Healthful News: Mayo and Nemours collaborate on medical training, new ER planned for Yulee
Two Jacksonville health care stalwarts, Mayo Clinic and Nemours Children's Health, have collaborated for 30 years to train physicians and care workers. They recently announced a 10-year extension of the agreement and hope their work will help address a nationwide shortage of pediatricians.
"We are committed to creating the healthiest generations of children, and our partnership with Mayo helps to achieve that goal," said Dr. Michael Erhard, North Florida region president, Nemours Children’s Health Jacksonville.
The partnership "will continue to focus on medical training, research and clinical care, specifically in pediatrics," according to a joint statement from the two hospitals. But they plan to "expand educational programs for staff, residents, fellows, students and other health care professionals; explore opportunities to advance cooperative programs of clinical and basic science research at both institutions; and explore future opportunities to collaborate," according to the statement.
"We are thrilled," said Dr. Kent Thielen, CEO of the local Mayo Clinic. "Our unwavering commitment to improving patient care, conducting groundbreaking research and fostering education will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the future of health care."
Mayo residents, fellows and staff will receive pediatric specialty and sub-specialty training at Nemours. Such training could help address a shortage of pediatricians across the country and specifically in Florida, which has 83 pediatricians for every 100,000 children, below the national average of 90.2, according to the American Board of Pediatrics.
"This relationship has been critical for the development and expansion of the education programs at Mayo Clinic," said Dr. Gerardo Colon-Otero, vice dean of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, based at Mayo's Minnesota and Arizona campuses. "Our medical school and many of our residency and fellowship programs would not have been possible without the training and mentorship efforts of our Nemours colleagues."
HCA Florida Healthcare Yulee Emergency
Construction is underway on HCA Florida Healthcare's new freestanding emergency room in Yulee, which is in Nassau County north of Jacksonville.
The $16.9 million HCA Florida Healthcare Yulee Emergency center is expected to open in early 2025 at 462541 Florida 200 along Interstate 95. The facility will have 15,530 square feet of building space.
"The goal of the new space is to provide better access for patients needing emergency care to the Nassau County region," said Reed Hammond, CEO of HCA Florida Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville. "As a part of HCA Florida Healthcare, the largest health care family in Florida, Nassau County will now be connected to a wide spectrum of statewide health care resources previously not available."
In addition to emergency services, the facility will have 10 private rooms, "minimally invasive diagnostics," board-certified emergency physicians and emergency room nurses, according to HCA. The company bought the 55 acres of land in 2019 for $15.8 million.
Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside
The pulmonology care team at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside has achieved a milestone, conducting 1,000 robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedures that help patients survive lung cancer through earlier diagnosis and access of hard-to-reach nodules.
In 2020, St. Vincent’s Riverside was the first area hospital to begin using the advanced bronchoscopy technology known as the Ion System, according to the hospital.
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"When it comes to defeating lung cancer, early detection is essential," said Dr. Akram Shibani, aSt. Vincent's Riverside pulmonologist. "While this milestone is significant, our team is focused onour mission to use this technology to save even more lives and protect the health of our community."
The "minimally invasive technology … improves the accuracy and precision of the biopsy of a potentially cancerous nodule," the hospital said. Such lung nodules are common and "appear as white shadows on a chest X-ray or lung CT scan." With this technology, tissue samples can be extracted from nodules as small as 1 centimeter; previously, they could not be removed if they were smaller than 2 centimeters.
UF Health St. Johns
UF Health St. Johns has expanded its Behavioral Health Resource Center that serves youth and adults who are in crisis or in urgent need of mental health care.
Launched in 2022, the center "provides access to and coordination of mental and behavioral health services," reducing wait times and emergency room visits, according to the hospital. The first year, about 450 patients made nearly 1,000 visits. The expansion shifted services from weekdays only to 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
"It’s the logical next step in this program," center director Valerie Duquette said. "We want to reach as many people in need as possible while making everyone feel welcome, regardless of what they may be experiencing. Crisis looks different for everyone, but we want people to know that we care and we are here to help."
UF Health Jacksonville
UF Health Jacksonville has named Dr. Chirag Patel as chief medical officer. Patel joined the hospital in 2019 and has been assistant chief medical officer since 2020.
"I believe in the transformative power of engaged leadership in health care," he said.
Patel has also been medical director and chief hospitalist for the UF Jacksonville's downtown and north campuses since 2019 and the hospital's medical director for patient and provider engagement. Earlier he was part of the leadership team at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center.
Nemours Children's Health Jacksonville
Nemours Children’s Health Jacksonville appointed Dr. Andrew Stec as vice president and chief medical officer. A board-certified urologist, he was previously the hospital's vice chairman of the department of surgery.
Stec joined Nemours as division chief in September 2019. Previously he served for five years as the director of pediatric urology at the Medical University of South Carolina.
He is currently an associate professor of urology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
Community Hospice & Palliative Care
Community Hospice & Palliative Care plans to open a new office — this one in North Jacksonville.
The nonprofit, which helps patients live with advanced illness, already has nine administrative offices and 10 inpatient Centers for Caring in Jacksonville, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Lake City and Palatka. The latest addition is at 2386 Dunn Ave., No. 109.
The new office will offer bereavement support for area residents who have experienced a loss and has a community room for local organizations, civic groups and professionals to hold meetings, workshops and other community events. The space "brings essential services and resources to the local community, emphasizing the organization's commitment to providing compassionate care and support," according to Community Hospice.
Wolfson Children's Hospital
Subaru of Jacksonville recently presented its largest single gift yet to nonprofit Wolfson Children’s Hospital, a $194,875 check from the 16th annual Share the Love campaign.
During this year’s campaign, Subaru of America donated $250 for every new vehicle purchased or leased from Nov. 16, 2023, to Jan. 2, 2024, with customers choosing between a short list of national charities or the local dealer's hometown charity, Wolfson. Regardless of the charity chosen, the local dealer also gave an additional $450 to Wolfson for every new vehicle purchased or leased.
To date, the local dealer has committed $1.8 million to Wolfson to help treat critically ill and injured children at the hospital's Porter Family Children’s Trauma Center. Subaru funds have also supported child passenger safety education, family support services and the hospital’s annual fundraiser, the Wolfson Children's Challenge.
The Wolfson support is "driven by the profound impact it has on the lives of countless families," said Phil Porter, owner of Subaru of Jacksonville. "There is no better cause to champion than caring for society’s youngest and most precious members."
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mayo Clinic and Nemours Children's Hospital partner in Jacksonville
