Page 6 - February 2017

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President’s Message Wagner Credits Leadership with

Antibiotic Success of South Florida Hospital

Resistance: & Healthcare Association
Time to Wake Up!
BY VANESSA ORR
Sadly, recent news stories coming from ABC, There are many reasons why health care profession-
CNN, and Forbes - to name a few - are talking about als choose to join the South Florida Hospital &
a sentinel event that occurred in Reno, Nevada in Healthcare Association (SFHHA). For some, it’s about
September 2016. A woman in her 70s had returned networking opportunities. For others, it is the chance
from an extended stay in India only to be admitted to have their voices heard on the legislative front. For
to a Reno hospital with systemic inflammatory David Wagner, Kindred Healthcare South Florida
response syndrome (whole body immune system Jaime Caldwell Market CEO and vice-chair of the SFHHA board, it’s
reaction to an infection). all about the people.
She was in the hospital for six days before the CDC confirmed that she was infect- “I was originally attracted to join because I was very
ed with a strain of CRE (Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae) called NDM impressed by the dynamic leadership on the board
(New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase). This particular strain showed resistance to all and in the association,” explained Wagner, who first
26 antibiotics approved for use in the U.S. The patient ended up developing septic became involved with SFHHA when he was an
shock and died in September. Luckily, the infection was contained to the patient. administrator at Baptist Health South Florida. “I was
To show the extent of the challenge, an article in the American Journal of impressed by Linda Quick’s dedication to the commu- David Wagner
Epidemiology in February of last year modeled a simulated spread of CRE in Orange nity, and then I met Jaime Caldwell, who I was happy
County, California. Their modeling suggested that, “without increased infection to see shared the same values of helping the South Florida healthcare community.
control approaches, CRE would become endemic in nearly all Orange County “I am honored to be at the same table with leaders like Lincoln Mendez of South Miami
healthcare facilities within 10 years.” Hospital and James Ball of Catholic Health Services, among others,” he added. “They are
In discussions with many of you, different approaches are being used to control great stewards of healthcare.”
the spread of infectious agents, and, clearly, we need to be discovering best practices Wagner has spent all of his professional life in healthcare, starting as a licensed respi-
to forestall the inevitable. Robots that emit pulsed xenon ultraviolet light are being ratory therapist, and moving on to become director of cardiopulmonary at HCA Aventura
used to quickly destroy bacteria, viruses, mold and other pathogens. Some locations Hospital, campus president at Health College, associate vice president Florida long term
are experimenting with advanced induction charged mechanical delivery systems care with Amerigroup, and vice president long term care with Centene-Sunshine Health.
where an EPA approved chemical is electrostatically sprayed to reach and penetrate He joined Kindred in 2015 as CEO of The Palm Beaches Hospital, and served as CEO
100% of the surface area compared to more traditional spraying methods. With all of Kindred Hospital Hollywood before being promoted to his current position. The South
these options, is their a best way? In addition, let’s not forget one of the most effec- Florida Market CEO position encompasses Kindred Coral Gables, Kindred Hollywood,
tive programs: a high compliance hand washing program. Kindred Fort Lauderdale, Kindred at Home (which serves Dade, Broward and Palm
We can add to the challenges presented by antibiotic resistant bacteria to include Beach counties), and Kindred Hospice in Dade County.
the growth in the incidence of multi-drug resistant yeast. “Potentially deadly fungal In addition to the chance to work with the top healthcare leaders in South Florida,
infection - identified in the U.S. for the first time last year - is an emerging pathogen Wagner said that there are many other benefits to being a member of the SFHHA.
with the capacity to develop antifungal-resistant biofilms, which could potentially “When you are a member, you have access to the latest information on issues that
adhere to medical instruments.” The yeast, Candida auris, has shown resistance to affect healthcare, such as the FPL rate hike, the new landscape under the changing polit-
all three of the major classes of antifungal medications. ical administration, and the challenges of reimbursement and risk,” he said. “SFHHA also
It appears that the Dutch have been more successful than most in keeping their holds a healthcare symposium that provides opportunities to network with peers, and
rates of antibiotic resistance low. The key to their success has been to identify members can share in real-life cost savings as we work as one unit in South Florida.
patients who will be at higher risk and treat them accordingly. However, in the short “Jaime and the board also provide members with the legislative point of view and the
term, measures like these will be more successful in reducing antibiotic-resistance association actively lobbies on our behalf,” he added. “Equally important is the ability to
rates as the number of new applications to develop novel antibiotics continues to network, working side-by-side with leaders who have been healthcare stewards for so
decline. From 20 applications in the early-1980s to just five applications in 2009, many years.”
our reliance on pharmacology to deal with routine infections is becoming more of a Wagner encourages both hospitals and affiliated healthcare providers to join the asso-
challenge.
ciation in order to keep healthcare moving forward in South Florida.
“I believe that in many areas, the South Florida healthcare market leads the rest of the
nation,” he explained. “With the information we get from the SFHHA, we can stay ahead
of trends, and continue to be the vanguards of new ideas.
“We’re looking at a holistic picture moving forward; it’s going to take a village to care
2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS for our members,” he continued. “With the new model of accountable care organizations,
we’re going to need to take the patient from acute care to long-term care, including rehab,
skilled nursing facilities, and home care. We need to make sure that we are all at the same
Chantal Leconte Drew Grossman Patricia Greenberg
Chair, South Florida Hospital Member at Large President, National Healthcare Associates table, speaking the same language, in order to enhance this continuum of care.”
and Healthcare Association CEO, Coral Springs Medical Center Michael Gittelman
CEO, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Charles Felix CEO, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Lincoln Mendez Member at Large Charles Michelson
Immediate Past Chairman Publisher, South Florida Hospital Partner, SFHHA COMMITTEES
South Florida Hospital News & Healthcare Report Saltz Michelson Architects
and Healthcare Association James Ball Education Committee
CEO, South Miami Hospital David Zambrana
COO, Catholic Health Services CEO, Jackson Memorial Hospital
David Wagner Healthcare Finance and Management Committee
Vice Chair, South Florida Hospital Ana M. Viamonte Ros, MD Wael Barsoum, MD
and Healthcare Association Director Medical Staff Development CEO, Cleveland Clinic Hospital
CEO, Kindred Hospital, Hollywood Baptist Health Mark Doyle Health Information Technology Committee
Mary Zalaznik Maria Currier CEO, Memorial Hospital Pembroke
Secretary, South Florida Hospital and General Counsel Partner, Dr. Patrick Taylor Marketing and Public Relations Committee
Healthcare Association Holland & Knight, LLP CEO, Holy Cross Hospital
Sr. Vice President Operations, VITAS William Duquette Dr. Ann Wehr Membership Committee
Jeffrey Welch CEO, Homestead Hospital Sr. VP/CMO, AvMed
Treasurer, South Florida Hospital and Steven Ullmann Quality and Patient Safety Committee
Healthcare Association Director, University of Miami Lissette Exposito
CEO, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center Health Policy Management CEO/President, Orange ACO
Orange Care Group Safety and Security Committee

6 February 2017 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News