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Flu Season is Here When It Comes to Patient Care

It’s flu season again and The CDC recommends
it’s time to be flu safe. Did getting a flu vaccine every Make Sure Service
you know the flu can be year because flu viruses
especially dangerous for evolve quickly, and last Is Linked with Experience
young children, the elder- year’s vaccine may not pro-
ly and people with certain tect against the current
medical conditions? year’s flu strain. I don’t often eat fast ways to reduce wait times,
That’s why it’s important If you get sick, see your food, but occasionally speed up discharges and
to take simple precautions doctor right away. the schedule calls for it. decrease paperwork. The
like getting the flu vaccine Antiviral drugs are used to In recent years, many secret that great health
and washing your hands. treat the flu and should be drive-thru restaurants care leaders realize is that
It’s never fun to get sick administered as soon as have added a second before any initiative gets
and it’s important to take possible because they window in an effort to launched, it should also be
preventative measures so BY SALLIE JAMES work best if started within improve customer serv- measured on how it will
you stay healthy. 48 hours of symptoms ice. The first one is to impact the overall impres-
So, what is the flu? appearing. Using antiviral pay and the second one sion of their organization.
Simply put, it’s a respiratory infection drugs can make flu symptoms milder is to get your food. On Too often, the rush to
that can cause serious complications. and speed up recovery. Such medications a recent visit, I pulled BY JAY JUFFRE improve satisfaction unin-
Symptoms can be mild to serious, and at may also prevent serious complications. up to the first window tentionally bulldozes
times, even lead to death. An influenza, The Department of Health in Broward to pay. For whatever patient experience. The
or flu vaccine, is the best way to combat urges everyone to take these steps to reason the car in front key to success is to simply
this illness. In fact, the Centers for fight the flu: of me did not get their food right away. slow down just a bit and look at things
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • Get vaccinated. Getting the flu vac- This left the cashier and I the unpleas- from all angles. Bring in an extra set of
recommend everyone six months and cine is the best way to protect yourself ant task of basking in awkward silence eyes to bounce new ideas off of before
older be vaccinated annually against the and your family. as I waited for my turn to pull ahead. they are implemented. Sometimes
flu. And by the way, the flu vaccine is • Cover your cough or sneeze. Use The extra window may have improved solutions are easy to implement and
safe. your sleeve or a tissue when you cough on the customer service, but the expe- extremely effective.
The flu shot is an inactive vaccine con- or sneeze and then toss your used tissue rience left a ton to be desired. Fast for- In the second drive thru example, it
taining killed virus. A higher dose is rec- in the wastebasket and wash your hands ward three weeks later. Different was as simple as training the cashier to
ommended for people over age 65, who to keep from spreading germs. restaurant. Same thing happens. Only make small talk any time the line
are more susceptible to flu complica- • Wash your hands often with soap this time with a much different out- backs up. Success becomes a blend of
tions. The best place to get the flu vac- and water or use an alcohol-based hand come. This time, the person at the pay satisfaction and experience. Your
cine is at your private physician, but flu cleaner. window, asked me how my day was patients and their families will thank
vaccines are widely available at a variety • Avoid touching your eyes nose and going and then apologized for the you.
of retail stores. mouth. If you touch a surface with the delay. Much DIFFERENT approach.
Be aware that chronic respiratory con- flu virus, you can get the flu by touching The second place gets it. The same is Jay Juffre is Executive Vice President,
ditions, diabetes, kidney and liver dis- your eyes, nose or mouth. true for patient care. There are count- ImageFIRST. For more information on
ease, neurological conditions, cancer and • Stay home if you are sick. Viruses go less examples (like the extra drive ImageFIRST, call 1-800-932-7472 or visit
HIV, can heighten the risk of flu compli- wherever you go when you are infected thru), where our teams implement www.imagefirst.com.
cations. so stay home and check with your
According to the CDC, people with flu healthcare provider if needed.
can spread it to others up to about 6 feet
away. Most experts think that flu viruses For more information, visit
spread mainly by droplets made when www.FluFreeFlorida.com for more informa-
people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. tion on how to be a part of #FluFreeFL. For
Someone can also contract the flu by more information on influenza and influen-
touching a surface that has the flu virus za-like illness in Florida, please visit “ You can’t separate the clinical
on it and then touching their own mouth http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and- and the fi nancial – not anymore.”
eyes or nose. conditions/influenza/index.html.
People who know Healthcare, know BDO.

Around the Region…

Baptist Health Veteran Nelson Lazo

Named CEO of Bethesda Hospital

East, Bethesda Hospital West in Palm

Beach County

Nelson Lazo, a veteran chief executive at Baptist Health
South Florida, has been named CEO of Bethesda Hospital
East and Bethesda Hospital West in Palm Beach County. Nelson Lazo The BDO Center for Healthcare Excellence & Innovation
Lazo has a combined 12-year history with Baptist Health, As the healthcare industry enters an era of unprecedented transformation, anticipating and
most recently as CEO at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables for nine years. Previously, understanding the future state model of healthcare is more important than ever. From advising on
Lazo enjoyed being a resident of the Upper Keys when he was CEO of Mariners complex joint ventures, to M&A services, to healthcare redesign, BDO’s multidisciplinary teams help
organizations plan for and implement the fi nancial and clinical changes needed to transform their
Hospital. While there, here was active with the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce
institutions — and thrive in the years to come.
board. Before joining Baptist Health, he served in executive roles for healthcare organ-
izations, including HealthSouth Corporation, Parkway Regional Medical Center and Alfredo Cepero, 305-420-8006 / acepero@bdo.com
Mercy Hospital.
Angelo Pirozzi, 646-520-2870 / apirozzi@bdo.com
A deeply committed community leader, Lazo presently serves as the board chair of
the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Coral Gables
@BDOHealth www.bdo.com/blogs/healthcare
Community Foundation Board and the Orange Bowl Committee. He served as past
Accountants | Advisors | Doctors
chair for the Miami-Dade Beacon Council and past co-chairman of the Beacon
Council’s “One Community One Goal” initiative. As a member of the American www.bdo.com/healthcare
College of Healthcare Executives, Lazo was a board chair for the affiliated Health © 2019 BDO USA, LLP. All rights reserved.
Council of South Florida. Among the many honors Nelson received for professional
and civic leadership, in 2015, Barry University recognized him with a Distinguished
Alumni Award for his achievements, contributions to the community and support of
the university.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com November 2019 13