SPRING 2011 - Baptist Health South Florida

SPRING 2011

Baptist Health South Florida Chairman of the Board,
Judge Robert Dubé; President, Brian E. Keeley. Trustees:
Tony Alonso, Calvin Babcock, Yerby Barker, Wendell
Beard, George Cadman III, James Carr, the Rev. William
Chambers III, the Rev. David W. Cleeland, George Corrigan,
William Dickinson, Joyce Elam, Herbert Greene, M.D.,
George Harth, Jay Hershoff, Charles Hood III, the Rev. Dr.
Gary Johnson, Norman Kenyon, M.D., Rudy Kranys, the
Rev. Richard Ledgister, the Rev. Wilner Maxy, Paul May,
the Rev. Dr. Marcos Ramos, Aida Shafer, Ronald Shuffield,
Roberta Stokes, W. Peter Temling, the Rev. Tom Thompson,
Bill Tillett, Scott Weston, the Rev. Dr. William White.
Baptist Hospital of Miami Board Chair, Calvin Babcock;
President, Baptist Hospital Medical Staff, Eugene Eisner,
M.D.; Chief Executive Officer, Bo Boulenger.
South Miami Hospital Board Chair, Yerby Barker;
President, South Miami Hospital Medical Staff, Guillermo
Pol, M.D.; Chief Executive Officer, Lincoln Mendez.
Homestead Hospital Board Chair, the Rev. William
Chambers III; President, Homestead Hospital Medical
Staff, George Tershakovec, M.D.; Chief Executive Officer,
William Duquette.
Mariners Hospital Board Chair, Jay Hershoff; President,
Mariners Hospital Medical Staff, Elisa Brown-Soltero, M.D.;
Chief Executive Officer, Rick Freeburg.
Doctors Hospital Board Chair, Norman Kenyon, M.D.;
President, Doctors Hospital Medical Staff, Jack Cooper,
M.D.; Chief Executive Officer, Nelson Lazo.
Baptist Outpatient Services Board Chair, Roberta Stokes;
Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Rosello.
Baptist Health Enterprises Board Chair, James Carr;
Chief Executive Officer, Ana Lopez-Blazquez.
Baptist Health South Florida Foundation Board Chair,
Rudy Kranys; Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Parsons.
Directors of Affiliated Boards Yvette Aleman, Dick
Anderson, George Aronoff, Orlando Bajos, James Barker,
Matthew Becherer, Kerrin Bermont, Robert Berrin, Michael
Bileca, Bonnie Blaire, James Boruszak, Steven Brodie,
Bette Brown, Joseph Buchanan, Robert Burstein, Miguel
Cano, Willie Carpenter, Mark Caruso, M.D., Gerald Case,
Ray Castellanos, Mauricio Cayon, Barron Channer, Maria
Costa-Smith, Augustin de Goytisolo, Elizabeth Diaz de
Villegas, Lani Kahn Drody, Joyce Elam, Tomas Erban, Manuel
Fernandez, Carlos Garcia, Peter Gardner, Maria Garza,
William Gilbert Jr., Robert Gintel, Gretchen Goslin, Michael
Graham, M.D., Leif Gunderson, Barry Halpern, M.D.,
Kent Hamill, James Harris, Alysa Herman, M.D., Elizabeth
Hernandez, Gerald Hirsch, Nathan Hirsch, M.D., G. Glenn
Huber, Jacque Huttoe, Jeanne Jacobs, Ph.D., David
Johnson, Lane Jones, S. Lawrence Kahn III, George Kakouris,
George Knox, Manuel Lasaga, Katrina Lavene, Cynthia
Leesfield, Maria Camila Leiva, Orlando Leon, M.D., Andrew
Levy, James Loewenherz, M.D., Victoria London, Miriam
Lopez, John Maas, Bruce MacArthur, Joseph McCain,
DMD, Derek McDowell, Jo McGregor-Ganus, Stanley
Margulies, M.D., Joy Martin, Charlie Martinez, Andrew
Menachem, Hans Mueller, Patricia Mull, Ramon Oyarzun,
Martha Pantin, Johanna Paterson, Ann Pope, Samuel
Porco Jr., DMD, Juan-Carlos Quintero, DMD, Ramón Rasco,
Charlen Regan, Ian Reiss, M.D., Bonnie Rippingille, Domingo
Rodriguez, Gonzalo Sanabria, Steven Sapp, Joel Schenkman,
M.D., Betty Schilling, I.E. Schilling, Robert Shafer Jr., Emery
Sheer, Joel Shepherd, Karent Sierra, DDS, Paul Soulé,
Patricia Stanley, Lee Stapleton, Rene Taylor, Patricia Thorp,
Bill Tillett, Joseph Traina, M.D., Sats Tripathy, Nick Waddell,
Jeff Weiner, Warren Weiser, Lisa White, William Wilson III,
Robert Zolten, M.D., Leonard Zwerling, M.D.
EDITOR Jo Baxter
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Patty Shillington
ART DIRECTOR Elizabeth Lane Lawhorn
WRITERS Liz Doup, Sheila Konczewski, Sharon Harvey
Rosenberg, Elizabeth Rosenthal, Anne Streeter, Adrienne
Sylver, Phyllis Teitelbaum, Tanya Walton
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Georgette Koch, Barbara Moore,
Dee Moustakas, Dorothy Stein
PHOTOGRAPHY Mabel Rodriguez
TO SEND COMMENTS, ADDRESS CHANGES OR TO UNSUBSCRIBE,
E-MAIL MyResource @ baptisthealth.net
6855 Red Road, Suite 600,Coral Gables, FL 33143
baptisthealth.net

Women&Health
Fibroid Center offers team approach
F
or four years, Kimberly Mitchell suffered
with symptoms caused by noncancerous
growths known as uterine fibroids.
Birth control pills no longer alleviated
the breakthrough bleeding and lower
back pain. And the fibroids kept growing.
“I got discouraged and wasn’t sure
what to do,” said Ms. Mitchell, a Miami
mother of three. Then she discovered
South Miami Hospital’s Fibroid Center,
which opened last fall as part of the hospital’s
Center for Women & Infants.
The Fibroid Center offers women a
unique, multispecialty approach to diagnosing
and treating their problems, all in
one location.
“This is a one-stop shop and very convenient
for the patient,” said gynecologist
Rafael Perez, M.D., medical director of the
Center. “Everything is done in one place with
experienced physicians evaluating all the
treatments and using the latest techniques.”
The Center features a team of specialists
including gynecologists, robotic surgeons,
diagnostic and interventional radiologists
and fertility specialists. Along with
the women and their own doctors, these
specialists work together to develop and
implement a treatment plan tailored to
each patient.
“Historically, for a woman to get all her
options, she had to go to two or three doctors,’’
said interventional radiologist Adam
Geronemus, M.D. “Ours is a team approach.
After looking at all the patient’s information,
Kimberly Mitchell discusses treatment options with
Rafael Perez, M.D.
we collaborate. We’re able to
give her all her options.”
Dealing with fibroids can
be emotional for women,
especially when they want a
family. “Many women are
concerned about retaining
their fertility,” said reproductive
endocrinologist Maria
Bustillo, M.D. “We do a lot of
handholding.’’
As many as 50 to 80 percent
of women develop
fibroids during their lifetime,
though not all experience
symptoms. Because fibroids
vary in size and location,
symptoms and treatments
vary. Symptoms range from
severe menstrual cramps and
painful intercourse to anemia
and miscarriages.
The Center’s specialists perform different
treatments to shrink the growths,
including fibroid embolization, laparoscopic
or robotic myomectomy, which
leaves the uterus intact; removal of the uterine
lining; and laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy,
which removes the uterus.
Most insurance plans cover the Center’s
services. In addition, each doctor bills
the patient’s insurance company. An evaluation
and office visit with a nurse practitioner
for those without insurance is $50.
Ms. Mitchell, 34, found the Center efficient
and the staff accommodating. Drs.
Perez and Geronemus presented her with
several options, explaining each in detail.
She decided on a robot-assisted hysterectomy,
which typically results in less scarring
and postoperative pain and a quicker
return to normal activities than a traditional
hysterectomy.
Before going to the Center, “I wasn’t
aware of all the methods and technology,’’
Ms. Mitchell said. “Now that I’ve learned so
much, it helped in making my decision.”
To contact the Fibroid Center, call
786-662-8585. — Liz Doup
BREAST MRIs MAY SAVE LIVES
Annual MRIs plus mammograms and breast exams may help save lives of
women at high risk for breast cancer — those with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes or with a family history of breast
cancer. A Dutch study published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology is the first to measure whether adding MRIs to mammography
screening increases survival.
In 2,157 high-risk women, researchers found that after six years of the combined screenings, 93 percent of those with the
gene mutation were alive, compared to 74 percent who were alive at five years in earlier studies without MRIs. In women
with the BRCA1 mutation, MRI was superior to mammograms in finding cancer. All of those with family histories of
breast cancer were still alive after six years.
In recent years, annual breast MRIs along with mammograms have been recommended for those at increased risk for
breast cancer. MRI is better at finding tumors, but mammography is also needed to detect cancers missed by MRI. Breast
MRIs are not advised for women with average risk because of the chances for finding abnormalities that aren’t cancer, leading
to unnecessary biopsies and repeat scans.
Talk to your doctor about what breast cancer screening regimen is best for you. A prescription is needed. To make an appointment,
call 786-573-6000 in Miami-Dade, 954-837-1000 in Broward or 305-434-1588 (mammography only) in Monroe County.
—Anne Streeter
RESOURCE 3

MAYBE YOU’RE CURIOUS about weight-loss
surgery and wonder what the life-changing program entails.
Perhaps your spouse needs a stent placed in a blocked artery
following a heart attack and you want to know more about the
procedure. Maybe you’re at your wit’s end with back pain.
And what exactly is a Gamma Knife, now that your friend has
been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor?
If you’re like millions of American adults, you turn to the
Internet for information about health and medical issues.
Helen Gonzalez did just that when yo-yo dieting was complicating
her weight problem and risking her health. She went
online to learn about the surgical options and found Anthony
Gonzalez, M.D., medical director of South Miami Hospital’s
Weight-loss Surgery Program. The mother of nine children
and stepchildren, Ms. Gonzalez agreed to contribute to Baptist
Health’s weight-loss surgery blog, Winning at Losing, in
the hope that sharing her experiences would help others.
Research suggests
that healthcare websites
and blogs increasingly
do make a difference.
Eight out of 10 Internet users — roughly 60 percent of
American adults — sought health information online in 2010,
according to a Health Topics report by the Pew Internet and
American Life Project. A decade ago, only 25 percent of American
adults relied on the Web for health information.
In response to the expanding use of the Internet,
Baptist Health has broadened its online offerings to
help educate patients and healthcare consumers.
“Today we’re dealing with a more educated consumer,
which makes a better patient,” said cardiologist
Ted Feldman, M.D., medical director of South
Miami Heart Center. “People are taking responsibility
for their care. We’re giving people tools to get
educated and deal with these issues in the comfort
of their own home. It’s a very exciting time.”
Many of Baptist Health’s websites feature medical
libraries with multimedia presentations, including
videos, podcasts, animations and interactive
programs. These tools allow patients and consumers
to research a wealth of topics and gain an under-
Helen Gonzalez, who has lost more
than 100 pounds, blogs about it at
SouthMiamiWeightloss.com.
A Wealth of Health
on the Web

A primer on websites
standing beyond what words alone
can impart. In addition, Internet users
can watch moderated webcasts of surgical
procedures at Baptist Health hospitals
and can even take Baptist Hospital
childbirth classes online.
Stories about real-life patients and
their treatments add personal insight
to the websites, as do blogs about
Ted Feldman, M.D.
breast cancer and weight-loss surgery.
“I hope that other people who have similar or different issues
than I did will benefit from what I write,” said Ms. Gonzalez,
46, who underwent weight-loss and gallbladder surgery last
summer and had lost 100 pounds by the new year. “This has
been life-changing for me.”
In the end, these constantly evolving virtual elements combine
with the potential to improve patient care, say Baptist
Health medical leaders.
Indeed, a 2009 Pew report titled The Social Life of Health
Information found that so-called “e-patients” reported overwhelmingly
positive experiences from seeking out health
information online. Specifically:
• 60 percent of e-patients say they or someone they know has
been helped by health information discovered on the Internet.
• 41 percent have turned to an online news group, website or
blog to read health-related commentary.
• 24 percent have gone online to
check reviews of doctors.
While the impact of online health
information already is evident, it’s just
the beginning, said Dr. Feldman and
interventional radiologist Barry
Katzen, M.D., founder and medical
director of Baptist Cardiac & Vascular
Barry Katzen, M.D.
Institute. They envision using Internet
technology to transform the way medical care is given,
once the accepted standards of care in the practice of medicine
catch up with technology.
Dr. Katzen would like to see patients receive real-time
e-reminders to take their medication, for example, because
Baptist Health’s expanding set of websites offers education
about medical conditions, treatment options and
other clinical information. Here’s a primer on Baptist
Health websites:
BaptistHealth.net and BaptistSalud.net: Baptist Health’s
home website gives an overview of the largest not-forprofit
healthcare organization in the region, with details
about Baptist Hospital, Baptist
Children’s Hospital, South
Miami Hospital, Doctors Hospital,
Homestead Hospital and
Mariners Hospital. You can
check estimated wait times at
hospital emergency centers
and Baptist Outpatient Services’
urgent care centers.
BaptistHeart.net, BaptistCorazon.net and SouthMiami-
Heart.com: Learn about cardiovascular conditions and
their treatments, from aortic aneurysms and peripheral
artery disease to structural heart defects and irregular
heartbeats. Meet the doctors and some of their patients.
Find heart-healthy recipes and interactive tools to assess
your risk, and make an appointment for a vascular
screening.
SouthMiamiWeightloss.com: Get information about
obesity, the different types of weight-loss surgery and
the process of becoming a candidate for the surgery.
You can calculate your body mass index (BMI) and read
Winning at Losing, the blog with entries from weightloss
surgery patient Helen Gonzalez, as well as members
of South Miami Hospital’s Weight-loss Surgery
Program team.
BaptistSpineCenter.com: Learn about conditions of the
back and neck, and the conservative, multidisciplinary
approach to treating back pain. Find out when minimally
invasive surgery may be the best option.
MiamiGammaKnifeCenter.com: Complete with stories
and videos of patients, this website provides details
about Gamma Knife radiosurgery — what it is (a noninvasive
treatment) and when it’s used (for certain brain
tumors, facial nerve pain, blood vessel abnormalities
and other head and neck and neurological conditions).
GetTreatedBetter.com, ConsientaseBien.com, KidsGet-
TreatedBetter.com and ConsientalosBien.com: These
sites provide details about urgent care and diagnostic
imaging tests, such as MRI, CT scan and mammography.
BreastCancerHealingJourney.com: This blog, Healing
Journeys, features posts from a breast cancer survivor
and links to cancer information.
Continued on page 6
RESOURCE 5

Continued from page 5
noncompliance with medication instructions is the top reason
that medication therapy fails. Patients could report symptoms,
ask questions and receive responses quickly and efficiently. In
turn, the Institute would be better able to follow up on patients.
“We’re interested in Internet tools that will allow us to communicate
with patients through e-mail and PDA applications,” Dr.
Katzen said. “I think we can use these websites to increase our link
to our patients — not just providing them with information but
proactively interacting with them to improve their health and get
involved in the care cycle.”
A big part of Dr. Feldman’s practice at South Miami Heart
Center is preventive cardiology, in which he counsels patients
about how to better control their cholesterol, blood pressure and
other cardiovascular indicators. He pictures Web conferences
with patients, when appropriate, allowing him to practice cardiology
in a more safe, environmentally responsible and cost-effective
manner.
“Much of what I do is consultations — talking to people about
lifestyle changes, side effects of medications, the risks and benefits
of surgery. You could charge less, be more efficient and more
green. Patients would love it.
“It’s just a matter of time,” Dr. Feldman said, “before the Web
becomes a place where people receive medical care.”
—Patty Shillington
Stay in touch — with us.
It’s more important than ever to stay connected. That’s why you’ll find free Wi-Fi at all
Baptist Health hospitals, medical plazas and facilities.
It’s just one of the many ways Baptist Health is connected to our patients. We employ the
latest technology to keep tabs on your medication and the status of your health. And our eICU
LifeGuard allows specialists to closely monitor intensive care patients 24/7.
We keep in touch with the latest trends in technology. That’s why we never lose touch
with you — follow Baptist HealthSF on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
baptisthealth.net
6 RESOURCE

Grab your mouse.
Prepare for surgery.
Life-preserving
Lung Cancer Surgery
4 p.m.
Thursday, June 16
BaptistHealth.net
(in English)
BaptistSalud.net
(in Spanish)
Witness robotic surgery in
action. Baptist Health Cardiac
& Thoracic Surgical Group
surgeon Mark Dylewski, M.D., will use
the da Vinci robot to perform surgery
to treat early-stage lung cancer.
The surgery is minimally invasive.
That means shorter recovery time, allowing
the patient to resume a normal lifestyle
more quickly, with less pain. In addition to
the surgery itself, you’ll hear from a patient
who has previously undergone the procedure.
Join the webcast, presented in English
and Spanish, and prepare to be fascinated.
Thoracic surgeon Mark Dylewski, M.D.
U.S. 1 and SW 62 Avenue
Committed to our faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence

KidStuff
Intervene to stop bullying
Tyler Clementi, 18. Seth Walsh, 13. Phoebe Prince, 15. Hope Witsell,
13. Billy Lucas, 15. One was a talented violinist, another
loved to show horses. We will never know, however, who these
teens would have become because each one committed suicide
after relentless bullying.
The issue of bullying has received significant attention lately
due to the rash of suicides by victims, but The Melissa Institute for
Violence Prevention and Treatment has been helping kids and
adults put an end to bullying for more than a decade.
The Institute held two educational programs on bullying last
fall — Banishing Bullying, a Baptist Children’s Hospital parenting
class, and another program attended by more than 230 public
school psychologists, social workers and counselors.
“It’s important to understand that all bullying, whether it’s
“It’s important to understand
that all bullying ... requires adult
intervention and assistance.”
— Trish Ramsey, The Melissa Institute
for Violence Prevention
direct like hitting, kicking or taunting; or indirect, like spreading
rumors, causing a person to be socially isolated or cyber-bullying,
requires adult intervention and assistance,” said Trish Ramsay,
education director of The Melissa Institute.
“Bullying is a relationship problem that requires relationship
solutions in all of the places where children live, learn, play and
work,” said Debra Pepler, Ph.D., a member of the Institute’s Scientific
Board and a distinguished research professor of psychology at
York University in Toronto. Research has shown, she added, that
when someone intervenes, bullying stops within 10 seconds in
half of all cases.
Support is necessary for the bully, the victim and the bystander.
The bully needs to understand the impact of his or her behavior
and find ways to achieve power and status through positive leadership.
The victim needs protection and support
in developing confidence and positive
friendships. The bystanders need to recognize
that inaction contributes to the problem
and that there are ways they can stop
bullying and support their peers.
“Telling is not the same thing as tattling,”
Ms. Ramsay said. “Telling will get someone
out of trouble. Tattling is designed to get
someone into trouble.”
One mother at the parenting program
said she was worried that her son would be
bullied after they move this summer and he
begins middle school in a new town. His
height, far above that of his peers, she said,
might make him a target.
Ms. Ramsay advised the mother that role
HEART DISEASE STARTS IN CHILDHOOD
Parents concerned about their children’s health can add
another worry to their list: heart disease. Research shows it
starts in childhood.
But the child who develops heart-healthy habits as a youngster
or adolescent may reap benefits in adulthood, according to
two new studies published in the American Heart Association
journal Circulation.
“This is exciting because we could be preventing cardiovascular
disease later on by intervening early,’’ said Madeleen
Mas, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist at Baptist Children’s Hospital.
Cardiovascular disease remains the top cause of death in
men and women in this country. Because obesity is linked to
heart disease, physicians worry that the epidemic of overweight
children portends a future explosion of cardiac problems,
Dr. Mas said.
One study suggests that the presence
of such risk factors as abnormal
cholesterol and high blood pressure
by around age 9 strongly
predicts that the neck artery walls
will thicken by early adulthood. That
thickening is a precursor to strokes and
heart attacks.
As a result, it’s important for parents to
schedule a heart-risk evaluation for their child if a
pediatrician already hasn’t suggested it, Dr. Mas said.
These evaluations typically include questions about diet
and exercise as well as checking the child’s cholesterol,
blood pressure and body mass index, which measures weight
in relation to height.
If a problem exists, initial treatment focuses on lifestyle
8 RESOURCE

All about kids
playing could help her son stand tall and exude confidence, making
it less likely that he will be bullied. In addition, she suggested the
mother work to find a friend or two for her son before the school
year starts.
“Unfortunately, there’s not one answer that fits every situation,”
Ms. Ramsay said.
There may be times when it’s easy to find an adult or teacher for
help; at other times, a bystander may defuse the situation by asking
the victim to join him or her and walk away.
Cyberbullying, or bullying that occurs online or through texting
or other electronic means, can be very destructive, said Wendy
Craig, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Queen’s University in
Ontario and also a member of the Institute’s Scientific Board.
“Technology is here to stay, and yet as adults and experts we are
often behind our kids in Internet knowledge,” Ms. Craig said. “Kids
can be bullied 24/7 now.” Because messages on Facebook, in Internet
polls, on blogs and in texts stay in place, a child is bullied each
time someone sees the original statement or threat.
The experts agreed that parents, teachers and counselors need
to be aware of bullying and the resources that are available to them,
and that children, no matter if they are the bully or the victim,
must get help.
“We’re here to say that bullying must stop because there are
children who are tormented to the point where they take their own
lives,” Ms. Ramsay said. “And we’re here to say that bullying must
stop because many children who bully turn into aggressive, violent
adults.”
For more details about bullying, go to melissainstitute.org,
stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov or stopcyberbullying.org.
—Adrienne Sylver and Sharon Harvey Rosenberg
changes — diet and exercise — not medication,
Dr. Mas said.
Indeed, changing unhealthy habits can make a
difference. The second research study found that
children who ate fruits and vegetables once a day
had healthier arteries as young adults than children
who consumed fruits and vegetables less than
twice a month. The lower consumption was linked to
stiffening arteries, a red flag for future heart problems.
Parents concerned about their children’s heart health
should set a good example by serving whole grains, fruits
and vegetables, Dr. Mas said. Regular exercise that includes
aerobic activities such as running, cycling or swimming is
also good for the heart.
“Eating healthy and exercising need to be part of a routine,”
she said. “Just like brushing your hair or teeth.” —Liz Doup
Join the parenting experts at Baptist Children’s Hospital for
enlightening conversation and practical advice. Each program
is held in the auditorium at Baptist Hospital and costs
$5, unless otherwise noted. Programs are not intended for
children, unless indicated. You must reserve your space by calling
786-596-3812.
BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM IN YOUR CHILDREN
Thursday, March 24, 7-9 p.m. Whether they’re starting a
new school, performing onstage, competing in
sports or socializing with friends, it takes confidence
to be a kid! Psychologist Andrew
Lagomasino, Psy.D., helps parents learn to
instill confidence in their children so they can
believe in themselves while taking on life’s
challenges. For parents of school-age kids.
WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME?
Thursday, April 7, 7- 8:30 p.m., Children’s Diagnostic
Center at Country Walk, 13500 SW 152 Street
Yesterday she had training wheels. Today she has a training
bra. What will tomorrow bring? Yvonne Brookes, R.N.,
helps girls prepare for the changes they’ll face as their
body matures from a child into an adult. For girls age
8 –11. This program is FREE.
RESPONSIBLE PARENTING
Thursday, April 28, 7-9 p.m. Is your toddler
testing you with temper tantrums?
Is bedtime a nightly battle? Are your teens
breaking curfew or talking back? Join
psychologist Richard Toister, Ph.D., for tips to
help you effectively discipline your child and
manage the daily challenges and responsibilities of
parenthood. For parents of kids of all ages.
AGES AND STAGES: PLANNING FOR CHANGES
Thursday, May 26, 7-9 p.m. New friends, new teachers,
new beginnings, new worries… Whether your
toddler is beginning kindergarten, your
elementary student is moving on to middle
school, or your teen is about to start high
school, it can be a time of mixed emotions.
Psychologist Kaia Calbeck, Ph.D., helps
parents and students transition smoothly. For
parents of preschool through high school students.
8900 North Kendall Drive
RESOURCE 9

Senior{Focus
CT screening cuts lung cancer deaths
Former or current smokers should take note of a recent study
that found that those who were screened annually with lowdose
spiral CT (computed tomography) scans had a 20 percent
lower risk of dying from lung cancer than those screened
with conventional chest X-rays.
The results of the study were so compelling that the landmark
National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) was stopped and the preliminary
results reported.
“These findings are significant since it appears that yearly
screening with low-dose CT imaging can save lives of seemingly
healthy people who have a history of
heavy smoking,” said Baptist Hospital
Chief of Radiology Jack Ziffer, M.D., Ph.D.
“Reducing lung cancer mortality by 20
percent will make a huge difference in
sparing patients and their families from
the devastation caused by this disease.”
The National Cancer Institute, sponsor
of the study, estimates that more than
94 million current and former smokers
in the United States are at high risk for
Jack Ziffer, M.D.,Ph.D.
lung cancer. In 2010, an estimated
222,520 people were diagnosed with, and 157,300 died of, cancer
of the lung and bronchus. Cigarette smoking is the most important
risk factor, though lung cancer strikes some nonsmokers.
Chest X-rays have long been used by doctors to look for signs
of lung cancer in those patients with symptoms. But chest X-ray
screening hasn’t reduced lung cancer deaths.
Because CT can pick up much smaller tumors than X-rays, the
newer technology has been proposed as a life-saving screening
tool. Researchers wanted to find out if finding tumors earlier with
CT would increase the odds of surviving lung cancer.
The NLST, launched in 2002, focused on 53,454 former and
current heavy smokers ages 55 to 74. Participants had smoked at
least 30 “pack years” — one pack a day for 30 years, two packs a day
for 15 years, or three packs a day for at least 10 years. Former smokers
were included if they were 30 pack-year smokers who had
Compared to a one-way view of the lungs from the front or side
in a conventional chest X-ray (left), a low-dose CT lung scan gives
cross-sectional images from many different directions that can
be manipulated by radiologists for a more detailed analysis.
stopped smoking within the previous 15 years.
Participants at 33 American sites were randomly assigned to
undergo either annual screening with CT scans or traditional
chest X-rays for three years. After the three rounds of screening,
the participants were to be followed for five years.
There were 354 deaths in the CT group and 442 in the chest
X-ray group. Of those screened with CT, 24 percent had a positive
finding for an abnormality, compared to nearly 7 percent of those
screened with X-ray. Follow-up tests, such as invasive biopsies,
found no signs of cancer in the majority of those people whose CT
or X-ray results indicated a possible abnormality.
“This study only looked at current and past heavy smokers —
those at highest risk for developing lung cancer,” Dr. Ziffer said.
“The results of this trial will be used to develop national screening
guidelines that will weigh the potential for saving lives against the
disadvantages associated with the high rate of false-positive findings,
and concerns for the cumulative effects of radiation from
multiple CT scans — though the dose used for screening is much
less than that used for diagnostic imaging.”
Experts agree that the best way to prevent lung cancer is to never
start smoking, or if already smoking, to quit. If you are concerned
about your risk for lung cancer, talk to your doctor. — Anne Streeter
HOW TO GET A LUNG, HEART SCREENING
If you are at risk for lung disease or a heart attack, you may benefit from one or both of the following CT screening scans:
• CT lung screening scans look for early signs of lung cancer and other abnormalities (see story above).
• CT calcium scoring scans measure the buildup of calcium on the walls of coronary arteries, a sign of heart disease and
potential heart attacks.
Talk to your doctor about the benefits of these tests if you are over age 40; if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or high
cholesterol, or have ever smoked; or if you have a family history of heart disease or lung cancer.
A doctor’s prescription is required to schedule CT scans. If you need a physician, call Baptist Health’s free Physician Referral
Service at 786-596-6557 in Miami-Dade or 954-837-1200 in Broward. To schedule an appointment, call 786-573-6000 in Miami-
Dade or 954-837-1000 in Broward.
The cost of a CT calcium scoring scan is $120; $250 for CT lung screening. If both tests are done on the same day, the total
cost is $295. Insurance does not typically cover the cost of these tests.
10 RESOURCE

SeniorCalendar
March, April & May
If you’re 55 or older, take advantage of the programs and health screenings offered by Baptist Health just for you. Programs are free
(unless otherwise noted). Space is limited and registration is required for all programs. A tour of the host facility may follow. For programs
in English, call 786-596-3812; for programs in Spanish, call 786-596-3814; or e-mail us at programs@baptisthealth.net. For more
information on other Baptist Health programs, visit baptisthealth.net.
Baptist Medical Plaza at Doral
9915 NW 41 Street, Suite 210
Health Resource Center
Ending Knee Pain With New Technology,
Wednesday, March 9, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
(in English), 7:30-8:30 p.m. (in Spanish),
Dr. Rafael Fernandez, orthopedic surgeon.
Sounds Right: Treating Hearing Disorders
(in Spanish), Tuesday,
March 29, 7-8 p.m., Dr.
Alberto Fernandez,
otolaryngologist.
AARP Driver Safety
Program, Friday,
April 1, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Fee $12 for members,
$14 for nonmembers. Call 305-857-0531
to register.
Prostate Prognosis: Tackling the
Problems, Wednesday, April 13, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Darren Bruck, urologist.
Help for Incontinence (in Spanish),
Tuesday, April 26, 7-8 p.m., Dr. Robert
Santa-Cruz, urologist.
Strike Back Against Stroke, Friday, May
13, 1-2 p.m., Dr. Paul Damski, neurologist.
Osteoporosis Screening, Saturday,
May 21, 10a.m.-1 p.m., $5 May special.
Baptist Health Resource
Center at Informed Families
2490 Coral Way, 2nd Floor
Living With Shingles (in Spanish),
Friday, March 18, 1-2 p.m.,
Dr. Felipe Del Valle, internist.
Mindful Eating, Monday, March 28,
7-8 p.m., Dr. Patricia Isis, licensed mental
health counselor.
Home Health: Choosing the Right One
(in Spanish), Friday, April 8, 1-2 p.m.,
Elsa Ivonnet, registered nurse.
Osteoporosis: Improving Your Bone
Health (in Spanish), Thursday,
April 14, 7-8 p.m., Dr. Rafael Fernandez,
orthopedic surgeon.
Beating the Cholesterol Battle
(in Spanish), Tuesday, May 17, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Jaime Ghitelman, cardiologist.
Osteoporosis Screening, Wednesday,
May 18, 12:30-2:30 p.m., $5 May special.
Baptist Medical Plaza at
Westchester
8820 Bird Road, Suite 400
Health Resource Center
Memory Loss: Aging or Alzheimer’s?
Thursday, March 10, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Jorge Marcos, neurologist.
Vein, Vein, Go Away (in Spanish),
Wednesday, March 23, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Juan Carlos Pereda, vascular surgeon.
Dermatology: What’s New,
Wednesday, April 6, 7-8 p.m., Dr. Ileana
Perez-Quintero, dermatologist.
Women’s Health Resource
Center
8950 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 105
Osteoporosis: Beatable, Treatable,
Tuesday, March 8, 7-8 p.m., Dr. Santiago
De Solo, rheumatologist. Osteoporosis
screenings available following program
for $15.
What You Need to Know About
Kidney Stones, Tuesday, April 5, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Yekutiel Sandman, urologist.
Shoulder Surgery:
Getting Back in the
Game (in Spanish),
Monday, April 11, 7-8
p.m., Dr. David Font-
Rodriguez, orthopedic
surgeon.
Osteoporosis Screening, Monday,
May 16, 3-6 p.m., $5 May special.
Memory Loss: Aging or Alzheimer’s?
(in Spanish), Tuesday, May 24, 7-8 p.m.,
Dr. Gonzalo Yanez, neurologist.
Medical Arts Surgery Center at
South Miami Hospital
6200 Sunset Drive, Suite 200
Options for Treating Bladder Prolapse
(in Spanish), Tuesday, March 22,
7-8 p.m., Dr. Jaime Sepulveda-Toro,
urogynecologist.
Community Center
at Ludovici Park
17641 Old Cutler Road
Palmetto Bay Library, 2nd Floor
Makings of a Healthy Heart,
Wednesday, March 23,
10:30-11:30 a.m.,
Rita Hess, registered
nurse.
Healing Power of Faith,
Wednesday, April 6,
10:30-11:30 a.m.,
Chaplain Guillermo
Escalona.
Treating Balance Disorders, Tuesday,
May 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Flavio Leite,
physical therapist.
Ongoing Programs
Osteoporosis Awareness Month
Screening Special. Screening and
consultation available by appointment.
Fee $5 throughout May (regularly $15).
Call 786-596-3812.
SHINE. Get help with Medicare and
other insurance concerns. Free.
Call 305-670-6500, Ext. 270, for an
appointment with a bilingual counselor.
RESOURCE 11

Here&There
New facilities convenient for testing, care
Baptist Health now offers new and
expanded services in convenient locations
to help patients with a wide
range of health concerns, from earaches
and allergic reactions to sleep
disorders and orthopedic injuries.
A new Baptist Health Urgent Care facility
in Coral Gables at 1240 South Dixie
Highway provides treatment of minor illnesses
and injuries in children and adults.
Physicians and nurses care for a host of
problems, including simple bone fractures,
strains and sprains, nausea, fever, common
colds and flu.
Baptist Medical Plaza at Coral Gables
now offers urgent care as well as diagnostic
services at its new location, 10 Giralda Ave.
CT scans are a new addition to the imaging
services, which include MRI, digital
mammography, digital X-ray and ultrasound,
among others. The facility moved
earlier this year from its previous location
a few blocks away.
Both urgent care facilities are open
The new Baptist Medical Plaza at Coral Gables, 10 Giralda Avenue, offers
urgent care and diagnostic services.
daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and no appointment
is needed. For diagnostic services,
call 786-573-6000 to schedule an appointment.
A doctor’s prescription is required.
At three new Baptist Sleep Centers,
Board-certified sleep specialists can evaluate
and treat various disorders including
upper airway resistance, sleep apnea,
insomnia, narcolepsy, periodic leg movement
syndrome and more.
Two centers are in Miami-Dade; the
third is in Broward. They are: Baptist Sleep
Center at Galloway, 7400 SW 87 Ave., Suite
220A; Baptist Sleep Center at Sunset, 6141
Sunset Drive, Suite 130; Baptist Sleep Center
at Pembroke Pines, 12251 Taft St., Suite 300.
To schedule a sleep study, call 786-467-
5240 in Miami-Dade, or 954-837-1400 in
Broward, weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A
doctor’s prescription is required.
Doctors Hospital will open a sports
medicine and rehabilitation center at 1222
South Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, in late
March.
Physical and occupational therapists,
using state-of-the-art equipment, will treat
patients recovering from neck, shoulder and
back injuries, hip and knee replacements
and other orthopedic ailments. Therapists
will emphasize the Pilates method, which
uses a whole-body approach to rehabilitation.
A certified hand therapist also will be
available. The facility will be open weekdays,
7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. — Liz Doup
FORTUNE SHINES ON BAPTIST HEALTH Fortune magazine has named Baptist
Health to its annual list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” for the 11th year.
“Our employees are people who care about others and about doing the best job they can, no
matter their role,” said Brian E. Keeley, president and CEO. “Whether they are nurses at patients’
bedsides, the people who answer phone calls or those who keep our facilities in top shape, they
all contribute to the excellent care we provide to our patients every day. We, in turn, must take
good care of our employees.”
Baptist Health was recognized for the many family-friendly benefits offered to its nearly
14,000 employees, including on-site child care, back-up care options for loved ones of any
age, an award-winning employee wellness program with free fitness centers, one week paid
parental leave, a $10,000 adoption benefit and LifeWorks, which offers employees 24/7 access to information and help with
a variety of issues.
For information about job opportunities at Baptist Health, go to baptisthealth.net and click on “employment.”
12 RESOURCE

Camp out to combat cancer
Games, entertainment, refreshments and an all-night camp-out will turn the
grounds of Baptist and Homestead Hospitals into fun-filled fairgrounds for two
American Cancer Society Relays for Life.
The event at Baptist Hospital, which includes a survivors’ celebration and
relay-style walk around the hospital lake, begins at 12 noon Saturday, March 19,
and ends the next morning. A free screening for oral cancer will be offered by Baptist
Health physicians in a lakeside
tent from 2 to 6 p.m.
The Relay at Homestead
Hospital is set to start at 4
p.m. Saturday, April 29, and
will continue all night. Last
year, the two events raised
$268,000 for the Cancer
Society.
For more information or
to register for the Relay for
Life at Baptist Hospital, call
the Cancer Society at 305-
779-2860. For the Homestead
Relay, call 305-779-
2862. Or go to relayforlife.org.
—Phyllis Teitelbaum
MARINERS, BAPTIST RECEIVE MEDICARE AWARDS
Mariners and Baptist Hospitals both excelled in a Medicare-based pilot
project that awards hospitals extra reimbursement for achieving high
marks in quality measures.
Mariners was the only hospital in Florida to achieve all of the Top Performance
awards for which it was eligible, as well as the only one in the
state to receive all of the overall awards (six of six) for which it was eligible.
Baptist Hospital was one of 25 hospitals nationwide and the only hospital
in Florida to receive 10 or more overall awards out of 12 possible.
Based on its outstanding performance, Baptist received the fifth highest
overall award amount ($213,968) in the national demonstration project.
The five-year project was initiated by Medicare and the Premier healthcare
alliance to give incentives to hospitals to improve clinical quality
measures. Hospitals that performed well on quality measures related to
heart surgery, treatment for heart failure, heart attack, pneumonia and
other conditions received extra reimbursement from Medicare; those that
performed poorly were penalized by receiving less payment than expected.
The project served as the basis for a national value-based purchasing
program, which is now law under healthcare reform. Overall, Medicare has
awarded more than $48 million over five years to top hospitals.
“Our accomplishments in this project are a testament to our ongoing
effort to improve the quality of care for our patients,” said Thinh Tran, M.D.,
who is Baptist Health’s chief quality officer.
Kora Stoll with Landon.
MOTHERHOOD IS A GIFT
AFTER LIFESAVING
BRAIN SURGERY
As a new mother, Kora Stoll spends
many happy hours gazing at her son,
Landon Douglas, born November 28.
And no wonder. Two years ago, Ms.
Stoll didn’t know if she would live, let
alone become a mother.
A doctor had just told the fifthgrade
teacher she had an aneurysm,
a bulge in an artery wall in a dangerous
location near her brain stem. If it
ruptured, the results could be debilitating
or fatal.
Ms. Stoll was featured in the Fall
2009 issue of Resource after Italo
Linfante, M.D., successfully fixed the
aneurysm during a risky, complicated
procedure. The medical director of
interventional neuroradiology for Baptist
Hospital’s Neuroscience Center and
Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute is
among only a few specialists skilled in
repairing a brain aneurysm without
cutting open the skull.
Ms. Stoll’s recovery after the May
2009 treatment was fast and complete.
Early last year, she and husband Kevin
learned she was pregnant.
Ms. Stoll’s pregnancy went smoothly
until her 29th week. Her blood pressure
began climbing, a result of a kidney
condition that also was linked to her
aneurysm. Landon ultimately was born
five weeks early by C-section but perfectly
healthy.
“We’re so in love with this little guy
and in love with our lives,” Ms. Stoll said.
“He’s a constant reminder to appreciate
everything we have.” — Liz Doup
RESOURCE 13

Here&There
Baptist Health benefits community
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
As one of the region’s largest employers with some 14,000 in its workforce, Baptist Health’s
impact on the area’s economic recovery is significant. It is not only the largest private
employer, it adds more than $3 billion to the local economy, according to a study by the
Washington Economics Group. In the past year, the not-for-profit healthcare organization
has:
• Provided $222 million in community benefits that included charity care, free primary
care at clinics and free or low-cost community education programs and health screenings.
• Given charity care to 16,000 uninsured patients, including free surgeries for children
with facial deformities and birth defects.
• Supported primary health clinics that gave free care to another 63,000 patients.
• Reached 145,000 community members, offering health screenings and talks by health
experts to help them attain and maintain better health.
• Poured more than $200 million into building the new West Kendall Baptist Hospital, due
to open in April. The project also resulted in nearly 3,000 additional construction and construction-related
jobs, and will add another 1,000 new jobs once the hospital is open.
“Baptist Health’s faith-based mission is to help our community stay healthy,” said CEO and
President Brian E. Keeley. “That mission has led us on a journey to promote wellness through
health education and screenings, as well as to give high-quality, compassionate care to all. We
will continue in those efforts by offering the latest technology, the most knowledgeable doctors
and nurses and beautiful facilities with an environment that promotes healing.”
⎯ Adrienne Sylver
Baptist Hospital’s Gold Anniversary
Ball, held around the lake at the
hospital last November, was a
golden success. More than 850
guests attended, raising $1.6 million
to support the hospital’s programs
and services. Bo Boulenger,
hospital CEO, is shown with Lourdes
Jofre-Collett, who chaired the
sellout event. “The ball was a tribute
to those who have contributed
to Baptist Hospital’s
growth and success throughout
the last 50 years,” Mr. Boulenger
said. “We look forward to the
next 50 years and continuing our
tradition of medical excellence.”
Among the many ways Baptist Health benefits the community is by giving free physicals
to children like Sofia Jacob,12, so they can participate in Special Olympics events.
Elvira Bhangu, R.N., made sure Sofia had a good time when she came for her exam.
14 RESOURCE

PINEAPP GIVES ER WAIT TIMES, LOCATIONS
With Baptist Health’s free PineApp, emergency and urgent care center
locations and wait times are only a tap away for iPhone users.
PineApp lets users of these smartphones quickly search Baptist
Health’s hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers to find the
closest locations and shortest wait times. Estimates of the time it will
take to be seen at any Baptist Health location are based on real-time
updates. GPS-enabled automated directions are also provided.
You can download PineApp in English and Spanish at baptisthealth.net.
PineApp will soon be available for Android smartphone
users. You can also find emergency room and urgent care center location
information and wait times online at baptisthealth.net; just click on “Hospitals
and Facilities.”
— Anne Streeter
Mariners health fair March 12
Mariners Hospital’s annual free Community Health Fair will be held
Saturday, March 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the hospital, MM 91.5,
Tavernier.
Featured activities include free screenings for adults, including
blood pressure, vision, cholesterol, glucose (diabetes) and osteoporosis.
Appointments are not necessary and fasting is not required
for the cholesterol test.
The fair will have more than 30 booths staffed by local health
organizations. In addition, hospital
staff will answer medical questions
on a variety of topics, including
sleep disorders, heart health and
diabetes. The Community Blood
Centers of South Florida will hold a
blood drive at the event.
— Sheila Konczewski
HOMESTEAD HONORED AS
‘TOP HOSPITAL’
Homestead Hospital has been named as one of
65 Top Hospitals in the country by The Leapfrog
Group, a prestigious national organization that
monitors healthcare safety and quality in the
nation’s hospitals. The selection was based on a
survey of 1,200 hospitals across the U.S.
Homestead was one of only three hospitals
in Florida to be named to Leapfrog’s list of top
hospitals. It was chosen for its performance in
critical areas of patient safety and quality, including
practices to reduce medical errors and prevent
infections. Homestead was also chosen for
its use of computerized physician order entry, a
system that allows doctors to enter treatment
orders directly into a computer, reducing the
likelihood of medication mistakes.
Homestead also earned two Excellence in
Healthcare awards from the Studer Group, an
industry organization. One recognized the hospital
for its exemplary ratings from patients on
the survey statement, “Always Quiet at Night,”
and the other award recognized Homestead’s
outstanding patient satisfaction in its outpatient
services departments.
“Earning the Top Hospital designation and
the Studer Awards is a testament to the hard
work and dedication of everyone in the hospital,”
said Bill Duquette, CEO of Homestead Hospital.
“I am proud of our commitment to patient
safety and quality, and our continuous efforts
to improve the way we care for our patients.”
— Tanya Walton
RESOURCE 15

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Doctors fix rare pregnancy problem
Dozens of doctors and nurses assisted at the birth of Lila Male at
Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute.
The most common cause
of maternal death during
childbirth is severe
bleeding. But doctors at
Baptist Cardiac & Vascular
Institute are using a relatively
new procedure —
inserting and inflating tiny
balloons in the arteries that
supply blood to the uterus
and placenta to decrease the
bleeding and potential hemorrhage
that can occur with
some pregnancy complications.
In this case, it was
placenta accreta.
On November 19, Katrina
Male, 27, became the
first patient to receive the
lifesaving treatment at Baptist
Cardiac & Vascular Institute. And her
daughter, Lila, was the first baby born in a
procedure room at the Institute rather
than the Family Birth Place at Baptist Hospital.
“An ultrasound showed that I had a
problem with the placenta,” Ms. Male said.
“I was amazed to learn about the technology
that was available so that my baby and
I would be safe and healthy.”
Ms. Male had the most dangerous, and
rarest, form of placenta accreta, called placenta
percreta. It occurs when the placenta
penetrates the uterine wall, sometimes
attaching to the bladder or other internal
organs, said Lucia Gaitan, M.D., her obstetrician.
The finding led Dr. Gaitan to interventional
radiologist Constantino Peña,
M.D., medical director of vascular imaging
at the Institute.
A multidisciplinary team pulled
together by the Labor and Delivery staff
consisted of anesthesiologists, interventional
radiologists, obstetricians, neonatologists,
a gynecological oncologist, urologist,
perinatologist, hematologist, and
blood bank, labor room, surgery and Institute
staff. They coordinated Ms. Male’s care
when she was 30 weeks into her pregnancy.
At 35 weeks, after some premature
contractions, doctors decided it was time
to deliver little Lila via C-section, and some
30 healthcare professionals gathered in the
procedure room.
“We threaded a small catheter through
the femoral artery in the leg, visualizing
our way using X-ray,” Dr. Peña said. “When
the catheter reached the proper place, we
inflated the small balloons, which blocked
the blood flow.”
The technology is the same that is used
during less-invasive treatments to open
blocked blood vessels throughout the
body. To open blood vessels, the balloons
are inflated to leave an open path for blood
flow. In this case, the balloons are left
inflated, to stop blood flow.
“This is such an exciting time in a
woman’s life, and it’s wonderful to know
that with advance planning and a team
PHOTO: BETH ANN ROBERTS, R.N.
approach that included
doctors and specialists who
don’t normally work together
we prevented a potentially
life-threatening situation,”
Dr. Peña said.
Dr. Gaitan performed a
C-section after the balloons
were inflated. Although the
balloon procedure alone
can be done under light
sedation, Ms. Male had general
anesthesia because, like
many women who have placenta
accreta, she required a
hysterectomy when her
daughter was born. In addition,
the placenta had
attached to the bladder,
which required repair.
“Even with the balloons, she lost eight
liters of blood,” said Dr. Gaitan. “We prefer
to avoid a hysterectomy, but in her case
we had no choice. Fortunately, we had an
amazing team, and baby and mom were
fine. They went home after nine days.”
Ms. Male said she had been told going
into the procedure that it was possible she
would need a hysterectomy. “My first
daughter, Leilani, was born in 2009,” she
said. “Even though I had thought about
trying for a boy, I was prepared and OK
with the hysterectomy.” There should be
no long-term health issues due to her
complications, but Ms. Male’s bladder is
still continuing to heal.
Doctors aren’t sure what causes placenta
accreta, but they believe scar tissue
from previous C-sections increases the
chances of developing the problem. Ms.
Male had a C-section when her first child
was born. A form of placenta accreta is
present in one in about 2,500 pregnancies,
according to the American Pregnancy
Association.
— Adrienne Sylver
16 RESOURCE