Page 11 - January 2021 South Florida Hospital News

Cover Story: COVID-19 Vaccine: Frontline Workers at Boca Raton

The Key to Ending the Pandemic Regional Hospital and Bethesda

Continued from page 1 Hospital Receive Moderna Vaccine
At the Forefront
Memorial (www.mhs.net) was one of
only five healthcare systems in Florida
chosen to host and distribute the vac-
cine, which we’ve since done to five com-
munity hospitals (Holy Cross Health,
Broward Health, Cleveland Clinic,
Westside Regional Medical Center, and
Florida Medical Center) and thousands
of our own employees who were at risk
of contracting and/or potentially trans-
mitting the virus. Dr. Ari Sareli, our chief
of critical care medicine, was among the
first in South Florida to be vaccinated,
with a simple shot that is repeated
approximately 21 days later.
This was no doubt the first time
Monica Puga, a nurse and Memorial’s On December 28, Christine Cummings, a
vice president of population health, registered nurse on the designated COVID
heard cheers after putting a needle in a floor at Bethesda Hospital East, part of
patient’s arm, but it was a moment wor- Baptist Health South Florida, became the
thy of celebration. first employee in the Palm Beach communi-
According to Memorial’s Chief Nurse ty to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vac-
Executive Maggie Hansen, “It’s a ray of cine. Dr. Evan Goldstein, Emergency Room
hope for our frontline caregivers that Director at Boca Raton Regional Hospital,
have been battling this COVID-19 pan- also received the vaccine. This marks
demic, which has been tremendously was consistent across all subgroups, with another major milestone in the fight against
taxing for them, both professionally and partial protection for those vaccinated as COVID-19, as Baptist Health continues to
personally. Now we have the opportunity early as 12 days after the first dose. Study provide protection to more of its caregivers.
to offer them what they need to stay well data was submitted to worldwide regula-
so they can carry us through.” tory bodies that include both the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration and the
A New Day European Medicines Agency.
T
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We’re very enthusiastic about the “MY DOC OR ... MY HHOME ...
potential of the vaccine, which has Maintain Vigilance
E CE OF MIN .
shown to be effective and have limited While our inoculation effort began MY PEA ND ”
side effects in clinical trials, and are with the 19,500 vaccine doses initially
encouraging our healthcare workforce received for use by Memorial and the
and medical staff to be inoculated. While other Broward County hospitals previ-
the Pfizer product we’ve received and the ously mentioned (Jackson Health is the
Moderna vaccine other hospitals have host and distributor for Miami-Dade
been allocated aren’t yet available on a county), it is not the only weapon in our
widespread basis to the general public as arsenal. Even after inoculation, and
we enter 2021, it is, in the words of Dr. while the long-term efficacy of all the
Thomas Macaluso, Memorial’s interim vaccines that reach the market are still
chief medical officer, “the key to ending being studied, it is critical to preserve the
the pandemic.” level of caution many of us have shown
I’m certainly aware there is some since last March.
resistance to taking the vaccine, with That means continuing to wear masks,
misconceptions that abound given how maintaining physical distance, not gath-
quickly it was approved and the lack of ering in large groups, and washing hands
long-range data on its impact. (or using a hand sanitizer) frequently.
Additionally, we live in a day and age These are proven to help stop the com-
where misinformation can easily spread, munity spread of the virus and are an
especially through social media and per- important part of the collaborative effort
sonal networks. to get control of the pandemic. WITHmyDOC Remote Patient Monitoringg provides
What I can report is that our clinicians With your assistance, and thanks to
and infectious disease experts are com- the innovation shown by the scientific connection, integgration and collaborationn with YOUR
fortable with the results of the clinical community and the tireless efforts of trusted physician anytime ... anywhere.
trials and the sample size (more than medical professionals around the world, T Teelehealth PLUS
43,000 people of varying age, gender, we can beat this virus and embrace the
race, ethnicity, body mass index or pres- promise the new year holds. • Remote m monitoring of patient’s vitaals
ence of other underlying co-morbidi- • Access to o patient’’ss medical history
ties), as well as the 95% efficacy reported Aurelio M. Fernandez, III, is the president • Seamless s virtual experience
by Pfizer in preventing COVID-19 in and CEO of the Hollywood-based
those without prior infection seven days Memorial Healthcare System. AS CLOSE AS IT GETS TO A REAL OFFFICE VISIT
or more after the second dose. This data

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