MIAMI, FL –January 31, 2017 – Baptist Health Primary Care expands with two new offices – one in Pinecrest and the other in Doral. Both locations opened for patient care this month.

The Pinecrest location is part of a brand-new Baptist Health South Florida building located at 13101 South Dixie Highway, Suite 400. Residents in Pinecrest are now able to make an appointment with primary care physicians Nathalie Regalado, M.D., Melissa Franco D.O., and Hanif Williams, M.D.

The Doral location is located at 9915 NW 41 Street, Suite 230. Doral residents are now able to make an appointment with primary care physician Gabriel Solti Grasz, M.D.

In addition, endocrinology specialist, Pascual De Santis, M.D., will be available to patients in both offices.

The convenient new locations provide all healthcare needs to the Pinecrest and Doral communities. Each Baptist Health Primary Care office is focused on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health issues, including chronic disease management for diabetes, heart disease and hypertension; simple and complex health matters; minor emergencies; geriatric care; weight loss; health-risk assessments; women’s health and healthy lifestyle choices.

Additionally, patients can renew prescriptions; get test results; communicate with their care team online; get all their laboratory needs at our on-site lab; and make appointments with a registered dietitian and/or a social worker, all with minimal wait times.

“We are very excited to expand our services and provide the highest quality of primary and preventive care to all communities in Miami-Dade,” said Bernie Fernandez Jr., M.D., CEO of Baptist Health Medical Group. “The addition of the Doral and Pinecrest offices are more examples of our commitment to service the healthcare needs of the South Florida community.”

To find a location near you and make an appointment with a primary care physician, please call 786-596-2464 or visit BaptistHealth.net/PrimaryCare.

About Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Medical Group, a network of primary care doctors and specialists who provide high quality medical care to patients of all ages, is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

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Comprehensive cancer center and clinical research facility will be Florida’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance and the first in South Florida to offer proton therapy

MIAMI, FL – January 26, 2017 – Today, the $430 million, 445,000-square-foot Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, has officially opened its doors. In addition, after a year-long review and collaboration process, Miami Cancer Institute has become the third full member, and the only member in Florida, of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance, an initiative designed to collaboratively guide community providers toward state-of-the-art cancer care.

Miami Cancer Institute features a unique, hybrid academic-community cancer center model backed by 30 years of Baptist Health’s expertise in cancer care. The facility, located on the Baptist Hospital campus, consolidates many outpatient clinical services, clinical research, and technology platforms under one roof. The Institute is home to one of the most comprehensive and advanced radiation oncology programs in the world, including South Florida’s first proton therapy center, one of under two dozen proton therapy centers in the nation, which will open later this year. The precision of proton therapy allows doctors to target cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue and vital organs.

“Miami Cancer Institute brings new treatment options, cutting-edge technology and pioneering clinical research to South Florida, including access to Memorial Sloan Kettering’s world-renowned clinical trials and standards of care,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., Founding CEO and Executive Medical Director of Miami Cancer Institute. “This collaboration – when combined with our team of preeminent cancer experts working together to develop the best care plans for each patient – establishes Miami Cancer Institute as the region’s premier, hybrid academic-community cancer center.”

“We are proud and privileged to open the doors of Miami Cancer Institute for our community,” said Brian E. Keeley, President and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida. “We thank the hundreds of people who have worked tirelessly to build this world-class destination cancer center here in South Florida. This historic milestone is not just one for Baptist Health to celebrate, but one for our entire community as we come together in the fight against cancer.”

As an MSK Cancer Alliance member, Miami Cancer Institute will share educational resources with MSK and other members, which include Connecticut’s Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute and Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley Health Network Cancer Institute. The dynamic and forward-thinking relationship will enhance the Institute’s clinical research capabilities as well as its delivery of world-class, evidence-based cancer care. There are three key ways patients receiving care at Miami Cancer Institute directly benefit from this unique relationship:

• Adoption of MSK standards of care into everyday practice. By keeping up to date with the latest innovations, Miami Cancer Institute clinical experts make treatment decisions for their patients based on the best and most current evidence available.
• Integrated learning. Oncologists from both institutions regularly meet to discuss challenging cases and identify the best course of treatment for patients.
• Access to key MSK clinical trials. Cancer clinical trials can give patients the opportunity to receive drugs or therapies years before they are available anywhere else. Plans are under way to open several MSK trials at Miami Cancer Institute as early as this month. Opening these MSK trials helps speed up the data-collection process so investigational therapies can be approved faster and become available sooner to even more patients.

“For more than a century, Memorial Sloan Kettering has relentlessly sought to eradicate cancer through scientific discovery and exceptional, patient-focused care,” said Craig B. Thompson, MD, President and CEO of MSK. “This goal will only be realized through collaborative sharing of knowledge and best practices with like-minded partners, such as Miami Cancer Institute, while learning from them as well. This new model of collaboration will continue to evolve but will always benefit patients first and foremost by making the highest-quality cancer care widely accessible.”

The Institute’s clinical research building is expected to open later this year. It will house the Center for Genomic Medicine, where researchers will study the tumors of individual patients at the molecular level and create personalized treatments that interrupt the cancer cells’ ability to multiply. These targeted therapies are among the most effective and promising treatments under development.

Miami Cancer Institute expects to draw a significant number of patients from outside the United States and will attract leading medical and business professionals to South Florida for conferences, symposia and other events. The Hilton Miami-Dadeland – a 184-room, full-service hotel and conference center – is due to open on the west end of the Baptist Hospital campus in late 2018 and will be an essential component to serving out-of-town patients and guests visiting the Cancer Institute.

“Even in its infancy, Miami Cancer Institute has transformed cancer care in South Florida,” said Dr. Zinner. “As it matures, the Institute is well-poised to serve as the catalyst for making South Florida a true, world-class medical destination that benefits patients and the community at large – here, and around the globe.”

For more information about the Miami Cancer Institute including photos, B-roll and SOTS, visit our newsroom at Newsroom.BaptistHealth.net/MiamiCancerInstitute.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional patient experience, advanced clinical research and state-of-the-art technology – including the first proton therapy center in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. To accelerate its mission of hope, caring and innovation, Miami Cancer Institute has joined the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, a meaningful relationship that enables patients with cancer access to potential breakthrough therapies in South Florida. For more information, visit MiamiCancerInstitute.com.

Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

About the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance
The Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance is an initiative designed to collaboratively guide community providers toward state-of-the-art cancer care. Its overarching goal is to improve the lives of cancer patients through dynamic partnerships with local care providers. Members include Connecticut-based Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, Lehigh Valley Health Network Cancer Institute in Pennsylvania, and Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida. For more information about the MSK Cancer Alliance, go to https://www.mskcc.org/about/innovative-collaborations/msk-alliance.

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MIAMI, FL – January 19, 2017 — Murugesan Manoharan, M.D., has joined the team of renowned cancer care experts with Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. Manoharan, or simply “Mano” as he’s often referred, will serve as the Institute’s Chief of Urologic Oncologic Surgery and Director of Robotic Urologic Surgery. He will lead a team of specialists that treat urologic cancers, including those of the bladder, kidney, prostate and testes. Dr. Manoharan is a Board-certified, fellowship-trained urologist and an innovator in the field of urologic oncology, where he specializes in robotic, laparoscopic and complex open cancer surgical procedures. He is a prominent authority in the treatment of bladder and prostate cancers, the latter being the most frequently diagnosed cancer today amongst American men. He was one of the first urologists in the United States to perform robotic radical cystectomy which involves complete removal of the bladder and creation of an artificial bladder through a small bikini incision in patients with bladder cancer.

“The addition of Dr. Manoharan to Miami Cancer Institute is an important step in our efforts to build a comprehensive, disease-based multispecialty team,” said Michael J. Zinner, M.D., founding CEO and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute. “Dr. Manoharan brings unparalleled expertise in treating urologic cancers, which have high incidence rates. He is assembling a robust team of urologic cancer care specialists, and their combined clinical skills and research initiatives will afford our patients with access to a level of care for these particular cancers never previously offered in this region.”

Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute, Dr. Manoharan practiced urology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he served as one of the site disease group leaders for genitourinary cancers. He also practiced urology at Jackson Memorial Hospital and at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami.

Dr. Manoharan was a tenured professor of urology and served as the Director of the Urologic Oncology Fellowship program at the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine, having received the Best Urology Teacher of the Year Award on multiple occasions. His research interests include stem cell applications, biomarkers and cancer outcomes. He has authored more than 130 scientific articles and 15 text book chapters, and has presented papers and posters at over 100 national and international meetings. He has served as a vice chairman and a member of the Bladder cancer guidelines committee organized by the WHO and Société Internationale d’Urologie.

Dr. Manoharan attended medical school at Madras Medical College in Madras, India. He completed a residency in urology at Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Melbourne, Australia. He completed a fellowship in surgery at Royal College of Surgeons of England in London, United Kingdom, and was a urologic oncology fellow at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Miami Cancer Institute opens its new, $430 million state-of-the-art facility on the Baptist Hospital campus this month.

About Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Health South Florida is developing Miami Cancer Institute into a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, exceptional patient experience, advanced clinical research and state-of-the-art technology – including the first proton therapy center in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. To accelerate its mission of hope, caring and innovation, Miami Cancer Institute has announced plans to join the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, a dynamic partnership that will ultimately enable cancer patients to access potential breakthrough therapies in South Florida. For more information, visit MiamiCancerInstitute.com.

Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

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MIAMI, FL – December 21, 2016 – Baptist Health Primary Care has received the highest level of Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Criteria for Level 3 recognition includes the use of evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term, participative relationships. Baptist Health Primary Care locations recognized include the Family Medicine Center at West Kendall Baptist Hospital and Primary Care offices at Baptist Hospital, Kendall Town & Country, Kendall Breeze and Galloway. Other locations are applying for recognition.

A network of primary care doctors and specialists who provide high quality medical care to all ages, Baptist Health Medical Group practices focus on wellness and prevention, and care for patients with a wide range of health issues, from heart disease and asthma to diabetes and pneumonia. They also provide behavioral health services and coordinate treatment with necessary specialists. In addition, offices offer extended and weekend hours, minimal wait times and same-day or next-day appointments with an available physician or advanced practitioner. Patients may renew prescriptions, get test results and communicate with their care team online.

“It’s an honor to receive Level 3 recognition,” said Myriam Ampuero-Martinez, MPA, Assistant Vice President of Baptist Health Medical Group. “Our practices become a medical home for our patients with an emphasis on developing a long-term relationship. The better you know someone, the more you can be their advocate. Level 3 recognition proves our commitment to personal, enhanced, high-quality care. The end result is a better patient experience and improved patient outcomes.”

Practices that receive Level 3 recognition meet high-quality standards for care and demonstrate the use of teamwork and health information technology so that communication among caregivers and between physicians and patients is seamless, according to the NCQA. In addition, they are prepared for the coming change in payment systems, as healthcare reform drives the industry from a volume- to value-based payment model.

About Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Medical Group, a network of primary care doctors and specialists who provide high-quality medical care to patients of all ages, is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

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Recently approved by FDA, Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold opens clogged arteries to restore blood flow,
then gradually dissolves in the body

Miami, FL — December 19, 2016 —The interventional cardiology team at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute at Baptist Hospital recently became the first in South Florida to offer patients with coronary artery disease a new treatment option that literally disappears over time.

Ramon Quesada, M.D., Ramon Quesada, M.D., Medical Director of the Structural Heart and Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Programs at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute at Baptist Hospital, implanted a patient with the world’s first FDA-approved biodegradable heart stent or “scaffold.” The Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold is a major advance in the treatment of coronary artery disease, which affects 15 million people in the United States and remains a leading cause of death worldwide despite decades of therapeutic advances.

The Institute was the only South Florida medical facility to participate in the clinical trials for the new device.

While stents are traditionally made of metal, Abbott’s Absorb stent is made of a naturally dissolving material, similar to degradable sutures. Absorb disappears completely in about 3 years, after it has done its job of keeping a clogged artery open and promoting healing of the treated artery segment. By contrast, metal stents are permanent implants.

“This absorbable stent is a revolutionary advancement in the treatment of coronary artery disease,” explained Dr. Quesada, who was the principal investigator for the trials at the Institute. “It benefits the patient by treating the diseased artery then gradually dissolving, leaving a healed artery that can pulse naturally, the way it was meant to function.”

Other Institute physicians who took part in the clinical trials were Marcus St. John, M.D.; Ramon Lloret, M.D.; Rajesh Dhairyawan, M.D.; Alvaro Gomez, M.D.; and Bernardo Lopez Sanabria, M.D.

To ensure optimal patient selection and implant technique, Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute’s interventional cardiology team underwent extensive training on the new device.

Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization in the region. It also includes Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Doctors Hospital, West Kendall Baptist Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital and Baptist Outpatient Services. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Heart and connect with BaptistHealthSF on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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1 Absorb dissolves except for two pairs of tiny metallic markers that remain in the artery to enable a physician to see where the device was placed.

184-Room New Build Hotel to Feature Rooms for Longer Stays and Wellness Center

MIAMI, FL – December 13, 2016 – This week, Hilton and Baptist Health South Florida broke ground on Hilton Miami/Dadeland, a full service, 184-room hotel, on the Baptist Hospital campus. Scheduled to open in late 2018, the hotel will feature 150 guest rooms, 34 rooms tailored to guests staying for longer periods, the largest meeting space in the area, a wellness center, farm-to-table restaurant and more.

Hilton Miami/Dadeland will complement the exceptional patient experience offered at Miami Cancer Institute, a new $430 million clinical and research center which will house South Florida’s first proton therapy center, and the Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, a leader in cardiovascular care.

“Hilton is recognized globally as a leader in hospitality, and we felt its full-service Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand would be an ideal partner,” said Ana Lopez-Blazquez, executive vice president, Baptist Health South Florida. “In addition, this property will have the largest meeting space in the area to accommodate conferences, events and meetings.”

CallisonRTKL Inc., the architect for the hotel, has fused best practices from healthcare and hospitality design by incorporating a welcoming, compassionate and uplifting environment for guests. Recognizing the community’s multicultural nature and the hospital campus’ Mediterranean feel, the property will feature special design details, including Cuban tile, pineapple-themed wall art and textiles with abstract lines representative of the fruit’s texture to add a touch of local style. The pineapple, Baptist Health’s iconic logo, symbolizes hospitality and reflects a place of warmth and welcome.

The 150,000-square-foot hotel will be located to the immediate west of the main entrance of Baptist Hospital and conveniently near Dadeland Mall and regional transportation hubs. The hotel will be operated by Interstate Hotels and Resorts.

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About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,400 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, comprising more than 4,700 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties with over 775,000 rooms in 104 countries and territories. For 97 years, Hilton has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company’s portfolio of 13 world-class global brands includes Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where Hilton HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Hilton Hotels & Resorts
For nearly a century, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has been proudly welcoming the world’s travelers. With more than 570 hotels across six continents, Hilton Hotels & Resorts provides the foundation for memorable travel experiences and values every guest who walks through its doors. As the flagship brand of Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts continues to set the standard for hospitality, providing new product innovations and services to meet guests’ evolving needs. Hilton Hotels & Resorts is a part of the award-winning Hilton HHonors program. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels receive instant benefits, including an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else, free standard Wi-Fi and digital amenities like digital check-in with room selection and Digital Key available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app. Begin your journey at www.hilton.com and learn more about the brand by visiting news.hilton.com or following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide. Currently, Interstate and its affiliates manage 426 hotels with more than 75,000 rooms around the globe. In addition Interstate has executed agreements to manage 40 hotels with more than 5,200 rooms under development or construction. For more information, please visit www.interstatehotels.com. Connect with Interstate at www.linkedin.com/company/interstate-hotels-resorts, www.facebook.com/InterstateHotels, and www.interstatehotels.com/careers.

Project to provide a tranquil space near the South Miami Hospital campus 

MIAMI, FL – December 5, 2016 – Baptist Health South Florida announced today a partnership with Friends of The Underline to build a Healing Garden adjacent to U.S. 1 near South Miami Hospital’s East Tower Building. The Healing Garden will provide a peaceful area for people to relax, rest and reflect.

“Helping to make our community healthier is at the heart of Baptist Health’s mission,” said Brian Keeley, president and chief executive officer, Baptist Health South Florida. “Our partnership with Friends of The Underline will help to advance our shared goal of promoting health and well-being in South Florida by providing inviting spaces for our community to enjoy. Specifically, we hope the Healing Garden at South Miami Hospital will become an urban oasis of peace and tranquility.”

The Underline is a 10-mile linear park, urban trail and living art destination expected to break ground in Fall, 2017. This multi-year project will have a significant impact on Miami-Dade County. It will change the way the community moves around the city, increase property value, create jobs, attract new users to transit and add over one hundred acres of new open space. As one of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez’ priorities, the project has received a $3 million commitment from the county and is a public/ private collaboration between Miami-Dade Parks, Miami-Dade Transportation and Public Works and Friends of The Underline, a 501C3 non-profit organization.

“We are so thankful to have Baptist Health South Florida as our partner. The commitment to building the Healing Garden at South Miami Hospital, adjacent to the future trail, and open it up to the public demonstrates the community’s steadfast support of The Underline project,” said Meg Daly, chief executive officer and president, Friends of The Underline.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,400 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

About Friends of The Underline
Friends of The Underline is a 501C3 non-profit organization advocating to transform the underutilized land below Miami’s Metrorail into a 10-mile linear park, urban trail and canvas for artistic expression to create a safer, healthier, more connected and sustainable, mobile, and engaged community. For more information visit www.theunderline.org and Like and Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @theunderlinemia.

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Miami, FL – December 5, 2016 – Baptist Health South Florida is one of the 2016 Best Workplaces for Diversity as well as Best Workplaces for Latinos, according to global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work® and Fortune.

Baptist Health South Florida was ranked No. 18 on the Best Workplaces for Diversity list, and ranked No. 3 on the Best Workplaces for Latinos list. Rankings are based on employees’ assessments of workplace fairness, opportunities for training, and access to senior leadership, among other factors.

“Having a diverse workforce that reflects our community and our patients is not only a benefit for the many people we serve each day, but also for our own employees. Having diversity of backgrounds, ideas and experiences helps to propel our organization forward and provide the high-quality, compassionate healthcare that we are known for,” said Adriene McCoy, Baptist Health’s corporate vice president for human resources. “We are extremely proud to be named as one of the Best Workplaces for Latinos and one of the Best Workplaces for Diversity.”

Baptist Health South Florida is also included on the 100 Best Companies to Work For list by Great Place to Work® and Fortune for the last 16 years.

“We congratulate this year’s winners for showing that diverse workplaces are good for ALL employees,” said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. “Bottom line? Our research shows that the most inclusive workplaces enjoy significantly higher revenue growth than less-inclusive workplaces—evidence that these organizations are cultivating the full human potential of all their people.”

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,400 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

About The Best Workplaces for Latinos
Published together with our partner, Fortune, The Best Workplaces for Diversity ranking is based upon feedback from 448,456 employees at Great Place to Work-CertifiedTM companies who completed our Trust Index© Employee Survey. Employees from all backgrounds answered 58 questions about how frequently they experience the behaviors that create a great workplace, considering everything from how comfortable they are being themselves, to the degree of favoritism or insider politics they observe in the workplace, the fairness of promotions, the feeling of honest connection with co-workers, their access to senior leadership, and who receives information and professional development and who doesn’t.

To determine the winners, Great Place to Work analyzed how positively women, minorities and LGBTQ employees reported experiencing their workplace overall, paying special attention to an index of factors where these employees tend to have a less positive experience than their colleagues. Rankings take into account how favorably women, minorities and LGBTQ employees experience their workplace relative to their male, Caucasian and heterosexual colleagues’ experiences. The list also considered the degree of representation women and minorities enjoy within the workforce as a whole, as well as in management and executive roles. Organizations needed to have at least 50 employees to be considered and were compared to peers of similar size.

About Great Place to Work®
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, including Best Workplaces lists and workplace reviews, Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In the United States, Great Place to Work produces the annual Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work For®” and a series of Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists, including lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small and Medium Companies and over a half dozen different industries.

Follow Great Place to Work online at www.greatplacetowork.com and on Twitter at @GPTW_US.

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The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) has recognized West Kendall Baptist Hospital as one of 60 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals that have achieved meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care. As a participant in ACS NSQIP, West Kendall Baptist Hospital is required to track the outcomes of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures and collect data that directs patient safety and the quality of surgical care improvements.

The ACS NSQIP recognition program commends a select group of hospitals for achieving a composite meritorious outcome related to patient management in eight clinical areas: mortality, unplanned intubation, ventilator > 48 hours, renal failure, cardiac incidents (cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction); respiratory (pneumonia); SSI (surgical site infections-superficial and deep incisional and organ-space SSIs); or urinary tract infection. The 60 hospitals commended achieved the distinction based on their outstanding composite quality score across the eight areas listed above. Risk-adjusted data from the July 2016 ACS NSQIP Semiannual Report, which presents data from the 2015 calendar year, were used to determine which hospitals demonstrated meritorious outcomes.

ACS NSQIP is the only nationally validated quality improvement program that measures and enhances the care of surgical patients. This program measures the actual surgical results 30 days postoperatively as well as risk adjusts patient characteristics to compensate for differences among patient populations and acuity levels. The goal of ACS NSQIP is to reduce surgical morbidity (infection or illness related to a surgical procedure) and surgical mortality (death related to a surgical procedure) and to provide a firm foundation for surgeons to apply what is known as the “best scientific evidence” to the practice of surgery. Furthermore, when adverse effects from surgical procedures are reduced and/or eliminated, a reduction in health care costs follows. ACS NSQIP is a major program of the American College of Surgeons and is currently used in over 770 adult and pediatric hospitals.

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 78,000 members and it is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

About West Kendall Baptist Hospital
West Kendall Baptist Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

Baptist Health researcher and colleagues announce the findings of a study that addresses the recent trends and associated costs

MIAMI, FL – November 14, 2016– A study published today in JAMA Cardiology and presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2016 reveals that while statin use has increased substantially among U.S. adults in the last 12 years, usage has not increased at the same rate among high-risk groups. The 12-year study of U.S. adults 40 years and older also evaluated the use of brand versus generic use of statin drugs and the relationship drug cost had on patient usage.

Statins, which are the world’s most widely used drug, are a class of medicines used to lower blood cholesterol levels and are a mainstay treatment option for reducing risk of heart attack, stroke and related death. The study demonstrated that among adults in the U.S. 40 years of age and older in the general population, statin drug usage increased almost 80 percent from 21.8 million individuals (17.9%) in 2002-2003 (134 million prescriptions) to 39.2 million individuals (27.8%) in 2012-2013 (221 million prescriptions).

“Using the 2002-2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) longitudinal data among the U.S. representative adult population showed that while statin use has increased substantially from 2002-2013, the uptake in high risk patients such as those with known heart disease or history of stroke, was lagging as well as its utilization was disproportionately lower among women, racial minorities and the uninsured,” said Khurram Nasir, M.D., M.P.H., senior author of the study and medical director of Baptist Health South Florida’s Center for Healthcare Advancement and Outcomes in Miami. “This is an important finding, because it sheds light on the evidence of treatment gaps and an urgent need for patient centered approaches to assess the reasons as well appropriate strategies to resolve inconsistent adoption of lifesaving treatment options in these vulnerable high risk individuals.”

The study also highlights the last 12 years which showed there has been a significant increase in patients using the generic drug, which is the less expensive version of the actual medication (8.4 percent in 2002-2003 to 81.8 percent in 2012-2013). As a result, in spite of almost doubling of statin use in the time period studied, the overall total national costs of the statin decreased from $17.2 billion in 2002 to $16.9 billion in 2012-2013.

However, it is worthwhile to note that in spite of less than one in five of all statin users consumed branded versions in 2012-2013, it was responsible for 55 percent of the entire statin costs. “While the reduction in costs from brand to generic statins is of paramount importance in the current transformative environment focusing on managing risking healthcare costs, further substitution is necessary,” Nasir said. “It is important to note that potentially $8 billion can be saved if nearly 20 percent of current brand statin users are substituted to equally efficacious generic versions.” The study also noted that use of generic versus branded statin is not only associated with lower overall total medication costs, but also impacts patient’s out of pocket payment. For example, in 2012-2013, the average yearly out of pocket costs for generic statins was nearly four times less than branded statins ($52 vs. $249).

Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital), nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,300 affiliated physicians. Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net and connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/BaptistHealthSF and on Twitter and Instagram @BaptistHealthSF.

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