Holy Cross Health kicked off 2021 by honoring the real-world superheroes, those who so gallantly served the community during the pandemic. The non-profit hospital unveiled a mural that is a nod to superheroes and comic books yet tells the compelling story of frontline workers who risk their lives every day. The mural on the outside of the parking garage serves as a reminder of how much they are appreciated.
Holy Cross Health added three members to the leadership team, José J. López, M.D., MBA, FACEP, as Chief Medical Officer, Stonish Pierce as Chief Operating Officer and Jim Moffett, President of the Medical Group. Dr. López leads all medical staff and healthcare professionals, including the Holy Cross Medical Group, a multi-specialty physician employed group of more than 160 physicians providing services throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties and assumes administrative and operational responsibilities. Pierce oversees daily hospital operations, service line development, ensures the efficiency of patient care and manages the administration of all support and most professional services departments. Recently named to Modern Healthcare’s class of 2021 Top 25 Emerging Leaders for his significant contributions in the areas of innovation and financial, operational and clinical excellence, Pierce this year launched the hospital’s inaugural OB hospitalist program, coordinated a $20 million multiyear campus improvement plan and consolidated and revamped the Incident Command Center. During COVID-19, he led efforts to accelerate delivery of vaccines to urgent care partners and worked with clinical leaders to re-establish open visitation to help with patient-centered care goals. Moffett joined Holy Cross from the Adventist Health System in Orlando and brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership to Holy Cross and will preside over the more than 200 employed physicians.
Among the medical advancements are:
• The treatment of carotid artery disease and prevention of future strokes with the new, TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), a clinically proven, patient-friendly treatment option that utilizes temporary flow reversal during direct, transcarotid stent placement to provide neuroprotection in a more efficient and less invasive approach.
• A new minimally invasive procedure for women who must undergo a hysterectomy, Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) is the advanced gynecologic technique and newest approach to hysterectomy procedures which provides many benefits to patients, including a shorter hospital stay, less postoperative pain, no visible scars and a faster recovery time. Daniel Gomez, MD, FACOG, FACS, Chief, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Holy Cross Health, was the first surgeon in Florida to perform this procedure and among the few surgeons in Broward County/South Florida who has been specially trained on the innovative approach.
• The first new lung valve treatment for patients with severe COPD/emphysema was performed at Holy Cross, one of the first hospitals in South Florida to offer the Zephyr® Endobronchial Valve treatment. Before the Zephyr Valves the only options for relief were highly invasive treatments including lung surgeries.
• A new miniaturized, wireless monitoring sensor to manage heart failure (HF), the Abbott CardioMEMS™ HF System is the first and only FDA-approved heart failure monitoring device that has been clinically proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions when used by physicians to manage heart failure. Data from a recent clinical trial found that the remote monitoring technology reduces heart failure hospital admissions by up to 58 percent.
What’s new at Holy Cross Health:
• With a one million dollar grant from The Jim Moran Foundation, the Holy Cross Family Health Center will be established to improve the quality of life for underserved youth, individuals and families in Broward County. This will be the preeminent provider of education, prevention, early intervention, wrap-a-round social and behavioral health services, OB/GYN access and treatment of primary care and infectious disease services through innovative approaches in a caring, compassionate environment.
• The new Holy Cross AgeWell Center based at the Holy Cross HealthPlex opened to help the aging population live their healthiest and most active lives. The comprehensive, collaborative center focused on healthcare, well-being and social interaction and a new model of care serving those who are Medicare eligible by providing services needed to age successfully.
• A premier, state-of-the-art sports medicine program was launched with the opening of the Lillian S. Wells Foundation Institute of Sports Performance and Orthopedic Therapy (iSPORT) in the Holy Cross HealthPlex, providing evidence-based education, training and management with the most comprehensive, multidisciplinary sports injury and performance enhancement program in South Florida for anyone looking to take their athletic performance to the next level or are recovering from an injury or surgery.
• A $500,000 grant from the Salah Foundation led to the renovation and expansion of Holy Cross Health’s congestive heart failure clinic expanding capacity to include the addition of patient exam rooms and support space for a patient/family consult area.
• With support from CITY Furniture, the hospital’s Mercy Courtyard and a new Resiliency Garden was upgraded. CITY Furniture donated comfortable new outdoor furniture to the Mercy Courtyard and the Resiliency Garden has been transformed with butterfly-attracting plants, basketball hoops and a beanbag toss game.
In 2021, Holy Cross received the following recognitions:
• Named as a Best Hospital for 2021-22 by U.S. News & World Report, ranking among the top 10 in South Florida and top 25 in the state and also recognized as high performing in COPD, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, hip replacement, knee replacement and stroke.
• Nationally recognized by the American Heart Association for its continued success in using the Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure and Target: Type 2 Diabetes programs.
• Received the American Heart Association’s Heart Failure GOLD PLUS with Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll for applying the most up to date evidence-based treatment guidelines to improve patient care and outcomes in the communities served.
• Received the American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for its quality diabetes self-management education and support service. The robust diabetes education and prevention program supports a journey to improve overall health and well-being.
• Recognized as a 5-star Hospital for 2021 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, one of only 455 hospitals nationally to receive the 5-star rating.
• Recognized as one of the top five hospitals in the country for shoulder arthroplasty by Dexur.com. Jonathan Levy, M.D. is nationally known for his expertise in treating shoulder injuries by utilizing the latest technologies in shoulder surgery, offering patients access to cutting-edge techniques and solutions and opportunities to participate in four recent FDA trials.
• Received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for fall 2020 as well as both the spring and fall 2021 for achievements in protecting patients from harm and error in the hospital.
