Page 18 - Bulletin Fall 2024
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Important Local Research (continued)
In the meantime, there is still more to do. Ensuring diversi- ty in clinical research is the foundation. The good news is that there are many ongoing opportunities to participate in clinical research in Tampa. We are an available resource in the com- munity and encourage those interested in learning more to reach out to us. With help, we will make a difference together.
Dr. Steen has been in the private practice of neurology in the Tampa community, and a member of HCMA for forty years, and serves as the Principal Investigator of Axiom Brain Health (for- merly Axiom Clinical Research). Dr. Steen was the co-founder and president of Axiom Clinical Research of Florida since 1993 and served as the medical advisor to multiple memory loss fa- cilities. Additionally, she served on staff at BayCare Hospital (St. Joseph’s), HCA Hospital, (formerly Memorial Hospital of Tampa), St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, and Tampa General. Dr. Steen also held advisory positions with both Eisai and Eli Lilly. Additionally, Dr. Steen has proudly served on the Board of the local Alzheimer’s Association since 2017.
HCMA Holiday Social
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A Call for Change (continued from page 16)
ZIP codes away, despite the protests of the specialists involved in his care. By the time the patient arrived at the mothership hospital by administrative decision, crucial time to get the pa- tient to the operating room for surgical debridement had been lost. He was ultimately able to recover from his condition, but there is no doubt that the hospital system created unneces- sary delays in the patient’s care. The poor patient experiences, ranging from confusion at best to harm and death at worst, are becoming more common as the FEDs continue to expand in number.
What we need is transparency and accountability. Based on FED experiences in other states, we know there is a wide range of oversight capabilities. The HCMA is working with the Florida Medical Association to collect more data regard- ing FED patient outcomes and to uncover disciplinary actions that have already been lodged against these facilities. Further- more, we are working with our local legislators to craft and hopefully advance a bill to amend current regulatory statutes regarding FEDs in the upcoming legislative session. If the data
about outcomes support this initiative, we should restore ro- bust Certificate of Need processes to restrict FEDs to truly un- derserved areas.
We know that sending patients who suffer from conditions like septic kidney stones and Fournier’s gangrene from an FED across county lines, bypassing several capable hospitals, is a medically unnecessary practice. Patients and physicians alike have seen the harm caused by these unethical practices firsthand, and it is time to take collective action.
Please reach out if you would like to be involved with these advocacy efforts. If you have any stories or opinions to share, do not hesitate to contact me.
Together, we can advocate for policies that prioritize pa- tient safety. We can ensure that if FEDs continue to exist in the years to come, that they operate in a manner that truly benefits the communities we all serve.
References are available upon request.
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HCMA BULLETIN, Vol 70, No. 2 – Fall 2024