Health Care District’s Skilled Nursing Home Praised by Families for Communications Efforts

Despite mandated COVID-19 prevention measures that restricted visitation, the Edward J. Healey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has kept the lines of communication open over the past six months for its 111 residents and their families. Gary Teitelbaum appreciates the ongoing information he receives about his 56-year old brother Eric, who has lived at the skilled nursing center in Riviera Beach for the past five years.

“Every single time there is progress or something happens with my brother, who is confined to a wheelchair, they call me about it,” said Teitelbaum. “I’ve been overwhelmed with joy by the emails and calls that I’ve received. I think the care there is exceptional.”

The 120-bed facility, which is owned and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, sends families weekly emails with updates on their loved ones in English, Spanish and Creole and then follows up to ensure the email or letter was received. The skilled nursing home’s staff also provides iPads to residents so they can see and speak privately with their family and friends via FaceTime and Skype several times a week.

“The most important thing is to ensure that the residents’ psychological, emotional and medical needs are met,” said Shelly Ann Lau, Executive Director of the Healey Center. “We understand it’s difficult not to socialize closely with others as we maintain social distancing requirements, so we try to accommodate safe interaction with others.”

The Healey Center’s activities, admissions and social services staff replaced bingo games, shopping trips and communal dining with other options. They coordinate with families who deliver their loved ones’ favorite foods and then decorate the residents’ rooms and wheelchairs to celebrate special occasions like birthdays. Staff shops online for items that residents request. Growing vegetables also engages residents in the outdoor patio garden. Unlike most nursing homes that serve senior adults, the average age of Healey Center residents is 61. Their activities are based on their ability levels and interests.

Dr. Dror Paley Is First Surgeon in the World to Perform a New Limb Lengthening Procedure with the PRECICE™ Plate Implant

Dr. Dror Paley, medical director of the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute at St. Mary’s Medical Center & Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, is the first surgeon in the world to perform a new procedure utilizing the new PRECICE™ Plating System, an all-internal remote-controlled limb lengthening device from NuVasive Specialized Orthopedics. Dr. Paley is a co-developer of The PRECICE™ Plate technology, which is designed for complex limb reconstruction, including procedures to treat limb-lengthening discrepancies resulting from congenital abnormalities, major fractures of the legs and arms, and shortened bones due to cancer or other diseases. The PRECICE™ Plate implant and surgical technique are mounted on the outside of the bone which is designed to avoid disturbance to the patient’s growth plates, which is especially important in younger, growing pediatric patients. The mounting location of the plate is also intended to present less risk to the bone’s blood supply.

Massey Yardley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat Donates $2 Million to Holy Cross Health

Herb Yardley of Massey Yardley CDJRF is all too familiar with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). When his late wife, Catherine Yardley, was first diagnosed with the disease they didn’t know where to turn. While treatment can help provide a better quality of life, there is no cure for the condition.

“My wife Catherine died from COPD. Watching her struggle to breathe was difficult for her family,” said Herb Yardley in making the decision. “COPD is the third leading cause of death and is an unknown and undertreated disease. We hope to begin correcting that by establishing a pulmonary center at Holy Cross Health.”

The $2 million donation will establish the Catherine Yardley Pulmonary Center of Excellence at Holy Cross Health, a non-profit hospital. This donation will provide necessary funding for Holy Cross to conduct comprehensive research, advance clinically effective treatments of COPD and other lung diseases, spark the creation of a new lab focused on research and education, and allow for a number of enhancements to already established bronchoscopy labs.

Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center Awarded $6 Million Grant to Support Its Comprehensive Family Aids Program

Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) has been awarded a $6 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for its Comprehensive Family AIDS Program (CFAP). The program cares for 2,254 women, children and infants infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Broward County. CDTC, affiliated with Broward Health, serves children and families with special healthcare needs.

CFAP serves as the lead program for Broward County, funded by Part D of the Ryan White Care Act. The HRSA grant funds CDTC’s CFAP with $2 million per year for three years. Funding supports CDTC’s patient-centered medical home model of care. Clients in CFAP have access to a full array of onsite health care services, including primary and HIV specialty care, phlebotomy, gynecological screenings, nutrition and adherence education, and counseling. All clients in CFAP also have a medical case manager to provide education, support and linkage. Additionally, rapid confidential testing with immediate counseling, medical care and treatment is provided to those testing positive.

After almost 30 years of service to the community, CFAP has successfully served multiple generations of many families. Advances in treatment protocols coupled with the program’s easy access to care and social services have proven successful in helping clients live undetectable, thereby eliminating the chance of transmission and allowing HIV+ women and children to live healthier and more active lives.

Good Samaritan Medical Center Introduces Prostate Biopsy Treatment Option with MRI Precision Targeting

Good Samaritan Medical Center is now offering MRI precision targeting for prostate biopsy guidance, a new tool for physicians to use to help men in the fight against prostate cancer. The UroNav Fusion Biopsy System by Phillips is a fully MRI-compatible interventional device for Trans-Rectal Interventional MRI of prostate gland. It adjusts in six directions for precision targeting and works with DynaCAD prostate to provide less invasive, targeted guidance. The multiple directional adjustments help clinicians access all areas of the prostate gland. Once adjusted, the device can be locked into position, providing added confidence to biopsy procedures.

“This equipment is ushering in a new era in how we treat our patients, and it is designed to give them highly accurate readings for prostate biopsies,” said Dr. Antonio Beltran, urologist and member of the medical staff at Good Samaritan Center. “This new offering provides our patients with one of the latest advanced medical technologies in urology.”

Broward Health Coral Springs Marks 20 Years of Heartburn Treatment with Launch of New Heartburn Center

Broward Health Coral Springs, which has been treating heartburn sufferers for more than two decades, has recently launched a new Heartburn Center that offers the latest in surgical treatments and endoscopic therapies. This specialized, multidisciplinary center provides treatment for a wide variety of conditions that cause heartburn, such as gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Mark Shachner, M.D., the Center’s medical director, said many heartburn patients simply reach for over-the-counter medications to ease the symptoms when more permanent solutions are available. Receiving a professional medical evaluation of heartburn symptoms may help reveal more serious underlying conditions.

“GERD is a progressive disease,” said Shachner. “What starts out as heartburn can lead to severe issues, such as a chronic cough, hoarseness, dental erosion, even cancer. Our multidisciplinary approach helps ensure patients receive a thorough assessment and treatment plan.”

Among the variety of conditions diagnosed and treated at Broward Health Coral Springs’ Heartburn Center include hiatal hernia, Barrett’s esophagus, motility disorders, achalasia and anatomic disorders interfering with swallowing. When more serious conditions are diagnosed, Broward Health can sometimes offer several non-surgical and minimally invasive surgical treatment options with short recovery periods.

Broward Health Coral Springs Welcomes Melissa Leamon as Chief Nursing Officer

Melissa Leamon has been named chief nursing officer of Broward Health Coral Springs. An executive-level nurse with strong clinical knowledge, Leamon first joined Broward Health Coral Springs in 2019 as regional director of nursing.

Leamon brings more than 16 years of progressive experience to her role. Prior to joining Broward Health, she served as administrative director of clinical operation and critical care services at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach.

Leamon holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University. She is a member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.

St. Mary’s Medical Center & the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital Appoints New Chief Nursing Officer

St. Mary’s Medical Center & the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital appoints Ruth Schwarzkopf as its new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO).

Schwarzkopf has worked for Tenet for the past 17 years, coming to St. Mary’s after serving as Chief Nursing Officer at sister hospital West Boca Medical Center. Schwarzkopf continues to serve on both the Executive Committee and the Board of the Palm Health Foundation and volunteer's with the American Heart Association and March of Dimes.

Schwarzkopf earned her nursing degree at Ohio Valley Hospital, School of Nursing, and then received her bachelor’s degree in professional studies at Barry University. She continued her education at St. Thomas University, earning her master’s degree in health management. Schwarzkopf is currently a registered nurse in the state of Florida and is on the advisory council for two local colleges, Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach State College.

Aventura Hospital and Medical Center Appoints New Chief Operating Officer

Aventura Hospital and Medical Center has named David Was, MBA, to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).

David has been employed by HCA Healthcare for more than fifteen years, starting in HCA Healthcare’s Corporate Office in Nashville, TN, in 2005 and then joining HCA Healthcare’s Executive Development Program in 2010. He served as Associate Chief Operating Officer at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, SC, from 2010-2012 and then as Associate Chief Operating Officer at Parkridge Health System in Chattanooga, TN, from 2012-2015. He was promoted into the role of Chief Operating Officer at Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, FL, in 2015.

David is a native of Nashville, TN, where he received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from Vanderbilt University and his Masters in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

Broward Health Welcomes Two Chief Financial Officers

Broward Health Medical Center has welcomed Laura Thomas, MHA, as its new Chief Financial Officer. Thomas has more than 15 years of financial leadership experience.

Broward Health North has named Joshua Szostek its Chief Financial Officer.

Thomas most recently served as the senior vice president of finance for John Peter Smith Health Network in Fort Worth, TX, and Market CFO for Bon Secours Mercy Health – East Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH.

Thomas earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in accountancy and information systems from the University of Texas in Odessa, TX. She also holds a master’s degree in health administration from Ohio

University in Athens, OH. She is currently studying to complete her Certified Public Account (CPA) certification. She is a professional member of the Health Financial Management Association.

Szostek has held senior-level financial positions at a variety of hospitals in the HCA network, including Chief Financial Officer of HCA Houston Healthcare in Houston, TX, Assistant Chief Financial Officer of HCA Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital in San Antonio, TX, and CFO of HCA Specialty Hospital of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL. Szostek also held financial positions at Emory Healthcare in Johns Creek, GA, and HCA Redmond Regional Medical Center in Rome, GA.

Szostek holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus on finance from Keller University and is an adjunct professor at Davenport University’s School of Business, where he teaches a course on financial management for health care.

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