Ground Rounds May 2007 on Orlando Medical News

Ground Rounds May 2007

Florida Hospital and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Expand Agreements

Adventist Health System's Florida Hospital Division and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) have reached a new two-year agreement that will expand their current contract to include the BlueOptions (NetworkBlue) and BlueCare (HMO) plans at Florida Hospital's 17 hospitals, 16 Centra Care Urgent Care Centers and other ancillary providers in the 9-county central Florida region. Separate agreements have been completed with Florida Physicians Medical Group, Family Health Centers and Memorial Health System Physicians; participating providers in the network for these groups can be reviewed on the BCBSF online provider directory. The new agreements went into effect April 1, 2007.

BCBSF and Florida Hospital Orlando area facilities have had agreements in place for BlueChoice (PPO), Traditional Indemnity, Worker's Comp and Advantage65. Ten of Florida Hospital 's 17 hospitals have been participating in BCBSF's BlueCare (HMO) plan, but none of the Adventist Health System Florida hospitals, ancillaries or physicians have been participating with BlueOptions. With the expansion of the agreement, Florida Hospitals, ancillary providers and physicians are now in network for both BlueOptions and BlueCare lines of business; for all applicable operational licensed counties.

Wayne Weinberg is New President of Health Central Foundation

OCOEE — Wayne Weinberg accepted the position as the new President of the Health Central Foundation, leaving his former position as Director of College Relations for the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Central Florida (UCF). For over 15 years, Weinberg has been an integral member of the Central Florida business community holding several high-profile positions. Leadership roles in business, education, government and the media have given him a wide variety of opportunities and made him a recognizable and respected member of the Orlando business community.

Weinberg's primary role as the President of the Health Central Foundation will be to build mutually beneficial relationships with area businesses and donors in an effort to raise capital for the future expansion of Health Central medical center.

Prior to joining UCF, Wayne Weinberg was the President of the largest Chamber in Seminole County, the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Nemours Files Third Application For Orlando Childrens Hospital

Recently, Nemours submitted its third Certificate of Need (CON) application for a proposed childrens hospital in Orlando to the State of Floridas Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA). A decision is expected from the state in mid- June of this year.

This CON application articulates a comprehensive plan for an integrated pediatric health care system that includes clinical research, allied health training and education programs, and specialty clinical services delivered through a pediatric hospital, childrens clinic and ambulatory surgery center.

Nemours first two applications were denied by the state in June and December of 2006 and Nemours is currently appealing the states decision of the second application.

This application includes letters of support from the University of Central Florida and the Burnham Research Institute. It also includes proclamations of support from more than 20 local municipalities, including Orange County and the City of Orlando, and community organizations.

This application reflects the Lake Nona area as the site for the proposed childrens health care campus, which has earned Nemours conditional support from the areas two community hospital systems.

Nemours Grows Central Florida Research Opportunties With New Sleep Center Opening

Nemours, one of the nation's largest children's health systems, announces the opening of its new sleep center at 496 South Delaney Avenue, Suite 408.

This new facility will double the current patient capacity of the existing facility, allowing for more patients to be evaluated in Central Florida as well as providing critical access to sleep researchers. The center is used by physicians from Nemours to diagnose and provide treatment to pediatric patients with sleep disorders.

The recently constructed facility will double the number of patients that can be monitored overnight by adding two additional beds for a total of four. On any given night, a patient and his/her respective parent, arrive at the lab by 7:00 p.m. to prepare for the diagnostic testing that will evaluate brain waves, breathing patterns and other key muscle movements. The studies last between six and eight hours and are conducted by polysomnographers, known as sleep technicians. These technicians are registered respiratory therapists who also capture audio and video of the patients that will then be evaluated by physicians. Many children suffer from sleep disorders that are caused by physical airway obstructions, muscle weakness, asthma and other ailments. These sleep disturbances can lead to additional health problems, a poor quality of life, behavioral problems as well as poor performance in school. According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2004 "Sleep in America Poll," almost one in five preschool and school age children snore as the result of some form of sleep disordered breathing. Some sleep irregularities, if discovered in childhood, can be diagnosed early and treated effectively before causing life-threatening or life-altering problems in adulthood. The Nemours Clinical Management Program (NCMP) guides sleep disorder research at the center in order to establish better standards of care and evidence based practices that will improve testing, diagnosis and treatment for patients.

McCree Begins Construction Of Temporary Burnham Institute Facility

McCree Designed and Built Right! has started construction on the design- build project of the temporary Orlando facility for the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham). This interior renovation project is located in the headquarters building of Florida's Blood Centers (FBC) at 8669 Commodity Circle, and consists of 10,138 square feet.

Demolition is underway and construction will begin next week. Completion of these temporary facilities is expected as early as July of this year. The space includes offices, a conference room, and laboratories that will serve Burnham's immediate needs until permanent headquarters are built in the new medical city at Lake Nona in 2009. Burnham's Orlando campus will focus on drug discovery research and allow expanding Burnham's research on diabetes, cancer and other related diseases.

This project requires tremendous coordination on McCree's part because FBC's top officials are on the same floor. McCree is taking all necessary steps to ensure a smooth construction period.

"We're very excited about the opportunity to share space with an organization as prestigious as Burnham," Anne Chinoda, FBC president and CEO said. "With the level of work they do, we now have an opportunity to collaborate on new blood research that will have an impact on this community and others around the world for generations to come."

Colon & Rectal Surgeon Dr. Matthew Albert Acquires Associated Colon & Rectal Surgeons, P.A.

Matthew Albert, MD has acquired Associated Colon & Rectal Surgeons, P.A. located in Winter Park.

Dr. Albert, a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, specializes in laparoscopic surgery for treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease as well as for cancer of the colon and rectum. He is board certified in general surgery and colon and rectal surgery and a Fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Albert currently serves as the chief investigator and lead clinician in a new minimally invasive hemorrhoid treatment performed at Florida Hospital's Digestive Health Center. He is training other physicians in the United States interested in learning the procedure that treats hemorrhoids quickly, effectively and with minimal pain

Seminole County Medical Society Welcomes New Executive Director

Lillian Reyes is the new Seminole County Medical Society Executive Director.

Reyes brings to the Society over 17 years of experience in a Corporate and Hospital setting, with particular focus on Operations. Her background encompasses training and educating staff on HIPAA regulations and compliance, as well as Human Resource practices and personnel supervision. The last position she held was as Regional Area Manager for an outsourcing company within medical records.

May 2007