Page 29 - CANNABIS NEWS FLORIDA JUNE 2021

Part 2: Tampa General Hospital: Delivering

World-Class Patient Care Throughout the Southeast

BY DANIEL CASCIATO Group of the Palm Beaches, forming the proposition that is second to none,” he
Tampa General Hospital Gastro Group says. “This is only made possible
The other primary challenge for of the Palm Beaches, providing patients through our physician partnerships,
Tampa General, and again, one faced by in Palm Beach County and the Treasure collaborating with them on what is
all health systems, is learning to coexist Coast with world-class gastrointestinal most important to them as a way to bet-
with COVID-19, according to John care at two locations close to home. ter serve patients and the community.
Couris CEO adds. A key component of their expansion Through efficiency, innovation and a
“We have spent the last 15 months includes working directly with and commitment to excellence, we offer our
successfully responding to a global pan- employing local Palm Beach and doctors the resources and support they
demic. We came together with our col- Treasure Coast physicians, aggregating need to care for their patients at the
leagues from across the region to collec- more specialists into the Tampa highest level possible.”
tively care for and improve health out- General network to provide compre- Couris believes his primary and fun-
comes for our community, and we hensive treatment options across multi- damental responsibility is to his team
understood that we were responsible John Couris ple specialties. When patients need and physician partners. He recognizes
for safeguarding our community’s more interventionist complex treat- that if they have what they need to suc-
health. Tampa General and University “The data is uploaded to a global data- ment, they can come across the state to ceed and feel supported, their patients
of South Florida teams led on the front- base (GISAID) to track the variants and the Tampa General campus. Here, are better served.
lines and leaned in to help find solu- is provided to the Florida Department Tampa General specialists work in col- “For our team members, we devel-
tions to every problem the pandemic of Health as well.” laboration with East Coast physicians oped a host of programs to support
put in our path. I was asked to provide Tampa General Hospital’s services to provide the comprehensive treat- their professional growth and develop-
a health care leader’s perspective on also extend beyond the four walls of the ment options in a seamless, coordinated ment,” he says. “Through a collabora-
Governor DeSantis’ Re-Open Florida hospital. With 80 specialty centers manner. tion with USF Muma College of
Task Force. We hosted Vice President across the region and with a footprint Couris says that he discovered his Business, our new People Development
Mike Pence and other members of the that literally extends across the state passion for health care during his first Institute provides next-level training
White House’s coronavirus response from west coast to east coast, they are job when he worked as an orderly at a and skill acquisition. The Institute also
task force for a roundtable discussion committed to providing affordable, nursing home outside of Boston. will provide management training at all
on Tampa General’s response to the high-quality care to individuals “Throughout my 25-plus-year career levels so our organizational culture and
global pandemic. We shared interactive throughout Florida. in the industry, I have focused on help- values can be reflected in all that we
data among 51 area hospitals to ensure “Our asset-light strategy allows us to ing patients and teams grow and do.”
equitable hospital access and safely have outpatient centers for everything thrive,” he says. “My spectrum of expe- Recognizing the tremendous hard
reopen businesses. Finally, we imple- from imaging to urgent care to surgical rience has provided me with the pers- work and the immense value of its
mented rapid testing for front-line centers in highly accessible low-cost pective and tool kit to ensure my teams physician partners, Tampa General
workers, including teachers, and were environments,” says Couris. “Patients in can provide world-class quality care to launched a program that looks at the
among the country's first sites to need of more complex care are then our patients and I can support them physician as a whole person as well as
administer the COVID-19 vaccine after brought to the main campus for treat- while they do their incredible work. As addressing their well-being, which was
FDA approval.” ment. As we continue to expand our CEO, my primary responsibility is perhaps never more important than in
Moving forward and under the aus- reach, we have invested significant developing an organizational culture 2020.
pices of the Global Emerging Diseases resources into the comprehensive care that is built on authenticity, kindness, “This initiative, Physician+, is built
Institute, Couris says that they are now of East Coast Floridians.” vulnerability, and transparency in order on direct physician input and feedback
working on research and development Today, Tampa General serves the to best care and support my team as and has offerings for the mind
of medical interventions to mitigate the Treasure Coast’s oncology patients they care for our community.” (lunchtime CME seminars, a stress
impact and spread of COVID-19. through a new alliance between Tampa In addition to being one of the lead- management program), body (execu-
“For example, and in collaboration General Hospital and the Cancer ing academic medical centers in the tive fitness facility, pre-order take-home
with USF Health Morsani College of Center of South Florida. In its two loca- state and in the country, Couris stresses meals) and spirit (renovated physicians
Medicine, we have established one of tions in Palm Beach County, the new their ongoing commitment to partner- lounge, 24/7 concierge service),”
the very few in-house COVID-19 Tampa General Hospital Cancer ing and collaborating with physicians Couris says. “At the end of the day, we
genomic sequencing hospital laborato- Institute now enables cancer patients to provide the most efficient, high-qual- want to be our physicians’ medical
ries in Florida. Here, our physician-sci- on the East Coast to receive our lead- ity and cost-effective care possible for home for now and long into the future.”
entists are currently performing in- ing-edge services right in their own patients.
house sequencing tests to identify and backyard. In addition, they recently “Through the practice of world-class For more information,
track COVID-19 variants,” he says. developed a partnership with Gastro care, we continue to offer a value visit www.tgh.org.

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8 June 2021 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News