2020 Community Benefit Report - FLORIDA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION - American Hospital Association
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2020 Community Benefit Report F L O R I D A H O S P I TA L A S S O C I AT I O N
Message 2 Message from FHA
from FHA 4 Post-Acute Partnerships
10 Employee Wellness
Their dedication to serve extends beyond the walls of their
hospitals to care and support their communities. This
report is a snapshot of the incredible work of Florida’s
hospitals. Here are a few examples from the many
highlighted projects and programs described within:
Baptist Health Care Pensacola partnered with the
University of West Florida to manufacture face shield kits 14 Back-to-School Partnerships
for first responders and health care providers.
Lifestream Behavioral Center developed a community
18 Innovation & Research
partnership with local health care partners and law
enforcement agencies to help those with opioid and
The Florida Hospital Association (FHA) is proud to release substance use disorders.
its 2020 Community Benefit Report, highlighting our West Kendall Baptist Hospital started a “friendship line”
member hospitals’ incredible efforts to improve the health to connect with at-risk elderly community members who
22 Laboratories
and well-being of their communities beyond direct hospital felt lonely or were isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
care. In 2019, FHA member hospitals contributed $4.9
billion in benefits to their communities, which represents UF Health Jacksonville provided free neighborhood-based,
13.7 percent of operating expenses, including: walk-up and door-to-door COVID-19 testing in urban areas
to help vulnerable members of their community with
26 Testing Sites & Workflow
• $3.9 billion in free care for low-income patients limited access to transportation.
• $390.5 million on health professional education, Our hospitals continue to adapt, respond, and care for
workforce development, and research their patients, their employees, and their communities.
• $642.1 million on community health improvement and The 2020 Community Benefit Report truly demonstrates
our hospitals’ leadership, vision and commitment to
32 Community Benefit during COVID-19
community building activities.
care as they work to meet the diverse needs of their
These data are from 2019, but the report also includes communities. We are delighted to shine a bright light on
examples of community benefit in action in 2020 as this important and deeply inspiring work.
Florida’s hospitals responded to an unprecedented public
health crisis, coming together in extraordinary ways to Sincerely,
prepare and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our
hospitals stood up COVID-19 testing sites, developed 40 Florida Hospitals Contribute to Communities
innovative programs to support physical and mental
wellness, and worked to ensure students were prepared
to return to school. Mary C. Mayhew
Every day, hospital caregivers and teams across the state
are working around the clock, caring for their patients.
President & CEO, Florida Hospital Association
43 Hospitals Included in this Report
2 Message from FHA
Post-Acute
Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast Develops Masking Initiatives and
Testing Partnerships at Post-Acute Care Facilities
Partnerships
Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast, a leadership op-ed to encourage the Rethreaded and multiple area credit
health system including Ascension public to listen to officials and take unions to create and provide masks
Sacred Heart based in Pensacola precautions, including wearing for caregivers.
and Ascension St. Vincent’s based masks. He also co-signed a statewide
in Jacksonville, always recognizes op-ed that echoed the same key The health system provided the
the importance of collaboration messages, along with Florida Blue material, two-ply spun polypropylene
and partnership in service to the and dozens of other organizations that keeps out water, bacteria, and
individuals and communities it serves, within and beyond the health care about 99.9 percent of particulates.
especially during unprecedented space. In Pensacola and across the The high-quality material is typically
times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Gulf Coast, Ascension Sacred Heart used to keep instruments sterile
also advocated for similar initiatives before surgeries and procedures and
One of the primary post-acute care in an effort to reduce the spread of would otherwise be discarded after
partnerships for the health system COVID-19. its initial use. The staff of Rethreaded,
across Florida was a collaboration who are also survivors of human
with fellow health care organizations The health system and its medical trafficking, took the sterile material,
to advocate for public masking group also partnered with sewed the masks together, and sent
initiatives in alignment with clinical government officials and local long- them to Ascension St. Vincent’s for
support and guidance from infection term care facilities and nursing potential use.
prevention experts. In Jacksonville, homes to provide residents with
Ascension St. Vincent’s partnered COVID-19 testing when needed. “We continue to look for creative
with health care organizations and the Through these partnerships, the solutions to employ should we need
Mayor of Jacksonville to encourage health system helped ensure these them,” said Ascension Florida and
the public to wear masks, especially facilities knew the COVID-19 status Gulf Coast President and CEO Tom
in circumstances in which one of their residents in instances when VanOsdol at the time the partnership
cannot remain at least six feet away assistance was needed. was announced. “This is a prime
from others. Ascension Florida and example of local innovation and
Gulf Coast President and CEO Tom Ascension St. Vincent’s also collaboration in action.”
VanOsdol also authored a thought partnered with local nonprofit
Due to the success of this partnership,
it has since expanded to include other
organizations.
Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast
President and CEO Tom VanOsdol
(right) participates in a news
conference with Jacksonville Mayor
Lenny Curry (center) and other
local healthcare leaders about the
importance of wearing masks .
Rethreaded employee sews together a mask.
4 Post-Acute Partnerships Post-Acute Partnerships 5
AdventHealth Sebring The nursing facility was reluctant BayCare Collaborates with Partners to Create personal protective equipment.
at first, because they wanted to This was conducted during the peak Sometimes, the effort meant sharing
& Lake Placid Develop ensure their current patients would of COVID-19 for the AdventHealth
Alternative Skilled Nursing Facilities PPE supplies, as many SNFs’ demand
Innovative Post-Acute be protected. The Agency for Health Lake Placid and AdventHealth Sebring far exceeded their normal purchasing
Care Partnership Care Administration (AHCA) reviewed hospitals. It was a time when they patterns – and suppliers were using
guidelines with Dr. Geldart and the really needed to turn the beds over those patterns to parse out slim
team to ensure they would be able to quickly and needed the staff at the supplies.
admit those COVID-19 patients into hospitals even more. When dealing
the skilled nursing facility safely, while with COVID patients, typically there is More collaboration was required as
protecting those patients already about a one-to-one or two-to-one ratio SNF patients recovered enough from
housed there. Dr. Geldart worked between staff and patient, because COVID-19 to leave the hospital – but
with the administrative director of these patients need more attention it wasn’t safe for many of them to
Lake Placid Health and Rehabilitation and care. Not only did this help solve return to their original facilities,
Center, AdventHealth’s Case the issue with not having enough beds either due to infection concerns or a
Management team, and other team for these patients, but it also helped lack of appropriate medical oversight.
members at AdventHealth Lake Placid to resolve the burden of not having
and Sebring, to determine how best enough staff to attend to them as well. BayCare and other healthcare providers
to go about tackling this undertaking. worried that trend would affect their
With a lot of teamwork, collaboration, This partnership helped pave the way BayCare Health System’s population “We knew if we didn’t help our local capacity to respond to the second
and innovation, they were able to for similar collaborations across health focus has never been more skilled nursing facilities respond to peak of COVID-19. Working with local
Dr. Donald Geldart
create an entirely separate unit within the state. evident than during the novel this virus strategically, the human governments, BayCare provided
During the peak of the COVID-19 the rehabilitation facility to house coronavirus pandemic. From the very toll would be immense and it would support for Dedicated Long-Term
pandemic, AdventHealth Sebring the patients admitted from these onset of COVID-19, the leading not- ultimately also impact the entire Care COVID-19 Recovery Units.
and AdventHealth Lake Placid were hospitals. for-profit provider for West Central community’s access to hospital beds,” Dubbed, “Super SNFs,” these facilities
flooded with COVID-19 patients. The Florida moved beyond its primary said Dr. Nishant Anand, BayCare’s in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk
beds in these facilities designated for Nancy Christensen, Vice President role as an operator of 14 acute care chief medical officer. counties provided a place for patients
these patients were filling up quickly. of AdventHealth Medical Group in hospitals to assist patients and to go when they no longer met clinical
Many of the patients were no longer Sebring, stated, “Everyone played a operators of post-acute facilities. BayCare worked with local guidelines for a hospital stay but
infectious but still needed to be re- small part in creating a big outcome. governments, the Florida Agency for could not yet return to their original
habilitated back to good health before There was collaboration from many “We knew to serve our community, Health Care Administration, other facilities.
they could return home. people to think outside the box and we’d need to be creative and find health care providers and post-
figure out what would work best in strong partners,” said BayCare CEO acute and nursing home facilities BayCare also worked to further
Dr. Donald Geldart, M.D., the medical their environment.” Tommy Inzina. “Time and again, we’ve to establish county-specific ad increase post-acute options. Working
director of Lake Placid Health and found a way to make a difference.” hoc groups. Those teams, meeting with Hillsborough County, BayCare
Rehabilitation Center, and a primary Dr. Geldart and team were extremely by phone weekly and sometimes piloted a short-term, post-acute
care physician and emergency medicine efficient in getting the unit up and BayCare’s Ambulatory Services daily, worked collaboratively to facility in a leased hotel for patients
practitioner with AdventHealth, noticed running quickly and reached out Division has long worked with skilled focus resources on those long-term who had recovered from COVID-19
there was a need. It was his idea to to AdventHealth immediately to let nursing facilities (SNF) across its core facilities with hot spots. but could not go home yet because of
create a COVID-19 unit in the skilled them know they were ready to accept four-county region (Hillsborough, infection risks or lack of support as
nursing facility at Lake Placid Health patients. On the first day the new unit Pinellas, Polk and Pasco) to serve BayCare and other providers worked they recovered.
and Rehabilitation Center to take on opened, they accepted nine patients patients before and during placement with local emergency medical
some of the patients that fit this profile. from AdventHealth Lake Placid, which to reduce additional hospital stays. By services to triage the admissions “The pandemic has taught us ways
was a significant benefit to the hospital March, those relationships provided of positive patients who needed to work better but also more closely
to free up those beds. early warning that more would be hospitalization to ensure that no with all kinds of partners,” Inzina
required as COVID-19 gained ground single hospital became overwhelmed, said. “That makes our community
in the Tampa Bay region. provided access to testing for SNF stronger and healthier today but also
residents and staff and offered in the future.”
training for SNF teams on infection
control and appropriate use of
6 Post-Acute Partnerships Post-Acute Partnerships 7
Baptist Beaches Creates Local Partnership to Make Home Health Possible
Latoya Roberson, RN, of Baptist Home Health Care performs an in-home assessment on COVID-19 patient Meghan Debbie. Lynsey Schlotzer, MD, a Baptist Primary Care physician, kept in touch with Debbie via virtual visits.
Baptist Health, located in northeast Leveraging BPP’s clinical • Dedicated beds/units for patients • Baptist Health Home Care provided The EHSM continues to be refined
Florida, is a non-profit, community transformation governance structure, with COVID-19 in SNF PPNs N95 fit tests for and a PPN SNF as we learn more about caring for
health system with four adult and one an interdisciplinary team of clinical to facilitate timely hospital located in close proximity to Baptist patients with COVID-19 in their home.
children’s hospital. It also includes over and administrative subject matter transitions from Baptist Beaches Beaches Medical Center, expedite The program focuses on providing
50 primary care offices in the five- experts developed consensus-based • Virtual visits conducted by home the opening of an onsite COVID 19 home-based skilled services to
county area. Baptist Physician Partners clinical guidelines for COVID-19 health PPNs unit. patients with COVID-19 and patients
(BPP) is Baptist Health’s Clinically that expand across the health care under investigation to inpatient
Integrated Network and Accountable continuum. As new data emerged, • Partnership with community DME Baptist Home Health Care, along COVID-19 volume, care for patients in
Care Organization, inclusive of over the guidelines evolved to address companies and home health PPNs
Baptist Home Health COVID-19 patients with five other home health agencies a comfortable environment, minimize
1,000 physicians. the home health care setting, thus to ensure timely delivery of oxygen
receive a self-monitoring kit that includes in the preferred provider network, the spread of disease. Baptist Health
the Enhanced Home Support Model a digital thermometer and a pulse supplies to patients at home. implemented the EHSM, with a total plans to expand this model to provide
When the COVID-19 pandemic was (EHSM) was created. The Clinical oximeter to check their oxygen levels. They • Telescope Health, a virtual visit of 487 patients being cared for as of patients with other chronic medical
declared a public health emergency Transformation Workgroup (CTW) also receive an oxygen tank and a portable platform operated by emergency September 21, 2020. conditions.
oxygen concentrator (not pictured).
back in March, predictive models collaborated with Baptist Home physicians, was utilized to
forecasted a surge of inpatients, Health Care and the Baptist Health mitigate ED Utilization
which would undoubtedly overwhelm Post-Acute Preferred Provider Baptist’s partnership with home health
Baptist Health hospitals. This looming Network (PPN), including a home and SNF PPNs allowed for COVID-19
threat shifted efforts toward the health PPN and a skilled nursing guideline and EHSM refinement as
development and implementation of a facility (SNF) PPN. guidance from Centers for Disease
home-based model of care targeting Control and Prevention (CDC) and peer-
patients with COVID-19. reviewed literature evolved. Ongoing
data monitoring allowed for key areas
of clinical and operational success:
8 Post-Acute Partnerships Post-Acute Partnerships 9
Employee
AdventHealth Zephyrhills & AdventHealth Dade City Stress
Team Building and Activities to Take Care of One Another
To promote well-being among staff • Make it easy: Find creative ways to
Wellness
members at AdventHealth Zephyrhills support and assist our employees
& AdventHealth Dade City, our Wellness inside and outside of the hospital.
Director, Nicasio Jones, and his team » Grocery shopping – Local
launched a new series of “Love Me” Walmart and Publix open early
activities that took place throughout the for AdventHealth employees
months of May, July and August. These
activities embodied the AdventHealth » Discounted daily boxed lunch
– boxed lunch available in café
service standards and provided ways
Sidewalk art created by AdventHealth for $3.25 daily
of relieving stress and providing a Zephyrhills team members.
moment of calmness during these » Dollar general discount – all
uncertain times. While participation » Scavenger hunt – Follows clues health care staff receive a 10%
varied by activities, all 1,300 employees provided in an email to take discount
at AdventHealth Zephyrhills & a photo of things around the
» Family meals online ordering
AdventHealth Dade City were engaged hospital. First 50 won a prize.
– provided by local catering
throughout the series of events. All » Coloring books – Coloring company
activities were conducted during normal books were provided to staff
working hours. The Love Me activities for stress relief These activities helped provide
centered around four focus areas:
» Sponsored gifts – Gifts were employees with a chance to break
• Team building: Fun, simple activities provided to staff by local away from the stress they were
employees can do to encourage community sponsors facing at work and reconnect with
positive interaction between their teammates. AdventHealth staff
• Olympic Games/Minute to Win
coworkers. These activities included: were also able to connect with staff
it: Quick, 1-minute games where
from other departments and foster
» Window art – Color glass staff can earn points for their
new, supportive relationships. The
windows to create beautiful art departments. Games included:
staff at AdventHealth Zephyrhills &
» Cards FOR Humanity – Write a » Basketball Throw – A 3-point AdventHealth Dade City are working to
letter of encouragement to one shot competition come together as an organization and
of your colleagues » Penny stack – How many to reaffirm the reason why our work
» Sidewalk art – Use sidewalk pennies can you stack in one is so important. By taking the time
chalk to create artwork around minute? to take care of our ourselves and one
the hospital another, we are better able to care for
» Defy gravity – How long can you
» Joke of the day – Share light- our patients, and live out our mission
keep three balloons up in the
hearted jokes by email of extending the healing ministry of
air? More time =more points.
Christ.
» Spirit day – Decorate » Makin’ Moves – Move M&M’s
workstations from one plate to another using
• Appreciation: Develop ways to a straw
show how much we appreciate the » Ping pong bounce – How fast
sacrifices our employees make every can you bounce ping pong balls
day and provide opportunities for staff into 6 cups?
to share and encourage each other.
» Smoothie day – Free
Nursing staff posing with colorful orchids gifted to the hospital by a local community sponsor. smoothies in the café for staff
» Ice cream day – Build your
own ice cream sundae
10 Employee Wellness Employee Wellness 11
Health First Commits to Supporting Associates’ Physical, Emotional, Mayo Clinic Florida: “Appreciate You” Campaign their time. A total of 576 kiosk orders
were filled for unique staff members.
Financial and Family Wellness Delivers Essential Needs to Staff
to have the opportunity to redeploy employees throughout the hospitals. The top three needs were: To further increase clinical staff’s
and support these new classrooms. New intranet content and ongoing 1.Quick access to food during shifts quick access to food on shifts, the
Health First provided this child care at emails have also increased visibility 2.Access to other essential goods on Coalition partnered with community
no cost to their employees until June, for services, such as Groceries-to-Go campus affairs to coordinate donations from
when families were able to return to and Meals-to-Go from the hospital 3.A one-stop, consolidated COVID-19 many local businesses and individuals
their normal summer routines. cafeterias, a new COVID-19 stress resource toolkit within the community. The campaign
support hotline, free Employee was able to coordinate meal donations
Another Health First program that Assistance Program (EAP) counseling After collecting the information, the of items like sandwiches, smoothies,
supports associates’ financial and resources, 401(k) consultations, Florida Well-Being Coalition took steps cookies, and more, and has had over
family wellness is the Associate Relief support from United Way, free to update various service offerings. For 10,000 donations to date.
Health First’s support for its associates Fund. The fund is financed through COVID-19 testing, Pastoral Care staff working on campus, an Essentials
through the pandemic focused on four
donations from the community, and more. These communications Pop-Up Food Market was created in Lastly, to help staff connect with
areas: physical, emotional, financial
and family wellness. associates and medical staffs at channels have also made it easier partnership with the Food Services resources they needed most, the
Health First’s four hospitals, and to keep up with rapidly changing Mayo Clinic Florida creates a pop-up food team. Items in the market included Coalition created a consolidated guide,
Health First’s support for their market and on-campus Kiosk for staff.
is managed by the Health First guidelines surrounding personal ready-made meals for staff to take COVID-19 tool kit, on a landing page
associates through the COVID-19
Foundation and Human Resources in protective equipment (PPE), visitors, When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, home and full-sized grocery staples like outside of the Mayo Clinic ‘s firewall.
pandemic focuses on four key areas:
order to provide financial assistance facility preparations, etc. the Florida Well-Being Coalition milk, eggs, bread, and other produce. This allowed staff to access all Mayo
physical, emotional, financial and
to staff in need. Normally, associates at Mayo Clinic Florida (MCF) felt Clinic resources when they were on or
family wellness.
must be employed for one year Recognizing COVID-19 and all that compelled to ignite action and To address the need to access other off off-campus. The toolkit included
before they qualify for aid—that comes with it will be a part of our identify ways to support employees. essential goods, a novel on-campus links to discounts offered to health
One initiative that covered all four
requirement was suspended to everyday lives for the foreseeable The Coalition quickly realized they Kiosk was opened . The Kiosk housed care workers for financial wellness,
parts of the wellness program was
increase the support available during future, therefore, Health First is were not alone, as an outpouring items such as snacks, toilet paper, as well as, internal resources, such
child care at no cost for associates.
the COVID-19 pandemic. So far this expanding associate wellness of gratitude and appreciation both soap, and sanitizing wipes. At the as the Employee Assistance Program
As local schools and day care
year, the fund has dispersed $206,000 programs to promote resilience. An internally and externally to MCF was time, these items were difficult to find (EAP), novel free stress consults with a
centers began to close, Health First
to 133 associates. That includes internal “Stronger. Better. Together.” displayed. Employees wanted to show in grocery stores and were requested mind/body counselor, and other well-
immediately surveyed associates
$179,000 to 115 associates with campaign encourages staff to not only appreciation to fellow employees. by staff as the most needed. Kiosk being resources.
and learned 514 associates needed
expenses directly related to COVID-19 tend to their patients, but themselves Patients wanted to express their items were comprised of goods
care for 880 children. That’s about
and $27,000 to 18 associates to as well. These resources include appreciation for the dedication donated by community members as Most recently, the Appreciate You
four times the number of children
help with situations not related “Wellness Wednesday” messages of Mayo Clinic employees, and well as those purchased with internal Campaign delivered gratitude bags
who are normally enrolled in on-
to COVID-19. By comparison, 14 with tips about focusing on what we multiple organizations from the local Well-Being funds. with essential items to 5,000 staff
site child care. Since Health First’s
associates received $60,900 in 2019. can control, compassion fatigue, community wanted to express their members both on and off-campus. The
community fitness centers were also
financial resources and suggestions gratitude for the commitment and One challenge that the Kiosk team faced bags included masks, hand sanitizers,
closing at the same time, the newly
Health First also implemented several associates have sent in to share sacrifices being made by so many at was how to allow staff to request and and messages of gratitude from the
unoccupied space at those facilities
programs to support associates’ with their co-workers. The Pastoral Mayo Clinic. pick up food safely. Social distancing community.
made it possible to expand child care
overall wellness. For example, Care team also makes rounds with a recommendations meant that staff
from one location to four very quickly.
with nearly 25% of associates now “Tea for the Soul” cart with tea and The Appreciate You Campaign was couldn’t gather or shop for the items The primary objective of the Appreciate
A dedicated project team worked
working at home, a “Making Remote treats for associates and cheerful launched as a way to coordinate and themselves. The team came up with an You Campaign is to let staff know their
around the clock to procure cribs,
Work – Work” campaign has guided signs inspiring them to “Be strong,” communicate the expressions of innovative digital ordering system on hard work is appreciated and to create
toys, furniture, room dividers and
staff and leaders through setting up “Be safe,” “Be amazing” and “Be gratitude and provide direct support SharePoint that allowed staff to place a sense of community during a difficult
other supplies, as well as arrange
an ergonomically safe workspace, courageous.” to the brave first-line responders orders from their phones and computers. time. The Florida Well-Being Coalition
for temperature checks, security,
learning new tools for virtual and those working tirelessly behind Staff would receive an email when will continue to work tirelessly to
food delivery, housekeeping and
meetings and maintaining a sense of the scenes. To better understand the their order was ready and pick up their support our employees and assure
registration. Led by Health First’s
camaraderie with their teammates. needs of staff and to help address items during kiosk hours of operation. that they know how much our
experienced child development
Child care students have also lifted any gaps, the Well-Being Coalition The Kiosk was open three days a week, organization, patients, and community
teachers, many of the fitness center
spirits with heartfelt drawings and surveyed representatives across the accommodating for the day, night, and care about their well-being before,
staff and other associates with
encouraging notes for patients and organization to find out what their weekend shifts. The Kiosk was staffed by during, and after this pandemic.
reduced work hours were thrilled
colleagues needed most. generous Mayo Clinic staff who donated
12 Employee Wellness Employee Wellness 13
Back-to-
School
Partnerships
AdventHealth Carrollwood Helps Bayshore Christian School
Safely Reopen for Students
AdventHealth Carrollwood, along with President and CEO, AdventHealth “As Head of School at Bayshore
our entire AdventHealth system, has Carrollwood. “By partnering with Christian School, I am grateful to have
made it a priority to be the health Bayshore Christian School we can the opportunity to work hand in hand
care partner to our communities provide these students, teachers and with AdventHealth as a community
who not only cares for the patients staff with best practices to create the partner,” said Melanie Humenansky,
in our hospital, but who lives out safest environment possible as they Head of School, Bayshore Christian
our mission of Extending the Healing return to class.” School. “This relationship validates
Ministry of Christ throughout our the decision-making of the school’s
community, especially during these AdventHealth Carrollwood clinicians administration in confirming we are
unprecedented, difficult times. That’s assisted the school with a plan that taking the right steps in keeping our
why AdventHealth Carrollwood would allow for teachers, faculty and students safe. The recommendations
partnered with Bayshore Christian all 220 students to safely return to the were openly received, and we
School in Tampa to provide an classroom. Some of the key strategies have purchased the suggested
extensive safety strategy to help the implemented include: additional items and look forward to
school safely reopen for the 2020- • Enhanced student drop-off and implementing the processes for the
2021 school year. pick up opening of the school year.”
“We are taking extra steps in our • Required temperature screenings
hospital and in our communities • Enhanced prepackaged lunches
to ensure everyone is safe as we • Enhanced cleaning and
navigate COVID-19,” said Erika Skula, sanitization protocols
Members of the Bayshore Christian
School-Reopening Strategy Team
14 Back to School Partnerships
AdventHealth Connerton Sponsors Back-to-School Drive for Nemours Children’s Hospital Prepares Schools
Students in Need and Students with a Safe Return to the Classroom
In the midst of these unique times, letter that drew on experiences
Nemours Children’s Health remains with COVID-19 in children’s
committed in ensuring a successful hospitals. The document
return to the classroom for all contained considerations for
students across Florida. Our health teachers and school staff to
system partnered with local school better educate them on the return
districts and community organizations to the classroom. The email
in the lead up to the 2020-2021 school was distributed to all 67 School
year, including multiple initiatives to Superintendents for dissemination
better serve the pediatric population: to their staff.
Supplies donated to Moon Lake
Elementary School • Infectious Disease Team • Back to School Physicals/
Offering School Reopening Back to School Physicals/Shepherd’s Hope
supplies to the students at Moon Shepherd’s Hope: For the
Lake Elementary School. We certainly Recommendations to Four Florida past six years, Nemours has • Nemours Florida School Health
appreciate your willingness to assist School Districts: Nemours’ partnered with Shepherd’s Hope, Conference: Each year, Nemours
our students. Your contributions help Infectious Disease Team— Dr. a free and charitable medical experts develop and present
to offset the purchase of these items Ken Alexander and Dr. Adriana clinic in Central Florida that at the Nemours Florida School
that we can have on hand here in the Cadilla—jointly collaborated with provides care to our community’s Health Conference to give
school as the need arises. Thank you Central Florida superintendents uninsured population. The continuing education credit for
Two employees who helped in contributing school supplies. Left to right: DeAnn again for your ongoing support and of schools to offer medical annual back-to-school physicals school nurses. NCH hosts this
Schaffer, Admin Support Clerk, and Eddie Flores, Materials Distribution Tech. we look forward to working with you advice and presentations on for children in need across our annual conference dedicated
In August 2020, AdventHealth Connerton, this event. Once the supplies were in the future.” ways the schools could reopen local communities ensures that to school nurses and other
launched a back-to-school supply donated, employees then volunteered safely during the pandemic. Our children receive top care by school health professionals from
drive for students by sponsoring their time to personally deliver the Our vision at AdventHealth is to recommendations were rooted
Nemours providers. This year we across Florida. The conference
donations to Moon Lake Elementary supplies to the elementary school and make our communities stronger and in science, providing options
served over 200 children with their is typically a hands-on training
School. Moon Lake Elementary show their support for the students. healthier because we are in them. for schools to safely return
physicals which included vision for pediatric care in a school
School in New Port Richey, Florida, The showcase of support from our We believe community benefit is students into the classroom
and hearing screenings. Parents setting, such as management
serves more than 566 students and 50 employees was overwhelming. The essential in doing this. Our efforts while adhering to CDC and public
also received valuable information of injuries, allergies, asthma,
teachers. Approximately 80.8 percent employees took the initiative to plan helped to minimize the burden on health guidelines. Dr. Alexander
that identifies additional resources diabetes, substance abuse, mental
of Moon Lake Elementary students the logistics of this school drive and the 80.8 percent of families that are and Dr. Cadilla presented on
including mental health clinics, health and response to medical
are economically disadvantaged and did an excellent job of spreading the economically disadvantaged and COVID-19 and school reopening
pediatric dentistry and food emergencies. In 2020, Nemours
72.9 percent of the students receive word to others throughout the facility. are even more challenged with the recommendations to Osceola,
insecurity assistance. was able to convert the program
free lunch, while 7.9 percent receive economic impacts of COVID-19. Polk and Seminole County Public
to virtual for the first time and
reduced lunch. A large portion of The idea of this school drive was Schools. Our Infectious Disease We were grateful to partner with A
gave Nemours the opportunity
these families are at or below the propelled by the current crisis that we physicians continue to serve on Gift For Teaching this year, allowing
to expand the conference and
poverty level. are all facing. Hearing the concerns task forces for school districts in every child seen at Shepherd’s
provide free registration to over
of the community, AdventHealth Orange and Osceola and monitor Hope for their school physicals to
400 attendees from all over
The donated supplies catered to recognized that for many parents, community infection rates, as the receive a backpack full of school
Florida. Topics covered during
students in the Kindergarten to 5th buying school supplies was not an school year gets underway. supplies. Also included in the
the conference were COVID-19
grade age group. Our employees option, as many are struggling with backpacks were hand sanitizer
Dr. Alexander and Dr. Cadilla’s and schools, human trafficking,
were encouraged to participate in this basic life necessities. Principal and face masks, helping to make
commitment to the community allergies, vaping and social/
community initiative and, our hospital Landahl of Moon Lake Elementary sure every child is as prepared as
did not stop there, as they emotional health. Nemours was
was then kind enough to match recognized our efforts, saying, “We they can be before returning to the
partnered with their colleague proud to have representation from
the donations made by employees. are once again so very thankful for 2020 school year.
at AdventHealth for Children, over 50 Florida school districts at
Overall, we estimate that more AdventHealth’s donation of school this year’s conference.
Dr. Fatma Levent, to author a
than 150 employees participated in
16 Back to School Partnerships Back to School Partnerships 17
Innovation
Baptist Health Care Partnered with the University of West Florida to
Manufacture Face Shield Kits for those in Need During Covid-19
& Research
Steve Overton, Baptist Health Care
Pensacola.
UWF students and faculty worked
Face shields manufactured by the University of West Florida (UWF) Haas Center. alongside professionals with Baptist,
Like many other regions across the “This was a wonderful partnership with others from regional hospitals,
country and even the world, a shortage between UWF and Baptist, all to the Escambia County emergency
of face shields for health care support our community,” said Nicole management department, GE
workers and first responders became Gislason, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy and Alto Products
an obstacle while battling against Haas Center at UWF. “Through this Corp. The face shields are used in
COVID-19. During the spring of 2020, partnership, more than 7,000 face accordance with FDA Guidance and
Baptist Health Care collaborated shield kits were printed and donated CDC Recommendations for PPE use
with the University of West Florida to those who needed them most during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(UWF) Haas Center to manufacture throughout the region.”
and provide face shield kits to health This project partnership began in
care providers and first responders Once printing and packaging took April 2020 and continues today to
throughout northwest Florida. The place, UWF prepared the kits for ensure that no shortage of PPE will
teamwork between both groups made distribution from their Sea3D lab, occur again. The teams at UWF and
the operation and assembly more located inside the Museum of Baptist display their resilience every
efficient. Commerce in Pensacola. Health day through these efforts. At Baptist,
care providers and first responders we continue to live out our Mission
“During the pandemic when PPE requested the kits by first completing of helping people throughout life’s
became scarce, the UWF Haas Center an online form. Priority was given to journey and are incredibly grateful
had the idea to create face shield local nonprofit health care providers to be working alongside UWF for the
kits that would be a service to the serving at-risk populations including betterment of our community.
essential workers in the community,” the elderly, low income and the
Pictured here is Sabrina Corbin, an honors graduate with a degree in Mechanical
Engineering from the University of West Florida (UWF). The photo was taken at said Stephen Overton, Print Shop homeless.
UWF’s Sea3D lab in downtown Pensacola. Manager. “They used their 3D printing
equipment to make the headbands This PPE shortage and new printing
used in the face shield kits, and and assembly solution was created
Baptist supplied the clear polyester by UWF innovators from multiple
lens that could snap onto the plastic departments at the University, including
headbands in order to make it a nursing, engineering, art and business.
protective shield.”
18 Innovation & Research Innovation & Research 19Lee Health Telemedicine: Technology Takes the Next Step to Safely Memorial Healthcare Increases Telehealth and Finds New Technologies
Serve the Community to Keep Patients Connected
Memorial Healthcare System’s Community and Youth Services Department (CYS)
During the initial outbreak, people
were scared and looking for answers. “Family needs have been magnified
For example, many community over the past 6 months”, said Tim
members called our emergency rooms Curtin, Executive Director of Memorial
to get COVID-19 testing. To better Community and Youth Services.
encourage telemedicine as a clinical “Memorial has been doing everything
and educational resource, Lee Health possible to keep the staff, children,
eliminated the cost of our 24/7 Lee families and seniors protected from
TeleHealth platform. We provided more the spread of COVID-19. We have
than 7,200 virtual visits at no cost—a a responsibility during this time to
$350,000 community benefit value increase support for them as they
in a just a few months. We extended now face additional challenges with
this platform to our friends at NCH businesses and school closures, work
Healthcare System and Lee County disruptions, potential illness and
EMS to maximize community impact. health concerns. Our community-
based team of counselors and case
At our acute care facilities, we managers are connecting with each
expanded the number of telemedicine Brother and sister receiving Easter one of our families to make sure they
COVID-19 has changed a lot about our As we increased our virtual ambulatory carts and providers utilizing the baskets from Memorial have the supports they need.”
lives over the past six months, from TeleHealth visits from one percent to technology with the help of a tech
the way we interact with friends and 80 percent over a few weeks, our team partner, Ironbow. Using digital CYS has delivered over 700 hours of
family to how we conduct business recognized that many of our patients stethoscopes and remote cameras, case management since March. The
on a daily basis. Health care systems were still struggling; the platform and healthcare workers could treat Teaching parenting skills via What’s App team has successfully linked families
across the country faced these style of interaction was new to many patients while conserving PPE. to employment opportunities, financial
challenges head-on in a number of of them. Anxiety, depression, feeling trapped assistance, benefits, child care, and
ways, with an eye on safety as well Another partner, Caregility, helped and helpless, substance abuse, family all other needs determined by the Life
as stellar service. At Lee Health, we Team members at Lee Health combined us tackle reduced visitation by conflict and communication have been Coaches and case managers.
pushed forward by implementing efforts to create an integrated campaign. collaborating on an app that sends an the topics of many of our counseling
comprehensive telemedicine options This included training videos, tip sheets, invite to family members to connect and therapy sessions over the past “Our creative team working with older
to provide exceptional care. web pages, internal communications, through an email or text. In the NICU, 26 weeks. During this time, Memorial adults has assisted them in learning
marketing materials and joining forces we deployed tablets in every NICU Healthcare System’s Community and how to use a smart phone for Zoom,
Before COVID-19, Lee Health had with community leaders. room so family members could share Youth Services Department (CYS) has Teams, What’s App and other platforms
a small telemedicine footprint, the thrill of virtually seeing, hearing provided over 2,800 hours of clinical to stay connected with their peers
connecting roughly 10 patients a day We spent countless hours helping and talking to newborns. therapy, counseling and maternal-child socially, emotionally and spiritually
to medical professionals. Fortunately, patients configure their computers, supportive services through telehealth over the past six months,” Curtin
our team anticipated the surge from download apps, perform test visits, By connecting our tech partners with a platforms. CYS has also made over continued. “The ALLIES (Adults Living
the pandemic and replaced our entire and make sure they were comfortable national nonprofit, CovidTechConnect, 1,250 property visits, aptly named Life Independent, Educated and Safe)
technology infrastructure in 48 hours connecting to their provider. By Lee Health has helped the reach of the “Front Porch Supports,” to families in program staff have made over 500
Special delivery to a youth aging out of need throughout the pandemic.
to allow unlimited scalability. helping our patients focus on health app installation spanning over 10,000 Front Porch Supports since COVID-19
foster care
and recovery, the challenges of tablets across 700 health systems closed our Senior Partners centers.”
Our team expanded access from five new technology gradually lessened. nationwide.
departments to more than 60 in the Additionally, recognizing that English
span of several days, and we continue is not the preferred language for many The telemedicine teams are already
to roll out functionality to various of our patients, we quickly worked with anticipating the next steps, willing
departments. our vendor, Cloudbreak, to integrate to do whatever it takes to tackle
real-time language interpretation challenges. It’s all a part of our mission
services during telehealth visits. to be caring people, inspiring health.
20 Innovation & Research Innovation & Research 21Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and Florida
Laboratories
State University Team Up to Test for COVID-19
Florida State University (FSU) and to diagnose, treat or prevent disease.
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare The Department of Health and
(TMH) teamed up to create a temporary Human Services’ current pandemic
testing laboratory that provides policies presented an opportunity for
COVID-19 results in 24 hours or less. a partnership. To provide coronavirus
testing, the FSU Office of Research
FSU recognized the importance of recognized it would need a CLIA
getting their students and employees certificate and contacted TMH to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and
Florida State University COVID-19 lab
tested quickly as well as the need to inquire about partnering to establish a
receive test results quickly. The ability temporary site for coronavirus testing Laboratory Analysis (OSCEOLA).”
to identify and quarantine individuals under the hospital’s CLIA certificate, The name is the FSU research
testing positive for COVID-19 helps to and TMH agreed. community’s tribute to the 19th-
mitigate the spread of COVID-19. century Seminole leader, linking his
With Dr. Dennis’ proprietary recipe and leadership and unconquered spirit
Due to national and world-wide TMH’s license and clinical team, the to this contribution to the ongoing
shortages of testing supplies and long partnership was born. struggle to contain the virus.
wait times for test results, Jonathan
Dennis, an associate professor in the “As a leading research university, FSU “Not only have we accomplished this,
Department of Biological Science at brings resources to the table that will we’ve set up a model for how other
FSU, developed a new testing procedure allow us at TMH to overcome supply people can accomplish this,” Dennis
that could be used to diagnosis limitations and provide for accurate said. “We have thought at every
COVID-19. This procedure slightly alters and timely COVID-19 testing on a much juncture ‘What are we doing here
the method used by the Centers for larger scale,” said Mark O’Bryant, and is this appropriate to relieve the
Disease Control and Prevention and the President and CEO of Tallahassee testing problem that the nation has?’
World Health Organization and allows Memorial HealthCare. “The initial goal And I think we have built something
the lab to use different materials than of this partnership was to match FSU’s that can do that.”
are typically used. intellectual and technological assets
with our commercial and regulatory This laboratory has since expanded
After samples are collected, the test expertise. to run tests for other businesses
measures whether it is possible to and governmental entities in our
make copies of the collected viral We are now working with other community.
genome using a technique called community businesses to make testing
polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). more readily available.”
If the procedure is able to copy a The initial joint goal was to run 1,000
viral genome, the patient is positive. tests each day. The capacity of the
If not, the patient is negative. This lab should increase over time as the
is considered the gold standard for laboratory team develops efficiencies
COVID-19 testing. within their workflows.
Historically, the FSU research Interestingly, when the designers
laboratory has never had a need to have submitted their procedure to the U.S.
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and Florida State University COVID-19 lab a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Food and Drug Administration for
Amendments (CLIA) certificate which emergency use authorization, they
is required to test human specimens gave it the name “Observation of
and provide patient-specific results SARS COVID-2 Evidence by Objective
22 Laboratories Laboratories 23Northwest Florida Community Hospital Adds On-Site Lab to Provide Lakeland Regional Health In-House Laboratory Expands COVID-19
Timely COVID-19 Results to Patients Testing Options for Community
with COVID-19, the better we can care
for you and your symptoms, the sooner
we can help you keep your loved ones
and neighbors safe, and the more
quickly we can provide you with peace
of mind,” said Ana Kalman, MBA,
CHCIO, Lakeland Regional Health Vice
President/Chief Information Officer
and Chief Applications Officer/Medical
to COVID, we were sent home from Center Chief Operating Officer.
school/work to quarantine, waiting “All of this in mind, our talented
and uncertain. At NFCH, we were able and dedicated Lab team remains
to get COVID testing done without any steadfast in its motivation to meet the
wait or hassle. The molecular tests testing and diagnostic needs of our
done were processed in their hospital community.”
lab with prompt, same day results that
could be accessed on their patient Production from testing kit
portal. This accurate and efficient manufactures continues to be an
service provided the peace of mind our obstacle. Still today, one-hour tests
family needed!” are in short supply. Therefore, our
Lab team remains vigilant on the
Washington County Chamber of developments of new platforms to
Northwest Florida Community Hospital working in on-site COVID-19 testing lab. Commerce Executive Director Ted Lakeland Regional Health opened the Pediatric Testing Center shortly after public determine when and if it makes sense
Everett said, “Since the Northwest schools opened in August, providing testing to children of all ages with next-day results. to add it to our portfolio. As we examine
Northwest Florida Community Hospital quarantine period before receiving
Florida Community Hospital attained testing options, test result accuracy
(NFCH) is a 59-bed healthcare facility positive or negative results. Northwest Testing continues to be one of the Lakeland Regional Health now uses
and has been using the Thermo continues to be of the highest
that includes a 25-bed Critical Access Florida Community Hospital’s strong most important aspects of the 5 options for in-house rapid PCR
Fisher Scientific 7500 for rapid importance.
hospital, a 34-bed Long Term Care commitment to the health and COVID-19 pandemic. At Lakeland COVID-19 testing and one in-house
Facility and several Health Clinics wellness of Washington County and testing for COVID-19, and results are Regional Health, we are committed antigen platform.
now able to given to those that have Facing these challenges, in-house
located in Washington County, in the the surrounding area wasn’t being to strengthening the health of our
tested within 24 hours or less. This COVID-19 testing allowed us to:
panhandle community of Chipley. honored with our delayed results and community as well as advancing the Feeling confident in its testing
is very advantageous to those tested. • Leverage technology to establish
Our mission, is to provide safe, patient notification. Therefore, in June, future of healthcare. Those missions capabilities, Lakeland Regional Health
Before the NFCH procured the testing a convenient and safe way for
innovative, accessible, compassionate the NFCH administration purchased became unwavering guideposts as opened a Respiratory Care Center from
abilities of the Thermo Fisher Scientific community members to receive
and comprehensive health care close the Thermo Fisher 7500, a molecular COVID-19 began to spread in our April to October, two Drive-Thru Testing
7500, results typically took 7 to 10 a doctor’s order for COVID-19
to home. testing lab that could provide results in community and testing kits and Centers and a Pediatric Testing Center,
days. The ability to test rapidly and testing.
24 hours or less. capabilities were in short supply. in addition to the testing performed
receive testing accuracies at a high • Create COVID-19 testing protocols
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in its Emergency Department and
level is certainly a game changer for for patients undergoing emergency
NFCH opened a COVID-19 drive-thru This new technology allows Northwest Our executive leaders, along with required testing for surgical patients.
Washington County and the region.” surgeries and non-emergency
testing site. The site offered testing Florida Community Hospital to truly our exceptional Laboratory team, We also leveraged a reference lab for
surgeries and procedures and
to anyone regardless of symptoms, meet its mission. Our patients know grew tremendously concerned with our Drive-Thru test kits to help with
This molecular technology makes communicate those to physicians.
and it served people from multiple their results almost immediately, the lengthy turnaround times for overflow.
our small, rural community hospital • Efficiently and quickly test children
counties. When the site first opened, helping stop the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 test results as well as the
a giant among the larger well- in a family-friendly environment
NFCH sent their samples to outside lack of testing sites. “Lakeland Regional Health is pleased
known laboratories. At Northwest • Expand testing options to our
laboratories to be processed. The One patient Jennifer Cumbie to offer safe, convenient, quick and
Florida Community Hospital, we are primary, pediatric and urgent care
turnaround time was a minimum of commented, “My daughter and I can’t Over the last six months, Lakeland accurate COVID-19 testing options
constantly striving to provide you with practices
7 to 10 days. Many individuals being say enough good things about NFCH, Regional Health worked diligently for our community. We know that the
tested, were well into their potential in Chipley. After being exposed high quality healthcare. to begin processing our own tests. sooner you find out you are infected
24 Laboratories Laboratories 25Testing Sites In St. Lucie County, Cleveland Clinic
Martin Health administered 1,800
tests, free of charge, over five days
& Workflow
at a minor league baseball stadium
in collaboration with the local
health department. Martin Health
participated in a similar partnership
in Martin County, staffing “pop-up”
testing locations in COVID hot spots
targeting underserved populations.
In addition to traditional COVID-19
drive-thru testing sites and pop up
testing sites, Martin Health also
partnered with the Department of
Health to develop a “COVID-19 Strike
Team” that could rapidly respond to
long-term care facilities with potential
COVID-19 clusters. The strike team
at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health
provided rapid testing of all residents
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital drive-thru testing site. and caregivers at a facility in an effort
Cleveland Clinic Finds Creative Solutions to to minimize further spread.
Test Vulnerable Populations During COVID-19 The strike team was an example of how
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Sept. 25 with no out-of-pocket multiple organizations working together
Cleveland Clinic in Florida has costs for patients. Opportunities for can reduce exposure to COVID-19 for
focused on the health and well-being community testing continue at Indian this particularly vulnerable segment
of the communities it serves. That River Hospital and at Martin Health of our community. By going on-site to
focus is not only on the patients in locations in Stuart and Port St. Lucie. these facilities and conducting rapid
our hospitals and clinics, but also We are working diligently to keep testing at these locations we were able
residents of those communities as a residents out of the hospitals and to to greatly mitigate risk to residents
whole. That includes students as they provide peace of mind. and employees.
prepared to return to school, residents
of long-term care facilities, and the Our system also worked with
public at large as we provided COVID stakeholders to reach out directly to
testing as well as education and best communities for testing. For example,
practices to community stakeholders. the drive-thru testing location in Palm
Beach County was located at a civic
Cleveland Clinic in Florida, was the center in a portion of the community
first to provide COVID-19 drive-thru that needed access to testing at the
testing in Indian River, St. Lucie, height of the pandemic. Cleveland
Martin, and Broward counties, and was Clinic Weston Hospital staffed the
one of the earliest testing providers in testing site, which was a partnership
Palm Beach County. Communication with the Florida Department of
and collaboration were key in each of Emergency Management, the
those efforts. We have administered Florida National Guard, and county
over 41,000 tests at our drive-thru administration.
Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital drive-thru testing site.
testing sites from mid-March through
26 Testing Sites & Workflow Testing Sites & Workflow 27You can also read
