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Cover Story: First Choice Neurology:

Offering Florida Neurologists an Effective Don’t Forget Back to School

Strategy in a Complex Healthcare Market Vaccinations

Shopping for new clothes, stocking up on
Continued from page 1 muscular disorders, pain management, school supplies and picking out edgy new back-
First Choice Neurology has both adult neuropsychology, neuroradiology, physical packs are some of the back-to-school rituals kids
and pediatric neurologists, 4 neuropsy- medicine, and rehabilitation. look forward to every year. Making sure their
chologists, nutrition and wellness physi- Its pediatric neurology specialties childhood vaccines are up-to-date is equally
cians, physical medicine and rehabilitation include ADHD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, important and required by Florida law.
physicians, nurse practitioners, and 120 Developmental Disorders, Movement Children can’t start school unless they receive
support health care staff members. Disorders, Headaches, Sleep Disorders, all vaccines against nine contagious and poten-
“Its main goal is to service patients in Neurogenetics, Neonatal Neurology, tially fatal childhood diseases. School shots are
multiple parts of Florida and we reach Epilepsy, Stroke, and Neuromuscular especially important for children entering
patients throughout Southern Florida, Disorders. kindergarten and seventh grade, because differ-
Eastern Florida, and Central Florida,” says By combining these resources, First ent requirements begin at those grade levels.
Dr. Costell. Choice is able to offer both adults and chil- “Vaccination is the best way to protect the
One of the benefits for patients is that dren these critical health care options. health of your children and our community,”
First Choice offers patients an informative Another advantage of being part of the said Dr. Paula Thaqi, Director of the Department BY SALLIE JAMES,
patient resource section on their website, a group, is that it has allowed his practice to of Health in Broward. “Vaccines are safe and FLORIDA DEPARTMENT
dedicated section that provides education- have more direct communication with the effective. Back to school time is a great opportu- OF HEALTH IN
al materials. Some of the topics covered insurance payers, according to Dr. Costell. nity to make sure vaccinations are up to date.” BROWARD COUNTY
include neurological issues, diagnostic “We’re able to speak with them with more The best choice is to have the children vacci-
testing, treatment options and other authority and let them know that we’re nated by your family doctor. But if that isn’t possible, you can visit county
patient information that can prove helpful just not one doctor speaking; we’re dozens offices of the Florida Department of Health. DOH will be offering free immu-
for those undergoing treatment. With the of physicians with one voice. “This way nizations at the Lauderhill Mall at 1267 NW 40 Ave. from August 5th-16th.
resource center, patients can find the infor- the insurance companies have a more real- The immunization campaign will include a back-to-school Resource Fair at
mation they need regarding the treatment istic view that it’s not only a medical prac- the mall on August 10th.
they require and ensure they get the results tice but a business like any other, and the Children in Broward County get most of their vaccines from their healthcare
desired. need for cooperation from them.” provider. DOH-Broward also provides vaccines at the Edgar Mills Health
The mission of First Choice Neurology Group purchasing is another reason Center at 900 NW 31st Avenue in Fort Lauderdale and the Paul Hughes
is to improve the quality of neurology why Dr. Costell believes other neurologists Healthcare Center at 205 NW 6th Avenue in Pompano Beach centers (appoint-
services while providing those services in a should join First Choice Neurology. ments 954-467-4705).
cost-effective manner to the communities “Our supplies and banking are more Vaccinations required for school include:
its members serve. uniform because First Choice represents • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) – 4-5 doses of DTaP
“Since there are dozens of neurologist in many neurologists,” he says. for babies and pre-schoolers. 1 booster dose, TDaP, before seventh grade.
different locations in Florida as part of If his practice did not join First Choice, • Polio – 3-5 doses for babies and pre-schoolers.
First Choice, we tend to consult with each it would have been difficult to survive on • Measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) – 2 doses of MMR for babies
other to help with the diagnosis of difficult their own, acknowledges Dr. Costell. and pre-schoolers.
cases. We have access to multiple sub spe- “It was a no-brainer to join First • Varicella (chickenpox) – 2 doses for babies and pre-schoolers. 1 booster
cialties,” says Dr. Costell whose own sub Choice,” he says. “It was never a question dose before seventh grade.
specialty is epilepsy. if we were going to join First Choice, but • Hepatitis B – 3 doses for babies.
For example, its adult neurology group when. This model works and it works Parents are encouraged to consider additional vaccinations recommended
services patients with a variety of neuro- great. Private physicians, who are a part of by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family
logical conditions including Alzheimer’s a group like this, can get along well with Physicians. These include vaccines against flu (yearly starting at age six
disease, dementia, epilepsy, familiar amy- each other. This model should be used months), rotavirus (3 doses for babies), Haemophilus influenzae B (3-4 doses
loid polyneuropathy, migraines, multiple across the country in other states.” for babies), pneumococcal disease (4 doses for babies), hepatitis A (2 doses for
sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, sleep disor- babies), human papilloma virus (2-3 doses starting at age 11) and meningo-
ders, and strokes. For more information, coccal disease (2 doses starting at age 11).
Additional subspecialties include neuro- visit www.fcneurology.net. DOH-Broward – Shots will be administered during the DOH’s Back to
School campaign at the Lauderhill Mall per the following schedule:
August 5-9 and August 12-16 from 9 am to 2 pm
August 5, 8, 12 and 14 from 4 to 7 pm
Survivor of Horse Accident August 10 (during the Back to School Resource Fair) from 10 am to 2 pm

Meets and Thanks Lifesaving Information is available online at broward.floridahealth.gov.

Trauma Hawk Flight Team

Morgan Temple’s life changed in an instant on
January 5, 2019. That is when the horse groomer
says one of the horses she was handling in
Wellington became excited and kicked her in the
face, leaving her with life-threatening injuries.
Temple was transported by the Health Care District
of Palm Beach County’s Trauma Hawk air ambu-
lance to St. Mary’s Medical Center’s Trauma Center
in West Palm Beach for emergency surgery.
Temple, a 21-year-old resident of Ontario,
Canada, recently got the chance to meet and
express her appreciation to the Trauma Hawk flight
team that rescued her for the first time since her
freak accident. Morgan Temple
The Health Care District of Palm Beach County
owns, operates and maintains two FAA-certified helicopters that have a cruising speed of
up to 178 miles per hour. Safe, rapid air transport is critical in the “Golden Hour," the
60-minute window when the human body can compensate for injury. After that, the
chances for recovery diminish significantly. The Health Care District’s Trauma Hawk
pilot, along with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue medical personnel - Firefighter-
Paramedic and Flight Nurse - comprise the aircraft’s flight team. Together they save lives
by ensuring that critically ill and injured patients quickly receive the specialized care they
need.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com August 2019 13