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.



Endocrinologist Michael Fili, M.D., has been elected vice president of the more than 1,400 physicians on the Baptist Hospital medical staff. He also is chief of endocrinology and was chief of internal medicine from 2004-2007. He has been on staff at Baptist Hospital since 1989.

Dr. Fili received his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He also completed his residency and fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at the University of Miami.



Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has awarded Catholic Hospice the Certificate of Need in Broward County.

“Our goal is to provide the highest level of compassionate care while enhancing comfort and quality of life for each and every patient and family member,” said Brian Payne, President and CEO for Catholic Hospice. “We have wanted to serve Broward County since the inception of the Miami-Dade program twenty years ago. Our goal is to have a complete continuum of care with a faith based hospice organization that serves people of all denominations,” added Payne.

For more than twenty years Catholic Hospice, a community based not-for-profit health care program serving people of all faiths, has been providing end-of-life care to terminally ill patients and their families throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, and will now serve Broward County with the same excellent care and compassion. Catholic Hospice will be focusing on education and outreach aimed at enhancing access to the Hispanic population and those under the age of 65. In addition, Catholic Hospice will be conducting community bereavement support groups and work closely with Broward County senior housing facilities to ensure the needs of Broward residents are being met.



After twenty years from its original opening, the ED at Coral Springs Medical Center (CSMC) will be getting a face lift and a dazzling expansion. The ED alone treated more than 47,000 adult and pediatric patients last year – almost equal to the 1987 population of Coral Springs which then barely exceeded 50,000 residents.

Coral Springs residents and employees of the emergency department will soon experience a more spacious, accommodating facility as construction is slated to begin at the end of 2008. To handle the burgeoning patient admissions, the estimated $17.9 million expansion will nearly double the emergency department in size. CSMC’s emergency staff anticipates the renovations will expedite patients through the department, decreasing turnaround time while increasing patient satisfaction.

The staff of the CSMC emergency department (front l-r): Linda Imhoff, LPN; Debbie Ruocco, PAC; Maxine Ali, patient representative; Dr. Daniel Stone, medical director of the ED; Michelle Loberfeld, RN; and Tambra Tyrrell, RN. (back l-r) Gessy Moise, ED tech; William Horvath, RN/assistant nurse manager; Dr. David Malkevich; Rachelle Zahniser, RN/MSN/CEN, nurse manager; Antoinette Owensby, RN/assistant nurse manager and Roseanne Vergara, RN.

“Our new ER will truly meet the needs of western Broward County residents,” said Rachelle Zahniser, nurse manager of the ER. “We are excited about the growth of our staff, including our new medical director, Dr. Daniel Stone. CSMC’s emergency department definitely provides ‘powerful medicine, 24/7/365.’”

The new emergency department will include 40 beds (26 adult, eight pediatric and six fast track beds) all in larger, private rooms with separate phones and televisions. Twelve-hour pediatric care was recently increased to 24-hour pediatric care to serve the young demographic population of Coral Springs. Four pediatricians, three physicians, paramedics, a clinical specialist and a patient care representative have been added to the team for support during the highest peak hours of patient flow. These additions will allow patients to see a doctor in a more timely and efficient manner.