Page 10 - SOUTH FLORIDA HOSPITAL NEWS OCT 2021 ISSUE

Cover Story: Camillus Health Concern South Broward Hospital District

Receives 5 CHQR Badges Board of Commissioners

Adopts Lowest Millage Rate
Continued from page 1 around, they are transient. They know
of health centers in the nation in this cat- where they have to go for their evening
egory. meal, and word spreads easily." Afram- Ever Recorded for the District
(4) Patient-Centered Medical Home Gyening also said CHC works very close-
Recognition, which recognizes centers in ly with other homeless service providers,
one or more delivery sites. CHC was particularly the shelters, and when the South Florida, like other areas of the which include paying Broward County’s
among about 75% of centers in this cate- clients stay with them, they are often country, has experienced serious surges Medicaid Match program and communi-
gory, as this is a core element of all health referred to CHC. brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, ty redevelopment agencies in several
centers' missions. Camillus Health Concern is located in creating a high demand for healthcare municipalities in south Broward County,
(5) COVID-19 Testing, for centers that Miami, and Afram-Gyening said, "Our services and challenges across hospitals. as well as tax collector commissions and
tested more than 50% of their reported sole mission is helping those experienc- Medical teams cared for a high level of property appraiser fees.
populations from April 2020 to July 2021, ing homelessness and the indigent popu- COVID-19 cases coupled with steady The newly adopted millage rate will
and had a response rate of at least 50% to lation. The Little Brothers of the Good patient volumes in other clinical areas, leave no net tax revenue to fund uncom-
a COVID-19 survey. CHC was among less Shepherd was established in 1960 when such as cardiac and cancer. pensated care, the District will use oper-
than 22% of centers to receive this. the Cubans were fleeing Cuba under Memorial Healthcare System has been ating income to cover all uncompensated
With the level of quality offered by Castro's regime. We welcomed them on the forefront of the pandemic, manag- care costs for the entire Memorial
CHC, Afram-Gyening shouldn't have when they came to Miami. We clothed ing up to 738 COVID-19 positive Healthcare System, including its six hos-
been caught off guard by the awards, but them, we housed them, and fed them. So patients at the peak of the latest surge, pitals and its eight Memorial Primary
he was. "We were surprised to receive that was the original idea, to help these while also investing $16 million in per- Care clinics. In fiscal year 2022 uncom-
those five badges. We had received one or new refugees; and that gave birth, in sonal protection supplies, and supple- pensated care is projected to exceed $967
two before, but to be given all of those at 1988, to Camillus Health Concern." menting its front line with close to 1,000 million.
once! I am particularly proud of the Of the many services offered by CHC, contract nurses to address the constant
COVID-19 award – we really tested a lot Afram-Gyening commented on what he needs brought on by the pandemic this Memorial’s Minimum
of people with community partners, the considers to be the most significant: "The past year. Wage Increase
sheltered and unsheltered, people experi- most important service is to wake up Such level of response had significant On a separate and unanimous vote, the
encing homelessness. So to be recognized every morning, come to work, and see the impact on Memorial’s finances, yet the Board of Commissioners also approved
for that was very satisfying." success this population has when they Board of Commissioners for the South an increase in the Memorial Minimum
Afram-Gyening said each of the health come to the clinic for dental care or Broward Hospital District, which over- Wage, from $13 an hour to $15 an hour
centers must submit a Uniform Data Set behavioral health or primary care. sees all actions for Memorial, voted – an investment of over $8 million in
report every year that details a great deal To see the smiles when they leave the Wednesday to still move forward with Memorial’s workforce. This is the second
of information. The Health Resources and clinic is what seems like the most impor- the adoption of the lowest millage rate minimum wage increase in the last six
Services Administration analyzes the data tant. It is so hard for this population to ever recorded for the district. This latest months.
and determines if and how much the seek care because most of them are not millage reduction to 0.1144 marks the This historic reduction of this millage
health centers have improved. He said working, and they might be experiencing 11th year in a row that the Board has rate coupled with the increase in mini-
that, in CHC's case, for example, they mental health and financial challenges, voted to lower the overall millage rate, mum wage also comes at a time when
served 5,700 new patients in 2019, but in they are sleeping under bridges, not in resulting in the lowest rate in the history Memorial Healthcare System continues
2020, the number increased by more than homes. Too often they are greeted with of the South Broward Hospital District. to offer a comprehensive array of servic-
5%, to 6,000. disrespect or disdain. So for them to get Commissioners supported their decision es, such as cardiac and stroke care, Level
"Frankly, we should have seen a reduc- up and say, 'Today I'm going to see a den- based on Memorial’s strong financial 1 trauma services, maternity, kidney
tion in total patients during the pandemic tist, I'm going to see my counselor,' it position and having the ability to provide transplant and many others. Memorial’s
because people were reluctant to come to gives me joy to be able to provide those that reduction to residents in south quality and safety has been recognized
clinics, with social distancing and mask- services with dignity and respect to these Broward County. nationally by Leapfrog Group, a national
ing and all of that. But for us, we grew individuals who need them most." nonprofit organization that collects and
during the pandemic. That alone was a What does the lowest millage transparently reports hospital perform-
significant achievement." For more information, rate represent? ance.
He said word of mouth is the number call (305) 374-1065 The 0.1144 millage rate represents a Memorial Cardiac and Vascular
one way new clients come to the center. or visit www.camillus.org. 4.59 percent decrease from last year’s rate Institute continues to receive outstand-
"The population we serve – they move of 0.1199. The resulting gross tax rev- ing ratings from the Society of Thoracic
enues are estimated to reach $7.7 mil- Surgeons, placing Memorial in the top
•••••••••••••••••••••••• lion. After accounting for early payment 1% of U.S. cardiovascular centers for
discounts and a certain percentage of
2017. Memorial also remains one of only
Visit us online at uncollectible taxes, the anticipated tax a handful of public hospitals in the
nation to achieve AA, Aa3 financial rat-
payments this year of $7.6 million will
provide the District enough revenue to ings by Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s,
www.southfloridahospitalnews.com cover its governmental obligations, respectively.

10 October 2021 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News