital from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, NC. She has an associate degree in nursing from Marymount University and will receive a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix this summer.



Mercy Hospital recently announced that Connie Barden has been appointed the Director of Clinical Safety and Innovation. Prior to the appointment, Barden served as Mercy Hospital’s Cardiovascular Clinical Nurse Specialist for 8 years.

In addition to her position at Mercy, Barden is active with numerous external organizations and previously served as President and a past Board Member of The American Association of Clinical Care Nurses.