Jointly operated by Sangita Sahay, M.D. and Marilyn Moss, M.D., the clinic provides care for patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year by offering online registration and state-of-the-art Emergency Medical Room systems. DOCCS is associated with all major hospitals in the area and can send medical records anywhere necessary. Board Certified Physicians are available 24 hours a day to provide an array of services, including in-house testing. DOCCS will accept all major health insurance and credit cards, or cash pay rates. The clinic will also perform routine physicals for employment, sports and school.

DOCCS is a member of the Urgent Care Association of America. To learn more about the clinic, please call 321-259-6007 or visit their website at www.doccs.us.

This year’s scholarship winners were: Taylor Burnsed, Katherine Ivey, Linda Ostrowsky, Sarah Oswald, Kristina Springer and Megan Witcher – Astronaut High School; Mariah Jackson and Megan Le – Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School; Hsin “Betty” Yeh – Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School; Emily Catizone and Corbin Wratchford – Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School; Amanda Cox, Quinlann David, Joseph Dean and Eric Gullikson – Titusville High School; Edith Bracho-Sanchez – New York University School of Medicine; Alexandra Parrish and Steven Raymond – University of Florida; and Reanne Graves – University of South Florida.

The JPMF scholarship committee is chaired by Bill Terry, who has been a volunteer at Parrish Medical Center (PMC) since 1994. Mr. Terry has accumulated more than 25,000 hours of volunteer service at PMC and has been on the JPMF Board of Directors since 2007. Other committee members are Santi Bulnes, Dot Hudson, Ron Norris, Howard Rinker, DDS, Barbara Terhune and John Weaver. “The scholarship committee takes their task of evaluating the applicants very seriously. It is with great pleasure we are able to award such deserving students these scholarships,” said Terry.

About Jess Parrish Medical Foundation

The mission of JPMF is to inspire philanthropy and volunteerism in support of Parrish Medical

Center’s mission of healing experiences for everyone all the time. Through staff and volunteers, JPMF raises funds to support healthcare initiatives in North Brevard County. JPMF’s featured projects include Cancer Care, The Children’s Center, the Parrish Health Village and the Center for Lifelong Health. For more information about Jess Parrish Medical Foundation, call 321-269-4066 or visit parrishmedfoundation.com.

COCOA, FL  ─  Several local healthcare providers are teaming up to provide FREE prostate cancer screening tests at the 11th Annual Men’s Health Summit on Saturday, June 9, from 9 am to noon at the Health Sciences Building, Building 20, on the Brevard Community College (BCC) campus at 1519 Clearlake Road in Cocoa.  The event is co-sponsored by Health First, the Central Brevard Branch of the NAACP, Parrish Medical Center, Wuesthoff Health System, and Brevard Community College.

The event includes free PSA blood tests and digital rectal exams, which will be provided along with other health screenings and information.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men.  Additionally, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer —though statistics cite a low number of deaths when the disease is detected early.  Those at higher risk are recommended to get annual prostate cancer exams, and include:

• Men over age 50 who have never had a PSA blood test and digital rectal exam
• Men age 40 or older who have had a close relative (father, brother, or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65
• African-American men

*Those currently under the care of a physician for prostate cancer, or who have had surgery to remove the prostate, should not have the PSA blood test or digital rectal exam at this event.  Instead, they are encouraged to bring a friend or family member who has not been tested before.

The Men’s Health Summit is open to all residents of Brevard County. Screenings are FREE and performed on a first-come, first-served basis.  For more information, call 321-434-4335.

The thought that many physicians practice defensive medicine is one of the reasons bantered around for the high and continually growing costs of health care.

Defensive medicine is the idea that when you, the patient, visit your doctor, the doctor performs tests that are over and above what is necessary and are for the sole purpose of preventing you from suing.

Does defensive medicine exist and is it a reason for high health care costs? There have been many surveys and studies both from independent organizations and those with vested interests that attempt to answer this question.

MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN THE ESTIMATES

An article published in the September 2010 issue of Health Affairs puts the costs at 2.4 percent of total health care spending. “Overall annual medical liability system costs, including defensive medicine, are estimated to be $55.6 billion in 2008, or 2.4 percent of total health care spending,” the journal reports. In 2004, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the entire cost of the malpractice system accounted for only about 2 percent of the overall costs of health care. However, in October 2009, the CBO released a report that found that malpractice reforms would reduce health care spending by 0.1 percent ($40 billion) over the next 10 years.

A 2010 Gallup national physician survey, commissioned by Jackson Healthcare, states that physicians attribute 26 percent of overall health care costs to defensive medicine. In addition, 73 percent of the physicians agreed that they had practiced some form of defensive medicine in the past 12 months. The survey results showed that “$1 in every $4 spent on health care each year is spent on unnecessary tests and treatments ordered by physicians solely to protect themselves against lawsuits.”

The range of estimates from – 0.1 percent to 26 percent of overall health care costs – is attributable to defensive medicine, and there are many other studies with even higher estimates. The CBO even reports that the evidence for defensive medicine is “not conclusive.” Furthermore, the CBO reports, “On the basis of existing studies and its own research, CBO believes that savings from reducing defensive medicine would be very small.”

STATES WITH LIABILITY CAPS

Another important point is that some states have already limited doctors’ liability with tort reform. If defensive medicine is a major issue, states with tort reform should have lower health care costs. But that is not the case. A good example is Texas which has very high health care costs while having very stringent laws limiting awards in malpractice lawsuits. Awards for non-economic damage (pain and suffering) are limited to no more than $250,000. For wrongful death, damages (both economic and non-economic) are adjusted annually for inflation and are currently capped at $1.65 million plus the cost of any necessary medical or custodial care.

The fact also remains that ordering tests and procedures generates income. Physicians affiliated or employed by health care systems order tests and procedures that, in most cases, are performed by the same health care system. “So-called defensive medicine may be motivated less by liability concerns than by the income it generates for physicians or by the positive (albeit small) benefits to patients,” the CBO points out.

So, does defensive medicine exist? Depending on what you read, it is or is not a factor in health care costs. However, we are bombarded with lawsuit-induced warnings on so many other issues. I believe defensive medicine exists and it increases the cost of health care … But the jury is still out on how much.

Jim Barfield is the president, CEO and co-owner of Luke & Associates, Inc. on Merritt Island. His company, founded in 2004, is a major provider of medical and clinical support services for the military. In addition, Luke provides advisory and assistance services in the fields of engineering, research, information systems and medical systems.

Diabetes is a disease that affects more than 20 million people worldwide, and is the leading cause of blindness of people younger than 65. For many suffering from diabetes, this blindness is irreversible.

“Diabetes is a disease where the pancreas produces little or no insulin,” explains Mukesh Aggarwal, M.D. of the Eye Clinic & Laser Institute, which operates five offices on the Space Coast. “Insulin is an important hormone in that it controls the amount of glucose or sugar in the blood. This glucose or sugar is our body’s main source of fuel for the cells in the body.”

Dr. Aggarwal graduated from the Institute of Medical Science and then served an internship at Philadelphia Hospital. He completed three years of residency in ophthalmology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He currently is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

THE RISKS 

It is because every cell in the body uses glucose for fuel that having diabetes can be so devastating to the organs and tissues of the body if not kept under control. The disease can affect every single small and large blood vessel.

Diabetes is known to increase a person’s risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and other circulatory system abnormalities, especially in the legs. It also may damage the nerves in the body causing problems with sensation.

The disease also can cause a wide range of problems that affect the eyes. Diabetes can cause reversible, temporary blurring of vision, or if uncontrolled, may cause severe and oftentimes permanent vision loss. Diabetes also is known to increase the risk of developing other eye conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

“Diabetes can affect the eye in many different ways,” explains Dr. Aggarwal. “First and foremost, the unusual fluctuations in the blood glucose levels can affect the lens inside the eye, which may result in blurring of vision that may come and go throughout the day as the level of glucose in the blood goes up and down. Secondly, this fluctuation in the blood sugar can cause a cataract to grow at a quicker rate of speed, much sooner than it would for someone who has normal blood sugar. And last but not least, the most serious affect is on the network of blood vessels that supply the retina.”

SEVERE CASES

Severe diabetic eye disease occurs in persons who have had diabetes for many years and have had little or poor control of blood sugars for an extended period of time. Dr. Aggarwal explains that uncontrolled blood glucose diminishes the vision in several ways. One may develop diabetic macular edema, which occurs when fluid leaks into the macula, the central part of the retina that allows people to see fine detail. When the fluid leaks into the macula it causes it to swell, which in turn thickens and elevates it.

Diabetic macular edema may develop at any stage of diabetic retinopathy, but most frequently occurs along with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. It may be treated with an intra-vitreal injection of a medication.

“Uncontrolled blood sugars can also cause proliferation or damage to all the small and large blood vessels in the body,” adds Dr. Aggarwal. “These blood vessels cannot adequately supply the retina with the nutrients and oxygen it needs, so in turn it grows new blood vessels.” These newly formed blood vessels are fragile and can leak blood into the jelly-like vitreous humor inside the eye and then into the retina itself, he adds, explaining that these hemorrhages can cause vision loss and permanent low vision. These new blood vessels are many times accompanied by scar tissue that can contract and tug on the retina and cause a retinal detachment.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY 

In the non-proliferative or background diabetic retinopathy, the vision is not diminished in any way and there may be no symptoms. There may even be tiny weakened blood vessels that cause tiny bulges or micro-aneurysms. The more severe type, however, is proliferative diabetic retinopathy in which blood vessels are bleeding out into the vitreous and into the retina. This type can cause blurry vision, or even spots or areas of diminishing vision.

Generally, treatment for background diabetic retinopathy includes keeping control of blood sugar levels, keeping blood pressure within a normal target range, limiting blood cholesterol and exercising regularly. However, once the disease has progressed to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, it is important to have an appropriate course of treatment. Dr. Aggarwal says that in many instances the first course of treatment is laser therapy that only requires topical anesthetic. “This laser aims to cauterize the leaking blood vessels in hopes to stabilize the vision, not restore the vision that has already been lost,” he explains.

“When the abnormal blood vessel growth caused by diabetes begins to break or leak and cause a hemorrhage into the jelly-like vitreous, this decreases the vision by blocking the light from focusing on the retina,” says Dr. Aggarwal. When this happens, a patient may choose to have a vitrectomy, or have the vitreous suctioned out and replaced by a neutral saline solution to maintain the shape of the eyeball. Over time the body will replace the neutral saline with new vitreous.

New or abnormal blood vessel growth is caused by a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Another course of treatment is to give an intra-vitreal injection of a medication that is an anti-VEGF. This will in turn block the VEGF which will reduce the growth of the abnormal or new blood vessels and slow the leakage. It also helps to slow the loss of vision.

“Diabetes is a serious disease that should not be taken lightly,” warns Dr. Aggarwal, who explains that a person can have it for years and never even know it. That’s why it’s important to have a physical yearly and have a dilated eye exam yearly.

“It is important for one to keep the blood sugars under control and exercise and eat right,” says Dr. Aggarwal. “Once the diabetes has begun to affect the eyes, the course of treatment plays an important role in maintaining the person’s vision and preventing any loss or any further loss of vision.”

In 1962, armed with a pharmaceutical degree from the University of Florida, George Browning launched Browning’s Pharmacy & Health Care, a business that at the time he referred to as a “Medical Arts Pharmacy.” The father of four children and husband to Jeannine, a rancher and cookbook author, George Browning’s mission was to provide upstanding pharmaceutical and customer services to Melbourne and the surrounding communities. Today, 50 years later, Browning’s is still known for these traits, as well as its offerings of a wide variety of medical equipment and supplies to aid a range of health care needs.

“We are all proud to have been here so long,” says Colleen Hunter, George Browning’s youngest daughter who took over operations of Browning’s last year. Hunter holds a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Florida and worked as CFO of the company for 17 years before assuming the role as president.

THE BROWNING’S DIFFERENCE

“I think what makes us different is our service and delivery. We try to carry medications that others may not stock. We aim to fill prescriptions faster than the chains do, and we offer compounding and special packaging for people who require multiple prescriptions,” Hunter explains, adding that the pharmacy also offers an automated refill system for customers and doctors.

While pharmaceuticals are still at the core of Browning’s, over the years the company has greatly expanded and diversified its product offerings and services to include an array of high-quality home medical equipment and supplies, such as hospital beds and walkers; products for the diabetic community including specialty shoes and test strips; respiratory services like nebulizers and ventilators; custom wheelchairs and scooters; as well as home and vehicle adaptations including ramps and stair climbers.

In addition, Browning’s is known for free delivery, assembly and education of its products.

“When people walk in the door, they don’t always expect the variety and diversity of our products and services,” explains Hunter, adding that the company’s website recently added a shopping cart which will initially offer basic medical equipment. The site’s online offerings will expand over time.

A DEDICATED TEAM

Having expanded twice in its current location on E. Hibiscus Blvd., Browning’s is now a 27,000 square-foot facility. The company employs 62 staff members with three pharmacists (including George Browning), as well as two respiratory therapists and three Assistive Technology Providers (ATPs) for wheelchairs. Many staff members have been with the company for over 15 years, and each employee is heavily involved in continual training and education on equipment and regulatory issues to keep up with the ever-changing industry.

“Many people have questions, and you can’t get them answered by employees who are not trained,” says Hunter. “It takes a number of years to be fully trained on insurance coverage and products, and you will never know it all due to the amount of manufacturer changes. But everyone always wants the latest and greatest products and we have to be ready … Our entire team is dedicated, knowledgeable and caring people.”

To celebrate the years of service among its employees – specifically, 619 combined years of experience over the past 50 years – Browning’s is hosting an Employee Celebration event, a Customer Appreciation event in April and a Professional / Referral event in May to thank community members for their years of dedicated business.

On the immediate horizon, Hunter is mainly focused on staying abreast of regulatory issues – namely overcoming Medicare and Medicaid hurdles – with an eye on further growth and expansion as much as possible. “Staying alert and active is critical with regulatory bids and insurance companies’ low reimbursements,” she
says. “We pride ourselves on knowledge and providing quality products and hope to continue to do so in the future … We will continue to keep diversified and prove that knowledge and service can still be key to success.”

Club Performax opened in 1998 and remains privately owned and operated by Rod Stewart and his wife, Risa. The business started solely as a personal training studio with 2,500 square feet of space. In 2001, Club Performax moved to a larger space on Sarno Road and for 10 years served not only as a personal training hub, but also included a fitness club. For the past four years, it has been in its present location on N. Wickham Road in Suntree.

According to Stewart, the typical Club Performax client is someone looking for serious results. Whether it is weight loss, wanting to get better at a sport or resolving a health issue, most clients are drawn to the personal training component of the club, although gym memberships, which allow the use of the equipment and classes, are also available. With over 25 classes and five trainers, a plethora of workout options are available.

“Our creative trainers make you feel like a kid again,” says Stewart.

All classes are athletic based. The goal is to help improve a client’s performance, whether in a group training setting or class, as building endurance and stamina are keys to moving better, living longer and preventing injuries.

“We try to take the boredom out of exercising. We all know that we should exercise, but not everyone wants to do it. And most people don’t exercise. So we try to create an atmosphere that allows people to succeed,” explains Stewart.

During the induction process, Stewart likes to meet with every new member individually in an effort to get to know his or her exercise preferences, medical history and personality. This helps him assign the right trainer and suggest classes that he thinks the client would enjoy.

“Most people have a goal to lose weight, and for some, if they don’t see immediate results, they won’t stick with it,” explains Stewart. “So we created the Fast Track program.”

The eight-week Fast Track program includes unlimited personal training and coaching, an easy web-based weight-loss food-logging program and a device called “ExerSpy” which is worn on the arm and tracks a client’s daily movement and number of calories burned.

ROD STEWART’S TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT LOSS 

1. Find your reason for wanting to lose weight or get in shape! If you don’t, you won’t stick with it.
2. Enlist help from a professional. Even the greatest athletes have coaches. Using one will help you get the best and most efficient workout.
3. Make sure your workout is not boring. If you are stuck in the same routine, you will dread it. You should look forward to your workout.
4. Combine strength, cardio and mobility into your routine so that you experience high-intensity training with periods of rapid recovery.

A SUCCESS STORY

Charlie Foell is one of many success stories at Club Performax. At 20, Foell had fallen into the cycle of over eating and spending much of his day in front of the computer. On the verge of 255 pounds, with the encouragement of his mother, he met with Stewart at Club Performax in August 2011 and began a personalized Fast Track eight-week program.

Foell’s mother, TJ, has been a member of Club Performax for almost three years and wanted to give her son the gift of fitness and athleticism that she was experiencing.

“While most of Club Performax’s members are a bit older than Charlie, many parents are looking to pave the right road for their children. Charlie was a treat to work with because of his mother’s emotional investment,” says Stewart. “At 20, he wasn’t in the best shape of his life. It was great for me to work with him. Being a parent, I understand what it is like to want the best for your kids and for them to succeed. He is oozing with confidence now.”

Being in the medical field, TJ sees the effects of being overweight every day. “I’d rather pay a little now than face the pain and health care expenses if my son developed major medical problems later,” she says.

Foell was at first intimidated to work out at Club Performax, but after his success he describes the club as a “motivational community.”

“I have never been to a gym where the interaction between the staff and the gym members is so personal. My experience at Club Performax was tough at first, but as my endurance strengthened I could endure more and more rigorous workouts helping me reach my goals,” says Foell.

Two of Foell’s favorite classes were spinning and an outside boot camp-style workout. “I have lost 58 pounds and feel great,” says Foell, who is working full time and enrolled as a full-time student at Brevard Community College. He continues to go to the gym before or after work.

Long-term clients have the opportunity to set fitness goals beyond the club’s walls. “People want to do something outside of the gym by conquering a goal they can put on the calendar,” says Stewart.

For example, on February 25, members participated in the Spartan Race in Miami. The event, hosted in cities nationwide, consists of eight miles of obstacles, mud and even fire. Foell was a participant. “This event was a great way to challenge myself and to put an exclamation mark on everything I have achieved,” he says.

“Because Charlie is so fit now, incidentally, out of 4,000 participants, he is one of only a handful who that morning did the grueling race twice!” adds Stewart.

“People often ask me if I look at others with a view toward what surgical procedure I would choose for them. Well, I guess I would have to confess that I do think about my work even when ‘off duty,’” says Roxanne Guy, M.D., FACS, founder of Brevard Plastic Surgery and Skin Treatment Center in Melbourne.

Here, Dr. Guy discusses single procedure, relatively short cosmetic enhancements that can be done as an outpatient and can create big changes in a patient’s appearance.

THE EYES HAVE IT

“I hear both women and men complain about looking tired, even when they’re not,” says Dr. Guy. She explains that oftentimes this is a result of excess skin of the upper eyelids that hoods the eyes and creates a less bright-eyed look. While the upper eyelids are usually the main culprit, the excess skin around the lower eyelids also can lead to a tired look.

Enter the upper eyelid blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift. This procedure is commonly performed in the office under local anesthesia with mild sedatives taken by mouth,
or is a short outpatient procedure with deeper anesthesia. The results can be amazing, creating an alert, rested, engaged-with-life look.

WHO NOSE?

“Patients come to me with gorgeous looks and beautiful skin, but with a wish that their nose was somewhat more refined to match the rest of their face,” says Dr. Guy. “They may dislike their nasal ‘hump,’ or the ball-like tip of their nose or some crookedness.”

The cosmetic surgeon explains that a cosmetic rhinoplasty can create a harmonious look without necessarily changing the entire character of the face. The philosophy of rhinoplasty is to refine the nose to fit the face and the person, not to completely alter looks. Nose surgery is most often done under deeper sedation or general anesthesia at an outpatient surgery center. The changes in a patient’s outlook and confidence can be profound.

HIGH BROW TALK

With the advent of neurotoxins – such as Botox, Dysport and the new Xeomin – frown lines and forehead lines can easily be softened. While surgical procedures such as forehead lifts and brow lifts are less common today, they can have distinct advantages over the neurotoxins, however. Surgical procedures, for example, are more permanent.

“I love brow lifts for people with very heavy brow musculature, people with brows that are low or saggy (called ptotic brows) or have lost that delicate brow arch, people with a great deal of excess skin hanging along the lateral eyebrow, or people with severe crow’s feet wrinkles,” says Dr. Guy.

The brow lift can open up the mid-face, creating a softer, friendlier, more alert and younger appearance. It is often done as an outpatient procedure at a surgery center under sedation or general anesthesia.

TAKE IT ON THE CHIN

“When I evaluate the face for any surgery, I look at the proportions and the bone structure, as well as the overall soft tissue covering and skin,” explains Dr. Guy. “When people ask about their neck, more may be involved than loose skin or fat.”

That said, Dr. Guy says that sometimes simply adding a relatively small chin implant can create more harmony in the face and the appearance of a nice, right-angled, longer neck. This procedure can be incorporated into a facelift or rhinoplasty procedure, or can be done on its own and can provide a distinctly more beautiful neck line. It is also an outpatient and relatively short procedure.

BREAST WISHES

“I would be remiss as a plastic surgeon if I did not mention the real joy and confidence building that breast augmentation can accomplish. Like it or not, the breast is symbolic of many things: sexuality, maternal nurturing, femininity and gender,” says Dr. Guy. “Some women get amazing satisfaction in enhancing that area of their body.”

MOMMY MAKE-OVER

“The Mommy Make-Over is traditionally a combination of breast surgery and tummy surgery, but often it is just the tummy that is causing the issue. Dr. Guy oftentimes treats slim, athletic women who have had children and are back to doing marathons, Pilates, yoga and tennis, but now have some excess stretched skin of their tummies that prevent them from wearing crop tops or two-piece swimsuits. A tummy tuck can get rid of that excess, stretch-marked skin and tighten the abdomen, enhancing the options for clothes and activities.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS BEFORE YOU’RE ‘PUT UNDER’

Patients often voice concern about being “put under,” especially for a purely elective procedure. Modern, outpatient anesthesia is safe, provided the patient is basically healthy and uses a surgery center with board-certified anesthesiologists. The surgery center should be accredited and possess all the safety features required by state laws. There are very strict rules and requirements for accreditation and for Medicare status. Beware of “office surgery,” which may seem convenient, but may not have the safety features that are essential for health, well-being and a positive outcome.

MOVING

From the excitement and anticipation that comes with this big life change, to the stress and anxiety associated with all that moving entails, this single word can conjure up a range of emotions. For seniors especially, making the move from the comforts of their “nest” to a senior living community can prove to be overwhelming.

“Unfortunately, our needs change and there are times when our home is no longer practical, especially as our health starts to change,” explains Bruce Rosenblatt, senior housing expert and vice president at Buena Vida Estates in West Melbourne. “Those who wait too long find moving much more difficult since it involves both physical and emotional energy.”

For nearly 30 years, Buena Vida, Brevard County’s only Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), has provided its residents a full continuum of care and worry-free retirement living. Understanding the difficulties associated with moving, the team at Buena Vida goes the extra mile to ensure the process is as seamless as possible.

“Since our services are unique in the marketplace, many people are amazed that we do so much to assist them,” says Rosenblatt. “Our Moving Assistance Program was established with the primary goal of making the move to Buena Vida as stress free as possible.”

ABOVE & BEYOND

Buena Vida employs a dedicated move-in coordinator, Susan Luisi, who assists with everything from furniture placement and décor, to overseeing packing and unpacking of household items, to assisting with address changes, to providing resources for unwanted items. She also spends time discussing apartment upgrades with each new resident, and personally oversees remodeling efforts.

“One key thing I always remember is to put myself in the person’s shoes who is moving here,” says Luisi, who has been with Buena Vida since 2003. “Moving anywhere at any age is difficult, so I try to be as helpful as possible.” The help Luisi refers to not only applies to physical assistance, but also to help getting acquainted to the community and staff members, as well as help sparking new, lasting friendships.

“We try to make moving fun and encourage folks who are considering a move to Buena Vida to participate in activities and enjoy our dining experience well before they move in. We also host new resident welcome parties to give people a chance to meet their new neighbors,” explains Rosenblatt.

NEW RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT 

Barbara and Larry Payne took advantage of these offerings before deciding to make the move to Buena Vida. In addition to visiting the community numerous times, the pair attended Buena Vida’s Octoberfest last October. “That was a lot of fun,” says Larry of the event. “We had a great time.”

The Paynes, who have lived in Brevard County for eight years, moved to Buena Vida on February 1 and they couldn’t be happier with their move-in experience. “We received the most professional moving services I have ever experienced,” says Larry, who spent years in the military and moved frequently during that time. “I was absolutely amazed at what Susan was able to accomplish in such a short time,” he adds, referring to the storage and organizational assistance Luisi provided the couple in their new apartment.

While the Paynes are still settling in to their new abode, they’re anxious to begin taking advantage of Buena Vida’s amenities, such as the community’s exercise programs; bingo, bridge and other card groups; as well as the men’s group for Larry.

Esther Mason, a former nurse and local resident since 1964, is another newcomer to Buena Vida who chose the community for its excellent reputation and location. “All my doctors are here in Melbourne, so it was important I stay close,” she says. “It’s comforting to know there is a doctor on site, but also that my own doctor is just down the street.”

Mason, like more and more seniors today, was pro-active in her decision to move to Buena Vida. She garnered feedback from residents and friends, and even did a background check on the community – something the staff encourages.

When it comes to making the ultimate decision to move to a senior living community, Mason offers up this advice: “Do it while you can. Do it when you can still make your own decisions.”

WORRIED ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME?

Buena Vida’s Home Sale Assistance Program takes the burden away.

Buena Vida Estates partnered with ITG Realty to provide the Home Sale Assistance Program, an option for prospective residents concerned about selling their home. Under this program, Rusty Melle, Buena Vida’s in-house state-licensed real estate agent from ITG Realty, will list and market one’s home, and if it doesn’t sell, ITG Realty will guarantee a buyer at fair market value. The program offers a credit up to $1,000 per month for 18 months to cover carrying charges of the home. The Home Sale Assistance Program also provides reimbursement up to $5,000 for home staging expenses, as well as home watch services for those who move to Buena Vida before their home is sold.

“Rusty came in and took care of everything,” says Virginia Osley, a former Indialantic resident whose home sold in roughly six weeks under the program. Osley has lived in Brevard County for 26 years and moved to Buena Vida a few months ago. “There was little stress involved. It made me feel relieved knowing I didn’t need to worry about a thing … Buena Vida is the one place where they take care of you forever.”

It has been a busy past four months with several changes for the group at Osler Geriatrics, which is now part of Wuesthoff Health System. That said, the quality care patients have come to expect from the practice remains in place.

Specifically, the team at Osler Geriatrics continues to provide medical care for residents in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities throughout Brevard County. Their operations office remains located near Downtown Melbourne. Operations of their outpatient clinic at Buena Vida Estates in West Melbourne also carries on. Furthermore, the team continues to advocate for all residents in these facilities at both the local and state level.

TRANSITIONS OF CARE

One example of this advocacy involves improving transitions of care within Brevard County. “Improving transitions of care will help ensure that important patient/resident information is passed from one level of care to another,” says JoAnn Fisher, FNP.

Initiated by Fisher, the Transitions of Care (TOC) Task Force has now joined forces with Brevard County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in an ongoing effort to improve transitions between the long-term care (LTC) facilities, transport companies, like Coastal Health Systems of Brevard, and hospitals. “The task force has begun to work very effectively at resolving or at least bringing about discussions to resolve issues and concerns between these agencies,” adds Fisher.

John McPherson, M.D., medical director of EMS, and Orlando Dominguez, chief of EMS, presented newly developed protocol for transfer of dementia residents at the quarterly TOC/EMS meeting in February. This protocol allows facilities to transfer residents to the hospital as needed when they no longer have the ability to make medical decisions.

“This empowers the medics to transfer these residents despite their possible refusal,” explains Fisher. “Since the open discussions about this issue, LTC facilities are stepping up to identify residents who may no longer have medical decision-making capacity and are working to assure that proper documentation is on the chart.”

LOBBYING FOR NEW LEGISLATION

Another example of Osler Geriatrics’ advocacy involves lobbying for new legislation which would exclude skilled nursing facilities from following the requirements of the so called “Pill Mill Bill.” A recent poll of LTC physicians and nurse practitioners, conducted by the Florida Medical Directors Association, indicates that 98 percent of these health care providers feel that the current legislation will impede the ability of nursing home residents to receive adequate and timely treatment of their pain.

John H. Potomski, Jr., D.O., CMD, chairman of the Brevard County Commission on Aging and medical director of Osler Geriatrics, has made several state agencies and organizations aware of the unintended, but potentially negative effects that the current law may have on residents in LTC facilities. A coalition has been assembled to educate state legislators regarding this issue and has proposed several pieces of new legislation to support this effort.

“Osler Geriatrics is committed to ongoing education of the medical community,” says Dr. Potomski. “We have been working with LTC facilities to provide state-of-the-art medical care which will improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary hospitalization.”

Representatives from LTC facilities and Wuesthoff Health System met in January to discuss ways of working together to achieve these goals.