CHI Vaccinates Underserved and Hard-to-Reach Populations Through Strategic Outreach
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April - May 2021
Healthy Bits — A Newsletter Published by Community Health of South Florida, Inc.
CHI Vaccinates Underserved and Hard-to-Reach
Populations Through Strategic Outreach
CHI. “Our vaccination efforts
have worked to ensure the most
vulnerable populations are
reached along with everyone
else. It’s what we do. We have
been putting patient care first for
50 years.”
Among those vaccinated by CHI,
46 percent were Hispanic and
25 percent were Black. Minorities
have been disproportionately
impacted by COVID-19, and
CHI has pushed to ensure those
populations do not get left behind.
Beverly Drinkwater also received
Tasha Robinson receives the COVID-19 vaccination at a CHI outreach event
her vaccination at the same event
in Naranja. as Robinson.
Tasha Robinson sat in the CHI has administered the free “It means giving me, hopefully,
observation area of the COVID-19 vaccine to more than 4,700 peace of mind,” said Drinkwater.
vaccination site, set up by people in Miami-Dade and “Until we all get vaccinated this
Community Health of South Florida, Monroe counties. What makes is not going to go away. I really
Inc. (CHI) at Naranja Park. Although the non-profit healthcare don’t want my grandchildren for
her mouth was covered by her company’s approach unique the rest of their lives growing up
mask, she smiled excitedly with is twofold. First, CHI has been with this over their heads and
her eyes. Just minutes prior, Tasha reaching out to underserved having to wear masks.”
had received the shot outside CHI’s patients and community CHI has been at the forefront of
mobile medical van. members without health the pandemic response. It was
“I feel so much better. I feel safe insurance and few resources. the first to offer drive-through
and relieved,” said Robinson. Second, the federally qualified COVID-19 testing in Miami-Dade
health center has utilized its and Monroe counties, and it
Two years ago, she had a outreach team and mobile continues to lead the way with its
stroke and is still recovering medical van to go into public vaccination efforts.
from the effects. As she sat in housing complexes, community
her wheelchair, she shared her parks, and even homeless
renewed outlook of hope and
Those looking to get
encampments to vaccinate.
optimism, thanks to the COVID-19 vaccinated can request
vaccination. “We have always believed that to be put on the list by
health care should be accessible
“I don’t want to get sick anymore,” visiting the CHI website,
to everyone, regardless of
she said. “I just want to do my best income, race or class,” said chisouthfl.org or calling
to stay healthy.” Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. CEO of (305) 252-4820.
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The pandemic has pushed our Key Largo Health Center and
team at CHI to reexamine our newly renovated Coconut Grove
services and healthcare delivery Health Center. This is all part
on a daily basis. I continue of our goal to make health care
to be amazed and so proud more accessible to everyone
of the work that Community in Miami-Dade and Monroe
Health of South Florida, Inc. is counties.
doing. I also continue to hear This May, we also have several
wonderful compliments from important dates to celebrate,
community leaders and patients such as National Nurses
who have been the recipient of Week. Never before has their
our COVID-19 vaccination and contribution been so critical!
testing efforts.
Please take the time to thank
I am encouraged by the our nurses for their hard work,
community support for our love, and devotion to our
programs and services. patients. It’s also Mother’s Day
Many have purchased bricks and Women’s Health Month.
to line the entryway of the We will be hosting a special
new Children’s Crisis Center. webinar focused on women’s
Our staff has also raised more body image, nutrition, and more.
than $62,000 in donations, Follow us on our social media
a testament to their own accounts for more information.
commitment to the cause!
Meanwhile, our construction on Regards,
Hope has arrived, and we the new Key West Health Center
are finally headed in the right is going smoothly. We expect
direction. As we are able to to open our doors at CHI’s
vaccinate more and more southernmost health center Brodes H. Hartley, Jr.
people, I truly believe that we by this summer. In addition,
will get through this difficult we continue to make progress
time in the near future. on the construction of the new
CHI School Nurses Bring Inspiration to the
South Florida Community
Nurse Syndia Jean-Baptist Simmons-Little was called into a K-8 School to keep our next
sobbed when she received her classroom where she found the generations well and healthy,”
ACTion Hero Award alongside teacher unresponsive with her said Simmons-Little.
fellow school-based nurses, eyes opened and no pulse. Nurse Norma Carrasco also
Norma Carrasco and Bethany “It is very hard to find yourself had to act quickly when she
Simmons-Little, at Community in a situation like that,” said was called to the courtyard
Health of South Florida, Inc by Simmons-Little. “The school of Braddock Holmes High
the CEO, Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. was counting on me to save this School. She found a student,
The emotional wounds were still woman’s life.” who appeared gray in color,
raw. Just two weeks prior, Jean- She rapidly began chest choking on a piece of chicken.
Baptist found herself performing compressions as a police officer “The school staff had already
CPR on her former high school utilized the Automated External attempted to dislodge the
teacher at Homestead Middle Defibrillator (AED). chicken from the student’s
School on February 26th. airway before I got there,” said
“When paramedics arrived, they
“When I arrived, I noticed he determined she had a massive Carrasco. “My first thought
was slumped over in a chair with heart attack,” said Simmons- was to apply the Heimlich
agonal breathing and gasping Little. “I almost thought I lost her.” maneuver to help him.”
sounds,” said Jean-Baptist. “I Carrasco’s quick thinking
quickly gave directive to call 911.” The teacher was admitted to the
ICU at Jackson South Hospital saved the boy’s life.
The teacher did not have a and is slowly recovering. After a “I am very happy to say that
pulse and was placed on the successful surgery, she remains he is doing very well, and
floor where Nurse Jean-Baptist stable and alert. there was no need to call 911,”
began chest compressions until said Carrasco.
fire rescue arrived. Very quickly, “I am so thankful that I can be
paramedics began further of help for those at Leisure City
measures to save the teacher
who was having a massive
heart attack.
“I just knew I had to give my
everything to save his life,”
she said.
Once he was breathing on his
own again, the teacher was
transferred to Jackson South
Hospital. He survived for 9 days,
just enough time for him to see
his family again. Unfortunately,
he later passed away after
another heart attack.
“It’s still very hard for me to
process all of this,” said Jean-
Baptist. “I am happy to know
that I did all I could to give him
another chance.”
Nurse Bethany Simmons-Little
also experienced a similar
case on February 18th when
she saved a female teacher at
Leisure City K-8 School. School-based nurses (left to right) Norma Carrasco, Syndia Jean-Baptist, and
Bethany Simmons-Little stand together as they receive their ACTion Hero Awards.
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CHI Team Member Appointed to
National Homeless Council Board
The National Health Care for Hines oversees CHI’s Mobile Medical
the Homeless Council (NHCHC) Van and outreach team designated
appointed a Community Health to provide greater access to care
of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) team in the community. The van visits
member to its national board. local homeless camps every week
Eunice Hines, Director of Migrant to provide primary care, pediatrics,
Health and Outreach Services, behavioral health services, and
said she is excited to serve in this other resources.
capacity.
“The mobile medical van has
Hines has been with CHI since reached people experiencing
2007, ensuring the migrant homelessness who have not been
and homeless community receives to the doctor in years,” said Hines.
adequate health and social “Some were diagnosed and treated
services. for chronic illnesses.”
“As part of the NHCHC board, I will Despite the trying times, CHI was
work to improve homeless health also able to offer COVID-19 testing
care through training assistance, in homeless encampments within
sharing best practices, and uplifting the community and is expecting
Eunice Hines – Director of Migrant Health
the voices of people experiencing to do the same with the vaccine & Outreach Services
homelessness.” distribution.
Hines has facilitated numerous “We are always looking for different
efforts at CHI to assist the homeless ways to help our community,” said
community in South Florida. Hines. “We even provided care
packs filled with personal supplies.”
Connect with us online
(305) 252-4820 | www.chisouthfl.org
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