News & Updates

September 15, 2014

POLITICS 

Bitter, Expensive Race For Florida Governor Kicks In  TALLAHASEE (CBSMiami) – With just about two months to go until the general election, the bitter and expensive race to be Florida’s next governor is kicking into gear. 

Florida Legislature Approves Redrawn Voting Map  Changes Passed by GOP-Controlled Legislature Would Alter Seven of State's 27 Congressional Districts 

Florida Legislature sets schedule for 2015 session  Incoming Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli has notified members of which weeks to block out of their schedules leading up to the 2015 session. 

At 23, she's youngest woman elected to Florida Legislature  In the final days before Tuesday's election, voters in Florida House District 31 got campaign mail aimed at thwarting 23-year-old Jennifer Sullivan, who had surged past her much older and better-financed opponents. 

Florida to suffer most for not expanding Medicaid, studies show  Of the two dozen states that rejected the Medicaid expansion, Florida will lose out on the most federal health care money for the poor, according to two nonprofit policy research groups that support the Affordable Care Act. 

WellCare, Centene Medicaid Winners  With the multi-billion-dollar, four-month enroll-a-thon for Florida’s Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program now complete, totals show WellCare Health Plans still on top.  

SURGEONS 

Cardiothoracic Surgeon James F. Symes Passes Away  James F. Symes, M.D., professor of surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, passed away on Sunday, August 31, on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, his favorite place, after a long battle with prostate cancer. 

Florida hospital first in state to implant ‘world’s smallest’ pacemaker’  Cardiologists at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville said they were the first in the state of Florida to implant the worlds’ smallest pacemaker, developed by Medtronic

Florida Plastic Surgeon Dispels Misinformation About Labiaplasty  Dr. Robert Rothfield of Weston Plastic Surgery Discusses Common Misconceptions About Labial Reduction and Helps Clarify Which Patients Make Good Candidates for the Procedure 

Surgeon says robotic surgery study done too soon to draw conclusions  New York-based study: Robotic surgery for bladder cancer no better than open surgery 

EndoGastric Solutions Announces Publication of Comparative Results for TIF Procedure vs. Traditional Anti-Reflux Surgery Techniques  TIF procedure patients experienced similar reduction in reflux symptom resolution with significantly reduced operative times compared to Nissen or Toupet fundoplication techniques 

'I want to look normal': Army vet whose facial hair was burned off by a roadside bomb gets a beard for the first time in 10 years after transplant  For the first time in more than a decade, Army veteran Joseph Jones was able to recognize bits of his old face in the mirror following a eight-hour procedure to repair damage to his face sustained by a roadside bomb.

Watkinson Rolls Perfect Games After Dr. Moyles’ Surgery  He cut his main wrist tendon, the whole pinky tendon and the main artery, losing a lot of blood in the process. When Daniel rushed to the Palm Bay Hospital emergency room, First Choice Medical Group’s Dr. Kyle Moyles was on call – and Daniel’s parents are so glad that he was. 

EDUCATION 

College Of Medicine Earns Prestigious Grant For Professional Assessment Using A Mobile App  A UCF mobile app that will be used to assess the professionalism of medical students and residents has received a prestigious grant from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation’s Institute on Medicine

“Who We Are” Campaign Celebrates Diversity, Inclusion  In an effort to celebrate the College of Medicine’s diverse and inclusionary values, the medical school has begun a “Who We Are” campaign highlighting faculty, staff and students. “Who We Are” posters went up the first week of school and highlight participants cultural and demographic backgrounds, what they value about diversity and inclusion and how they practice it. 

Neuroscientists Make Huge Strides Toward Solving the Mysteries of the Teenage Brain  While many parents have simply given up on trying to understand their teenagers, neuroscientists aren't ready to throw in the towel quite yet. 

UF Health Shands Children's Hospital Ribbon Cutting (5 photos)  It's an exciting day at UF Health! Today marks the grand opening of the UF Health Shands Children's Hospital. Enjoy these photos if the ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Miller School Introduces Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Program  The Miller School of Medicine, recognizing the need to educate a new generation of physicians in the growing complexities of medical care, has introduced the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program. 

UM Neurological Surgeons to Lead Florida Neurosurgical Society  Two faculty members from the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Neurological Surgery have been elected to leadership roles in the Florida Neurosurgical Society. Ricardo J. Komotar, M.D., assistant professor of neurological surgery, and Eric Peterson, M.D., assistant professor of neurological surgery, have been selected as President and President-Elect, respectively, for the upcoming year. 

HOSPITALS 

Cleveland Clinic Florida approved by Medicare for liver and kidney transplants  Cleveland Clinic Florida has received approval to bill Medicare for liver and kidney transplants. The stamp of approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services means that Medicare beneficiaries in Palm Beach County who need a transplant now have an option closer to home.

Hospitals find ways to save blood during open heart surgery  COLUMBIA (WACH) --- Harriet White has a new aortic valve, a new lease on life and she’s feeling great, even though she just had open-heart surgery. 

Florida hospital charged exorbitant fees for scans, X-rays, lawsuit claims  TAMPA — A pair of unrelated car wrecks in South Florida last year has resulted in what may be a far-reaching lawsuit filed in Tampa. The suit accuses a holding company that owns 80 hospitals across the state, including several in the Tampa area, of grossly overcharging for medical services. 

Central Florida hospitals hit in security breach  Data from 4.5 million Community Health Systems patients stolen

Parrish, Health First in running for Volusia hospital  Two hospital systems in Brevard are seeking to expand their medical services to Volusia County.  Health First and Parrish Medical Center recently emerged as two of four providers that have submitted individual proposals to lease, purchase or partner with Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smryna Beach. 

South Florida hospital usage down in 2013  South Florida hospitals are seeking ways to lure new customers outside of their patient rooms as their inpatient volume continued declining in 2013. 

RURAL 

Retirements fueling doctor shortage in rural America  WASHINGTON | After two years as a medical school resident for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Aaron Rhyner sees 14 patients a day, works 50 to 80 hours a week and earns roughly $50,000 a year.

TELEMEDICINE 

Telemedicine boosts Florida Hospital’s ICU services  SEBRING — At the push of a button day or night, out-of-state intensive care physicians and critical care nurses are notified to monitor and view patients in the intensive care units at the Sebring and Lake Placid Florida Hospital 

MALPRACTICE 

Malpractice caps in flux in Florida  Less than 4 months after the Florida Supreme Court struck down the state’s wrongful death noneconomic damages cap, the fate of the state’s personal injury medical malpractice award limit may also be in jeopardy. 

Commentary: Time to reform Florida’s broken medical liability system  In 2013, nearly 19 million Floridians paid up to $40 billion per year in defensive medicine costs so that 75 medical malpractice cases could go to a jury trial to compensate 18 injured patients.

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