American Heart guide helps drive Wuesthoff`s success in cardiac

Transcription

American Heart guide helps drive Wuesthoff`s success in cardiac
BBN
Vol. 25 No. 2
January 8, 2007
Brevard
Business
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A Weekly Space Coast Publication
American Heart guide
helps drive Wuesthoff’s
success in cardiac care
By Ken Datzman
ROCKLEDGE — Not long after the
American Heart Association rolled out its
“Get with the Guidelines” national–
standards program a few years ago,
Doreen Woods, vice president of quality
and resource management for Wuesthoff
Health System, embraced it in a big way.
“I went to Dr. (Eugene) Killeavy and
asked for his help to get it off the
ground,” she said about the GWTG
coronary–artery disease program that
the hospital implemented. It has helped
lift the organization to new levels of
success in cardiac care.
The physician adviser to Wuesthoff’s
quality and outcomes committee, Dr.
Killeavy is with Brevard Cardiology
Group. “Where I became active was as a
mouthpiece for the program,” he said.
Coronary heart disease is the No. 1
killer of males and females in America.
It’s also the leading cause of premature,
permanent disability in the U.S. labor
force, accounting for 19 percent of
disability allowances by the Social
Security Administration.
Over the past two years, Wuesthoff
Rockledge implemented the GWTG
coronary–artery disease standards, as
did Wuesthoff Melbourne.
The quality–improvement program
encourages hospitals to consistently treat
and discharge cardiac patients according
to evidence–based prevention guidelines
of the American College of Cardiology
and the American Heart Association.
More specifically, GWTG is designed
to close the treatment gap and reduce
disparities in the acute care and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The program emphasizes protocols
created to ensure cardiovascular patients
are cared for according to nationally
accepted standards, as opposed to
community–to–community standards,
which can vary.
“Today,” says Woods, a registered
nurse and graduate of Ohio State
University, “with these guidelines in
place no matter where you live in the
U.S. the expectation of care is the same,
which is great for the patient.”
Under the coronary–artery disease
program, patients are started on aggressive risk–reduction therapies such as
cholesterol–lowering drugs, aspirin,
ACE–inhibitors and beta–blockers while
See Wuesthoff Health System, page 19
BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth
Over the past two years, Wuesthoff implemented the American Heart Association’s ‘Get with the
Guidelines’ program at its two hospitals. Wuesthoff is well above the national average in using these life–
saving standards (for example, giving aspirin to a heart–attack patient to reduce the tendency of blood
to clot). Dr. Eugene Killeavy of Brevard Cardiology is the physician adviser to Wuesthoff’s quality and
outcomes committee. Doreen Woods is V.P. of quality and resource management, Wuesthoff.
Popular doctors find it hard to retire these days
By Tracy Correa
Scripps Howard Service
questions about whether older doctors,
particularly surgeons who still take on
complicated medical procedures, produce
worse outcomes than their younger
peers. And with no mandatory retirement age for doctors, questions are
increasingly being raised about when
they should retire.
A study in the September “Annals of
Surgery” examined Medicare files on
461,000 patients who had one of eight
complicated and high–risk operations,
including heart bypass and partial lung
removal. In five of the eight, researchers
found the surgeons’ age made no difference in outcome. However, in three
procedures — pancreas removal, heart
bypass and surgery to clear plaque from
blocked arteries — patients of surgeons
Please see Doctors, page 16
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Dr. Leo Shishmanian, a 75–year–old
Fresno, Calif., radiologist, retired once,
but it ended up being more like a hiatus.
In 1999, he stopped working and
traveled with his wife. Three years ago,
he was asked by colleagues at Saint
Agnes Medical Center to interpret X–
rays on a part–time basis. He now does
the same for Kaiser Permanente’s
Fresno Medical Center, working about
three days a week between the two
hospitals, sometimes more.
Dr. Shishmanian said a shortage of
medical specialists in Fresno — as well
as the rest of the central San Joaquin
Valley — is one reason he feels compelled
to work.
Dr. Norman Sigel, 71, who specializes
in internal medicine, is also still going
strong. So is Dr. Bernard Freeburg, a 72–
year–old gynecologist. Both maintain
busy Fresno practices.
“I wouldn’t be there if they didn’t need
me,” Dr. Shishmanian said. “As long as
you can see well and your brain is
working, you can continue to work in
radiology.”
Increasingly, doctors are working
beyond traditional retirement age —
mostly because they want to and often
because they feel guilty about abandoning their patients.
Figures from the American Medical
Association show that more than 18
percent of licensed doctors in 2004 were
65 and older — up from 16 percent in
1993 and 13 percent in 1975.
But several studies have raised
BBN
PEOPLE
Harry Brandon joins Florida Tech board
Florida Business Bank
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Harry Brandon has been named a member of the
Florida Tech Board of Trustees. A South Brevard real–
estate investor, Brandon is a past vice president of
marketing for Harris Corp. and has 26 years experience in computer marketing and marketing management. He led worldwide marketing for the Controls
Division and Composition Systems Division at Harris,
following careers at Control Data, UNIVAC and
University Computing. He left Harris in 1982 to start
his own commercial real–estate investing business in
Brevard County. The income–producing properties in
Melbourne, which he and his wife Wendy have
acquired and developed include: The 1900 Building,
Wickham Center, the Prospect Office Center,
Westgate Center and the Melbourne Harbor Suites
Hotel. Their initial focus was to renovate older
properties in high–visibility locations. Currently, their
business emphasizes selling some high–visibility
properties in exchange for warehouse and distribution
properties. Brandon earned a bachelor’s degree in
communications from the University of Washington.
He was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the
Founders Forum in 2005. “We are very fortunate to
have Mr. Brandon on our board. He is well known for
giving back to the community and we look forward to
his giving us the benefit of his tremendous knowledge
and talents,” said Florida Tech President Dr. Anthony
Catanese.
Humane Society announces new officers
The Central Brevard Humane Society has announced its newly elected officers. Longtime resident
and businessowner Rick Stottler, president and
chairman of Stottler Stagg & Associates, Architects,
Engineers, Planners Inc., has been named president of
the CBHS board. Stottler, an “avid animal enthusiast,” has supported many volunteer organizations in
the community over the years. Joining Stottler on the
executive committee of CBHS are attorney Tim
Bradley, vice president; Karen Lee of the YMCA,
treasurer; and Sandi Roberts of Vitas Hospice,
secretary. “These individuals bring the highest level of
dedication and community involvement to the Central
Brevard Humane Society,” said Theresa Clifton,
CBHS executive director. “We are proud to have them
and the other members of our board who continue the
practice of protecting homeless animals started by the
community leaders that founded this organization
over 54 years ago.” For more information, call 636–
3343, extension 207, or visit www.crittersavers.com.
Whalen joins engineering–services team
Mark McCleary, president of Community Engineering Services, announces the addition of Rick Whalen
as a civil engineer in the Longwood office. Whalen is
responsible for project management and business
development for a variety of Central Florida projects.
Whalen has more than 25 years experience in water,
wastewater and utilities engineering, permitting,
project management and strategic planning. He
previously worked in land–development management
for a Central Florida homebuilder, as engineering
manager for Lakeland Water Utilities, and as project
manager for a large international environmental
engineering company. Whalen has a degree in civil/
environmental engineering from the University of
Florida and is a registered Florida professional
engineer. Community Engineering Services was
founded in 1993 by McCleary and is headquartered
in Fort Myers. For more information, visit
www.communityengineeringonline.com.
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 2
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JANUARY 8, 2007
JANUARY 8, 2007
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 3
BBN
EDITORIAL
Genetic modification turns plant virus into delivery vehicle
By Tom Nordlie
A plant–destroying virus farmers call one of their
worst enemies may soon be an ally in the fight against
crop pests and mosquitoes, say University of Florida
researchers.
Scientists genetically modified tobacco mosaic virus
so that it produces a natural, environmentally friendly
insecticide, turning the pathogen into a microscopic
chemical factory, said Dov Borovsky, an entomologist
with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
The modified virus is almost completely harmless to
plants and simply produces the insecticide.
Plants inoculated with the virus quickly accumulate
enough of the insecticide to kill insect pests that
consume their leaves, said Borovsky, who works at the
Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach
and is affiliated with UF’s Genetics Institute. Once
harvested, the plants can be processed to make mosquito control products.
A study using the modified virus in tobacco plants
was published in the journal “Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences.” An extract from the
plants was used to kill mosquito larvae. The study was
conducted by a research team that included personnel
from UF, the University of Virginia and the Catholic
University of Leuven in Belgium.
“This is the first time we know of that anybody put
on tobacco mosaic virus something that actually can act
as an insecticide and protect the plant,” said Borovsky,
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Ken Datzman
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Brevard Business News is published every Monday by
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business executives in Brevard County. It reports on
news, trends and ideas of interest to industry, trade,
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lead author of the paper. Tobacco mosaic virus is
commonly used in genetic research because genes can
be added to it easily.
The chemical, known as trypsin–modulating oostatic
factor, or TMOF, stops insects from producing a crucial
digestive enzyme called trypsin, he said. Like tobacco
mosaic virus, TMOF has no effect on people. But it can
cause insects to starve to death, unable to draw nutrients from food.
Tobacco mosaic virus was the first virus ever
formally identified by scientists, said Charles Powell, a
plant pathologist with UF’s Indian River Research and
Education Center in Fort Pierce and a co–author of the
study. Formally described in the early 20th century, its
effects were well known to farmers long before. Plants
infected with the pathogen develop telltale discoloration,
lose leaves and often die.
Though notorious for attacking tobacco and other
plants in the solanaceae family — including tomatoes,
eggplants, bell peppers and potatoes — the virus
threatens eight other plant families. The bright side,
Powell said, is that the modified virus can protect any of
those plants.
“The virus has a very broad host range so it can be
used for very many plants,” he said. “You can’t use it for
monocotyledonous plants like corns and grasses. But
many of the other broad–leafed plants, including many
fruits and vegetables, could potentially be used with it.”
Because the virus multiplies, only a small dose is
needed in each plant to get the job started. Viruses
reproduce by injecting their nucleic acid into the host
organism’s cells, then directing the cell machinery to
make components needed for new virus particles.
Finally, the components assemble themselves and
leave, seeking new cells to infect.
The virus reproduces well in plants, but it cannot
replicate itself from one generation of plant to another,
Powell said. Because crop plants inoculated with the
virus will not pass along the TMOF–making properties
to their seeds, farmers would need to inoculate their
crops each year.
“That is an advantage for companies to market it
because they get profit off of it every single year,” he
said. “It also has the advantage you don’t have to worry
about environmental problems because it’s not carried
over in the environment.”
The modified tobacco mosaic virus produces TMOF
in the protein coating its exterior. So inoculated plants
accumulate more TMOF every time the virus reproduces.
When insects eat the plants, they also consume
TMOF; death can occur within 72 hours, if the insect is
vulnerable. The exact range of pests susceptible to
TMOF appears to be broad. There are two types of
enzyme systems insects use to digest food; one includes
trypsin, and all species with this system may be harmed
by TMOF.
Crop pests proven vulnerable to TMOF include the
tobacco budworm and citrus root weevil, Powell said.
Mosquitoes and several other blood–feeding insects are
also susceptible.
To make mosquito control agents, plants that had
accumulated large amounts of TMOF would be processed to extract the chemical and reduce it to a powder,
he said. The powder could be used in sprays to kill adult
mosquitoes, and mixed into baits that target mosquito
larvae, which live in standing water and eat decaying
plant material.
UF holds 14 patents on TMOF technologies, some of
which have been licensed to private companies,
Borovsky said. He discovered TMOF, a hormone
produced by female mosquitoes’ ovaries, years ago and
has researched the chemical ever since.
Scientists plan to investigate further practical
applications of TMOF, he said. “TMOF works against
the diaprepes citrus root weevil, it causes a lot of
problems here in Florida,” Borovsky said.
UF researchers have produced genetically modified
alfalfa plant that generates TMOF, he said. Because the
weevil eats alfalfa, farmers may one day protect citrus
trees simply by growing patches of the modified crop
nearby. They could also introduce the TMOF–producing
gene into citrus roots.
Tobacco mosaic virus might be suitable for delivering
other insecticides, Powell said. Similar viruses that
naturally occur in other plant species might also be
modified for beneficial use.
William Dawson, a UF eminent scholar of plant
pathology at the Citrus Research and Education Center
in Lake Alfred, developed the method used to put the
TMOF–producing gene into tobacco mosaic virus.
“The TMOF is really just a prototype, there’s many
other things we may be able to use Bill’s system to
introduce into a plant,” Powell said. “This is an example
of something that can be done that may have many
different applications for many different genes in many
different plants.”
The UF study is more evidence that careful application of biotechnology continues to create opportunities
for American agriculture, said Mace Thornton, a
spokesman for the American Farm Bureau Federation
in Washington, D.C.
“While crops enhanced through biotechnology to
control pests without pesticide applications is not, in
itself, new, having another technology such as this in
research and development will help provide more
options for feeding the world while protecting the
environment,” Thornton said.
Webster awards $3,000 in scholarships
Webster University has awarded three scholarships to students pursuing their master’s degrees in Brevard
County. The scholarships are valued at more than $3,000. Kristen Naugle and Gail Larson, who attend the Merritt
Island campus, are enrolled in Webster’s counseling program. This program offers students options to qualify to
become either a licensed mental–health counselor or a school–guidance counselor. Applications for this program are
currently being accepted for the March 2007 term. The third scholarship winner, Paula Enoch, attends Webster’s
Patrick Air Force Base campus and is enrolled in the management and leadership program. The students were
awarded tuition for the spring 2007 term that begins Jan. 6. Alumni and members of the advisory board provided
the money for these scholarships. The students will use their scholarships in conjunction with financial aid available through the university to finance their graduate programs. Webster University offers graduate–degree
programs designed for the working professional at more than 100 campuses worldwide. In Brevard, Webster offers
graduate classes in Merritt Island, Palm Bay and at Patrick Air Force Base, as well as on–site for badged employees at Northrop Grumman Corp. in Melbourne. For more information, call 449–4500 or visit www.webster.edu/
spacecoast.
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JANUARY 8, 2007
BBN
DIGEST
Symposium at Embry–Riddle
to chart CRM’s future direction
DAYTONA BEACH — Embry–Riddle Aeronautical
University will convene the 2007 Crew Resource
Management Vectors Symposium from Feb. 27 to
March 1 at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach.
The symposium will be a series of workshops
designed to chart the future of crew resource management (CRM) for the aviation and space industries.
CRM is a management system that makes optimal
use of all available resources — equipment, people and
procedures — to promote safety and enhance the
efficiency of flight operations. It combines communications, decision–making, problem–solving, situational
awareness, and teamwork.
The symposium will unite global representatives
from industry, government and academe to focus on
CRM training today and its challenges in the future.
“Numerous new initiatives are being pursued, but
very little cross–talk is occurring in the global CRM
movement,” says Tim Brady, dean of the College of
Aviation at Embry–Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus,
which is hosting the event. “This symposium will offer
stakeholders a sterling opportunity to reach consensus
as to which way CRM should evolve and how to engender such development.”
Participants will engage in facilitated workshops and
then gather in teams to write action plans for CRM’s
future. “We consider participants to be research
cartographers who are collaborating to chart the future
of CRM,” says Cass Howell, chair of the aeronautical
science department.
“We have created a collaborative means for achieving
consensus among a very diverse group of global CRM
stakeholders,” adds Antonio Cortés, assistant professor
of aeronautical science, who designed the symposium’s
interactive approach.
The symposium will let those who “live and breathe
CRM” be the ones who determine its future, says
Timothy Plunkett, assistant professor of aeronautical
science and co–chair of the event’s organizing committee. “The word ‘vectors’ in the event’s title alludes to the
fact that the future of CRM may be different for each
corner of the aerospace industry. CRM training for a
VLJ pilot may show little resemblance to that of an A–
380 flight attendant or the astronauts on the new Crew
Exploration Vehicle,” he says.
After the symposium, Embry–Riddle will coordinate
implementation of the action plans. The next CRM
Vectors Symposium will review the progress made by
previous participants with their action plans and adjust
the plans as necessary.
To register for the event, go to www.erau.edu/crm.
Embry–Riddle, the world’s largest, fully–accredited
university specializing in aviation and aerospace, offers
more than 30 degree programs.
Beginner’s computer classes in Titusville
A six–week beginner’s computer class will be offered
at the Isaac Campbell Senior Community Center in
Titusville on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10 to
11:30 a.m. The program gets under way Jan. 8. The
instruction will cover the basics of how a computer
works, identification of computer parts, and how to use
the system. There is no fee for the class but registration
is required by calling 264–5040. Also starting Jan. 8, the
computer lab will be open for use by the public, Mondays through Thursdays, 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. The
Campbell Center is at 701 South St. It is operated by
the Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department.
JANUARY 8, 2007
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BBN
DIGEST
Pendulum begins to swing back
to full–service travel agents
By Jay Cook
Industry and commerce always used travel agents
for their business travel, but with the advent of the
Internet and the creation of Web–based, cut–price–
travel companies such as Travelocity and others, agents
have been abandoned. The benefits to companies are
relatively obvious, low–price, no–frills travel.
The down side hit the travel agents first. Airlines
found they could save the commission they traditionally
paid to travel agents by dealing directly with the travel
public via their Web sites. In addition, the big online
travel companies demanded lower prices for their
clients. These on–line travel agents make their money
from advertising and related commissions from car hire,
hotels and cruise lines. This has caused the corner
travel companies to systematically close down and die.
The pendulum is beginning to swing back a little to
full–service travel agents for the business sector. Now,
after some experiences with employees booking their
own travel, companies are realizing that the service
offered by a travel agent can save money and be a
significant asset to their bottom line.
Let’s consider the pros and cons of each method to
book some business travel and relate it to “Murphy’s
Law” of what can go wrong. It’s when things go wrong,
or you need a change of plans, that highlights the
benefits of a good travel agent and the disadvantages of
“on–line cheap travel.”
The lowest price, no–frills travel means exactly that.
l Generally, the lowest price means that the ticket is
non–transferable and not refundable. We know that a
business manager often has to change a schedule.
Sometimes even getting back to the airport early will
not allow a traveler to switch to an earlier flight to get
home. Late arrivals to the airport are typically met with
a blank stare from the airline.
l Bad weather frequently impacts travel in winter.
Under these circumstances the airline is not responsible
for any compensation, alternate travel or assistance
with hotels for an unscheduled hotel stopover; you are
on your own.
l When booking a flight and hotel online giving
credit–card details, you are immediately billed, even if
your flight is weeks or months into the future.
l How much time does an employee spend on the
Internet reviewing the endless options? Then when he
finds one that fits the schedule, there is no time to get
approval of travel plans or ponder options. Wait
minutes and the price will change.
How does a full–service travel agent differ from this
scenario?
l Air–travel tickets can be held for 24 hours by the
travel agent while the employee gets approval for the
travel cost from a supervisor. Booking online, is commit
buy or lose.
l Hotel bookings are not pre–billed, you pay the hotel
when you stay.
l When things go wrong, there is a 24/7, toll–free
800–number to contact for help for any facet of your
travel.
l The travel agent can get the same or better prices
than the Web– based companies.
l Get regular reports of the company travel.
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Jay Cook is manager of Atlas Travel,
www.atlastrav, a full–service agency, in
Melbourne.
JANUARY 8, 2007
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BBN
DIGEST
Florida Tech student idea
well received at conference
Michael Adderley, a Florida Tech senior and electrical engineering major from Nassau, Bahamas, has won
third place and a $1,500 cash prize in the National
Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO) annual
Business Idea Pitching Contest held as part of the
annual conference.
Adderley’s winning pitch is also his senior–design
project, mandatory for graduation and a bachelor’s
degree. The project, “interact,” is a wireless device to
provide an instructor with continuous and interactive
classroom feedback. The system contains a receiver,
software and a TV remote–like transmitter.
For example, the professor in a physics class of about
50 students wants to know how well the students
understand the lesson. The professor asks a multiple–
choice question with four answer options. Students can
press A, B, C or D on their personal transmitters. The
receiver accepts the signals and the software displays
the result in a pie chart.
“Studies show that a system such as this can
increase class participation and enhance learning,” said
Adderley.
Carolyn Fausnaugh, Florida Tech assistant professor
of strategy and new ventures, said that Adderley
worked very hard at the local business idea generation
pitching contest held twice each year at Florida Tech.
“He took what he learned from the judges of the local
competition, reworked his pitch and practiced extensively,” she said. “He also sought out experts at the
national conference who continued helping him work on
his pitch. He was a credit to the university.”
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BCC offers study–abroad program
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Brevard Community College will host “Europe at
Leisure,” a 15–day study–abroad trip July 16–30. The
price is $3,026 for individuals age 23 and under, and
$3,466 for travelers age 23 and older. Participants will
learn about England, France, Switzerland and Italy,
and can earn three credits in humanities by combining
the BCC classroom experience with the two–week trip
abroad. A $95 registration fee must be received by
March 1. Payment in full is due April 1. For a description of the program, prices, dates, itinerary and a photo
album, visit www.brevardcc.edu/studyabroad/. To
request an application for the program, call Cindy
Donahue at 433–5657 or Phil Simpson at 433–5194.
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Bright Star Center to host classes
Hospice of Health First’s Bright Star Center for
Grieving Children and Families is offering a group class
for youngsters ages 3 and 4, and their caregivers who
have lost a significant person in their lives. The group
classes will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 9, and run for four
consecutive Tuesdays, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The goal is
to help the parent/caregiver become comfortable
supporting their grieving child through activities, play
and talking. “Death can be a traumatizing experience
for children and their surviving parents. Young children
relate best to those adults who care for them and our
goal is to help those adults help their children get
through the grieving process,” said Cynthia Koppler,
director of the Bright Star Center for Grieving Children
and Families. Space is limited to four families. For more
information or to register, call the Bright Star Center at
733–7672 or 952–0494. The Bright Star Center is at 300
E. New Haven Ave. in Melbourne.
JANUARY 8, 2007
BBN
DIGEST
Parrish Web site earns
eHealthcare recognition
TITUSVILLE — Parrish Medical Center was
recently notified that its Web site,
www.parrishmed.com, earned a 2006 eHealthcare
Leadership Platinum Award for Best Site Design.
Sites receiving the 2006 eHealthcare Leadership
Awards were selected from more than 1,100 entries.
One–hundred individuals familiar with health care and
the Internet judged the entries.
Parrish Medical Center enlisted the expertise of
Caxiam Group, a Web–development group based in
Winter Park, Fla. “The utmost challenge for us creatively was to accurately convey an online environment
similar to the hospital environment PMC offers its
patients. Therefore, it was imperative for our design to
mirror the hospital’s philosophy that environment plays
an integral role in the healing of the mind, body and
spirit,” said Eric Sharp, director of design and co–
founder of Caxiam Group.
“What’s clearly evident this year is the number of
outstanding sites,” says Mark Gothbert, eHealthcare
Leadership Awards chairman.
Winners of platinum, gold, silver and distinction
awards represented 17 industry classifications from
hospitals and health systems to pharmaceutical firms
and online health companies. Awards were given in 12
different categories: Best Site Design, Best Interactive,
Best Health/Healthcare Content, Best e–Business, Best
Care/Disease Management, Best Rich Media, Best Staff
Recruitment, Best Quality Communication, Best
Community Benefit Communications, Best overall
Internet Site, Best Intranet Site, and eHealth Organizational Commitment.
Judges looked at how sites compared with others in
their organization’s classification. They also reviewed
sites based on a proprietary multi–point standard of
Internet excellence.
The eHealthcare Leadership Awards program was
developed and first presented seven years ago by
eHealthcare Strategy & Trends, a leading Internet
resource published by Health Care Communications of
Rye, N.Y.
Look who’s
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With Health First Health Plans,
C.J. and his family enjoy:
• 20% lower premiums than other
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• Access to more than 750 of
Brevard’s board-certified physicians,
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• Doctor visits – even to network
specialists – with no referral
• Customer service that’s personalized
and local
Dr. Elder appointed to Logistics Society post
Dr. Catherine Elder of Florida Tech was named vice
president of communications for the International
Society of Logistics (SOLE). The appointment was made
at SOLE’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. She
is director of Florida Tech’s University College Extended
Studies Division at Hampton Roads in Fort Eustis, Va.
“Catherine Elder is the consummate educational
professional. She is an asset to University College and
the entire Florida Tech community. We admire her
tireless energy and dedication to academia,” said Dr.
Clifford Bragdon, dean of University College. Founded
in 1966, SOLE is a nonprofit international professional
society devoted to scientific, educational and literary
endeavors to enhance the art and science of logistics
technology, education and management. Membership is
open to individuals and companies working, studying or
interested in the career fields of logistics technology,
management, engineering, education, product support
and physical distribution. Additionally, Dr. Elder was
appointed to the Learning Technology Advisory Committee of the State Council of Higher Education for
Virginia. As a committee member, she will assist the
council with technology–enriched teaching and learning
initiatives. The appointment was announced by Daniel
LaVista, the council’s executive director.
JANUARY 8, 2007
For more information about the smart
choice for health coverage, contact
your insurance agent or call us today
at 321.434.4343.
Smart Plan.
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www.healthfirsthealthplans.org
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as filed with Florida’s OIR.
1136 (9/06)
Call Adrienne Roth at 951-7777 for Advertising Information
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 9
BBN
BUSINESS
‘Modern Healthcare’ names PMC as national winner of Spirit of
Excellence Award for service to patients and families; outpatient
campus in Port St. John one of first LEED–certified care facilities
By Ken Datzman
TITUSVILLE — Parrish Medical Center recently built an area on the first floor
of its four–year–old facility to showcase notable achievements the organization has
accomplished. The national honors have been coming at a good pace. The trophy room
begins to tell the story of how PMC has cultivated a loving–care culture and service–
driven environment at the 210–bed facility under the hand of President and CEO
George Mikitarian and the board of directors.
In 2006, PMC was voted America’s No. 1 Healing Hospital by the Baptist Healing
Trust of Nashville, Tenn. The Titusville hospital also was honored with the first
national Discovery Award from Healthcare Design magazine and the Starizon Group.
Additionally, PMC has been involved in the Center for Health Design’s Pebble
Project, the first national effort to scientifically study and measure the impact of
hospital design on health care, a cutting–edge undertaking.
“We are definitely scaling new heights under George Mikitarian’s leadership,”
said longtime educator Dr. Patricia Manning, vice chairperson of the PMC board of
directors and a resident of North Brevard for nearly 50 years. “He is a true leader;
a visionary who looks to the future and gets people to rally behind him. I am very
excited about our hospital and the honors we have received.”
Adds Billie Fitzgerald, who was appointed to the board in 2002 and is a 38–year
Titusville resident: “I am proud of this hospital and everything it’s doing for the
community. George is an outstanding leader. And employees like Natalie (Sellers,
director of communications and service excellence) have worked hard to compile
information in order for us to be considered for these honors. It’s been highly rewarding being on the board.”
A nine–person board of directors governs PMC. Members serve four–year terms.
Three directors are appointed by the county and three by the city, with three appointed jointly by the two entities.
A few weeks ago, “Modern Healthcare” magazine named PMC the national winner
of its 2006 Spirit of Excellence Award in the service category. The award has been
presented for 14 years. “Modern Healthcare” is the nation’s leading weekly health–
care business magazine. It presents the award with co–sponsor Sodexho. Awards are
given in five categories: Service Spirit, Quality Spirit, Community Service, Team
Spirit, and Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Enthusiasm and Service, or CARES.
“This is a significant award coming on top of our most recent honor by the Baptist
Healing Trust,” says Maureen Rupe, PMC board member. “Service is the cornerstone
of our mission. We are reaching out to the community and an example is the new
outpatient facility in Port St. John. We have an advisory panel there made up of
community leaders (with input from leaders in Canaveral Groves as well). This whole
experience has encouraged them and made them enthusiastic about health care.”
Mikitarian said PMC was notified a month or so ago that it was a finalist for the
Spirit of Excellence Award. The winners were announced the third week in December.
One day Mikitarian walked into his office to check his mail. “E–mails started coming
from around the country offering congratulations,” he said. “We were very excited.
This is the magazine’s highest honor. From the day our hospital opened every person
and program has been designed to bring a new level of service to the community.” He
says the PMC success story is a community–wide effort involving many organizations.
In an article in the Dec. 11 edition of “Modern Healthcare,” Spirit of Excellence
judge Larry Higgins, vice president of a medical center in Ashland, Ky., said of PMC:
“The multifaceted approach they’ve taken was impressive to me. It just wasn’t a
department that was pushing this service–excellence agenda. It seemed to be an
organizational effort.” Higgins was joined by three other judges on the panel.
Referencing the $80 million from–the–ground–up building that in 2002 replaced
the old PMC, “Modern Healthcare” wrote: “The new building met the center’s goal of
achieving the 93rd percentile in patient satisfaction, as ranked by Professional
Research Consultants, while 92 percent of employees in a Baptist Healing Trust
survey said the organization places a high importance on loving care, well above the
survey–wide average of 74 percent.” The patient–satisfaction score puts PMC in
the top 5 or 6 percent of hospitals nationwide. PMC’s employee–satisfaction survey,
also conducted by PRC, is even higher, around 94 or 95 percent.
Another PMC board member, Jerry Noffel, who was appointed in 2000, says he
has been in a number of hospitals around the nation, both as a patient and business
operator. “The best care I have ever received was at Parrish. And I don’t know if they
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 10
BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth
‘Modern Healthcare’ recently named PMC as national winner of its Spirit of Excellence Award for
Service. Over the past few years, PMC has earned a number of national honors in various health–
care competitions. PMC board members say they are very proud of the hospital’s growing visibility.
PMC built an area in the hospital to showcase its awards and honors. From left, board members are:
Dr. Patricia Manning, Billie Fitzgerald, Maureen Rupe and Jerry Noffel.
knew I was a board member or not. You could place these nurses in any hospital in
the nation and they would do an excellent job. I found their care to be remarkable.”
Noffel is a retired partner of a free–standing group of ambulatory surgery centers.
Before that, he was a hospital executive in Lexington, Ky.
According to an independent analysis by the Florida Organization of Nurses,
PMC has one of the best nurse–to–patient ratios in the state. “So this is a great place
for patients to receive care as well as nurses to work,” Mikitarian said. He adds, “It’s
a great work environment for nurses, which helps improve morale, which in turn,
improves retention. And when you improve retention you have a better chance of
providing consistent care and that improves quality.”
In Port St. John, PMC is building a 75,000–square–foot outpatient campus. It is
one of the first LEED–certified health–care facilities in the nation. LEED stands for
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The program, created by the
nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council, is a model of development and the environment working hand–in–hand. The facility is scheduled to be completed around June
2007, Mikitarian said. The advisory council in Port St. John named the facility,
helped determine which programs and services would be offered, and met the
physicians during the recruiting and hiring process. “It’s been a collaborative effort as
our organization has reached out to really provide the most significant health–care
presence Port St. John has ever known, and it’s because of our board’s leadership,”
Mikitarian said. “They felt the responsibility to provide the same quality of care at
PMC to the people in Port St. John.”
Call Adrienne Roth at 951-7777 for Advertising Information
JANUARY 8, 2007
BBN
BUSINESS
Palm Bay Community Hospital set to begin ambitious $68 million
construction project — 127,000–square–foot expansion to include
40 private beds; positions itself for growth; 36,000 ER visits a year
By Ken Datzman
PALM BAY — The hospital that serves the largest city in Brevard County is
about to embark on a $68 million construction project that will include the addition
of 40 private inpatient beds, a shelled–in third floor for a future 40–bed expansion,
and a much larger food service and cafeteria area.
Palm Bay Community Hospital, which opened in July 1992, will undergo a
127,000–square–foot expansion, exactly doubling the facility’s size. The city has
more than 104,000 residents and is experiencing rapid growth. Palm Bay topped the
100,000 mark this year. The city’s new marketing slogan is, “A Perfect Place to
Grow.”
When the 40–bed addition is completed, Palm Bay Community Hospital will
have a 100 bed count.
“We really think it will be a 300–bed hospital at some point and we’ll have all the
ancillary services to support it, too,” says Gail Schuneman, president and chief
operating officer of Palm Bay Community Hospital, one of three hospitals in Brevard
operated by Health First Inc. “When we did the master plan we designed it with
that in mind, putting in the appropriate infrastructure so we could bring on the next
phases.”
Schuneman designed and opened the rehabilitation department at Palm Bay
Community Hospital. At the time, she was with Health First’s Holmes Regional
Medical Center in Melbourne. She ran HRMC’s rehabilitation department.
The Palm Bay Community Hospital campus covers 50 acres on Malabar Road.
Three years ago the hospital purchased 10 acres to the east, making the campus 50
acres. “We go right to the Palm Bay line,” she said.
The hospital has brought on new services and invested in technologies to keep
pace with the city’s population growth. “For example,” said Schuneman, “we started
the Health First Physicians initiative at the hospital. We now have five primary–
care physicians, three internal–medicine doctors and two family practitioners, in
addition to two general surgeons and a gastrointestinal physician. We are recruiting
a second GI, too. The new doctors have really helped to serve the population of Palm
Bay.”
Currently, the expansion project is in the final permitting stages with the City of
Palm Bay and the St. Johns River Water Management District. Construction bids
have gone out and are under review, she said. “My plan is to go to the board of
directors of Health First in January with the final report before we begin to build. Of
course, this will be based on having all the permits in hand, and I feel comfortable
that we will have them.”
The estimated completion for the expansion is 2009.
Business has been strong at her hospital. The 60 beds are filled. “Actually, we’re
at 102 percent capacity. We’ve done some creative things to make it work. Although
there is some seasonality, we’re generally busy year–round. The hospital was over
100 percent capacity all summer,” said Schuneman, who chairs the Brevard
Workforce Development Board Inc.
Jennifer McCarthy, Palm Bay Community Hospital vice president, says the
facility handles some 36,000 emergency room visits a year. “To put that in perspective, Holmes (a 514–bed facility) did about 48,000 last year. For a hospital our size,
36,000 is a very significant number. On average, 100 people a day visit the ER.”
“We have a very efficient team,” adds Schuneman. “Those 36,000 ER visits cover
the gamut, from treating fractures and heart attacks to seeing babies and toddlers
and taking care of patients with minor things, too. But we don’t see trauma patients
because they go to HRMC.”
The hospital is adding 10 observation beds next to the emergency department,
Schuneman said. “They will be for patients who are at the hospital for up to 23
hours.”
Roughly 350 people work for Palm Bay Community Hospital. Of that number,
about 100 are nurses, said McCarthy. “I believe we have one of the lowest vacancy
rates for nurses in the state. We are at 2.4 percent right now for nursing openings,
and that’s almost unheard of in Florida. Actually, we have very little turnover in all
of our departments. That is one of the reasons we have been able to handle the
capacity issue. We have a very dedicated team of associates.”
The construction will include:
l Two new special–procedure rooms for expanded gastrointestinal laboratory
JANUARY 8, 2007
BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth
The Palm Bay Community Hospital expansion will bring the facility to 100 beds. The Health First–
owned hospital is meeting the needs of a fast–growing community. More than 104,000 people live
in Palm Bay, the county’s largest city. Gail Schuneman, right, is president and COO of Palm Bay
Community Hospital. Jennifer McCarthy is vice president.
capability and future services.
l A shelled–in area for an additional 12–bed intensive–care unit. The current
ICU has eight beds.
l The relocation of the dialysis department, main entrance, energy plant, and a
backup generator.
l An expanded food–service area “that is greatly needed,” says McCarthy. “Right
now, we are working out of 685 square feet. That is our kitchen. Presently, most of
our food is brought to the hospital from HRMC ready to serve. With the expanded
capability we will be able to prepare our food in a fully functioning kitchen, for the
most part. We may do some bulk economy–of–scale things at HRMC.”
Palm Bay Community Hospital recently finished a fourth operating–room suite
designed to help with the significant increase in surgical procedures. The hospital
also added a 64–slice CT scanner. “We have upgraded our technology to include a
new CT scanner. It’s a wonderful addition in the world of radiology. A scan can be
performed in about 13 seconds with 3D images,” Schuneman said.
The hospital is planning an eight–bed expansion of the William B. Childs Hospice
House. The project is expected to be completed in May 2008. “It will be a 16–bed
facility when the work is finished,” Schuneman said.
Call Adrienne Roth at 951-7777 for Advertising Information
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 11
BBN
EVENTS
Space Coast Pops to open season Jan. 6
Junior Achievement
pick up
Junior Achievement
BBN
use new
whichever
one one
you want
The Space Coast Pops Orchestra will perform its first
program of the 2007 Subscription Series season at 2:30
p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, at Merritt Island Baptist
Church, SR 520 and Courtenay Parkway. The program
is titled “Richard Hayman Returns.” The concert will
feature the artistry of Hayman and his harmonica.
Hayman is a noted composer, arranger, soloist, entertainer, humorist and conductor. He was with the Boston
Pops music arranger for 25 years, and later with the St.
Louis Symphony. The program will include many of his
arrangements of classics by major composers of classical
and contemporary music. Selection will range from “La
Vie Parisienne” to “Back Home in Indiana” and “Strike
Up the Band.” Single reserved tickets are $30, $25, $20
and $12. Admission is $3 more at the door. For the four
concert Subscription Series, admission is $110, $90 and
$70 for reserved seating, and $50 for general admission.
Call 632–7445 for ticket reservations and further
information. This event is sponsored by Brevard County
Board of County Commissioners, Brevard Cultural
Alliance, the Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman Corp.,
Imperial’s Hotel and Conference Center, Bell South
Real Yellow Page and individual donors.
Rhonda Patrick to perform in Melbourne
add
Call for information on how you can help
and
phone number 636-1000
Florida Tech’s WFIT 89.5 FM and the Brevard
County Parks and Recreation Department will present
“Random Acts of Music” from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday,
Jan. 6, at Wickham Park in Melbourne. The concert is
free of charge. Rhonda Patrick and her classic rock band
“Flashback” will entertain. The group includes John
Merritt on bass, Tom Flannery on lead guitar and
vocals and Bruce Luther on drums. Patrick is a vocalist
who plays the keyboard and guitar
Auditions for ‘Chorus Line’ set
Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach will conduct
auditions for “Chorus Line” on Sunday and Monday,
Jan. 7 and 8. The auditions are at 7 p.m. The musical,
directed by Anthony Mowad, will be presented March 2
to 18, at Surfside Playhouse. Surfside Playhouse is at
300 Ramp Road. Call 783–3127 for more information.
Administrative professionals to meet
The Central Brevard Chapter of the International
Association of Administrative Professionals will meet at
5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Courtyard by
Marriott in Cocoa Beach. Dr. Richard Ford, research
professor in Florida Tech’s Computer Sciences Department, will speak on computer viruses. The Courtyard is
at 3425 N. Atlantic Ave. The event is open to the public.
The registration deadline is Jan. 8. E–mail Debbie
Carter at dcarter@hoyman.com or call 426–3003.
Regular chapter meetings are the second Tuesday of
each month.
‘Cool Sounds of Swingtime’ set
Call for information on
how you can help
636-1000
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 12
Call Adrienne Roth at 951-7777 for Advertising Information
The Swingtime Jazz Band will present “Cool Sounds
of Swingtime,” a concert set for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 9, 10 and 11, in the
Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Doors
open at 6:30. Swingtime is a 20–member ensemble. The
program will include the sounds from the Big Band Era
plus new selections that feature some of Swingtime’s
outstanding soloists. Len Fallen, a popular club and
lounge performer, will sing a number of “cool” classics
including “Star Dust” and “Moonlight in Vermont.”
Admission is free but having a ticket will ensure you
seating. Call 724–0555 for ticket locations and further
information. The program is sponsored in part by the
Board of County Commissioners, the Brevard Cultural
Alliance and the City of Melbourne.
JANUARY 8, 2007
BBN
EVENTS
Non–Fiction Book Club to meet at B&N
The Non–Fiction Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. on
Thursday, Jan. 18, at Barnes & Noble in West
Melbourne. The store is at 1955 W. New Haven Ave.
The club features titles centering on current events and
social science areas. The January selection is “Failed
States” by Noam Chomsky. This event is free of charge
and open to the public. For more details, call 726–8817.
National Safe Child Symposium Jan. 18–19
The Yellow Umbrella Exchange Club Child Abuse
Prevention Center will host the first National Safe
Child Symposium. This event will be held Jan. 18 and
19 the Doubletree Hotel Oceanfront in Cocoa Beach.
Yellow Umbrella has invited keynote speakers Joseph
Sammartano, founder of MySafeKids.org, and Connecticut child–advocate judge Charles Gill. National presenters will include: Dr. Murray Straus, Family Research
Laboratory; Dr. Robert Fathman, EPOCH USA; Claire
Reeves, founder, Mother’s Against Sexual Abuse; Dr.
Ronald Stephens, director, National School Safety
Center; and Jack Levine, founder, 4generations
Institute. Child welfare and social– service professionals, community agencies, parents, and educators are
encouraged to attend the event. Registration is $215.
Registration is available at www.yellowumbrella.org.
Sponsorships and vendors are needed. Call the Yellow
Umbrella at 394–7179.
Surfside Playhouse
pick up BBN
1-01-07
page 12
Snow Fest at Fox Lake Park Feb. 3
Snow is coming to the region during the Brevard
County Parks and Recreation Snow Fest 2007. Snowfall
is expected Feb. 3, between noon and 5 p.m. at Fox Lake
Park, 4400 Fox Lake Road, west of Titusville. Admission to the event is $5 and includes a romp in the snow,
rock–climbing, inflatables, a make–and–take craft, class
demonstrations and a family resource area. There is no
fee to watch the fun. Food vendors will be available.
Attendees should bundle up and bring their mittens.
For details, call 264–5105 in North Brevard, 633–1874
in Central Brevard, or 255–4400 in South Brevard.
Learning about the mortgage process
A class that helps students learn the process of
securing a mortgage and buying a house will be held
March 12 from 5:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., at the Brevard
Community College Melbourne campus, 3865 N.
Wickham Road. The class, “Taking the Fear Out of the
Mortgage Process,” will teach potential home buyers
how to improve their credit report, the types of mortgages that are available, how to review a broker
package, home inspections, termite inspections, surveys
and how to anticipate the unexpected. Another class,
“Reverse Mortgage,” will be held 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,
Feb. 12. It defines a reverse mortgage, how it works,
property taxes, homeowners insurance, the costs
involved and what happens to the property at the
owner’s death. The cost is $20 for each class. For more
information, call 433–7500.
BCC offers unique dance class
Step Afrika!, a unique dance tradition created by
African–American college students, will be offered at 10
a.m., March 20, at the Maxwell C. King Center for the
Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Road, in
Melbourne. The special art form, which is presented by
the King Center Educational Theatre Program, uses the
body as an instrument to create intricate rhythms and
sounds through a combination of footsteps, claps and
spoken word. The class is a live presentation of the
stage show, including a visit with the dance troupe
following the performance. The cost to attend is $25.
Call 433–7500 for more details.
JANUARY 8, 2007
Call Adrienne Roth at 951-7777 for Advertising Information
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 13
BBN
DIGEST
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Staffers benefit from single–room
design for baby care, UF survey says
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Neonatal intensive care units designed with single–family rooms not only increase
patient privacy but also boost staff satisfaction and reduce stress, according to a
University of Florida study. The study explored the implications of the single–family
room design when compared with open–bay, double–occupancy and combination
configurations at 11 hospitals nationwide. The single–family room design has
separate rooms for each infant, while the open–bay unit has one large room with all
the infant stations side–by–side.
Typically, staff working in an open–bay unit believe their jobs will be more difficult
and they will spend less time with patients if their unit is redesigned as a single–
family room unit, said Debra Harris, UF interior design assistant professor who was
principal investigator for the study. This is because the open–bay unit allows the staff
to see all patients and to have ongoing contact with other staff in the unit.
“However, once the unit switched to the single–family room, we found the opposite
to be true. Staff noticed the obvious benefits of the private rooms for the patient and
family,” Harris said. “At the same time, the staff were able to rely on technology to
assist them in keeping abreast of their patients’ health. Staff reported lower stress
and higher satisfaction in the single–family room units.”
The study revealed many benefits to the single–family room design, but surprisingly, found a relatively low increase in the cost to construct a new unit at an existing
or new hospital. “There was a mere 3 percent increase in the first construction costs
for the single–family room design. We thought it would be greater,” Harris said.
The study looked at Level III NICUs, which care for the most acute babies needing
the most specialized care. Researchers employed five methods to compare the units,
including space allocations, construction costs, staff preferences and perceptions and
occupant behaviors. The study was published in the October issue of the “Journal of
Perinatology.”
Other researchers involved include Mardelle Shepley of Texas A&M University,
Robert White of Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., Kathleen Kolberg of the
University of Notre Dame and James Harrell of the Harrell Group in Cincinnati,
Ohio.
Previous research on single–family room units is limited. Harris views this study
as a preliminary, comprehensive effort to generate future in–depth research.
Researchers were unable to obtain sufficient data to compare the impact of room
design on the health of the infants, but a future study will include data on weight,
days on ventilation, head circumference, hospital–acquired infections, length of stay,
etc.
“This study presents an agenda for further research. In addition, it can be used as
a tool for hospitals to determine if their NICUs should or can be designed as single–
family units,” Harris said. “For those renovating existing space, this may prove
challenging. But for new units, it is an option that should be considered.”
Space Coast Wine Opener a success
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 14
The recent Space Coast Wine Opener at the Henegar Center in Melbourne was a
big success. The event was a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and featured
wine–tasting stations by local wine shops, distributors and wineries. The program
also included a silent auction and other activities. The benefit raised almost $4,500 for
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. American Express sponsored the event. The vendors
included: PRP Wines, Wild Oats, Apple Barrel Gifts, Sunseed Co–op, Basil Leaf Cafe,
EG Banks, The Produce Place of Suntree, The Crowne Plaza–Melbourne Oceanfront,
Savor the Moment’s personal chef Sharona Sommer, Indian River Soap, Every Body
Massage, BlingKitty, The Body Shop at Home, Stampin’ Up! and Longaberger
Baskets.
Florida Tech introduces fast–track master’s program
Florida Tech undergraduates majoring in aeronautics, who achieve a grade–point
average of 3.4 or better after completing at least 35 Florida Tech credit hours, may
enroll in up to two graduate courses, which may apply to both degrees. Students must
earn at least a “B” grade in the two courses in order to apply the credits to a master’s
degree. Students can apply to their College of Aeronautics master’s program of choice
after completion of the sixth semester of undergraduate work and fill out a fast–track
application. Requirements for the Graduate Records Examination, letters of recommendation and tests for those speaking English as a second language are waived. For
more information, contact Professor Nat Villaire of the College of Aeronautics at 674–
8120, or at villaire@fit.edu.
Call Adrienne Roth at 951-7777 for Advertising Information
JANUARY 8, 2007
BBN
DIGEST
Florida researchers find new
chink in a ‘superbug’s’ armor
By Stu Hutson
Infections from drug–resistant forms of Staphylococcus bacteria are skyrocketing
and have even recently made headlines by debilitating some of the NFL’s toughest
players.
Tools to fight these bugs are few, but now University of Florida researchers have
used cutting–edge genetic analysis to find a new weak spot in this “superbug’s” armor.
The weak spot is a specialized enzymatic process responsible for producing folate.
Among humans, folate is best known for being an essential part of a pregnant
woman’s diet. This is because folate plays an essential role in cell division.
Humans can’t produce folate, so we get it by eating leafy green plants. Bacteria can
perform this process, however. This means that the folate manufacturing process
within a bacterium is the perfect target for drugs that stop pathogens from growing
and spreading–because that drug won’t harm humans.
“The problem, of course, is finding the enzymes within that process you want to
target,” said Valérie de Crécy–Lagard, UF microbiologist and lead author on the
research, which appears in the Dec. 8 issue of the “Journal of Biological Chemistry.”
There are millions of chemical reactions that drive the functioning of a cell, she
said. Finding the right one is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.
However, the researchers didn’t have to look using arduous lab experiments.
Instead, Crécy–Lagard used a method known as comparative genomics. For years,
researchers around the world have been filling a computer database of bacterial
genetic knowledge. By digitally comparing the genetic makeup of more than 100
bacteria, the researchers were able to deduce which gene was responsible for many of
the enzymes that produce folate–and thus were able to track down a new enzyme to
target for an antibacterial attack.
“This process is far from over, however,” Crécy–Lagard said. “We now have to find
the best way to attack this new target–and that could take years.”
Nonetheless, the resulting antibacterial could one day prove vital, said Dr. Kenneth Rand, a professor of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine at UF’s
College of Medicine. “These pathogens seem to keep adapting to everything we can
throw at them,” he said. “The bacteria have the opportunity to change in every person
that becomes infected. There are a countless number of Staph strains out there.
Tomorrow, there are only going to be more.”
A 2005 study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that nearly 10
percent of children in the U.S. carry drug–resistant Staph bacteria in their noses. In
2002, only 1 percent carried the germ.
The bug is only harmful, however, if it encounters an open cut or other vulnerable
area on the body. This makes it especially dangerous in hospital and locker–room
settings.
“We do not need to think only about Staph, though,” Crécy–Lagard said. “These
same enzymes are found in many other harmful bacteria, which could mean that
what we design to attack this target could be a more universal antibiotic.”
In fact, the enzymatic target is shared by more than 40 other known pathogens.
“Comparative genomics allowed us to find a very effective target,” Crécy–Lagard
said. “This is a powerful tool that lets us dissect pathogens from the genome up. In the
future, many new drug targets are going to be found this way.”
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‘Famous musicians’ at Justice Center
Palm Bay artist Richard Jachimecki is showcasing an exhibit of his work at the
Moore Justice Center in Viera. The collection of work expresses Jachimecki’s love of
music. His exhibit includes such greats as Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, John
Coltrane, Miles Davis, Jerry Garcia, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Bob Marley and
Charlie Parker. Jachimecki credits memories of his “mother painting and drawing in
his early life, as she had aspirations of becoming a commercial graphic artist, something that fell to the wayside with work and raising a family of five children.” He
currently works in acrylics, pastels, graphite and colored pencils, trying to match
emotion to media. When the mood of the piece is especially “strong,” he finds himself
leaving it in a “raw” finish to convey that particular emotion, something he had
noticed in pieces by Michelangelo. Jachimecki works on his own creations along with
taking private commissions for portraiture, using clients’ personal photographs to
capture moments. The subjects have ranged from single persons, family composites
and pets to motorcycles. His work will be on display through April 19. The Moore
Justice Center is at 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way. The collection is on the third
floor. For more information, contact Lynne Brezina at Brevard Cultural Alliance. Her
number is 690–6817.
JANUARY 8, 2007
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 15
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Health First, American Lung to conduct clinic
Health First Cape Canaveral Hospital and the American Lung Association are co–
sponsoring Freedom from Smoking, a six–week course to help smokers break the
habit through behavioral and support–therapy techniques. “One in four Americans
smoke,” said Rochelle Anderson, pulmonary–rehabilitation coordinator and certified
Freedom from Smoking facilitator. “It’s important to break the habit, as smoking
causes nearly half a million deaths in the United States each year.” Beginning Jan. 9,
the clinic will meet every Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Meetings will be held in the fitness
classroom at the Merritt Island Pro–Health & Fitness Center, 255 Borman Drive,
Merritt Island. The cost to attend the workshop is $45 per person. For more information or to register, contact Cape Canaveral Hospital at 868–8300. To register online,
visit www.health–first.org; go to the health–information section, click on “events
calendar,” and then “register online.”
Swingtime Jazz Band to perform Jan. 12
The Swingtime Jazz Band will present its “No Sno” Ball from 7 to 10 p.m. on
Friday, Jan. 12, in the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Doors will open
at 6:30 p.m. This is a new time for the event. The Swingtime Jazz Band plays music
from the Big Band Era that is popular with all generations. The band features 17
musicians, two vocalists and a leader. In addition to swing music, it plays contemporary jazz, rock, cha–cha and other selections. Admission is $5 when tickets are
purchased in advance at radio station WMMB, Marion Music and Honor America, all
in Melbourne. They are $6 at the door. Call 724–0555 for further information.
Clevens
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page 15
Florida Tech grads commissioned in Army
Three members of Florida Tech’s Panthers Battalion were commissioned as second
lieutenants in the U.S. Army in mid–December. The cadets also received their
bachelor’s degrees. Jonathan Logan of Columbia, Md., earned a degree in psychology
and will join the Military Intelligence branch. Michael Walker of Great Falls, Va.,
earned a degree in management information systems and also will join Military
Intelligence. Micah Walker of Sherwood, Ore., earned his degree in biology and is
joining the Chemical Corps branch.
Veterans Business Network to meet
The Small Business Development Center will host a Veterans network social on
Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the BCC Melbourne campus (building 10,
room 112A). The Veterans Business Network of Central Florida is designed to provide
a forum where veterans can learn about business experiences and opportunities from
each other. To register call 433–5570 or e–mail pfrimmers@brevardcc.edu.
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Continued from page 1
older than 60 had a higher rate of death within 30 days compared with patients of
younger surgeons.
The study did note that the older surgeons did have a lower volume of surgeries.
Another study by researchers at Harvard Medical School that was published in the
Annals of Internal Medicine last year found that older doctors may be less likely to
deliver currently accepted standards of care. It found that problems are less about age
than whether doctors are able to keep up with medical advances.
The Harvard study was considered significant because it countered the widely
assumed notion that physicians with more experience provide better care.
Dr. Robert Wachter, professor of medicine at University of California at San
Francisco and author of the book “Internal Bleeding: The Truth Behind America’s
Terrifying Epidemic of Medical Mistakes,” said he would hate to see a mandatory
retirement age for doctors.
But, he said patients should assume some responsibility for ensuring their doctors
— no matter what their age — are competent. Ask whether surgeons are board
certified, Wachter said. But don’t stop there. “I don’t only want to know if they have
kept up, but that their hands are steady,” he said.
Dr. Sigel, the 71–year–old internist, said that because he isn’t a surgeon, he feels
he can practice longer. He said he doesn’t feel old or less skilled than his younger
counterparts. He said he believes many of his patients, many of whom are older, find
comfort in an experienced doctor. “I like to tell my patients age is not a disease. Age is
an event. It’s a number,” he said. Dr. Sigel has also earned the respect of many
younger patients whose elderly family members have come to him over the years.
John Nale, 37, and a farmer in nearby Kerman, credited Dr. Sigel with saving his
life. Eleven years ago, the doctor found a lump on Nale’s thyroid during a routine
exam. He ordered follow–up tests, which revealed cancer. Nale is healthy today and
said he will continue seeing Dr. Sigel as long as he can. “I believe his experience
makes up for anything a young doctor brings to the table,” Nale said.
“I pay him for his services because he does a good job,” he said. “I will go to Dr.
Sigel until I’m buried or he’s buried.”
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JANUARY 8, 2007
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Wuesthoff Health System
Continued from page 1
in the hospital. The patient then receives smoking
cessation and weight–management counseling plus
referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before being discharged.
“When Doreen came to us we were involved at the
time in a lot of clinical research,” Dr. Killeavy, a
cardiologist, said. “We were in a number of lipid trials
(including the A–to–Z trial and the Prove–It trial) where
implementing these drugs early on seemed to indicate
reduction in acute events in the hospital and then long–
term events.”
He adds, “Over the years, the randomized trials
came to indicate that if certain individual or group
efforts were made to implement four or five core
interventions, then mortality would be lower and re–
admission would be lower. Physicians are used to doing
things individually. But we began to realize, after
looking at the numbers in aggregate, that a large
percentage of patients being discharged from hospitals
across America weren’t fulfilling those standard
guidelines, and if implemented, the guidelines would
reduce cost and improve quality.”
The GWTG program put Wuesthoff on a fast track.
According to an analysis of recent government data,
Wuesthoff’s cardiac programs topped others in the
county when it came to correctly following national
treatment guidelines.
Both Wuesthoff Rockledge and Wuesthoff Melbourne
received very high ratings (95 and 98 percent) for their
processes in providing recommended care for cardiac
patients. Those figures were based on data from the
federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
which compared heart–care statistics, specifically
patients suffering heart attacks or heart failure. All
Brevard County acute–care hospitals scored at or above
state and national medians in complying with govern-
ment and industry standards for treating heart disease.
Chantal Leconte, administrator of Wuesthoff
Rockledge, says the GWTG program involves a comprehensive team effort. “It requires collaborations between
nursing, the physicians and all the performance–
improvement people. It takes constant communication
and monitoring. But what is special about Wuesthoff is
the fact that we took a proactive stance when it came to
this initiative. We started the program long before it
was a requirement. It is our way of living here. We do it
and that is the expectation. Everybody is onboard and I
think that is the beauty of our success. We’re very
excited about being recognized for the work that we do
at the hospital.”
Some 3,100 U.S. hospitals, or roughly three–quarters
of those in the federal government database, received
heart–attack ratings; 3,600 received heart–failure
ratings by using core–performance measurements.
Additionally, Gannett News Service analyzed the
data supplied by the federal government, specifically for
cardiac care during October 2004 and September 2005.
Both Wuesthoff hospitals — in Rockledge and
Melbourne — earned five stars for the percentage of
times heart–failure patients received recommended
care, putting them in the top 20 percent of hospitals
nationwide.
“Being in the top 20 percent of all cardiac programs
nationwide is a great recognition,” said Jon Oliver,
Wuesthoff’s director of cardiology. “Receiving a five–star
rating from Gannett News Service was also a nice
endorsement to have received.”
After one year, the GWTG programs used in hospitals significantly improved care for almost 30,000
coronary artery–disease patients of all ages and sexes,
according to research reported at the American Heart
Association’s Scientific Sessions in 2005.
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For the study, researchers assessed data from 198
hospitals and 29,713 patients. They used a composite–
performance measure that included aspirin use in the
hospital and directions for aspirin therapy at discharge,
as well as use of beta–blockers, ACE–inhibitor prescriptions for heart–attack patients upon discharge, smoking–cessation counseling and cholesterol–lowering
therapy in appropriate patients.
The key to the program’s success, though, is patient
follow–through, says Woods. “Once the patient is out of
the hospital, he or she must follow through to make this
an effective program. We still have to bring them in as
one of the players. That’s why the education component
is so important.”
Used by more than 1,240 hospitals nationwide since
its inception in 2000, GWTG is the first hospital–based
program to receive the Innovation in Prevention Award
from the Health and Human Services Department.
GWTG initially introduced the coronary–disease
module and launched the heart–failure module in 2005.
Wuesthoff was featured in the July issue of “U.S.
News & World Report” for its involvement in GWTG.
Wuesthoff received the annual Performance Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. The
honor recognizes Wuesthoff’s “commitment and success”
for 12 consecutive months of implementing advanced
standards of cardiac care to effectively improve treatment of patients hospitalized with coronary–artery
disease.
According to the American Heart Association, more
than 450,000 people suffer recurrent heart attacks each
year. Statistics also show that within one year of an
attack, 25 percent of men and 38 percent of women will
die. Within six years after a heart attack, about 22
percent of men and 46 percent of women will be
disabled with heart failure.
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 19
Thank You
Brevard!
The Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place would like to thank you for allowing
us to be a part of an exciting 2006. We are nearing completion of a multimillion dollar renovation and for the fourth consecutive year, we have
been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” in Brevard County.
Our Associates have enjoyed celebrating your contract wins, retirements,
weddings and holiday celebrations. We have been proud to host your
contract negotiations, regional conferences and sector meetings in style.
Great events are held at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place with the very
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