Page 21 - South Florida Hospital News July 2021

Cover Story: Steward Health Care

Buys Five Tenet Hospitals,

Increases Florida Footprint

Continued from page 1
at baseline, we plan to use the Steward
with insurance companies, regulatory quality model to drive improved out-
agencies and government agencies,” he comes for patients so that they benefit
explained. “And while these are different from an improved patient experience, a
distinct geographies, our Florida pres- shorter length of stay, and a higher qual-
ence will become even stronger through ity of care,” he said.
these acquisitions.” He adds that there will be some things
He adds that for some of Steward’s ‘under the hood’ that drive those out-
leadership team, it’s also like coming comes, including the deployment of
home. Steward’s electronic ICU (eICU) program
“Our founder and CEO, Dr. Ralph de la that enables board-certified doctors and
Torre, grew up in Florida, and his mother nurses to provide improved care to high-
still lives there,” he said. acuity patients. Since the implementation
Steward’s chief medical officer, Dr. of Steward’s eICU program at other facil-
Octavio Diaz, previously practiced in ities, ICU mortality rates have dropped
South Florida and was the Chief Medical more than 20 percent, and length of stay
Officer of various facilities there, and (LOS) has decreased by more than 10
Steward’s chief strategy officer, Rubén percent.
King-Shaw, Jr., was the COO for “Just like at our other facilities, we will
Neighborhood Health Partnership before be investing in information technology
becoming Florida’s Secretary of the including predictive analytic platforms to
Agency for Health Care Administration improve quality and operations,” said Dr.
under Gov. Jeb Bush. Shetty. “We’ll also be investing heavily
“The good news is that we already into the facilities themselves to improve
know this community and we can’t wait not only cosmetic issues but the underly-
to learn more as we dig in,” Dr. Shetty ing infrastructure, including equipment
added. and patient rooms.”
The hospitals’ new ownership will also
Changes to Come result in the introduction of new clinical
According to Dr. Shetty, Steward programs and increased outreach into the
expects to offer employment to all staff in community to drive alignment and sup-
good standing when the transaction is port.
complete. “Everyone will be staying in “Steward believes that each hospital is
place,” he said, “including the physicians part of our community, and we take that
in the Tenet Florida Physician Services very seriously,” said Dr. Shetty. “We
group, as well as administration and spend quite a bit of time getting to know
front-line staff.” the communities that we serve in order
Tenet’s revenue cycle subsidiary to make sure that we are meeting their
Conifer Health Solutions will continue to needs through our investments, leader-
provide services to the hospitals when ship and day-to-day operations.
the transaction is complete; the compa- “We understand that what works in
ny’s ambulatory facilities were not West Texas may not work in Miami, and
included in the transaction. we recognize that every hospital and
When it comes to the hospitals them- community is unique,” he added. “And
selves, however, Dr. Shetty said that he we’re prepared to make the investment of
hopes patients will soon notice a differ- time and resources to become really
ence. excellent community partners.”
“While all of these are terrific hospitals

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