Page 13 - SOUTH FLORIDA HOPSITAL NEWS APRIL 2022

What’s New...What’s New...

Health Care District of Palm Beach Good Samaritan Medical Center

County Collaborates with the Area Becomes First Hospital in Palm South Florida's

Agency on Aging to Protect Seniors Beach County to Use the Monthly
ProACT™ Technology Healthcare Newspaper

The Health Care
District of Palm Beach PO Box 812708
County and the Area Good Samaritan Medical Boca Raton, FL 33481-2708
Agency on Aging of Center is the first hospital in Palm Phone: (561) 368-6950

Palm Beach and Beach County using the
Treasure Coast ProACT™ technology from URO- Website:
(Agency) are collabo- MEDICA. The ProACT™ system
rating to protect sen- is implanted within the body to www.southfloridahospitalnews.com

iors during the ongo- assist protection against acciden-
ing pandemic. The tal urine leakage. This can occur CHARLES FELIX
Health Care District’s during everyday activities such as CAROL FELIX
C. L. Brumback coughing, sneezing, or physical Publishers
Primary Care Clinics activity. Dr. Antonio Beltran, urol-
supplied several ogist on staff at Good Samaritan Dr. Antonio Beltran NANCY LAMMIE
boxes of N95 masks and COVID-19 test kits at no cost to dis- Medical Center, is the first physi- Editor
tribute to aging network providers and senior volunteers who cian to use this new system.
JUDY GRAMM
deliver educational programs in the public schools. “Incontinence can be an issue for men post-surgery from Editorial Manager & Webmaster
“We’re pleased to partner with the Area Agency on Aging to prostate cancer, and some may feel they have no options to
keep our senior residents healthy,” said Darcy J. Davis, CEO of control their bladder once they have their prostate removed, JMC GRAPHICS
the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. “The Health said Dr. Beltran. “The ProACT technology is a simple implan- Art/Production
Care District is a leader in countywide COVID response, from tation for patients allowing them better control of their bladder lammienancy@aol.com
mobilizing the first mass vaccination and drive-thru testing so they don’t have unwanted accidents throughout the day.” 412-877-5321
sites to ongoing efforts in our primary care clinics and school The ProACT™, Adjustable Continence Therapy for Men
health program that serve and safeguard adults and children. consists of two small, adjustable silicone balloons each con- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
These extra layers of protection for seniors will benefit some of nected with tubing to a port. The balloons are placed where the Daniel Casciato
the most vulnerable in our community.” prostate was removed or resected. The fluid-filled balloons Barbara Fallon
Older adults and people with disabilities—particularly those apply pressure to and support the bladder neck, which helps Vanessa Orr
from underserved communities—have been disproportionately prevent accidental leakage of urine. The ports are placed just Lois Thomson
impacted by the pandemic and are among the most at-risk due below the skin in the patients’ scrotum allowing the physician
to COVID-19. Partnerships between community providers and to adjust the balloon to meet the patients’ individual needs.
aging and disability networks can be an important strategy for
supporting those most at risk. LOOK FOR OUR

NEXT ISSUE
Cover Story: Aurelio Fernandez Retires IN MAY

as Memorial Healthcare CEO TO REACH US
FOR
ADVERTISING
Continued from page 1 “We have 14,000 employees,” he says. “We have the finest
nurses, and respiratory therapy staff.” executive and administrative team as well as a great employee OR EDITORIAL
Fernandez, who was born in Havana, Cuba and has been a workforce. There's a culture of collaboration and doing what's Call (561) 368-6950
resident of South Florida for the past 61 years, has been a right for the patient and creating a safe environment that I have
healthcare professional for over 45 years in the Tri-County mar- never seen in my career. I'll miss that. I'll also miss the fact that or e-mail
ket. Sixteen years ago he joined Memorial Hospital Miramar as anytime we needed to do a project and went to the board com- carol@southfloridahospitalnews.com

CEO. He was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief missioners to ask for the resources, they were there willing and
Operating Officer for the Memorial Healthcare System in 2012 able to provide us with the resources—not necessarily financial
and in 2016 was chosen as President and CEO of Memorial by all the time, but in any aspect to augment the workforce and do

the South Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners. a variety of other things.” SUBSCRIPTIONS
Prior to joining Memorial Healthcare System, Fernandez As he dwells on the future of the healthcare system and One Year $40
spent 11 years in a variety of positions with Tenet Healthcare, where it's headed, Fernandez says that COVID-19 disrupted
including CEO at Hialeah Hospital and Florida Medical Center healthcare in such a way that it will never be the same. Two Years $60
as well as Executive Director for Tenet Network Management. “What we need to take advantage of, at least where Memorial Three Years $75
During the 1990’s, Fernandez was CEO of Palm-Med Health is concerned, is to invest a significant amount of resources,
Services specializing in physician ventures as well as actively both in capital and personnel, to elevate our telecommunica-
participating in organizing physician hospital organizations. tion platform and leverage it to create a much more robust vir- To subscribe,
Throughout his 16 years at Memorial, he says the system tual environment,” he says. “Our numbers, when it comes to call (561) 368-6950
always had the ability to have the resources to do what's right virtual visits and telemedicine, have just gone through the roof, or subscribe online at
for the patients. but we need to go beyond that. We need to provide the con-
“Our mission is to be a community provider,” he explains. sumer with access to healthcare, even when it’s not in person, southfloridahospitalnews.com.
“So in South Florida, not only did we have the safest environ- and leverage that technology to do it virtually and therefore ____________

ment, but the most comprehensive level of services, such as car- improve access. I don't see us going back to the old ways of
diology, neurosciences, and oncology, for patients in pediatrics doing things. I'm a firm believer that we need to reallocate our All rights reserved. Reproduction
to adulthood. Very few in our market have the resources neces- capital dollars into technology. The more we do that, the more in whole or part without written
sary to deliver that. To me, that was a key differentiator between the consumer will have access to our services.” permission prohibited. Copyright © 2022
us and others in the market.” As for what’s next for him? Fernandez plans to rest and take
When asked about his greatest accomplishment, Fernandez it easy—at least in the short term.
says that it was the ability to elevate the organization to its full “I know I'm not going to do anything for six months to adjust
potential. to a new lifestyle,” he says. “But after six months, I will recon- Don’t forget to include
“You do that by engaging all the caregivers, support staff and sider what I'm going to be doing. I’m not interested in working South Florida Hospital News
medical staff to understand the mission and why we're here,” he full time; but maybe part-time. After 45 years of doing this, I
says. “We have accomplished that in a variety of ways and think I've paid my dues!” & Healthcare Report
they're quantifiable and measurable. To me, that is our biggest in your Marketing Plans
accomplishment since I've been here.” For more information, visit www.mhs.net.
Fernandez says he will miss the people at Memorial the most. Call Charles at 561-368-6950 for a Media Kit

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com April 2022 13