Page 10 - April 2017 Newspaper

DCOTA I 1855 Griffin Road, Suite A-415 I Dania Beach I Florida I 33004
954.964.1660 I www.SFHHA.com

President’s Message

Are We Prepared - Ability to Adapt to Changing

For Everything? Needs Key to SFHHA’s Success

A call comes into the 9-1-1 center from a 22-year-old By Vanessa Orr
female complaining of nausea, vomiting, and a temper-
ature of 101.7. The caller let it be known that her uncle For more than 25 years, Patti Greenberg, FACHE, has
just returned from West Africa and was also experienc- been a member of the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare
ing these same symptoms. Association. One of the first non-hospital CEOs to become a
We have recently lived through a similar scenario board member in the 1990s, she has seen the organization go
played out in the United States and we weren’t totally through a lot of changes, all for the benefit of its members.
ready! The Broward County Healthcare Coalition in “I’ve been through many logos, and many transitions of
conjunction with Broward Health and Sunrise Fire power,” she laughed. “But I give the organization a lot of
Rescue, and other emergency medical services (EMS) Jaime Caldwell credit for surviving when many similar associations closed
agencies, recently tested our readiness to treat highly across the country during bad economic times. Patti Greenberg
infectious patients. “We survived because of the importance that our members
Taking advantage of an Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) grant, place on SFHHA’s role in the state,” she added. “South Florida is not like the rest of
the Coalition and its partners/members developed and tested several protocols to be Florida, and local providers understand that they need a voice that is different than that
used when responding to a patient having a suspected highly infectious disease. From of the Florida Hospital Association.”
the initial 9-1-1 call to the transport, diagnosis, and treatment of the patient, each stage Greenberg, who is the president of National Healthcare Associates, Inc., an independ-
posed many challenges from the containment and handling of the potentially contam- ent healthcare consulting firm, served on the board for 15 years before term limits were
inated waste to the disinfection of surfaces and spaces potentially contaminated by the imposed, and also served on the executive committee and as the treasurer of the SFHHA
patient or caregivers. for many years. She has served on SFHHA’s board for the past three years, where she
Some of the proceeds from this grant were used to provide the majority of hospitals brings a unique perspective to the table.
and EMS agencies in Broward County with advance technology used to apply appropri- “National Healthcare Associates is a boutique healthcare firm that works on the
ate disinfectants. During the drill, both Broward Health and Sunrise Fire/Rescue used provider side, assisting clients with strategic planning, needs assessments, feasibility
application devices manufactured by ByoPlanet International to apply, electrostatically, studies, transaction assistance, certificates of need application preparation and litigation
the appropriate disinfectant. The electrostatic spray has the ability to reach and treat and more,” she said. “I think that I bring a different dimension to the board because I
100% of the surface area compared to any hand, pump or trigger sprayed application. have a broad perspective across the full continuum of health care, including hospital and
Several EMS agencies are now routinely using the ByoPlanet devices to disinfect their non-hospital members such as specialty hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing
emergency vehicles and crew stations. Cruise lines have used these devices to disinfect homes, home healthcare agencies, and other post-acute providers.”
their ships to prevent potential viral or bacterial outbreaks. Greenberg originally joined the association in the 1980s for its networking opportuni-
Are we ready? We are certainly closer to being ready and technology has certainly ties, but appreciates the other opportunities that it provides as well. “While I originally
assisted us in dealing with critical issues associated with halting the spread of the infec- joined to meet new industry people who were here and those coming to town, I’ve also
tion. This technology is now being introduced into more traditional settings found in found it to be a great benefit to have face-to-face meetings or even telephone conferences
hospitals with the intent to reduce the number of healthcare acquired infections. Based with a number of clients to talk about non-client issues,” she said. “It provides the oppor-
on our experience, I think we are on the right track. tunity for me to have extra exposure to my clients in a non-business meeting setting.
“I also appreciate the impact that the SFHHA has on legislative issues, especially dur-
ing this time of year when the legislature is in session,” she added. “Having that kind of
influence is extremely important.”
EVENTS Having been in the association for so long, Greenberg has seen it adapt to changing
times. “Decades ago, the SFHHA used to own an insurance company, as well as a group
April 6th Spring Networking Event purchasing organization,” she said. “But over time, it began to focus more on the three-
– time and location TBD pronged approach of education, networking, and legislative activities. This foundation is
more important today than ever as we face so many challenges nationally, including
immigration and the repeal and replacement of Obamacare. It will all have an effect on
April 28th Patient Experience
healthcare in South Florida.”
7:30am • Signature Grand While the SFHHA continues to serve as the vehicle and voice of those in healthcare, it
is also expanding to include even more diverse members. “Today, we are focused on
June 14th Annual Healthcare Summit engaging with even more prospective members, and increasing our number of network-
Signature Grand • 7:30am – 6:30pm ing and educational opportunities,” said Greenberg. “We are also strategically scheduling
meetings and events around the South Florida region so that all of our different providers
get a chance to attend to meet SFHHA leadership, members and affiliated companies.
“We believe in having an open-door policy so that our members, and even those inter-
ested in a health care career, can call us or come to a meeting if they want,” said
2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Greenberg. “We’re here for the overall benefit of the healthcare community.”
Chantal Leconte Drew Grossman Patricia Greenberg
Chair, South Florida Hospital Member at Large President, National Healthcare Associates
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 Health Information Technology Committee
CEO, Kindred Hospital, Hollywood Baptist Health Mark Doyle
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 Safety and Security Committee
Orange Care Group

10 April 2017 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News