VITAS Healthcare is now accepting hospice-eligible patient referrals in Miami-Dade County through its newly constructed inpatient hospice unit (IPU) at MedSquare in Kendall.

Located within walking distance of Baptist Health’s main campus in Kendall, the VITAS IPU’s quiet, homelike environment features 16 private rooms, a shared family room and kitchen, children’s activity area and overnight accommodations for guests. Patients receive high-acuity care, as needed for their individualized care plan, including medicine and nutrition, and modalities to ease pain and other symptoms. The IPU is expected to serve 750 patients annually.
 
Patients can experience comfort via specialized music therapy, Paw Pals® pet visits and care specific to the needs of veterans near the end of life, including bedside salutes and virtual-reality Honor Flight experiences. Each patient room features a dedicated iPad and smart TV to connect virtually with local and out-of-town family members, live-stream photos and videos, and access relaxation apps. Family members and visitors can access the unit at any time, in adherence with current COVID-19 regulations.
 
VITAS IPUs offer a temporary home away from home for patients near the end of life when symptoms can no longer be managed in their preferred setting of care. Patients receive 24/7 care from an interdisciplinary VITAS team comprising a physician, nurse, social worker, chaplain, volunteer and bereavement expert. Together, the team attends to the medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families.


KIDZ Medical, a multispecialty pediatric practice with locations throughout South Florida, opened an office to serve patients in the Doral area. The new location is 3785 NW 82nd Ave, Suite 307, just across from CityPlace in Doral.

“We’re delighted to open a new office to serve our patients in the vibrant, young and growing Doral community," commented Wayne Brackin, President and CEO of KIDZ Medical. "We look forward to expanding the panel of specialists available to our patients in Doral.”
 
The board-certified pediatric specialists seeing children in Doral include pediatric gastroenterologists Mario Taño, M.D., Aymin Delgado-Borrego, M.D., and Neeraj Raghunath, M.D.; pediatric pulmonologist Kunjana Mavunda, M.D.; pediatric nephrologist Mariselis Rosa-Sanchez, M.D.; pediatric endocrinologist Sheila Perez-Colon, M.D., and pediatric cardiologist Abdulwahab Aldousany, M.D.
 
Since its founding in 1988 as Critical Care Newborn Services, KIDZ Medical has grown into a regional, multi-specialty physician practice that partners with leading adult acute care and pediatric health systems, physician groups and outpatient providers on both coasts of Florida.
 
To contact the Doral office, call (305) 556-4263.


The Palm Beach Health Network will now be offering patients a new option for care with Tele-ER. This option allows anyone to talk to a board-certified Emergency Room physician 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer. Patients who may be uncertain whether to seek treatment or go to the hospital, no longer have to make the decision alone thanks to Tele-ER.

“As the healthcare provider of choice, the Palm Beach Health Network is continually evolving to better serve our community. We are excited to announce the launch of Tele-ER at two of our hospital locations, Coconut Creek and Lake Worth. Patients will be able to make direct contact with an Emergency healthcare provider from the comfort of their own home,” said Maggie Gill, chief executive officer of the Palm Beach Health Network. “Tele-ER provides a new solution for convenient access to care. If your condition requires a visit to the emergency department, please know we are safe, equipped and ready. 


Gynecologic oncologist Thomas Morrissey, M.D., FACOG, FACS, has joined the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute, a part of Baptist Health South Florida, as director of gynecologic oncology. He is a specialist in the surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment of ovarian, uterine, cervical and other female genital tract cancers.

Dr. Morrissey joins the Lynn Cancer Institute from Cleveland Clinic Florida, where he was the head of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. He also served as clinical assistant professor of surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. He will continue his position as clinical affiliate associate professor at Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine. He is board-certified in obstetrics, gynecology and gynecologic oncology.
 
Dr. Morrissey earned his medical degree from the State University of New York Health Science Center at Syracuse College of Medicine. He completed an obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences residency at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. He also completed a gynecologic oncology fellowship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
 


Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital welcomes board-certified family medicine physician Mary O’Meara, M.D.

Dr. O’Meara earned her medical degree from Florida State University. She completed the Family Medicine Residency program at West Kendall Baptist Hospital in Miami. She is a member of the American Medical Association, Florida Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and Florida Academy of Family Physicians.
 
Prior to joining Indian River Hospital, Dr. O’Meara practiced as a family medicine physician in Winter Haven.