Hospital leaders convene
AdventHealth hospital leaders convened last month in Tallahassee for FHA Hospital Days at the Florida Capitol, with a mission to advocate for legislative priorities that will shape the future of health care in the region, according to a news release.
In a united effort, Jason Dunkel, president and CEO of AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Wauchula and AdventHealth Lake Placid; Ryan Quattlebaum, president and CEO of AdventHealth North Pinellas; and Mike Murrill, president and CEO of AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, all took part.
These leaders in meetings with influential lawmakers addressed key issues including: Support for rural hospitals, graduate medical education (GME) funding and expansion, health care workforce initiatives, and enhancing hospitals’ Medicaid reimbursement rates for labor and delivery.
AdventHealth is advocating for the Rural Hospital Improvement Grant, a $10 million appropriation that will continue to help hospitals in underserved areas across the state.
AdventHealth also supports an additional $170 million allocated for the funding and expansion of GME programs, which will help train and retain the next generation of doctors.
With 27 accredited training programs and a projection of 152 graduates annually, AdventHealth’s GME programs are working to help meet the increasing demand of Florida’s growing and aging population.
Additionally, the AdventHealth leaders spoke one-on-one with lawmakers about the importance of a $152 million appropriation to enhance hospitals’ Medicaid reimbursement rates for labor and delivery through Florida’s Live Healthy health care package.
Fast Track Urgent Care opens
The newest clinic of TGH (Tampa General Hospital) Urgent Care powered by Fast Track has opened its doors at 22945 State Road 54 in Lutz, near Collier Parkway. The clinic has five exam rooms and will offer high-quality urgent care services for patients ages 3 months and older, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily, according to a news release.
Common illnesses and injuries that can be treated at the new facility include: cough; sore throat; ear infections; eye problems; colds and fevers; skin rashes; simple fractures; nausea and other stomach issues; urinary tract infections; school and sports physicals; and lab testing and diagnostic procedures.
Occupational health services also are available and include pre-employment screenings, employment physicals and assessments for workers’ compensation injuries.
Since partnering with Fast Track Urgent Care in June 2019, Tampa General has doubled its number of urgent care access points within the community. There are now 19 TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track clinics in the Tampa Bay area.
Raising awareness for healthy hearts
February is American Heart Month and Feb. 2 was National Wear Red Day. Team members at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz wore red to signify the hospital’s commitment to stamp out cardiovascular and heart disease, the leading cause of death among Americans, especially women. Team members stood in the shape of a heart and formed the heart shape with their hands and fingers, too, in recognition of healthy hearts.
Saint Leo nursing partnership
Saint Leo University and AdventHealth have created a Dedicated Education Unit (DEU), which will provide nurse-mentors at AdventHealth Zephyrhills for the university’s nursing students, according to a news release.
Leaders from both institutions believe this collaboration will be beneficial not only to the participants, but also to the patients and residents of the surrounding community.
In the DEU model, AdventHealth nurses will serve as preceptors/mentors for the students, providing a personalized learning experience between the nurses and the nursing students.
The first cohort of nursing students, along with the nurse mentors, faculty and hospital leadership on Jan. 30 met for a luncheon at which time the students and nurses got to know each other for a future “match.”
“This collaboration with Saint Leo University is not only shaping the future of health care but also addressing the need for skilled nurses in our community,” said Gwen Alonso, chief nursing officer of AdventHealth Zephyrhills, in the release.
“Together, we are cultivating a generation of compassionate and highly trained health care professionals who will make a lasting impact on the well-being of our community,” said Alonso.
