THE GOINGS-ON in the medical field never slows down, even as spring turns to lazy summer! New providers, new procedures, and new successes are happening every day at your friendly Central Florida healthcare providers’ offices, clinics, and hospitals. This edition’s On the Pulse highlights new physicians and medical staff to the area, recertifications and re-accreditations, workplace awards and promotions, as well as recent and upcoming community events.
BOND CLINIC
Bond Clinic, which has grown to include 23 specialties since opening in Winter Haven in 1948, has welcomed three new providers into the fold since spring. In May 2015, Nurse Practitioner Lorrie Jones, DNP, ARNP-BC, joined the hard-working individuals at the Pediatrics Campus; she is working with Dr. Kenny Nguyen at his Pediatrics Practice. Nurse Practitioner Martha “Marty” Pickard also joined the Bond Clinic group in May 2015, working alongside Dr. Kevin Lee in Bond Clinic’s Urology & Urologic Surgery department. Furthermore, Bond Clinic also welcomed Dr. Muhammad Mustafa to the Cardiology area. Dr. Mustafa is board certified in internal medicine, adult comprehensive echocardiography and board eligible in cardiovascular disease. He will be an asset to the clinic as he specializes in clinical cardiology, echocardiography, TEE and nuclear cardiology stress testing.
GESSLER CLINIC
Winter Haven’s Gessler Clinic will welcome two new physicians at the beginning of August. On August 3, 2015, Dr. Vriti Advani will be prepped and ready to perform general surgery and ERCPS; and Dr. Rakesh Choubey will join the interventional cardiology department.
LAKELAND REGIONAL HEALTH
Lakeland-based Lakeland Regional Health was busy this late spring winning awards, earning important recertifications and accreditations and promoting their top-notch healthcare professionals. In an outstanding achievement, the Leapfrog Group— a national nonprofit organization that focuses on the movement towards quality and safety in U.S. healthcare— recently awarded LRH a coveted “A” Hospital Safety Scorecard Rating. One of the most meaningful ratings a hospital can earn, LRH’s high rating in patient safety came from hospital improvements over the past several years, such as a 98 percent reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia and an 18 percent reduction in surgical site infections.
In early June, newly-appointed Director of the Cardiovascular Service Line, Robert Roy, MSN, CCRN, CNML, was named one of nine international finalists for Gallup Manager of the Year. Roy joined Lakeland Regional Health in 2012 as Manager of Invasive and Noninvasive Cardiology services, and met criteria for the award in his first year, such as high levels of engagement for teams, high team retention, and high team performance. For instance, certification levels more than doubled and physician satisfaction scores rose under Roy’s management.
LRH also earned recertification and re-accreditation in two separate areas. First, LRH Medical Center’s School of Radiologic Technology earned re-accreditation through 2022 by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) for the school’s certificate radiography program.
Furthermore, after a methodical May onsite review, LRH’s Advanced Primary Stroke Center has earned recertification from The Joint Commission, thus demonstrating a systematic approach to care delivery and a dedication to performance improvement through ongoing data collection and analysis. The certification involves complying with 27 consensus-based national standards for healthcare quality and stroke-specific care.
LRH’s pharmacy residents represented the hospital at the fourth annual Florida Residency Conference in May. Juan Alberdi, Hoang Huynh, Ankita Patel, Kellie Rodriguez, and Kayla Montgomery presented their research projects, and Alberdi and Montgomery earned Florida Residency Conference Excellence in Research Awards.
In new healthcare provider news, LRH also warmly welcomes Paula Cullins, MBA, RHIT, as Director of Health Information Management.
Lastly, many LRH employees were honored with promotions last quarter. Stacy Bolton, CISSP, ITIL, MCITP, MCSE, has been promoted to Associate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Jewels Stark, MBA, MHA, RN, was promoted to Associate Vice President for Inpatient Rehabilitation and Patient Care Services. Tim Boynton has been promoted to Associate Vice President of the LRH Foundation. Donna Faviere, MSN, DNP, has been promoted to Assistant Director of Emergency Services. Breanne Marcoux, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, PCCN, has been promoted to Patient Care Manager for LRH’s Respiratory/Palliative Care Unit. JoAnn Maslyn, RN, was promoted to Manager of Lakeland Regional Health’s Mother Baby Unit.
WATSON CLINIC
Dr. Jeffrey Rumbaugh joined the Lakeland-based Watson Clinic. A neurologist, Dr. Rumbaugh received his medical degree from the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, where he also earned his PhD in biochemistry. He conducted his internship at John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, where he performed his neurology residency and served as Chief Resident. Dr. Rumbaugh’s practice is located on 3-West at the Main Clinic, 1600 Lakeland Hills Boulevard in Lakeland.
Board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Tarek G. Garas earned a subspecialty certification in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. This achievement reinforces Dr. Garas’ qualifications and training to diagnose and treat a variety of female pelvic health-related concerns. Wendi Johnson, ARNP-C, joined the team to assist with the non-surgical offerings available in Dr. Garas’ office.
Richard Devore, manager of the Lean Continuous Improvement department, has achieved recognition as a certified professional in healthcare quality (CPHQ) by the National Association for Healthcare Quality. Kimberly Downs, an analyst in Watson Clinic’s Continuous Improvement Department, recently earned a Six Sigma Black Belt certification by the American Society for Quality (ASQ).
Watson Clinic’s Program for Employee Excellence and Recognition (PEER) Award is given on a monthly basis to an individual team member who best reflects the patient-focused service standard that Watson Clinic strives to exemplify. The most recent winners of the Clinic’s PEER Award include Laura Wright and Roger Hause. Both PEER winners were given a plaque, dinner at a local restaurant, a reserved parking spot for a month, and a free service from Watson Clinic’s Bella Vista Spa.
In recognition of National Melanoma/ Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month in May, the Watson Clinic Foundation is to hosting a free skin cancer screening event open to area residents who have not yet established with their own dermatologist. This event will take place on Monday, May 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second floor of Watson Clinic’s Bella Vista Building at 1755 N. Florida Avenue in Lakeland. Watson Clinic’s team of highly qualified dermatologists will donate their time to perform a skin evaluation on each attendee. The skin screenings are free for confirmed attendees. Availability is limited, so interested participants should call for a scheduled appointment time: (863) 802-6220.
In other news, Watson Clinic’s diabetes education program recently renewed their Education Recognition Certificate from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). This is the 16th year they have received the certificate, which recognizes adherence to strict ADA standards, a staff of knowledgeable health professionals, and quality resources and management services for diabetic patients. Their diabetes education program provides skills and support so patients can live their lives to the fullest. Group and individual education is available at certain Watson Clinic locations.
WINTER HAVEN HOSPITAL
Winter Haven Hospital recently honored more than 50 volunteers at the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held at Lake Ashton Golf and Country Club during National Volunteer Week. Members of the Winter Haven Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary presented a check for $65,000 to the Winter Haven Hospital president and Winter Haven Hospital Foundation president and CEO. This contribution completes the Auxiliary’s $1 million project pledge for the Volunteer Auxiliary Grande Lobby Construction/Renovation. The Auxiliary annually sponsors three Youth Scholarship Awards in the amount of $2,000 each to recognize outstanding youths in the community. Youth Scholarship Awards were presented to Lauren Mayo, Angelis Contreras, and Witney Fleurant.
CREDIT
report by ERIKA ALDRICH