What’s Hot in Healthcare: South Florida doctors rent office space by the day
The concept of shared or flexible workspace has worked for hairstylists, office workers and entrepreneurs. Now, doctors and medical specialists are trying it in Aventura.
Lina, a concept that has been in New York City since 2017, has expanded to Florida.
Doctors, mental health therapists and medical specialists are able to rent exam rooms or clinical space by the hour, day or month on a dedicated full floor in the Serena Hotel Aventura/office building. The exam rooms are pre-furnished with beds and sinks. The advantage for doctors, the company says, is all the logistical tasks, such as ordering supplies, medical waste removal, patient check-in, and janitorial clean-up are handled by Lina.
Rachel Puri, co-founder and CEO of Lina, said renters don’t have to give a down payment or sign a long-term lease.
“We saw a need in the market in South Florida because there are not many options for providers,” Puri said. “This allows medical providers to grow their practice by saving time and money on overhead. We handle day-to-day headaches for them so they can focus on patients.”
The medical co-working space is walking distance from the HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, which Puri says helps to attract tenants.
In New York, the concept has appealed to small ob/gyn groups as well as an HIV testing lab, Puri said.
The benefits for patients include being able to see various physicians in one space, as well as having access to amenities such as a coffee/tea lounge and free parking in the building, she said. As of June, the Aventura Lina location already has about a dozen tenants.
Robotic surgery for head, neck cancers
Doctors at Broward Health Medical Center are looking at all the ways to use a new single-port robotic surgical system that arrived in late May. The machines make it easier for doctors to do surgery in hard-to-reach places on the body. They have started by using it to treat head and neck cancers.
The single-port robotic system is an updated version of robotic technology that allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with more camera visibility and precision. The new systems also make it easier for surgeons to maneuver into the body through a single incision.
Dr. Ryan Sobel, medical director of oncology for Broward Health, says the benefits of using the robot with one arm instead of three include a more rapid recovery, less scarring, and improved outcomes for patients
Sobel said he sees future uses with urologic surgery as well as trauma treatment.
Proud of my robotics team at @BrowardHealth as we performed the first @IntuitiveSurg Davinci Single Port Urology case in @FTLCityNews #davincisp #urosome pic.twitter.com/2dJvLoznIG
— Vlad Gorbatiy, MD (@vipurology) June 13, 2023
Help for depressed dads
A third of fathers are anxious and depressed, according to a recent CVS Health Harris Poll study released for Father’s Day.
Fathers overall are more depressed than men without children. The added stresses of fatherhood, worrying about family finances, balancing a child’s responsibilities on top of their own, and lack of sleep are all contributing factors to increased stress, anxiety and depression in men, the study found.
Stigma and pressure for men to be strong 100% of the time often prevents fathers from getting the help they need, research concludes.
Dr. Taft Parsons, the Chief Psychiatric Officer for CVS Health, says depression or anxiety in men may present differently than women. They may be angry, irritable or use substances at a higher rate.
Parsons recommends encouraging the fathers in your life to be more verbal about their feelings. “Really make it okay to talk about what they are going through,” he said. “Everyone should ask dad this question, “How are you?” No, “How are you, really?”
Listen carefully to the response and get dad the assistance he needs, Parson says. He has created a YouTube video to provide advice on the topic.
Hospital expansion in Palm Beach County
If you need a hospital in Delray Beach, you now have the benefit of Delray Medical Center’s $13 million expansion of its first floor tower.
The hospital has added three operating rooms, a private prep area, recovery rooms, an advanced endoscopy suite, and a designated post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The three new operating rooms for outpatient, minimally invasive surgeries have the latest advancements in surgical technology.
“This expansion will enable us to deliver a wider range of surgical services,” said Daniel Listi, CEO of Delray Medical Center.
Initially, the expanded hospital facilities are offering services in urology, gastrointestinal, and general surgery, with future plans to include orthopedics.
The expansion also includes an additional CT scanner that will be used mostly for cardiac imaging.
UM doctor offers sleep apnea alternative treatment
Snoring. Daytime sleepiness. Fatigue. Waking up feeling tired. Morning headaches.
For many people those are symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, which is complete or partial collapse of the upper airway that leads to waking up suddenly from sleep.
Many doctors will recommend a face or nasal mask with a CPAP machine that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while you sleep.
Dr. Maria Suurna, an otolaryngologist who specializes in sleep medicine at the University of Miami Health System, has come up with a surgical solution. She implants a small device that helps to open up the airway. The device is implanted under the skin and connects to the hypoglossal nerve that enables tongue movement.
Suurna said the device provides stimulation to the upper airway muscles during sleep, and it keeps the airway open.
Patients can turn on and operate the device using a remote control. So far, Suurna said, patients report after surgery that they are better rested in the morning.
Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com or Twitter @cindykgoodman.
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