By Jarrod Fowler, MHA, FMA Director of Health Care Policy and Innovation

Recently, the Biden administration announced that Medicaid enrollees will be subject to new appointment wait times, a component of network adequacy standards. However, network adequacy standards alone will not optimize Florida’s Medicaid program. Florida already has some network adequacy standards in place, which are listed below. However, even with additional funding from the Legislature, lower Medicaid rates have remained a barrier to accessing care in Florida. The FMA is very grateful for this additional funding and hopes that it will help alleviate this problem while work continues to be done to ensure access for these vulnerable beneficiaries.

The way Florida physicians view Medicaid is illustrated by the results of the Florida Department of Health’s Physician Workforce Annual Report, which was last updated in 2023. As you can see, a plurality of physicians who do not accept new Medicaid patients do so due to low reimbursement rates.


Source: Florida Department of Health

In addition, more than a quarter of physicians who have patients with Medicaid but do not accept new Medicaid patients do so because of low reimbursement.


Source: Florida Department of Health

As you can see from the tables below, plans are supposed to maintain adequate networks. If you find that your plan does not maintain an adequate network in accordance with these standards, please let us know so that we can reach out to the Agency for Health Care Administration. Working to ensure that plans are held to their contractual standards and that patients can access care is crucial to our members and their patients, and we want to hear your feedback. But until reimbursement and network adequacy standards are both fully addressed, along with the state’s healthcare practitioner shortage, we can expect to have an imperfect system.

Source: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
Source: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration



No two days are alike for Siobhan Deasy, RN. That’s because as a rapid response nurse, Deasy is a member of the critical care team that responds to patients that demonstrate rapid signs of clinical deterioration, acting quickly to coordinate and provide treatment, wherever the patient is in the hospital.

“Because every day is different and you never know where you will be called to, it’s imperative that we stay on our toes,” Deasy said. “But the key is the relationships we have with our work family. We work together collaboratively and are always supportive of each other.”

Deasy also enjoys her role as an educational resource that includes assisting new staff members with proper assessments, while guiding them through medical emergencies.

A native of Ireland and a nurse since 1993, Deasy joined Broward Health Medical Center in 2001 as a critical care nurse first in the medical ICU then in the trauma ICU.

Deasy earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nova Southeastern University.



By Michelle Villaflores, BSN, RN

I have been an ICU nurse for close to two decades now. In the different hospitals that I have worked for and with colleagues that I have worked with, workload has always been one of the factors why nurses stay, go someplace else or quit the profession entirely.

In a February 2017 article made by Spencer Sutherland for RNnetwork.com, a survey among nurses showed that a good 27% cited feeling overworked as their reason for leaving nursing.

 

Fast forward to a February 2023 article by Jack Flynn on www.zippia.com, a similar survey conducted among nurses showed feeling overworked as the main reason for leaving the profession for good.

 

On both pie graphs, one would also see that the next reason cited by nurses for leaving is too much paperwork which still falls on the realms of workload.

With the above graphs, I am in the opinion that teamwork can be something that can address the problem of nurses leaving. 

Teamwork Makes Everything Work!

Teamwork in nursing as defined in an article by Darby Faubion, BSN, RN, for NursingProcess.Org is “a patient-centered approach focused on shared goals among nurses. The concept uses each nursing team member’s unique strengths and skills to promote the delivery of high-quality, effective nursing care and promote positive healthcare outcomes for all patients.”

As I understood the term to mean from the definition, it is tapping the skills of different nurses to make patient care better. In the process, workload, not to mention accountability, is also shared.

In my capacity as an ICU nurse, I have personally experienced having teamwork work wonders especially as the load on the floor heightens. There is no escape from being tired or fatigued, but the notion that you are not alone or that somebody has your back definitely helps assuage the situation. On the other hand, I have also been in instances before when I felt like quitting the next day because of the pile of work I have had to do alone since there was no one to help me. Physically, it was already exhausting. However, it also drained me mentally and emotionally. I reckon that this is probably the same with other nurses. We give our all at all times and sometimes, we reach a point where there is no more left to give. During these moments, the presence of colleagues in one’s team comes in handy.

In the same article by Darby Fabion, BSN, RN, for NursingProcess.Org, it was mentioned that there are 5 reasons why teamwork is so important in nursing. As I understood it, it includes professional relationships among nurses being built and nurses being satisfied with their jobs. It fosters sharing of best practices and sharing of workload. These, in my own opinion, make teamwork important in efforts to retain nurses in the ICU. True, a nurse has the responsibility to always be ready to give his/her 100% in the discharge of duties. But at the end of the day, we nurses are humans too. It should not be frowned upon that we get overwhelmed or disenchanted by our work occasionally. And whether we like it or not, the care that we give emanates from how much energy we have left. If we are doing things alone most of the time, we are surely spending more energy and accomplishing less. Teamwork makes it possible for everyone to synergize and be of aid to one another and finish more goals in the end. As in many aspects of life, sharing the load makes it bearable for everyone. And in the grand scheme of things, harnessing teamwork may just prove to be an effective tool to retain nurses not only in the ICU but in hospitals in general.

Michelle Villaflores is currently employed as an ICU nurse in the Medical/Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at the Memorial Regional Hospital.



Caron Treatment Centers launches Neurocognitive Assessment Program at its Keele Medical Center to help individuals who are struggling with cognitive decline, decision-making, behavioral issues, anxiety, depression, trauma or other mental health issues

DELRAY BEACH, Fla.–February 8, 2024 —Caron Treatment Centers, a nonprofit behavioral healthcare leader for almost 70 years dedicated to treatment, research, prevention and addiction medical education, announces the expansion of its groundbreaking Neurorestorative Health Care services provided at The Keele Medical Center in Delray Beach, Fl. The expansion of services includes a new 10-day Neurocognitive Assessment for individuals seeking to optimize their brain function.

“Addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, stress and other behavioral health issues physically change and negatively impact the brain, interfering with the reward system, executive function, memory, attention, concentration and more,” said Dr. Barbara Krantz, D.O., MS, DFASAM, MRO, Caron’s Florida Medical Director for the Older Adults Program, Withdrawal Management and Chronic Pain. “These brain changes directly impact the way we process the world – how we think, how we act, what we do, what we remember, how we react. By looking at brain function in combination with appropriate psychological and other testing, we are able to more accurately understand what’s happening with that individual, diagnose behavioral and mental health issues, as well as identify causes of cognitive decline, including dementia.”

Conducted by a neuro-integrated team of experts from the fields of medicine, psychology, clinical, and neurocognitive services, Caron’s new 10-day Neurocognitive Assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation to identify and define current brain function, including areas of deficit and over-stimulation. The Neurocognitive Assessment consists of a concierge medical evaluation, labs for biomarkers, targeted brain imaging studies, 19-channel quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) brain mapping and swLORETA neuroimaging, neuropsychological and psychological measures to assess neurocognitive proficiency, FDG-PET, as well as emotional and personality functioning.

“Our goal is optimizing brain health,” continued Krantz. “That’s why, as part of the assessment, we will provide a prescriptive Neurorestorative Health Care treatment plan that targets specific areas of the brain that need improvement or support.”

Under the direction of Dr. Adam Scioli, DO, DFAPA, FASAM, FAOAAM, Caron’s Corporate Medical Director and Head of Psychiatry, the neuro-integrated team includes Dr. Krantz and Dr. Yianoula Alexakis, PhD, Director of Neuropsychological Services, who together helped to pioneer the use of breakthroughs in brain science, advances in the treatment of traumatic brain injury and cutting-edge technology to diagnose and treat individuals suffering with mental health and substance use disorders. They are joined by psychologists Laura Marullo and Christina Kutikoff and Caron’s new Director of Neurocognitive Services Ciaran Tracey, MS, QEEG-D.

The new 10-day Neurocognitive Assessment is appropriate for individuals who:

  • Want to identify deficits in brain functioning which could be a result of substance abuse, mental issues, trauma, cognitive impairments and/or underlying behavioral health issues
  • Have sought treatment before, but may be experiencing cravings or other relapse behaviors, and/or have experienced a significant life change
  • Tried multiple treatments for a behavioral health issue with limited results and still have questions
  • Are concerned about the impact their alcohol, drug or prescription medications are having on them and whether they need additional treatment

“For more than a decade, patients in our Ocean Drive, Older Adult and Mental Health programs have benefited from Caron’s Neurorestorative Health Care protocols developed by Drs. Krantz and Alexakis,” explained Scioli. “We’re excited to share this expertise more broadly and expand our Neurorestorative Health Care offerings to help more individuals optimize their brain health.”

Individuals interested in more information about Caron’s 10-day Neurocognitive Assessment or its Neurorestorative Health Care can visit caron.org/neuro-assessment or call 877-369-0109.

Caron Treatment Centers

Caron Treatment Centers is an internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to addiction and behavioral healthcare treatment, research, prevention, and addiction medicine education. Our mission is Recovery for Life and during our almost 70 years Caron has helped thousands of individuals struggling with behavioral health issues, including substance use disorder, begin to manage these brain diseases and find hope. Anchored by two medical centers on our Pennsylvania and Florida campuses and headquartered in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, Caron provides a comprehensive continuum of care that includes medical stabilization and detoxification, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient programs, as well as Recovery support, family and alumni services. Caron also provides concierge signature treatment for executives, healthcare professionals and older adults and offers Neurorestorative Health Care at our Keele Medical Center in Palm Beach County, Fl. In addition to our Pennsylvania and Florida campuses, Caron provides services in Wyomissing, Pa, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and New York City. Caron accepts several major insurance plans and provides financial assistance for those who qualify. For more information, please visit caron.org or @CaronTreatment.

 



January 25, 2024 – HCA Florida Healthcare, as a part of HCA Healthcare, announced today that the HCA Healthcare Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to Crockett Foundation to advance the exposure to healthcare career pathways for Crockett Foundation’s program youth.  The funding is part of the HCA Healthcare Foundation’s Healthier Tomorrow Fund, a community impact fund with an initial investment of $75 million focused on addressing high priority community needs and health equity.

“Empowering young minds to explore the possibilities within healthcare is not just a philanthropic endeavor; it’s an investment in the wellbeing of our community,” said Charles Gressle, president of HCA East Florida Division. “By providing resources and opportunities, we are nurturing a pipeline of talent that will contribute to growth and innovation in the healthcare sector.”

“Today’s youth may often think of healthcare in terms of the traditional sense of simply working with patients. However, through this partnership with HCA, the Crockett Foundation (CF) strives to provide access and knowledge to our youth regarding the diverse career track opportunities which range from artificial intelligence (A.I.) and robotic technologists to cybersecurity.” Henri Crockett, president of Crockett Foundation.

With the prevalent use of healthcare technology at a rise, the Crockett Foundation aims to educate youth on the various ways in which they can develop specific skills set. Armed with the knowledge and skills, their youth will be exposed to the multiple points of entry in this growing field and to a potentially fulfilling career pathway.

Funding the Healthier Tomorrow Fund at the HCA Healthcare Foundation is one example of the many ways HCA Healthcare is making a positive impact in the communities it serves. In 2022, HCA Healthcare provided charity care, uninsured discounts and other uncompensated care at an estimated cost of $3.5 billion. Additionally, HCA Healthcare continues to invest in the ongoing education and development of its colleagues and, as an enterprise, contributed $44.2 million to community organizations in 2022.

“At HCA Healthcare, we believe partnerships are essential to advancing our mission to care for and improve human live,” said Joanne Pulles, president of the HCA Healthcare Foundation. “Partnering with organizations like the Crockett Foundation allows us to do more for our communities than we can do separately.

For more information on the HCA Healthcare Foundation, visit www.hcacaring.org.

About HCA Healthcare Foundation

The mission of the HCA Healthcare Foundation is to promote health and well-being and strive to make a positive impact in all the communities HCA Healthcare serves. We accomplish this mission by providing leadership, service and financial support to effective non-profit organizations working individually and collectively.

About HCA Florida Healthcare

HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. United as a statewide network in 2022, HCA Florida Healthcare includes approximately 11,000 experienced doctors and more than 79,000 colleagues working together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care to more than 8.6 million patients each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provides more than $848.8 million in uncompensated care and contributes $2.1 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly-trained specialists, including the state’s largest cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a major supporter of university-based healthcare programs and residencies and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.

 Connect with us online: HCAFloridaHealthcare.com

Facebook: @HCAFLHealthcare

Twitter: @HCAFLHealthcare

Instagram: HCAFloridaHealthcare 

About Crockett Foundation

The Crockett Foundation is on a mission to build the future of Broward County, one child at a time. Since 2002, the Crockett Foundation has positively impacted thousands of children’s lives across South Florida. Our annual after-school and summer youth development and coding programs have provided over 400 students with the support they need to master their toughest academic and social challenges. These STEAM-centered programs enable us to develop future leaders across many creative spaces, specifically technology and innovation. With the generous support of our donors, the Crockett Foundation has helped students and their families be better prepared to tackle 21st century problems with 21st century skills.