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Volume 18 • Issue 10 • $5.00 April 2022

THE REGION’S MONTHLY NEWSPAPER FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS & PHYSICIANS
OUR 18TH YEAR SERVING THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY!

Six Ways to ACHE Spotlight

Combat Distress ACHE of South Florida

in Healthcare Member Spotlight:

Arianna Silcott Lo

BY VANESSA ORR

When Arianna Silcott Lo, HCMBA, LSSGB, decided to
pursue a career in healthcare, she had a number of role mod-
els to follow, including her mother, who was a nurse for 30 Aurelio Fernandez
years; her aunt, a nurse for 20 years; and her uncle, who was
a doctor. But it wasn’t until she joined the American College
of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) that she realized how Aurelio
many other healthcare paths there were to explore.
“ACHE’s mentoring program was very important to me Fernandez
because it showed me how many different ways there are to
get into healthcare, and how many different routes you can Retires as
Steven Shill take,” explained Silcott Lo, whose original plan was to study
to become a trauma surgeon. “It helped me to figure out Arianna Silcott Lo
BY STEVEN SHILL what my niche was. Memorial
“I’m more interested in operations and strategic planning, but someone else might be
According to the 2022 BDO Healthcare more interested in the financial aspects of healthcare or supply chain management,” she Healthcare CEO
CFO Outlook Survey, which polled 100 continued. “Working with mentors in the field can help you figure out what route is most
healthcare industry CFOs with revenues beneficial for you.” BY DANIEL CASCIATO
ranging from $250 million to $3 billion in Silcott Lo, who is ACHE of South Florida’s 2022 Student Service chair-elect, is current-
October 2021, 63% of healthcare organiza- ly a doctoral student in health administration at Franklin University, where she works as Aurelio M. Fernandez, III, FACHE,
tions are thriving, but 34% are just surviv- a research assistant. She earned her MBA in healthcare from Florida International CEO of Memorial Healthcare, will retire
ing. And while healthcare CFOs have an University and her bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of at the end of April after six years leading
optimistic outlook – 82% expect to be Central Florida. one of the state’s largest healthcare net-
thriving in one year – they’ll need to make Continued on page 5 works, which includes six hospitals,
changes this year if they’re going to reach urgent care centers, a nursing home and
their revenue goals. To prevent and solve 14,000 full-time employees. Fernandez
for financial distress, CFOs need to review Dade County Medical Association says he was ready to step down after a
and address the underlying causes. 45-year career in healthcare.
Otherwise, they might find themselves “We have a gem here in south
falling short of expectations in the year DCMA Advances Legislation Florida,” he says. “Memorial has been
ahead. Below are six ways the industry can providing the highest quality of care that
relieve its financial strains. is immeasurable, not just in our county,
1. Staffing Shortages Important to Physicians but south Florida. We should be very
40% of healthcare CFOs say retaining proud to have that kind of resource in
key talent is a top workforce challenge in BY JOSE DAVID SUAREZ, MD our backyard.”
2022. How can you avoid a labor shortage? Reflecting back on his tenure, one
Think about increasing wages for your The Florida Legislative Session ended on March 14th. thing that surprised him was how coop-
frontline staff, especially your nurses. You From my point of view the results for physicians were erative all of the hospitals in the system
could also reconsider the benefits you’re positive, even though there is a lot of work to do. The were during the pandemic.
offering and ask yourself what offerings DCMA would like to recognize the leadership of the “Before the vaccines became available,
would be attractive for your frontline staff. Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation for delivering when we were in the middle of the pan-
For example, whether you offer free child- several bills that will have a beneficial impact on our demic, all area hospitals collaborated
care could mean the difference between members. and helped each other,” Fernandez says.
your staff staying and walking out for Your DCMA was heavily involved in advocating for our The pandemic of the past two years
another employment opportunity. legislative agenda this session. Through different initia- was certainly the most challenging time,
2. Budget Forecasting tives and events, we were able to engage our elected offi- he admits.
45% of healthcare organizations will cials on issues of importance to our members. The end “We found ourselves in uncharted
undergo a strategic cost reduction exercise result of our efforts is that a good number of our priori- waters,” he says. “But we came out
in 2022 to meet their profitability goals. ties moved through the process and have either become Dr. Jose David Suarez extremely well in providing the communi-
How else can you cut costs? One option is law or are awaiting the Governor’s signature. ty we serve with the safest possible envi-
to adopt a zero-based approach to budget- The following are our priority issues that passed this legislative session: ronment. We also did everything we need-
ing this year. This allows you to build your SB 7014 - COVID-19-related Claims Against Health Care Providers - SB 7014 extends ed to do to have a safe environment, such
budget from the ground up and find new the length of time that health care providers receive certain liability protections from as providing PPEs for our physicians,
areas to adjust costs to free up resources.
Continued on page 17 Continued on page 8 Continued on page 13