orlandohealth

South Seminole Hospital provides Free Screenings and Lectures about Women and Heart Disease

6/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

Longwood, FL (February 4, 2009) - South Seminole Hospital, a part of Orlando Health, will provide free health screenings and lectures about women and heart disease at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 28. The women-only event will be held at the Lake Mary Senior Center, 911 Wallace Court, Lake Mary.

Screenings will be held from 10 a.m. to noon and will include Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressures and cardiopulmonary screens. A complimentary lunch will be served from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m., followed by a presentation by Javier Lafuente, MD, academic chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery and director of the Heart Transplant Program at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), also part of Orlando Health, and Barry Weinstock, MD, a cardiologist who practices at ORMC and its Cardiac Cath Lab. Dr. Lafuente will speak about heart failure and Orlando Health's exciting new heart transplant program while Dr. Weinstock will discuss women and heart disease.

Reservations are required due to limited seating. To register, please call HealthLine at 321-8 HEALTH (321.843.2584).

About South Seminole Hospital

South Seminole Hospital is a 206 acute care hospital-serving the residents of Seminole County. Part of the Orlando Health family of hospitals, South Seminole Hospital is conveniently located in Longwood on State Road 434 between I-4 and Highway 17-92. For more information, please call 321.842.5969 or visit website southseminolehospital.com.

Women's Imaging Center at South Seminole Hospital Receives $20,000 Donation to Purchase New Equipment

6/18/2009 12:00:00 AM

Longwood, FL (January 23, 2009) - The Women's Imaging Center at South Seminole Hospital, a part of Orlando Health, received a $20,000 donation from Dr. Joyce and Mr. Buddy Hewell, A.T.A.P. COMPANIES. Dr. Hewell serves on the hospital's Women's Advisory Council. The money will be used to purchase a special video camera for monitoring patients during a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan.

The camera gives the MRI technologists the ability to visually monitor the patient while they are in the magnet versus only being able to hear and speak with them.

"We are very appreciative of Dr. Hewell's donation as it will allow our MRI technologists to observe our patients much more closely than in the past and to communicate with them much faster should they become uncomfortable or apprehensive during their scan," said Kristen Hickey, manager, Women's Imaging Center at South Seminole Hospital. "However most importantly it will give our patients a new level of comfort, especially those who are claustrophobic, that we are right there with them and can see them every step of the way."

South Seminole Hospital's Women's Advisory Council comprises of women from throughout Seminole County who volunteer their time and serve as community advisers to the hospital's leadership. For more information about the Women's Advisory Council, contact Lisa Hicks, Orlando Health Foundation, at 321. 841.1615.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $1.5 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of nine hospitals and care centers in the Orlando region. The organization, which includes the area's only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies; Lucerne Hospital; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; South Lake Hospital (50 percent partnership); St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent partnership) and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando - the first affiliate of one of the nation's premier cancer centers The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Orlando Health's areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Orlando Health is Central Florida's fifth largest employer with nearly 14,000 employees and more than 2,000 affiliated physicians, all of whom support our philosophy of providing high quality care and service when it matters most. We prove this everyday with over 100,000 inpatient admissions and more than 600,000 outpatient visits each year. In all, Orlando Health serves 1.6 million Central Florida residents and nearly 3,000 international patients annually. Additionally, Orlando Health provides approximately $198 million in support of community health needs. More information can be found at www.orlandohealth.com.

Orlando Health helps break the silence of heart failure

6/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Editor’s Note: National Heart Failure Awareness Week is February 8-14, 2009. To interview Greater Orlando’s newest cardiothoracic and transplant surgeon about heart failure and to hear one family’s story, contact the Media Relations Department.

ORLANDO, Fla. (February 3, 2009) – If walls of hearts could talk they would help break the silence of heart failure, a disease that worsens over time and affects millions in their daily lives and kills thousands each year. Currently there are five million people with heart failure and 500,000 to 700,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Last year alone there were over 60,000 deaths. As part of the hospital’s annual heart disease awareness and educational campaign, Orlando Regional Medical Center will host a Red February Heart & Vascular Disease Symposium on February 14, 2009.

“Heart failure is very concerning because the incidence is increasing,” said Dr. Javier Lafuente, heart transplant program director and cardiothoracic surgery academic chairman at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC). “Thousands dying each year is serious and five million cases is no light task. Heart failure is a crippling disease with many potential complications and progression over time.”

Many people confuse early stages of heart failure with growing old, said Dr. Lafuente. However, while aging may be a contributing factor, heart failure is not about getting old. In heart failure, at any age for men and women, the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s demand. When this happens fluid builds up into the body or the lungs, causing swelling in the arms, legs or abdomen and shortness of breath.

To help paint a picture of heart failure symptoms, the Heart Failure Society of America’s message is “Think FACES (Fatigue, Activities limited, Chest congestion, Edema or ankle swelling and Shortness of breath)”.

“The No. 1 cause of heart failure is high blood pressure,” said Dr. Lafuente. “The most important step is controlling high blood pressure properly to prevent its main complications, which are stroke and heart failure. High blood pressure is a very silent disease and can only be found if a person checks their blood pressure on a frequent basis.”

Another cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease.

“Everything that we do to prevent coronary artery disease applies to preventing heart failure,” said Dr. Lafuente. “That includes not smoking, controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and weight, eating healthy and exercising.”

Other factors that contribute to heart failure include obesity, advancing age and diabetes.

There are various stages of heart failure: in mild to moderate heart failure symptoms of slight fatigue, shortness of breath and palpitations occur with exercise, for example walking up a flight of stairs, running a block or walking at a fast pace; however the symptoms resolve at rest. In more severe heart failure, symptoms occur with minimal effort activities such as getting dressed, showering and other daily living activities. There may be shortness of breath even while lying in bed or at rest.

Ways to treat heart failure varies based on severity and includes medications such as water pills, ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor blockers, vasodilators, digitalis preparations, blood thinners, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers or potassium; devices like pacemakers or implantable defibrillators; procedures like coronary bypass surgery, angioplasty or valve repairs or replacements; or more advanced technology like ventricular assist devices or heart transplantation.

“Not everyone with heart failure will need a heart transplant,” said Dr. Lafuente. “Typically the need for a heart transplant occurs in patients with more severe heart failure.”

Orlando Health was awarded a certificate of need by the state’s Agency for Healthcare Administration to establish a heart transplantation program at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Orlando Health began the program to meet a community need to provide a continuum of cardiac care close to home so patients and their families will no longer have to leave the area for heart transplants.

For additional information about heart failure, visit www.orlandohealth.com/heartfailure.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $1.5 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of nine hospitals and care centers in the Orlando region. The organization, which includes the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies; Lucerne Hospital; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; South Lake Hospital (50 percent partnership); St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent partnership) and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando – the first affiliate of one of the nation’s premier cancer centers The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Orlando Health’s areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Orlando Health is Central Florida’s fifth largest employer with nearly 14,000 employees and more than 2,000 affiliated physicians, all of whom support our philosophy of providing high quality care and service when it matters most. We prove this everyday with over 100,000 inpatient admissions and more than 600,000 outpatient visits each year. In all, Orlando Health serves 1.6 million Central Florida residents and nearly 3,000 international patients annually. Additionally, Orlando Health provides approximately $198 million in support of community health needs. More information can be found at www.orlandohealth.com.

Orlando Health and UCF College of Medicine firm up affiliation for teaching tomorrow’s doctors

6/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

ORLANDO, FL (February 9, 2009) – Third and fourth year students attending the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine will perform some of their core rotations through clerkships at Orlando Health facilities.

Third year students will have the opportunity to rotate through internal medicine, surgery, OB-GYN, pediatrics and neurology at Orlando Health facilities. Fourth year students may rotate through emergency medicine and critical care. Fourth year students may also participate in select sub-internships and electives including cardiology, oncology, pediatric orthopedics and other subspecialties at Orlando Health facilities.

These are some of the details explained in a new addendum to the agreement between UCF and Orlando Health. The original agreement was announced in October 2007.

“This clerkship program with UCF’s College of Medicine gives some of our doctors the opportunity to become UCF faculty and teach UCF medical students at Orlando Health,” said Jay L. Falk, MD, FACEP, FCCM, vice president, Medical Education, Orlando Health. “It’s a tremendous advantage for us, for the students and for the entire greater Orlando community.”

As one of only six statutory teaching facilities in the state, Orlando Health’s graduate medical education program offers seven accredited residencies and 12 fellowships. More than 200 physician residents and fellows are enrolled in the program and more than 200 "affiliate" faculty plus hundreds more medical staff members are available and willing to help train the doctors of tomorrow.

“Embracing Orlando Health as a partner is an important part of the academic and community mission of the UCF College of Medicine,” said Deborah German, MD, dean of the College of Medicine. “It reinforces our efforts to become an integral part of the central Florida community. We appreciate OH’s support and look forward to working together as an academic medical community.”

The University of Central Florida College of Medicine was established in 2006 to increase opportunities for medical education in Florida, address the growing physician shortage nationwide, and provide economic benefits to central Florida and the state through research and technology. The college is assembling a talented and experienced faculty and developing an innovative medical school curriculum. The college will partner with many hospitals and clinics in Central Florida and will offer a doctor of medicine (MD) degree program beginning fall 2009. The college expects to enroll an initial class of 40 students and eventually produce about 120 medical graduates each year.

A recent economic study showed that the UCF College of Medicine is projected to help create more than 30,000 local jobs and have an estimated economic impact of $7.6 billion in 2017.

UCF Stands For Opportunity

The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 5th largest in the nation with more than 50,000 students. UCF’s first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region’s economic development. UCF’s culture of opportunity is driven by its diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and its youth, relevance and energy. For more information visit http://news.ucf.edu.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $1.5 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of nine hospitals and care centers in the Orlando region. The organization, which includes the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies; Lucerne Hospital; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; South Lake Hospital (50 percent partnership); St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent partnership) and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando – the first affiliate of one of the nation’s premier cancer centers The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Orlando Health’s areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Heart Surgeon encourages community members to take care of their hearts

6/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

As we prepare to recognize Valentine’s Day by exchanging gifts and cards embossed with hearts, I want to urge all central Floridians to honor the special day by taking care of the heart that beats inside each chest.

It is fitting that February is Heart Month, and the week of February 8 – 14 has been designated by the U.S. Senate as Heart Failure Awareness Week. Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in our country, and over five million Americans have been diagnosed with heart failure.

Nationally, there are between 500,000 and 700,000 new cases of heart failure diagnosed every year and about 60,000 deaths a year are attributable to the condition. Heart failure is the only major cardiovascular disease on the rise, and it causes more hospitalizations than all forms of cancer combined.

Unfortunately, millions of people are living with heart failure but are unaware of it because the symptoms are often mistaken for signs of “just getting older”. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, ankle swelling, and chest congestion.

Heart failure is not a heart attack, but a progressive condition in which the heart’s muscle becomes weakened after it is injured from something like a heart attack or high blood pressure and gradually loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs. While there is currently no known cure for heart failure, early diagnosis and proper treatment can offer patients a more normal life expectancy.

If you have had a heart attack or experience shortness of breath and are unable to partake in your daily activities like you used to, I encourage you to see a physician and seek treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to slow the progression of this devastating disease.

Sincerely,

Javier A. Lafuente, MD, FACS
Director Heart Transplant Program
Orlando Regional Medical Center
Orlando Health

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Mientras nos preparamos para celebrar el “día de los enamorados o de la amistad”, intercambiando regalos y tarjetas embozadas con corazones, quiero hacer un llamado a todos los habitantes de la Florida Central para que honren este día tan especial cuidando el corazón que late dentro de sus pechos.

Tiene sentido que el mes de febrero sea el “mes del corazón”, y la semana del 8 al 14 de febrero ha sido designada por el Senado de los Estados Unidos como la “Semana de Reconocimiento de la Insuficiencia Cardiaca”. Las enfermedades cardiovasculares son la segunda causa de muerte en nuestro país, y más de 5 millones de personas viven en este momento con insuficiencia cardiaca.

En todo el país, se diagnostican cada año entre 500,000 y 700,000 casos nuevos de insuficiencia cardiaca, y cada año también, más de 60,000 personas mueren como consecuencia de ello. La insuficiencia cardiaca es la única enfermedad cardiovascular que va en aumento, y causa más hospitalizaciones que todos los tipos de cáncer combinados.

Probablemente, y desafortunadamente, millones de personas viven con insuficiencia cardiaca sin saberlo, porque los síntomas se confunden frecuentemente con “síntomas de envejecimiento”. Síntomas frecuentes incluyen falta de aire, cansancio y fatiga, edema o hinchazón de los tobillos, y congestión del pecho.

La insuficiencia cardiaca no es un ataque al corazón o un infarto, sino una enfermedad progresiva en la cual el músculo del corazón se va debilitando progresivamente debido a lesiones como un infarto o presión alta, y gradualmente va perdiendo la habilidad de bombear la sangre en cantidad suficiente para las necesidades del cuerpo. Aunque actualmente no existe una cura para la insuficiencia cardiaca, el diagnóstico temprano y el tratamiento adecuado permiten una sobrevida casi normal.

Si usted ha tenido un infarto o ataque al corazón en el pasado o padece de presión alta, y si sufre de falta de aire, o le cuesta realizar sus labores cotidianas, le aconsejo que vea a su doctor y busque tratamiento. El diagnóstico temprano y el tratamiento adecuado pueden ayudar a retardar el progreso de esta enfermedad tan devastadora.

Sinceramente,

Javier A. Lafuente, MD, FACS.
Director del Programa de Transplante de Corazón
Jefe del Servicio Académico de Cirugía Cardiovascular y Torácica
Orlando Health

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children offers breakthrough scoliosis test

6/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Orlando, FL (February 24, 2009) – Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children today announced it is offering a new, non-invasive genetic test that can predict the progression of mild cases of scoliosis. The hospital is one of only 40 in the nation and of only two in Florida to offer the new ScoliScore test.

“This test is a breakthrough in determining the severity of scoliosis,” said Charles Price, MD, director of orthopedic education and assistant director of the orthopedic residency program for Arnold Palmer Hospital. “With it, we can predict whether the curvature of spines in some patients will worsen or not.”

The ScoliScore will help doctors reduce unnecessary treatment for non-progressive curves and encourage early treatment of curves that are at high risk of progressing.

“With this test, we can identify some scoliosis patients who need treatment at a much earlier stage and begin that treatment as early as possible,” said Raymond Knapp, MD, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Arnold Palmer Hospital who specializes in treating spinal deformities including scoliosis. “It is possible that early scoliosis treatment using non-invasive procedures may prevent the need for surgery at a later date.”

Scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine, is a disorder of growth that often develops during the adolescent growth spurt when the spine is growing rapidly. It strikes 2% of adolescents and requires treatment in approximately 10% of those who suffer from the disorder. If left untreated, scoliosis can be disfiguring, cause disability and in extreme cases, interfere with lung function. There is no known cause for scoliosis but it does run in families.

Dr. Price, along with Dr. Knapp, served as investigators of the initial multi-year study that helped prove the test’s reliability. That research demonstrated that this test is reliable in Caucasian girls between the ages of 9 and 14. To be considered for eligibility to take the new test, patients must have a previous diagnosis of scoliosis and reflect the demographics of the original study group. With ongoing research in other demographics, the ScoliScore is expected to be available to all populations by the end of the year.

For more information about test eligibility, call Arnold Palmer Hospital’s Pediatric Orthopedic Specialty Practice at 321-841-3040.

About the Pediatric Orthopedic Specialty Practice

The Pediatric Orthopedic Specialty Practice at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children treated more than 950 scoliosis patients last year. Of those, 105 required surgery. The practice, which consists of six pediatric orthopedic surgeons, is recognized for developing cutting-edge treatments for scoliosis and has been at the forefront of scoliosis care for several decades.

Dr. Price has been a leader in the non-operative treatment of scoliosis. He is past chairman of the non-operative management committee of the Scoliosis Research Society. He has been involved for ten years in research to develop a laboratory test for scoliosis. Dr. Price is a leading developer

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Appoints Leaders for Pediatric Neuroscience Program

6/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Orlando, FL (February 23, 2009) – Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children announced today the appointment of the physician leadership team for its Pediatric Neuroscience program.

Jogi Pattisapu, MD, was named medical director for the Pediatric Neuroscience program. Dr. Pattisapu has served the children of Greater Orlando for 17 years as a pediatric neurosurgeon helping to establish and grow pediatric neurosurgery capabilities. As medical director, Pattisapu will expand services at Arnold Palmer Hospital for kids with neurological disorders and surgical needs.

He received his medical degree from the University of Texas and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and his fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Pattisapu is board certified in pediatric neurosurgery.

The hospital also appointed Ronald Davis, MD, Christopher Gegg, MD, and Greg Olivarria, MD, as associate medical directors.

Dr. Davis will serve as the associate medical director of Epileptology. He received his medical degree and completed his residency in pediatrics at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He completed his fellowship in pediatric neurology at Children’s Hospital Boston and is board certified in pediatrics and neurology.

Dr. Gegg will serve as the associate medical director of Neurosurgery. He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center. He went on to complete his fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Children’s Medical Center/University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and is board certified in neurosurgery.

Dr. Olavarria will serve as the associate medical director of Neuroscience Research. He received his medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Emory University Hospitals. Following his residency, he attended Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago to complete his fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery and is board certified in neurosurgery.

The Pediatric Neuroscience program offers comprehensive specialized services to children with neuromuscular conditions such as, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy; craniofacial disorders; epilepsy; hydrocephalus; neonatal disorders; cererovascular disorders; congenital disorders and neurocardiology disorders. The medical team includes pediatric physicians specializing in neurology, neurosurgery and craniofacial disorders.

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital includes comprehensive, specialized programs and services for children including acute care, adolescent medicine, a Congenital Heart Institute in partnership with Miami Children’s Hospital, pediatric intensive care, emergency medicine, nephrology, neurology and trauma services to name a few. To learn more, visit www.arnoldpalmerhospital.org.

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando Physicians Recognized for Service to Pediatric Patients

6/8/2009 12:00:00 AM

ORLANDO, FL. (January 21, 2009) – Two M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando physicians have been recognized for their service to pediatric cancer patients in Central Florida. Physicians Don Eslin, M.D. and Vincent Giusti, M.D. of M.D. Anderson – Orlando are the recipients of the BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation 2008 “Extraordinary Service for Children with Cancer” Award.

“Drs. Eslin and Giusti are extraordinary physicians and well deserving of this recognition for their commitment to our youngest cancer patients,” said Clarence Brown, MD, President and CEO of M.D. Anderson – Orlando. “We thank BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation for recognizing our work here at M.D. Anderson – Orlando in the fight against cancer.”

Drs. Eslin and Giusti were presented their awards by BASE Camp at a special concert of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in early January.

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, part of Orlando Health, is affiliated with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked M. D. Anderson Cancer Center as the top cancer treatment center in the U.S. and has ranked it as one of the top two cancer centers for the past 13 years. Orlando Health, a 1,780-bed community-owned, Florida not-for-profit organization established in 1918, annually serves nearly 2 million Central Florida residents and more than 4,500 international patients. More information is available at www.mdandersonorlando.org.

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Receives Donation from Business Leaders Donald Trump and Stewart Rahr

6/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Donald Trump, Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization (Left) and Stewart Rahr, President and CEO of Kinray Inc. (Right) present Arnold Palmer with a $350,000 cash donation to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

Orlando, FL (February 25, 2009) - Donald Trump, CEO of the Trump Organization and Stewart Rahr, CEO of Kinray Inc., donated $350,000 to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Trump and Rahr were given a tour of Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies by golf-legend Arnold Palmer.

Rahr previously donated $400,000 to Arnold Palmer Hospital through a charity event in Las Vegas where he purchased a package that included a round of golf with Arnold Palmer.

"We appreciate the generosity of both Mr. Trump and Mr. Rahr and their support of our mission to provide state-of-the-art, specialized care to our patients," said John Bozard, president, Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation. "Their donation will touch the lives of many children and families."

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

Colon Cancer Surgery Gives Florida Lacrosse Star a Second Chance

6/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

A 21-year-old lacrosse player at the University of Florida, Kaley Pendley is survivor. Last year at just 20 years old, Pendley was diagnosed with colon cancer. Dr. Paul Williamson performed her surgery at Orlando Regional Medical Center and she received care at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. One year later, Pendley is cancer free and back on the lacrosse field. View her story.

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando Celebrates 18 Years

6/8/2009 12:00:00 AM

ORLANDO, FL. (January 16, 2009) – For nearly two decades, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando has been providing exceptional cancer care to Central Florida and beyond. It was 18 years ago, on January 14, 1991 that M.D. Anderson – Orlando, then known by its original name Orlando Cancer Center, saw its first patient. Since then the cancer center has grown in both size and scope to become one of the recognized cancer centers in the state of Florida and around the nation.

“Here at M.D. Anderson – Orlando we have a very dedicated staff of professionals committed to excellence in both medical care as well as customer service,” said Clarence Brown, MD, President and CEO of M.D. Anderson – Orlando. “They are to be applauded for our accomplishments over the past 18 years. It is because of them that we are continuing to develop the highest quality of cancer care for our patients and expand our clinical, basic and translation research programs and move up the academic ladder.”

When M.D. Anderson – Orlando began in 1991 as Orlando Cancer Center it started with eight physicians and approximately 75 employees. Since then it has grown to 36 full-time employed and 20 contracted physicians on staff, and more than 350 cancer center team members. In 1991 the cancer center saw 2,500 new patients. Nearly 18 years later, in 2008, it registered more than 4,500 new patients. In 1994, Orlando Cancer Center became M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando and in 2003 moved into the Charles Lewis Pavilion along Orange Avenue on the Orlando Health campus.

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando Launches Central Florida’s First Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic

6/18/2009 12:00:00 AM

Orlando, FL – March 2, 2009 – At M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, patients ring a special bell, signifying the successful completion of cancer treatment and their transition to cancer survivorship. Now, breast cancer survivors will be able to benefit from the first cancer survivorship program in Central Florida, the M. D. Anderson – Orlando Survivorship Clinic. The Clinic, located on the Orlando Health campus just south of downtown Orlando, will provide long term physical and emotional healthcare needs to breast cancer survivors who have no evidence of active cancer.

“The opening of our Survivorship Clinic marks the beginning of a new phase of cancer care here in Central Florida,” said Clarence Brown, MD, President and CEO of M. D. Anderson – Orlando. “Cancer survivors, who have always been an important part of our Breast Care Center, now have their very own clinic focused on their individual needs. These patients have fought and won their battle with cancer and as a result their healthcare needs are very unique.”

At the M. D. Anderson – Orlando Survivorship Clinic, each breast cancer survivor will work closely with a nurse practitioner to chart out an individual Survivor Care Plan, including future plans for cancer screenings and appropriate follow up care with primary care physicians. M. D. Anderson – Orlando joins an elite group of cancer survivorship programs serving some of the more than 10 million cancer survivors nationwide. This program was based on similar survivorship programs at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Sloan Kettering Memorial, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, part of Orlando Health, is affiliated with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked M. D. Anderson Cancer Center as the top cancer treatment center in the U.S. and has ranked it as one of the top two cancer centers for the past 13 years. Orlando Health, a 1,780-bed community-owned, Florida not-for-profit organization established in 1918, annually serves nearly 2 million Central Florida residents and more than 4,500 international patients. More information is available at www.mdandersonorlando.org.

Count Birdies to Help Babies in Need of Critical Care

6/17/2009 12:00:00 AM

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 6, 2009) — Each year the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard donates a portion of its proceeds to Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation. In an effort to further strengthen and showcase this long-standing relationship, the Foundation has launched the Birdies for Babies fundraising program, collecting monetary pledges per birdie scored by PGA TOUR professionals during this year’s 31st tournament, held March 23-29 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

Running now until tournament play begins on March 25, the entire Orlando community can get into the golf action by pledging $.01 and up for every birdie scored during the tournament, or by making a one-time donation, to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. A "birdie" occurs when a golfer completes a hole one shot under par; there have been an average of 1,149 birdies a year over the past five tournaments, ranging from a low of 1,057 in 2005, to a high of 1,261 in 2006.

The Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies NICU is the fourth largest in the United States and is organized to provide highly skilled, life saving care to Orlando's tiniest babies. More than 1,600 babies are admitted into the NICU each year, and the unit consistently demonstrates the best outcome statistics in Florida.

“Each year the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard helps raise much-needed funds for both Arnold Palmer and Winnie Palmer hospitals. This program is a great extension of that relationship and allows us to further involve the community in helping babies in need,” said Jeffrey Muddell, Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation vice president.

Those interested in pledging can complete a Birdies for Babies pledge form online, download one from ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com by clicking on the “Charities” page, or pick one up at any of the community golf and retail partner locations listed on the Web site. Just for filling out a pledge form, participants are eligible to receive one of several hundred gifts provided by local businesses, including gift cards and free rounds of golf. Plus, they will have the chance to guess the total number of birdies that will be scored at this year’s tournament, with a correct guess making them eligible to win one of three grand prizes:

Stay-and-Play at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge; includes two (2) deluxe rooms for one (1) night, buffet breakfast and a round of golf for four (4).
Four (4) weekly clubhouse badges for the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard.
Four (4) Annual 2-Park Power Passes to Universal Orlando Resort.

“Our partnership with the Foundation is a key element of the Tournament, and paramount to our commitment to the Orlando community,” said Scott Wellington, Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard tournament director. “We are proud to support the Birdies for Babies program and hope that all tournament birdie records are broken this year.”

About Winnie Palmer Hospital For Women & Babies
Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 285-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of women and babies. The hospital includes comprehensive fetal diagnostics and labor and delivery services, a regional center for neonatal intensive care, maternal intensive care and women’s services. Annually, more than 14,000 babies are expected to be born at Winnie Palmer Hospital, making it the busiest labor and delivery unit in the state of Florida. To learn more, visit www.winniepalmerhospital.com.

About The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By Mastercard
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 31st annual tournament March 23-29, 2009. The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida’s signature events, a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf. The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game’s all-time greats — Arnold Palmer. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

For more information visit ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com.

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children launches In the Zone

6/18/2009 12:00:00 AM

Orlando, FL (March 19, 2009) - Physician leaders and executives from Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children were joined today by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, renowned pediatrician Thomas Tonniges, MD, director of the Institute for Child Health Improvement with Boys Town National Research Hospital and the American Academy of Pediatrics' Leonard P. Rome Visiting Professor and representatives from several community organizations to introduce In the Zone. The new medical education program will officially roll out in Orlando's Parramore community Monday, March 23, 2009. It is designed to teach residents to recognize and understand the numerous community factors that can impact a child's physical health.

"We hope to provide residents with innovative educational experiences in community settings where they can get to know children, youth, their families and their health concerns and resources better," said Veenod Chulani, MD, director of the In the Zone program for Arnold Palmer Hospital. "In the Zone will equip residents with the knowledge and skills to serve as effective leaders and agents of change for children in our community or in communities where their future practices may lead them."

The Parramore community was selected as the program site due to statistics which indicate the community could benefit from a program like In the Zone. Based on census data from 2000, the Parramore neighborhood is home to more than 2,000 children, of whom 73% live in poverty, 84% in single parent households and 31% in households where no parent works. The infant mortality rate in the community is almost two-and-a-half times the national mortality rate and the rate for Orange County. And 41% of the community's children have chronic health needs that are not readily addressed given barriers to access to care. In the Zone will promote community health through collaboration and further complement efforts by the city of Orlando, residents and local businesses to revitalize the community.

"Forty-one percent of Parramore households have at least one child with chronic health needs," said Mayor Dyer. "Leveraging community partnerships with Arnold Palmer Hospital's In the Zone project will help us achieve one of the fundamental goals of Parramore Kidz Zone by identifying those children with acute and chronic health care needs ensuring they receive appropriate treatment."

In the Zone will provide innovative training experiences that help prepare residents to be advocates for children. The program's goal is to eliminate health care disparities for people of diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds while improving the quality of services and health outcomes in the community. "The field of community pediatric training places the residents back in the community and teaches them about the environments in which their patients actually live and go to school," said Joan Younger Meek, MD, academic chairman, Medical Education Pediatrics, Arnold Palmer Hospital. "The discipline also exposes pediatric residents in training to the social support networks in place in the community and trains them to be better advocates for their patients and families. We are excited about the opportunities that In the Zone will provide for our pediatric residents to engage with the local child advocates and families in the Parramore community in Orlando."

Several community organizations in the Parramore area will serve as In the Zone partners including the Center for Multicultural Wellness and Prevention, the Orlando Day Nursery, the Healthy Start Coalition of Orange County and the Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families' Teen Xpress program. (A complete list is attached.) Arnold Palmer Hospital's residents will participate in activities of community partner agencies for their two week rotation, during which they will provide health education, health navigation, mentorship and health advocacy. They will also function as liaison, resource person and consultant in matters of child, adolescent and family health to community partners during their residency.

About Arnold Palmer Hosptial for Children

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

About the Department of Pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children consists of 11 faculty general pediatricians and community pediatricians who maintain privileges and participate in department-sponsored educational activities, nurse practitioners and support staff who provide a full range of pediatric services. Arnold Palmer Hospital is the training site for 42 pediatric residents and is the only pediatric training residency training program in the Greater Orlando area. The department delivers pediatric services from a 158-bed hospital, a 112-bed neonatal intensive care unit and an outpatient facility that handles more than 20,000 visits each year.

In the Zone Community Partners

1. Dr. J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center

2. Center for Multicultural Wellness and Prevention - Project Connect

3. Healthy Start Coalition of Orange County

4. Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families - Early Steps

5. Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families - Healthy Families Orange

6. Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families - Teen Xpress

7. John H. Jackson Community Center

8. Nap Ford Community School

9. Orange County Health Department WIC Clinic

10. Orlando Day Nursery

11. Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando

12. Stephanie C. Spinelli and Associates, Inc.

Pink Lemonade Stand Raises Nearly $24,000 for M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando

6/18/2009 12:00:00 AM

Orlando, FL - March 24, 2009 - When friends Victoria Petrucelly and Jesse Theobald first came up with the idea to have a pink lemonade stand they were hoping to raise at least $50. When Victoria's mother Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer, the event took on more meaning. On Monday, the girls presented M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando with a check for $23,856.73.

Friends and family of Angela Petrucelly join Dr. Clarence Brown, President and CEO of M. D. Anderson – Orlando, for a pink lemonade toast as he accepts a check for $23,856.73 from Victoria Petrucelly and Jesse Theobald.

"This money will help find the cure for breast cancer," said Clarence Brown, MD, President and CEO of M. D. Anderson - Orlando as he accepted the check from Victoria and Jesse. "This is just a tremendous accomplishment, we are so proud and appreciative of these young ladies and we know Angela would be proud as well."

Angela Petrucelly, Victoria's mother, lost her battle with breast cancer in February at the age of 40. In her honor, the girls launched their lemonade stand last weekend to benefit M. D. Anderson - Orlando where Angela was treated. They spent the weekend with classmates pouring up glasses of pink lemonade and collecting donations.

"It started small but ended up being one of the biggest things in Orlando," Victoria said. Jesse added, "I'm just happy it happened. When you're a kid, things usually don't happen."

"Angela loved the care at M. D. Anderson - Orlando," said Victoria's father, Reid. "They treat the person as a whole as well as the family." In addition to Victoria, she and her husband, Reid, have a 4-year-old son, Vincent.

The "Think Pink Lemonade Stand" began as a simple idea from two little girls, and others joined the cause. Countless companies and individuals donated to the effort, including Publix at the Paramount - Downtown Orlando and Chick-Fil-A of Central Florida. Two local companies, Lilly Pulitzer - Park Avenue and Palmer's Garden & Goods, donated a portion of their weekend sales to the lemonade stand.

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, part of Orlando Health, is affiliated with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked M. D. Anderson Cancer Center as the top cancer treatment center in the U.S. and has ranked it as one of the top two cancer centers for the past 13 years. Orlando Health, a 1,780-bed community-owned, Florida not-for-profit organization established in 1918, annually serves nearly 2 million Central Florida residents and more than 4,500 international patients. More information is available at www.mdandersonorlando.org.

ORMC opens state-of-the-art Endovascular Surgery Suite

6/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 7, 2009) — Endovascular surgeons at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) are now using a new high-tech operating room (OR) that integrates digital imaging diagnostics, radiological, catheterization and surgical capabilities in one suite instead of treatment in various hospital areas. For patients the new suite means they spend less time in surgery and the hospital, and recover with less pain, returning more quickly to an improved healthier lifestyle. ORMC is the only hospital in Greater Orlando with an Endovascular Surgery Suite in the OR.

Endovascular surgery is a form of minimally invasive surgery that allows access to various areas of the body through a small puncture via major blood vessels, instead of large incisions. Typically the chosen vessel is the femoral artery or a vein near the groin. Common surgeries and procedures include carotid artery stenting, abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs and treatment for lower extremity peripheral vascular disease like blood clots in the legs.

“We are excited to bring our community this technological advancement,” said Jon M. Wesley, MD, a vascular surgeon who practices at ORMC. “We are able to perform endovascular surgery and other procedures to treat vascular problems more efficiently and effectively while improving the quality of life for patients."

The new endovascular suite combines the best of both worlds: the cutting-edge imaging and image processing found in independent radiological and angiography suites and the more sterile environment of an OR which is needed in more complex endovascular procedures.

The smaller incisions mean less post-operative pain which in turn leads to more time enjoying the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. For example, a traditional approach to treating abdominal aortic aneurysm would entail a surgical incision from a patient’s breast bone to their belly button, followed by a possible 10-day hospital stay. This same procedure can now be done using a minimally invasive technique, may only require a 3-day stay.

The Endovascular Surgery Suite can also be used for traumatic injuries such as thoracic tears (a major artery tear in the chest area) – a common injury from the force of impact sustained in a motor vehicle or motorcycle crash or a traumatic fall.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $1.5 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of nine hospitals and care centers in the Orlando region. The organization, which includes the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies; Lucerne Hospital; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; South Lake Hospital (50 percent partnership); St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent partnership) and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando – the first affiliate of one of the nation’s premier cancer centers The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Orlando Health’s areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

ORMC Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation

6/25/2009 12:00:00 AM

ORLANDOA, Fla. (April 9, 2009) — Orlando Regional Medical Center’s (ORMC) Chest Pain Center recently received full accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers’ Accreditation Review Committee. ORMC is the first Level One Trauma Center in Florida to receive this designation.

“Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in our country and chest pain is a leading chief complaint in our Emergency Department,” said Gary Parrish, emergency medicine physician and chair, Emergency Department. “Our Chest Pain Center is designed to improve outcomes by beginning treatment sooner, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.”

The Chest Pain Center’s special protocol helps to reduce the time to treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack, when treatments are most effective, and to better monitor patients when it is not clear whether they are having a coronary event. Such observation helps ensure that a patient is neither sent home too early nor needlessly admitted.

ORMC’s Chest Pain Center has demonstrated expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and completing on-site evaluations by a review team. Key areas include:

Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system
Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly
Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
Ensuring Chest Pain Center personnel competency and training
Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack

With the rise of Chest Pain Centers came the need to establish standards designed to improve the consistency and quality of care provided to patients. The Society’s accreditation process insures centers meet or exceed quality-of-care measures in acute cardiac medicine.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $1.5 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of nine hospitals and care centers in the Orlando region. The organization, which includes the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies; Lucerne Hospital; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; South Lake Hospital (50 percent partnership); St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent partnership) and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando – the first affiliate of one of the nation’s premier cancer centers The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Orlando Health’s areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Orlando Health is Central Florida’s fifth largest employer with nearly 14,000 employees and more than 2,000 affiliated physicians, all of whom support our philosophy of providing high quality care and service when it matters most. We prove this everyday with over 100,000 inpatient admissions and more than 600,000 outpatient visits each year. In all, Orlando Health serves 1.6 million Central Florida residents and nearly 3,000 international patients annually. Additionally, Orlando Health provides approximately $198 million in support of community health needs. More information can be found at www.orlandohealth.com.

About the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC)

The Society of Chest Pain Centers is a patient centric non-profit international professional organization focused upon improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and other related maladies. Established in 1998, the Society is dedicated to patient advocacy and focusing on ischemic heart disease. Central to its mission is the question, “What is right for the patient?” In answer, the Society promotes protocol based medicine, often delivered through a Chest Pain Center model to address the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and to promote the adoption of process improvement science by healthcare providers. To best fulfill this mission, the Society of Chest Pain Centers provides accreditation to facilities striving for optimum Chest Pain Center care. SCPC is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

For more information on the Society of Chest Pain Centers visit www.scpcp.org, or contact Robert Lipetz, Executive Director at 614.442.5950 or director@scpcp.org.

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando Receives $1.3 million to Support Cancer Research

6/26/2009 12:00:00 AM

Orlando, FL – April 20, 2009 – The M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando – Cancer Research Institute has received a generous donation to provide support for ongoing research in the search for a cure for cancer. The donation of $1.3 million dollars, funded by the Arnold D. Palmer Charitable Trust, will establish the Winnie Palmer Endowed Directorship, supporting the role of the director of the Cancer Research Institute.

“We are truly appreciative and grateful for the continued support of the Palmer Family,” said Clarence Brown, MD, President and CEO of M. D. Anderson – Orlando. “Their commitment to help find a cure for cancer is inspirational. Our researchers, lead by director Dr. Cheryl Baker, are making tremendous strides in cancer research and are saving lives. This generous donation, funding the continuation of valuable research of our Cancer Research Institute will undoubtedly save additional lives. “

The Cancer Research Institute will be expanding this summer to Medical City at Lake Nona. The research facility, which will be located within the UCF College of Medicine’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences building, will play a pivotal role in the future of cutting edge cancer research.

Orlando Health Forms Lifestyle Medicine Program with the University of Central Florida and World-Renowned Rippe Health

6/8/2009 12:00:00 AM

ORLANDO, Fla. (December 2, 2008) – Lifestyle is the new best medicine and Orlando patients and physicians are the new beneficiaries! Beginning in December, Orlando Health is partnering with the University of Central Florida (UCF) and renowned cardiologist, James M. Rippe, MD, one of the nation’s foremost lifestyle medicine experts, to become the first hospital in America to create a lifestyle medicine department and integrate it into patient care and resident education. The goal is to keep patients healthy and help decrease their chances for cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes by providing counseling and materials about lifestyle changes that can impact their health.

According to Dr. Rippe, an estimated 70 to 80 percent of all deaths in the United States each year can be tied to poor lifestyle choices. Lifestyle medicine is the study and practice of how to help individuals understand that their daily habits and practices have a profound impact on their short and long term health and quality of life. Dr. Rippe will conduct further research on the subject both at his clinical research laboratory, Rippe Lifestyle Institute, and at the UCF Center for Lifestyle Medicine and use his latest findings to create curricula for Orlando Health’s medical staff and patients.

“Lifestyle medicine isn’t simply about prolonging life, it’s about ensuring people can enjoy their later years with less pain and disease,” said Dr. Rippe. “The future of health care is not only in treating the sick, but also in caring for those who are still well. Bringing lifestyle medicine to patients at Orlando Health is an important step in improving the health of the entire community.”

Jay Falk, MD, vice president, Medical Education, expects the hospital system’s partnership with Dr. Rippe and UCF to put the Greater Orlando area on the forefront of lifestyle medicine. “This new partnership will allow us to not only educate seasoned doctors and residents about the potential benefits of lifestyle medicine on their patients, but it will also enable us to counsel patients who have risk factors for disease before they even leave the hospital,” said Dr. Falk.

One unique aspect of the relationship between Orlando Health and Rippe Health will be the publication of quarterly conferences entitled “Lifestyle Medicine Rounds at Orlando Health” in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine (AJLM). AJLM is the only peer reviewed journal in this emerging area of medicine and is received by over 20,000 physicians and other health care workers throughout the United States and internationally.

Doctors who graduate from UCF’s new School of Medicine will have the opportunity to enroll in the residency program at Orlando Regional Medical Center - the area’s only statutory teaching hospital – and learn lifestyle medicine principles that they can pass along to their patients. The eventual goal will be to build a formal fellowship program in lifestyle medicine.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $1.5 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of nine hospitals and care centers in the Orlando region. The organization, which includes the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies; Lucerne Hospital; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; South Lake Hospital (50 percent partnership); St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent partnership) and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando – the first affiliate of one of the nation’s premier cancer centers The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Orlando Health’s areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

About Rippe Health

Rippe Health is one of the leading research and health promotion organizations in the country focused on helping people choose healthier lifestyles. Founder James M. Rippe, M.D. is a nationally recognized authority on preventive cardiology, health and fitness, and healthy weight loss in the U.S. Dr. Rippe is the Director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute (RLI) and Rippe Health Evaluation (RHE). He is an Associate Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at Tufts University School of Medicine, and Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida. Over the past 20 years, RLI has become the largest research organization in the world to explore how daily habits and actions impact short and long-term health and quality of life. RLI has published hundreds of studies that form the scientific basis for the fields of lifestyle medicine and high performance health. Rippe Health Evaluation offers comprehensive health evaluations for individuals. Dr. Rippe also serves as the Chairman of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at the University of Central Florida. The CLM at UCF is the first University based organization to conduct research and teach students at all levels in the area of lifestyle medicine. For more information on Dr. Rippe and Rippe Health, visit www.rippehealth.com.

About The Center For Lifestyle Medicine at UCF

The Center for Lifestyle Medicine at UCF (CLM at UCF) is the first multi-disciplinary, academic center at a major University devoted to research on the impact of lifestyle habits and choices on the prevention and/or management of disease. For more information on the CLM at UCF, visit <a href="http://www.l

Dr. P. Phillips Hospital Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation

6/25/2009 12:00:00 AM

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 28, 2009) — Dr. P. Phillips Hospital Chest Pain Center recently received full accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers’ Accreditation Review Committee.

The Chest Pain Center is designed to deliver more timely care during the beginning stages of a heart attack, when treatments are most effective, and to better monitor patients when it is not clear whether they are having a problem with their heart. The specialized procedures help ensure that a patient is neither sent home too early nor needlessly admitted.

Dr. Phillips Hospital’s Chest Pain Center has demonstrated expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and completing on-site evaluations by a review team. Key areas include:

Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system
Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly
Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
Ensuring Chest Pain Center personnel competency and training
Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack

With the increase in the number of Chest Pain Centers came the need to institute guidelines to improve the consistency and quality of care provided to patients. The Society’s accreditation process insures designated centers meet or exceed quality-of-care measures in acute cardiac medicine.

###

About Orlando Health
Orlando Health is a $1.5 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of nine hospitals and care centers in the Orlando region. The organization, which includes the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies; Lucerne Hospital; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; South Lake Hospital (50 percent partnership); St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent partnership) and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando – the first affiliate of one of the nation’s premier cancer centers The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Orlando Health’s areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

About the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC)
The Society of Chest Pain Centers is a patient centric non-profit international professional organization focused upon improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and other related maladies. Established in 1998, the Society is dedicated to patient advocacy and focusing on ischemic heart disease. Central to its mission is the question, “What is right for the patient?” In answer, the Society promotes protocol based medicine, often delivered through a Chest Pain Center model to address the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and to promote the adoption of process improvement science by healthcare providers. To best fulfill this mission, the Society of Chest Pain Centers provides accreditation to facilities striving for optimum Chest Pain Center care. SCPC is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

For more information on the Society of Chest Pain Centers visit www.scpcp.org, or contact Robert Lipetz, Executive Director at 614.442.5950 or director@scpcp.org.