PETTIT CAPS REMARKABLE 40-YEAR CAREER WITH VITAS® HEALTHCARE, LEAVES A LEGACY OF COMPASSIONATE CARE IN THE HOSPICE COMMUNITY
Peggy Pettit, RN, served many roles at VITAS Healthcare including as executive vice president and chief operating officer.
MIAMI, FL – December 29, 2023 – VITAS Healthcare is bidding a heartfelt farewell to one of its most esteemed and dedicated professionals, Peggy Pettit, RN, who retired at the end of December 2023. Pettit’s four decades of unwavering commitment to VITAS and the hospice community have left an indelible mark, impacting countless lives and embodying the true spirit of compassionate care.
Pettit’s journey with VITAS began in 1983 when she joined the organization as a registered nurse. Her passion for hospice care was evident from the start, as she embraced the company’s mission to provide comfort, dignity and peace to patients facing life-limiting illnesses. Pettit’s growth within the organization is a testament to her dedication and the nurturing environment that VITAS provides for its employees.
Throughout her illustrious career, Pettit has taken on various roles and responsibilities within VITAS. From her early days as a compassionate bedside nurse to assuming leadership positions—patient care administrator, general manager, and vice president, chief operations and executive vice president roles—Pettit’s journey has been marked by a tireless pursuit of excellence in delivering hospice care.
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ACHE OF SOUTH FLORIDA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT JANUARY 2024: HAROULA NORDEN
If you had to use one word to describe Haroula Norden, you couldn’t find a better one than “passionate.” As Chief Operating Officer of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Norden holds the type of position she dreamed about when she was young.
“I started in healthcare when I was 19, and when I was in school, getting my masters degree, I always thought I wanted a position like this. I wanted a position that could affect large groups of people – the patients we serve, the community, our employees – and give me the opportunity to make big decisions on a large scale. I always thought being in a role like this would be something I would enjoy doing, something I would be passionate about.”
In her position, Norden is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the hospital, including the centers of excellence, and overseeing the team that oversees the ancillary operations of the hospital. “I always liked that role,” she said. “When I was young, I would look up (at the COO) and think, “What a great job, that person has their hands in everything.”
She went on to say that healthcare is something you have to be passionate about, because it’s not an easy job, and you’re making a number of decisions that are extremely important – because you’re dealing with people’s lives. “You definitely have to have a passion for it, and to me, it’s always exciting, it’s always something I liked to do, and I liked learning about it.”
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MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM REACHES AGREEMENT WITH CIGNA January 1, 2024 – Memorial Healthcare System has reached an agreement with Cigna to remain “in network” and continue covering the care provided patients who carry their insurance. This means there will be no disruption of coverage and Cigna members will maintain access to the exceptional care provided by Memorial hospitals, facilities, and physicians. The new agreement between the organizations takes effect January 1, 2024.
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KENT FOCUSED ON CREATING LONG-TERM VALUE AT CANO HEALTH
In August 2023, Mark Kent, FACHE, FACMPE. was named chief executive officer of Cano Health, Inc., after serving as interim CEO since June. He was also named to the board of directors, replacing former CEO Dr. Marlow Hernandez.
A nurse by training, Kent founded three startup healthcare companies before joining Cano Health – Care Management Resources, Total Health Medical Centers, and Your Partners in Health. He also served as the CEO of Women’s Health Care Hospital in Evansville, IN and as CEO and regional president of all Humana-owned, Florida-based primary care practices, now known as Conviva Care Centers.
Since becoming CEO of Cano Health, Kent has focused on a number of goals which include simplifying the business, operating more efficiently, strengthening patient engagement to improve health outcomes in local communities, and enhancing profitability for shareholders. Over the past several months, he has taken steps to restructure operations to better position the value-based primary care organization for long-term success by modifying the size of its workforce, divesting non-core assets, and refocusing on its core Medicare Advantage in Florida and ACO Reach lines of business.
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HOLY CROSS HEALTH INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENTS CELEBRATE NEXT STEPS
Graduate Medical Education program prepares residents for fellowships and jobs
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (January 2, 2024) – A group of residents who completed their Graduate Medical Education (GME) at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale in the last few years are ready for the next step in their careers as physicians. Some residents will pursue Internal Medicine (IM) subspecialty fellowships and others will begin their careers as primary care physicians, hospitalists or will apply for an IM specialty match in the future.
“We are very proud of all these current and former residents,” said Kenneth Homer, M.D., Chief Graduate Medical Education Officer at Holy Cross Health. “We’d also like to congratulate everyone who played an important role in their education and training.”
One of the goals of the program is to retain talented former residents at Holy Cross Health or other hospitals or medical practices in the South Florida community. IM physicians Jason Ceavers, M.D.; Maya Lucas, M.D.; Kritzia Pineda, M.D.; Rafael Gutierrez, M.D.; and endocrinologist Sebastian Perez-Martinez, M.D. have joined Holy Cross Medical Group, a multi-specialty physician employed group of more than 130 physicians providing services throughout Broward County.
Four doctors matched nearby at University of Miami/Jackson Health System to pursue specialty fellowships — Yaisa Moreno Hernandez, M.D. and Claudia Marcano Ocasio, M.D. in Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine; Eduardo Villa, M.D. in Nephrology; and Robert Briski, M.D. in Hematology/Oncology.
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HCA FLORIDA KENDALL HOSPITAL WELCOMES VICKIE MAGUREAN AS THE NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Miami, Fla. December 15, 2023 – HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, a 447-bed facility, and part of HCA Florida Healthcare, the largest healthcare system in the state, is pleased to welcome Chief Financial Officer Vickie Magurean, effective January 15, 2024.
Magurean joins HCA Florida Kendall Hospital from the HCA West Florida Division, where she has been the CFO at HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital and HCA Florida Englewood Hospital for the last six years. While there, she helped secure $115 million in capital investment dollars for expansion and renovation projects, two new cardiac catheterization labs, and four freestanding emergency rooms. Magurean has a proven track record in financial leadership, a deep understanding of the healthcare industry and brings a wealth of experience to Kendall Hospital.
“Vickie has a successful track record of strong financial execution and capital deployment during her time with HCA Healthcare. We look forward to her expertise enhancing our delivery of excellence always care to our patients and community,” said Ben Harris, Chief Executive Officer.
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BROWARD HEALTH WELCOMES FIRST BABY OF 2024
JANUARY 1, 2024- FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – Broward Health has welcomed its first baby of the New Year. Mikaela Bustos, a 6-pound, 6-ounce baby girl, was born at Broward Health Medical Center at 1:03 a.m. on January 1, 2024. She is her mother Judith Normil’s first baby.
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HCA FLORIDA ST. LUCIE HOSPITAL WELCOMES FIRST BABY IN 2024
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. January 1, 2024 – The care team at HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital proudly welcomed the first baby born there in the new year. At 12:44 a.m., Meghan and Jason Pickerill welcomed baby Maverick weighing 6lbs 12 ounces.
“Our St. Lucie Hospital colleagues welcome Baby Maverick into the family,” said Corey Lovelace, CEO of HCA FLorida. Lucie Hospital. “We are happy he gets the distinction of being the first one of the year at our hospital.”
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HCA FLORIDA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WELCOMES FIRST BABY OF THE YEAR ON NEW YEAR’S DAY 2024
DAVIE Fla. January 1, 2024 – HCA Florida University Hospital announces the arrival of the first baby born in the new year.
Connor Pelosi, healthy baby boy, was born at 3:10 am on January 1, 2024. Weighing 7 pounds 7 ounces, and measuring 20.5 inches, Connor and the parents, Kirsten Pelosi and Nicholas Pelosi are all in good health and overjoyed with the arrival of their bundle of joy. Connor is Kristen and Nicholas’s first child and they are happy to have chosen HCA Florida University Hospital.
“We are delighted to welcome Connor Pelosi as the first baby born at HCA Florida University Hospital in the new year. We extend congratulations to the proud parents, Kirsten Pelosi and Nicholas Pelosi, and look forward to supporting them on their journey of parenthood,” said Madeline Nava, CEO of HCA Florida University Hospital.
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PAST PATIENT VISITS HCA FLORIDA HIGHLANDS HOSPITAL AS THE GRINCH
SEBRING, Fla., December 29, 2023 – This holiday season, the Grinch made a special visit back to HCA Florida Highlands Hospital – where they were once a patient – and delivered candy canes to colleagues.
Four years ago, the Grinch (whose identity will be kept secret as requested) spent 110 days in four different hospitals. “My first hospital was unsatisfactory, so when I had the chance, I told my mom to take me to Highlands. When I arrived, I found out I had necrotizing pancreatitis, had become septic, and had pneumonia. The team at Highlands understood the severity of my condition and was responsible for stabilizing me,” said the Grinch.
The Grinch credits their nurses Jesenia and Kevin, as well as Drs. Thakkar and Patel, and the rest of the nurses that cared for them for saving their life. “They made lasting impressions through their compassionate care.”
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AWARD-WINNING NCH ROONEY HEART INSTITUTE TO HOST THIRD ANNUAL CARDIOVASCULAR SUMMIT IN MARCH 2024
NAPLES, Fla. – January 2, 2024 Committed to providing the highest quality of cardiovascular care for nearly 25 years in Southwest Florida, the award-winning NCH Rooney Heart Institute is proud to announce its third annual “Naples Cardiovascular Summit: Advances in Cardiology for Primary Care,” on March 1 and 2, 2024 at the Arthrex One Conference Center.
This comprehensive educational two-day cardiovascular summit will feature contemporary trends and updates in cardiac care in partnership with renowned faculty from Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute (MHI); targeted to primary care physicians & clinicians, nurses, residents and fellows in training, and first responders.
“We are excited to partner with our prestigious colleagues from MHI to provide our guests the latest trends and developments in cardiovascular care,” said Dr. Robert Cubeddu, Course Director and President of the NCH Rooney Heart Institute. “We have outlined an exciting course agenda with a wide range of hot topics that will increase awareness and enhance delivery of care for our patients.”
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HEALTHCARE NETWORK WELCOMES DR. JAIME KHEMRAJ AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Naples, Fla. January 3, 2024 – Healthcare Network, a nonprofit organization working to ensure primary medical care is accessible to everyone in the community, regardless of job or insurance status, announces the appointment of Jaimenee “Jaime” Khemraj MD, MBA, as its new chief medical officer (CMO).
Dr. Khemraj (pronounced KEM-raj) brings more than a decade of Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) experience to her new role, having recently served as the CMO for a FQHC in East Harlem, New York, overseeing 30 providers and managing 80,000 patient visits annually. She succeeds Dr. Corin DeChirico, who served in the position for five years before stepping down earlier this year.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jaime Khemraj to our leadership team as Chief Medical Officer,” said Healthcare Network President and CEO Jamie Ulmer. “Her extensive background in health care and commitment to our mission make her an ideal fit for this crucial role. With Dr. Khemraj at the helm, we are confident in our ability to grow services while continuing to provide exceptional care to our community.”
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LEE HEALTH FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FORT MYERS, Fla. – January 2, 2024 – Lee Health Foundation has announced its board of trustees. Returning trustee Joseph R. Catti will continue to serve as chairperson.
Catti is chairman and chief executive officer of FineMark National Bank and Trust and FineMark Holding, Inc. He is a graduate of Florida International University and has been a FineMark Director since 2006. Catti has received the Lee County Philanthropist of the Year award in the area of fundraising, the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen of the Year award for Lee and Collier Counties, was selected as one of Gulfshore Life Magazine’s Men and Women of the Year in 2010 and was inducted into Junior Achievement’s 2015 Business Hall of Fame for Lee County.
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HCA FLORIDA CITRUS HOSPITAL NAMES JORDAN FULKERSON AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
December 27,2023 – Inverness, FL — HCA Florida Citrus Hospital recently announced the appointment of Jordan Fulkerson as chief financial officer.
“With a five-year tenure at HCA Healthcare and a background as a graduate of the HCA Healthcare Executive Development program, Jordan brings a wealth of experience to our leadership team,” said Lisa Nummi, CEO.
Fulkerson began his hospital finance career at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee, Ill., where he served as an accountant for three years before being promoted to the director of patient financial services and health information management. He then transitioned to George E. Weems Memorial Hospital, a critical access facility in Apalachicola, Fla. as the director of revenue cycle management. Within two years, he was promoted to chief financial officer.
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FLORIDA STATE SURGEON GENERAL CALLS FOR HALT IN THE USE OF COVID-19 MRNA VACCINES
Tallahassee, Fla. – On December 6, 2023, State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo sent a letter to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Mandy Cohen regarding questions pertaining to the safety assessments and the discovery of billions of DNA fragments per dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
The Surgeon General outlined concerns regarding nucleic acid contaminants in the approved Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, particularly in the presence of lipid nanoparticle complexes, and Simian Virus 40 (SV40) promoter/enhancer DNA. Lipid nanoparticles are an efficient vehicle for delivery of the mRNA in the COVID-19 vaccines into human cells and may therefore be an equally efficient vehicle for delivering contaminant DNA into human cells. The presence of SV40 promoter/enhancer DNA may also pose a unique and heightened risk of DNA integration into human cells.
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CMS RELEASES LATEST ENROLLMENT FIGURES FOR MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP)
January 3, 2024 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs serve as key connectors to care for more millions of Americans.
Medicare
As of September 2023, 66,472,325 people are enrolled in Medicare. This is an increase of 134,147 since the last report.
33,990,369 are enrolled in Original Medicare.
32,481,956 are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or other health plans. This includes enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans with and without prescription drug coverage.
52,204,330 are enrolled in Medicare Part D. This includes enrollment in stand-alone prescription drug plans as well as Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription drug coverage.
Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, so are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.
Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
As of September 2023, 88,414,773 people are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. This is a decrease of 1,593,385 since the last report.
81,408,432 are enrolled in Medicaid
7,006,341 are enrolled in CHIP
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PHYSICIAN DISABILITY INSURANCE – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – PART 1 PRESENTED BY EDWARD DABDOUB, J.D., MBA MANAGING PARTNER WITH DABDOUB LAW FIRM, DISABLILITY INSURANCE & ERISA ATTORNEYS WITH HOWARD WOLKOWITZ, PARTNER WITH LIFEINSUREASSURE.COM AND HOSTED BY CHARLES FELIX, CPA, PUBLISHER OF SOUTH FLORIDA HOSPITAL NEWS & HEALTHCARE REPORT – DECEMBER 2023
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EMERGE AMERICAS PARTNERS WITH JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM AND UHEALTH – UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HEALTH SYSTEM – TO DEBUT THE HEALTHTECH INNOVATION HUB
The Hub Will Connect Healthcare Providers, Healthtech Companies and Investors to Drive the Patient Experience of the Future
Miami, FL. – December 12, 2023 – eMerge Americas, the premier technology conference and expo shaping the future of tech, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System on the launch of the Healthtech Innovation Hub. The highly-anticipated Healthtech experience will make its debut at the eMerge Americas 2024 Conference and Expo, which takes place on April 18 + 19, 2024 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Jackson Health System and UHealth on the Healthtech Innovation Hub debuting at eMerge Americas 2024. Given the massive acceleration and growth that we have seen in the healthtech sector over the last several years coupled with Jackson and UHealth as innovative leaders in this space, we are certain that this new partnership and initiative will offer an important perspective on the future of healthcare and the important role technology plays in it,” said Melissa Medina, CEO and President of eMerge Americas. “To say we are excited to work together on something like this is an understatement!”
Powered by Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System, this expansive pavilion will highlight the extraordinary intersection of technology and medicine, bringing life to the Patient Experience. Interactive exhibits and thought-provoking content connect healthcare providers, healthtech companies and investors fueling the advancement of health technology to deliver better patient outcomes. The program will feature an exclusive Executive Track for healthcare senior leaders and the Health Hub Theater dedicated to providing expert insights and revolutionary ideas aiming to improve the patient journey.
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Over 864,000 Patients in Florida are using Cannabis as their Medicine FOR LATEST OMMU REPORTS FROM OFFICE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA HERE Highlights from DECEMBER 22, 2023 PDF OF REPORT
BY THE NUMBERS Qualified Patients: (Active ID Card):
Dec 22 2023 - 864,662 Dec 15 2023- 863,373
Dec 08 2023- 862,824 Dec 01 2023- 862,155
Nov 24 2023- 859,125 Patients Added Last Week: 1,289 Qualified Ordering Physicians:
2,748 New Doctors added Last Week: +3 Reporting Period: Dec 15 - Dec 22 2023
Amount of Medical Marijuana Dispensed - (mgs THC) 366,755,951
Amount of Low-THC Cannabis Dispensed - (mgs CBD ) 3,222,501 -Amount of Marijuana in a Form for Smoking (oz) 120,777.732 Approved Dispensing Locations: 615 Cookies - Tampa
MUV - Yulee Sanctuary - Marianna
Thrulieve - Crawfordville and Crestview Added Last Week: 5 |
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