Observer
Health Matters APRIL 2020
BEST & BRIGHTEST Ingenuity, research and some good ol’ fashioned hard work already have yielded major wins in the local fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Pages 6 to 8.
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Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”
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“Road to Serfdom,” 1944
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Orlando Health team members cut the ribbon to the brand-new Orlando Health Imaging Centers — Summerport.
Orlando Health officially opened the doors in February to its newest imaging center near Summerport Village. DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR
West Orange residents, especially those living near Summerport Village in Horizon West, now have access to state-of-the-art imaging technology just minutes from home. Orlando Health team members, community members and elected officials celebrated the ribbon cutting for Orlando Health Imaging Centers — Summerport Feb 20. The diagnostic center is located inside the existing 60,000-square-foot medical pavilion off County Road 535 and West Lake Butler Road. Orlando Health Imaging Centers is a joint venture between Orlando Health and the Medical Center Radiology Group. It was created in 2014 to address Central Florida’s increased imaging needs, and the Summerport location is the newest member of the family. The 4,800-square-foot space is compact, but it is packed with high-quality equipment and services. This includes 3D mammography/tomosynthesis, bone densitometry, digital X-ray, wide-bore 3T MRI and 128-slice CT. According to Orlando Health, all images are read by board-certified radiologists experienced in various subspecialties. Same-day results are then sent directly to physicians to determine the next course of action. “We’re really excited about everything that’s happening in the West Orange market,” said Mark Marsh, president of Orlando Health’s Health Central Hospital in Ocoee. “I was reminded today by (Orange County District 1) Commissioner Betsy VanderLey that there’s 1,500 new residents per week
Photos by Danielle Hendrix
This is a 128-slice CT machine, which provides fast scans and quick results.
moving into Central Florida. … A lot of that is happening here in the West Orange market.” Dan Honerbrink, corporate director of Orlando Health Imaging Centers, said a lot of work has gone into the concept over the last few years to make it a reality. There also will be more imaging centers opening in the future, he said. “This imaging center provides highly specialized, state-of-theart imaging services for the community,” Honerbrink said. “At the end of the day, we brought in all of this equipment because this community deserves it and Orlando Health wouldn’t stand for anything less. We put all this in to a very compact space. It’s efficient, it’s effective, and we expect when you walk through the door, you’ll appreciate how we tried to line it up.” Honerbrink added that imaging is on the forefront of breakthrough technology and Orlando Health wanted to ensure it provided and kept up with that technology. The imaging center also provides a more convenient location for nearby residents to receive necessary services. The imaging center at Summerport is the sixth of its kind within the Orlando Health network. The organization also has
“At the end of the day, we brought in all of this equipment because this community deserves it and Orlando Health wouldn’t stand for anything less.” — Dan Honerbrink, corporate director, Orlando Health Imaging Centers
imaging centers in Altamonte Springs, Ocoee, Lake Mary and Spring Lake. Two more imaging centers are on the way in Winter Park and downtown Orlando. Dr. Wei-Shen Chin, president and CEO of Medical Center Radiology Group, added that Orlando Health has essentially brought a “Formula 1 race car” to this portion of West Orange County and its drivers are the radiologists. His organization has partnered with Orlando Health for more than 70 years now. “When we do imaging, what we’re really trying to do is solving a problem for someone as quickly and effectively as possible to make a diagnosis and to get that patient the right care,” Chin said. “The reason we have imaging here is to support everybody else in this facility. … We’ve tied this center to our specialty radiologists. “Our group has nearly 50 radiologists, and we are very proud that we’re able to provide that level of subspecialty care right here to support every specialty that’s in this building,” Chin said. “We are the imaging experts behind all this amazing equipment. We help with every single part of the protocols, all the technology and the investment in infrastructure to make this all work.”
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Melrose Center delivers 3D-printed PPE to Orlando Health
Courtesy photo
Fab Lab instructor Harold Singh delivered the 3D-printed masks to Orlando Health.
Staff from Orange County Library System’s Melrose Center connected with local maker groups to 3D-print critical personal protective equipment and delivered face-shield visors to Orlando Health. In late March, the Melrose Center’s Fab Lab team began investigating ways it could 3D print personal protective equipment for health care professionals. Working with files provided freely by Budmen Industries, a company that designs and sells 3D printers, staff started printing visors from home using 3D printers and supplies borrowed from the Melrose Center’s Fab Lab, a makerspace that offers hands-on classes and equipment for DIY projects. “The Melrose Center’s Fab Lab team is really happy to be able to join the maker community’s efforts to help our health care workers,” said Jim Myers, department head of the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation and Creativity. “They are a focused and energized bunch, and glad to be in a position to make a small difference. I’m really proud of them.” Using supplies at his home makerspace, Fab Lab instructor Harold Singh began the initial process of printing the parts. With the help of his daugh-
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ter, who works in the ICU, he delivered them to Orlando Health. At the same time, Fab Lab Instructor Yesenia Arroyo connected with the Central and South Florida chapters of the nonprofit Open Source COVID-19 Medical Supplies, a group working to connect makerspaces with medical professionals in need around the world. Soon after, the group received information from Orlando Health with details on what equipment could be accepted and work began. Arroyo and fellow Fab Lab Instructors Jennifer Michalicek and Frank Mackey each took home a 3D printer, filament and other supplies from the Fab Lab. Melrose Center staff now has four printers creating face shield parts, which take about two hours each to complete. Singh has also created a rubber mold of the visor frame and can produce an additional four per hour using liquid acrylic. So far, there have been 41 visors printed, all of which are ready for delivery to Orlando Health for final assembly and sterilization.
Florida Blue contributes meals to food bank Florida Blue contributed 300,000 meals to assist Central Floridians struggling because of the COVID-19 health crisis. The contribution to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is part of a $2 million initial investment Florida Blue is making to address urgent health and safety needs across the state as a result of the crisis. “Florida Blue is collaborating with leaders and organizations across Central Florida to address critical needs facing our neighbors,” said Tony Jenkins, Florida Blue’s Central Florida market president. “Second Harvest Food Bank is an essential lifeline to tens of thousands in our community who suddenly find themselves out of work due to the health crisis.”
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TESTING SITES Three temporary testing sites have been set up in Orange County to alleviate overcrowding and the potential spreading of the virus in health care facilities. More sites are being planned. n The Orange County Convention Center’s North Concourse parking lot, 9400 Universal Blvd., Orlando, is a daily testing site. It opens at 9 a.m. and closes after 400 tests have been performed each day. Only residents who meet the criteria will be tested. They must be experiencing respiratory symptoms, have a pre-existing condition or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Health care workers and first responders can get tested regardless of symptoms. Call the Florida Department of Health in Orange County at (407) 7235004 to set an appointment. Testing is free. This site is run by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. n The Florida Department of Health in Orange County is offering free testing for residents with an appointment. The call center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Residents who meet the criteria will be given an appointment date, time and location. The DOH-Orange has the capacity to run 50 tests daily. n The University of Central Florida has partnered with Aventus Biolabs to provide a testing site. It is by appointment only; call (855) 282-4860 to set one up. Up to 250 tests can be administered daily. Testing hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays in UCF’s Garage A, 12491 University Blvd., Orlando. n Walgreens has been working with national health officials to provide free testing to eligible residents. The first drive-thru site was activated in Illinois last month, and the company is working to expand to seven states, including Florida. Walgreens reports it soon will provide COVID-19 tests “with rapid results” — positive results are delivered within five minutes, and negative results are ready within 13 minutes.
ALL IN TH
TOGETH F
rom 3D-printed personal protective equipment and convalescent plasma infusion to a growin
the blood, sweat and tears of doctors and nurses, Central Florida’s medical community is eng
present the latest information regarding the coronavirus pandemic and what our local medica
Stories from the fron Dr. Charlotte Charfen, emergency physician and owner of the Oakland Manor House, has been battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Central Florida. DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR
These days, heroes are known more for scrubs and surgical masks than capes. Doctors, nurses, technicians and countless other health care workers worldwide have been battling COVID-19 on the front lines for weeks. In Florida, officials estimate the virus’ peak will occur around mid- to late April. In the meantime, tens of thousands of health care professionals are working overtime, separated from their families and often scrambling for personal protective equipment — all of them putting their own health at risk to help save lives. Dr. Charlotte Charfen, former Oakland resident and owner of the Oakland Manor House, is among those heroes. As an emergency physician for 20 years, she often is among the first to see patients when they enter an emergency department. Charfen always had been driven to go into medicine, even before she had any real experience with the medical field. It wasn’t until well into her medical school education that she made a promise to herself to spend a month training in the emergency department. It was love at first sight.
MANY UNKN
INTO THE FIRE
Today, Charfen lives and works in Hawaii and does a good amount of travel work. A few weeks ago, though, she found herself temporarily back in Oakland after the coronavirus pandemic interrupted her spring break plans. Charfen and her teenage daughter were supposed to fly to New York City to see a concert before returning to Florida. Then, her daughter was supposed to visit her father while Charfen completed travel work in another part of the state. Instead, the two ended up in Florida for a prolonged “spring break.” After completing the shifts she had committed to
est thing. It re because we ar in when other the other wa run in now b we endangeri endangering a “It’s not th cine — it’s t your safety w you’re not be said. “It’s a te Upon comp ment, she retu Oakland and s two weeks to sick. Then, sh out at her n Central Florid this organiza at providing a
Courtesy Charlotte Charfen
Dr. Charlotte Charfen wears a surgical mask over her N95 mask, protective goggles, gloves, scrubs and even a welding-style face shield to protect herself while treating patients.
working in another hospital, Charfen was asked to stay in state into May to help with the growing needs many hospitals are seeing. “There’s always need,” she said. “There’s always need in this area … and there’s definitely a need because of COVID-19.” One of the biggest challenges health care workers are facing right now, she said, is lack of personal protective equipment.
After all, she added, PPE is their armor. “That has been the hardest thing for me to wrap my head around, is how … all of a sudden, we have some crazy shortage (of PPE), and we think it’s OK to send people on the front lines into something that could kill them without the appropriate gear,” she said. “That blows my mind, and mentally has been the hard-
Charfen said admitted a f hospital, she had any criti patients that s yet. Many pat afraid more th “The energ got everybody “A lot of my jo ate some of th it all away, bec going to be a majority of p right now are However, sh critical cases fact, she said misconcepti COV I D -19 and thera Hyd rox yc h chloroquine a prescription d touted as pote Both have malaria and ce conditions. investigation treatment of C according to Disease Cont says there cur or other ther by the U.S. Administrati treat COVID“There is a hydroxychlor cure their CO said. “I canno
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HIS
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ng number of available tests and, of course,
gaged in the battle of our lifetime. Here, we
al community is doing to keep residents safe.
nt lines
eally is a mind game, re so used to rushing r people are running ay. We cannot just because not only are ing ourselves, we’re all of our workers. he practice of medithe anxiety around where you feel like eing cared for,” she errible feeling.” pleting that assignurned to her home in self-quarantined for o ensure she wasn’t he geared up to help next assignment in da. Luckily, she said, ation has been great all necessary PPE.
requests I got for hydroxychloroquine, and those people don’t even have COVID-19. There’s a lot of case reports that it’s helpful, and a lot of case reports that it’s not. It’s not hard data. I think a lot of people are putting way more stock into it than what the studies are showing thus far. “It just feels like we’re so focused on trying to find that magic pill or that magic something, where really and truly it’s all about just basic fundamentals (like hand washing),” she said. “If we can do those, we’ll be fine. Yes, people are dying, and yes, that is tragic, but I think overall if we can do the basic things, most of us will be OK.”
NOWNS
Despite all the bad news surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, Charfen said there have been countless positive and uplifting moments she’s experienced over the last several weeks. Family, friends and community members have dropped off groceries and supplies for her, donated coffee and PPE, and are ready to help however they can. “Even though I am isolated and kind of alone in this house by myself, I don’t feel alone at all,” she said. “On a personal level, I feel extremely supported by the community, and I feel a lot of gratitude. … I always tell people the biggest help is for people to stay at home, do those things you’ve been asked, and that is the greatest gift to a health care worker right now.”
d although she has few patients to the e has not personally ically ill COVID-19 she’s had to intubate tients she’s seen are han anything. gy around all this has y so afraid,” she said. ob is to try to allevihat fear. I can’t take cause there’s always , ‘What if?’ But the patients I’m seeing e not so sick.” he knows severe and s are out there. In d, one of the biggest ions surrounding i s t rea t m e n t peutic options. h l o ro q u i n e and are among those oral drugs that have been ential treatments. been used to treat ertain inflammatory They are under n in clinical trials for COVID-19 patients, o the Centers for trol. The CDC also rrently are no drugs rapeutics approved . Food and Drug ion to prevent or -19. misconception that roquine is going to OVID-19,” Charfen ot tell you how many
SILVER LININGS
“I always tell people the biggest help is for people to stay at home, do those things you’ve been asked, and that is the greatest gift to a health care worker right now.” — Dr. Charlotte Charfen
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Local hospitals see hope in plasma treatment for COVID-19 AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR
OneBlood and AdventHealth are collaborating on a project that potentially could treat patients with life-threatening coronavirus infections. The organizations are calling for people who have recovered from coronavirus to make blood plasma donations; the plasma and its antibodies will be transfused to eligible patients. “This is an extremely exciting development that shows promise in helping our sickest patients,” said Dr. Juliana Gaitan, who is leading the project at AdventHealth. “We’re among the first hospitals in the country to begin offering this therapy.” COVID-19 convalescent plasma is an experimental treatment that has been approved by the FDA to be used on an emergency basis to help people with lifethreatening coronavirus infections, according to OneBlood. “This is a monumental moment in the fight against coronavirus,” said Bud Scholl, president and chief executive officer of OneBlood. “The OneBlood team has worked around the clock in order to implement the new FDA protocols to begin collecting COVID-19 convalescent plasma.” Officials at Orlando Health reported their first successful convalescent plasma infusion last week. Doctors at Orlando Health’s Orlando Regional Medical Center infused their first COVID-19 patient with convalescent plasma Wednesday, April 8. Fifty-twoyear-old Michael “Kevin” Rathel received the investigational therapy around midnight, 12 hours after compatible blood was donated. “Normally, getting plasma requires going through a long process, because it’s investigational,” said Rathel’s physician, Satya Mukkera, MD, critical care physician at Orlando Regional Medical Center. “In a normal timeline, this might take
DONOR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS n COVID-19 convalescent plasma must only be collected from recovered individuals if they are eligible to donate blood n Required testing must be performed and the donation must be found suitable n Prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test n Complete resolution of symptoms at least 14 days prior to donation n Have a negative result for COVID-19 n Meet all standard FDA blood donation requirements
a few days. So working through the process in a few hours in phenomenal.” The process to obtain and infuse convalescent plasma is complicated. Donors’ blood types must be compatible with recipients. Donors must have recovered from COVID-19, been symptomfree for a minimum of 14 days and be tested to ensure the virus is no longer active in the body. The hospital administering the treat-
SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Hospital leaders, including those at AdventHealth, are scouring the world for masks and other protective equipment. But Jodi Fails didn’t have to look far. She simply turned to a 3D printer at AdventHealth and found an innovative solution that will help create thousands of face shields for clinicians. Fails, a product development engineer manager at the AdventHealth Nicholson Center prototype lab in Celebration, usually uses the 3D printer to create and test novel devices for clinicians and external companies — like models of a patient’s hip or tools to help physicians during surgery. “It’s an honor to be able to assist our team members as they fight this pandemic,” Fails said. “We may not be providing direct patient care, but through the lab, we can help protect our colleagues on the front lines.” Fails began researching and
found designs for face shields created by her fellow 3D community online. Much attention has focused on the need for surgical masks, but face shields — clear, curved pieces of plastic attached to a headband — are also vital and in short supply. Fails soon created a successful prototype. Fails and the Nicholson Center team then enlisted the help of academic and industry partners to mass-produce the equipment. Companies large and small are taking part, including Universal Orlando Resort, Cimquest, Taz 3D and Out of This World Embroidery. Production of the face shields is currently at 1,000 a week, with a preliminary goal of 20,000. The shields are being distributed to AdventHealth hospitals across Central Florida. If more production partners join the efforts, those numbers could go up and help more clinicians.
ment must receive approval from the FDA on a case-by-case basis. “This was like catching lightning in a bottle,” said Dr. George Ralls, vice president of quality and clinical transformation for Orlando Health. “The donor had the proper blood type to allow his plasma to be given to Kevin. Things lined up the way we could have hoped for.” Orlando Health is urging individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate blood. “This is something anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 should be aware of,” Ralls said. “The goal is to have enough plasma in inventory so we don’t have to rely on a one-to-one connection as we did in this case. We need to have an inventory of plasma that can be used for patients no matter where they are.” Doctors say it’s too early to predict Rathel’s prognosis. “It usually takes a couple of days to see initial changes in lab parameters after giving plasma,” Mukkera added. “We’re hoping to see some positive changes in the next two to three days. The good news is his condition is not worsening, which is a positive sign.” Prospective donors can visit oneblood.org/lp/covid-19-convalescent-plasma. tml#btndonate.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHES CALL CENTERS The Florida Department of Health has created a call center to answer general questions residents might have about COVID-19. To support the state’s efforts, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County has established a number, as well. The dedicated number for the Florida department is (866) 779-6121, and the call center is available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents can send questions via email at COVID-19@ flhealth.gov. Orange County residents can call (407) 7235004. The DOH-Orange call center is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
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STAYING CONNECTED
Orange County Government is providing multiple ways on social media to inform residents of the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19. FACEBOOK Orange County, Florida Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings District 1 Commissioner Betsy VanderLey Orange County Animal Services Orange County Convention Center Orange County Regional History Center Orange County Fire Rescue TWITTER Orange County, Florida Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings Orange County Animal Services Orange County Convention Center Orange County Fire Rescue Orange County Parks Orange County Regional History Center LINKEDIN Orange County Government FLICKR Orange County Government NEXTDOOR Orange County Government INSTAGRAM Orange County, Florida Orange County Animal Services YOUTUBE Orange TV Orange County Regional History Center
ON THE SURFACE
By now, we all have heard that it’s important to routinely clean the surfaces we touch. But do you know why health officials are stressing this? The COVID-19 virus is heavier and contains more proteins, said Kent Donahue, public information officer for the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. He compared this virus to last year’s measles outbreak. Measles particles from a cough or sneeze can stay in the air longer because they are light in weight, he said. The droplets from a COVID-19 cough or sneeze are falling and landing on surfaces, and the germs are being picked up by other people touching the surface.
And what about non-COVID-19 issues? TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, questions regarding health care have been pushed to the forefront of many people’s minds. Many involve the coronavirus itself, but a few questions also involve issues unrelated to the virus. What are signs that I need to go to the hospital? What do I do if I need medical attention that isn’t coronavirus related? Dr. Omayra Mansfield, who serves as vice president and chief medical officer for AdventHealth Apopka and AdventHealth Winter Garden, said the answer to the first question depends on the symptoms one is experiencing in that moment. “While certainly COVID-19 is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have other patients who have other illnesses who are still coming to the hospital,” Mansfield said. “What I would ask them to do is really listen to their bodies and use their best judgment, because we know when something is out of our normal and also just the severity of symptoms. “If someone is having symptoms where they are having shortness of breath … or chest pains or if they are having neurological symptoms — weakness, change in speech and altered mentation — then absolutely, the hospital and the emergency department is here 24/7 for a reason,” she said. Along with those specific symptoms and issues, Mansfield said those experiencing other issues — such as limb-threatening situations — also should go to the hospital. But what about for the nonlife-threatening scenarios? The answer is to utilize your primary care doctor — although it likely will have to be done in a virtual way. Many medical offices — such as Paramount Urgent Care — have closed their physical locations, but that doesn’t mean they can’t offer assistance. Paramount is offering telemedicine to help those in need of non-emergency medical assistance, said Paramount Urgent Care Marketing
Director Suzie Socier. “They can go to our website, and we have a phone number listed where they can call in and schedule for a telemedicine visit, which they can do by video or phone,” Socier said. “It has been around a while, but I don’t think it has been utilized to the extent that it is used now. You want to know that people with everyday needs are able to be taken care of. “We have some great providers, and they are trained to be able to assess what the next step is for a patient,” she said. “If they call us concerned about an injury or a cut and they don’t know, ‘Do I need stitches?’ or ‘Where should I go?’ we still have the capability to talk with them.” One of the big goals is keeping those who don’t have life-threatening issues out of the hospital — allowing those at AdventHealth and Orlando Health to focus on their jobs of dealing with serious situations, as well as the coronavirus. Socier said Paramount Urgent Care has seen an increase in calls, while Mansfield said AdventHealth had seen a decrease in the number of people visiting. Another organization that has seen an increase in patients is Community Health Centers, which has locations throughout the area. Unlike other facilities, it has kept its doors open while taking significant precautions in keeping staff and patients safe.
So far, its staff has seen an uptick in patients, especially as it relates to emergency dental care, said Dr. Gregg Stewart, CHC’s chief dental officer. “Since March 23, we have seen (more than) 700 urgent or emergent dental individuals, and of those, almost half of them were truly very, very bad emergencies,” Stewart said. “Had we not been here, they most likely would have ended up in the ER. We’re working with our community partners to take care of this urgent need during this time.” Just like regular doctor’s offices, a big issue at the moment is that many dental offices are either closed or only serving patients in need of emergency dental care. At CHC, emergencies are dictated by three criteria: pain, swelling and trauma. CHC also is utilizing telemedicine for its patients and their needs. The big takeaway here is that if you have medical needs, you need to seek assistance like you usually would, said CHC President and CEO Debra Andree. “We don’t want someone deferring care and doing more harm than good,” Andree said. “Medical issues will continue — just like they did before the pandemic — that are not related to the COVID-19 virus, and there are certainly many things that need to be assessed and treated.”
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Essential lifeline
Continual blood donations are crucial to saving people’s lives — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COMMUNITY EDITOR
The Big Red Bus is a common sight in shopping center parking lots when OneBlood is holding one of its donation events. Some folks donate blood regularly because they like the philanthropic aspect of giving. Others are enticed by the free wellness checkup, and still others are drawn in with the offer of free T-shirts or movie tickets. The reason people board the bus or walk into a donation center isn’t important; what’s important is that they are donating their blood, platelets and plasma — and saving people’s lives. Blood is made up of four main components: red blood cells, platelets, plasma and white blood cells. Each one-pint whole-blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives. WHO CAN DONATE?
Healthy adults are encouraged to donate blood on a regular basis. According to OneBlood, even people who have health issues can still donate. This includes: n Those with anemia or low iron, high blood pressure, diabetes or localized skin cancers n People taking certain medications for non-infectious diseases n Those who have a healed tattoo received at a state-licensed and regulated facility n Those who have a healed body piercing done with single-use equipment
n People who are 18 and older or 16 and older with a parent’s or guardian’s signature n Those who are free of illness such as cold or flu and who have not had minor surgeries, including dental work, within 24 hours n Women six weeks after giving birth Courtesy photo
DONATING METHODS
There is more than one way to give blood. n Whole blood donation is the traditional way of donating and draws a pint of blood containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma at one time. People with blood types O-, O+, A-, A+ and B- can donate whole blood every 56 days for a total of six donations a year. n Double red cell donation involves collecting only red blood cells and not platelets or plasma. People with O-type blood and those with certain Rh negative blood types are encouraged to donate this way because their red cells are in the highest demand by hospitals. People with blood types O-, O+, A-, A+ and B- can donate every 112 days for a total of three donations a year. n Platelets are important to cancer patients, the primary recipients. It would take six to eight whole-blood donors together to produce one complete platelet dose. People with the blood types A+, B+, AB-, AB+ and O+ can donate platelets every seven days, up to 24 times a year. Those who
Kristelle Calderon, left, received a life-saving blood donation 20 years ago.
have donated whole blood must wait at least seven days before donating platelets. n Plasma has the clotting factors that stop patients from bleeding. Trauma patients, burn patients and transplant patients are often recipients of plasma. People with AB-type blood are the universal plasma donors. This means their plasma can be transfused into any patient, regardless of the recipients’ blood type. People with blood types AB- and AB+ can be donated every 28 days up to 12 times a year. REASONS TO DONATE
When Debbie and Arcenio Calderon’s daughter, Kristelle, was 3, she had her tonsils removed. This typically is a routine surgery, but for the Ocoee family, it marked the day their daughter nearly died. Three days after the surgery, Kristelle hemorrhaged, began going in and out of consciousness and arrived at the hospital in critical condition. She needed two full units of blood. “They said that she didn’t have
much blood left in her little body,” Debbie Calderon said. Kristelle, now 23, is healthy and has regularly donated blood since she was 16 as a way of paying forward the blessings of blood donation. “The blood she received saved her life, no question about it,” Debbie Calderon said. “Without it, she would have never made it, and her dad and I are forever grateful to the donors who saved our baby girl.” Kathryn Austin, of Winter Garden, and her son, Ryan, both are alive today because of blood donations. Austin had a troubled pregnancy and ended up on bed rest. Doctors planned an early delivery with a team of surgeons on hand. “Chances were, I would hemorrhage; chances were, I would die,” she said. “And with this condition, we would not know until I was opened up.” Multiple ports were put in “because the expectation was that I would bleed out,” she said. “I had asked to stay awake because
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if I was to die, I wanted to see the baby first. He was going to be safe; I was promised that his chances were very good. Mine were not.” Austin required 23 units of blood in the operating room — at no blood pressure and no pulse because the blood was free flowing, she said. The next day, she started bleeding out again and had to get six more units of blood, four units of platelets and two more of fresh, frozen plasma. “I thank God almost every day for the people that give blood, and I have friends who still text me that they give on Ryan’s birthday in my honor,” Austin said. Ryan turned 20 earlier this year. “If you ever questioned why giving blood is important, my story is just one example of a mother who only gets to watch her children grow up because of the people who gave blood unknowingly to save my life,” she said. “People don’t know the role they play in saving a life.” BLOOD DONATIONS CRITICAL
COVID-19 has forced the temporary closures of businesses and schools, and OneBlood is experiencing a decrease in available locations to host blood drives. It has reported more than 1,900 blood drive cancellations through May, which would have accounted for more than 30,000 blood donations. To find a OneBlood donation location, make an appointment or book the Big Red Bus for a blood drive, visit oneblood.org. The U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration have stated it is safe to donate blood and attend blood drives. Blood centers are regulated by the FDA and are required to follow strict guidelines. Social distancing protocols have been implemented. 333635-1
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10,000 patients and counting
407.297.0080 For All Your Growing Needs! Ginny Guyton, MD, FAAP •
Denise Serafin, MD, FAAP • Afra Ali, MD •
Larissa Negron, MD •
Amber Eastwood, APRN • Maryann Dunn, APRN • Ana Souto,CPNP •
As Orlando Health’s Horizon West ER passes this milestone, the new COO is preparing for the campus’ growth in the coming years.
Providing comprehensive health care that compassionately supports infants, children and adolescents through every stage of their lives.
AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR
Orlando Health opened a freestanding emergency room and medical pavilion in the growing community of Horizon West in September 2018. Just 18 months later, the facility on Porter Road in Winter Garden has celebrated the treatment of its 10,000th patient. Drs. John Cheesebrew and Christen Gregory treated the patient, Jessica Sexton, a 31-yearold Windermere resident, for an undisclosed medical issue. Dr. Whitner Davis, chief of staff and an Emergency Department doctor, said the high volume of patients he and the staff have been able to treat in 18 months speaks to the community’s confidence in the facility. “I think that it shows that Orlando Health has seen the impending growth of West Orange County and has provided a health care structure that is able to care for that growing population,” Davis said. “We expect to see a lot more growth in that area, and with the hospital coming online … we can meet all the health care needs of that area.” A third-generation Central Floridian, Davis said he recalls driving west and seeing nothing but orange groves. Now, he’s working in an emergency facility built on those same grounds. “We hopefully can get ahead of the growth,” he said. Davis was working at the Orlando Health - Health Central campus prior to this facility opening and currently is working shifts at both locations. “We’re so excited to have reached that milestone of 10,000,” said Brian Wetzel, assistant vice president of Orlando Health and chief operating officer of Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital. “That’s 10,000 visits to that ER department that didn’t require the community out there to drive a distance that made them uncomfortable.” As newly appointed COO, Wetzel is responsible for supporting the team at the new Emergency Department and medical office. The Orlando Health campus also will include a 103-bed, six-story
7635 Ashley Park Court, Suite 501 Orlando, FL 32835 407.297.0080 www.windermerepediatrics.org Monday-Thursday 8-6:30 Friday 8-5:30 Saturday 9-1
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hospital now under construction and expected to open early next year. In his position, Wetzel will support the hospital, as well. While the hospital is being built, Wetzel — who has been with Orlando Health for nearly 25 years — has been busy developing staffing plans. “We’ve got a lot of staffing matrices to make sure we’re planning well enough ahead so we have our team of equal and competent individuals ready,” he said. “We’re talking about posting positions. … Long lead times are necessary to find the highly skilled folks to service the very best medical care.” This is not the first construction project in which Wetzel has been involved. He oversaw the expansion of Orlando Health’s Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and the renovation and redesign of Orlando Health’s Orlando Regional Medical Center. He was COO of Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center beginning in 2016 and was responsible for developing, leading and implementing the cancer center’s operational direction. Orlando Health continues to grow as the community itself grows. “What we’re planning on is providing access to the high-quality care that Orlando Health provides as conveniently as possible to that community,” Wetzel said of Horizon West. “We’ll be focusing on what most often we are seeing after (18) months in the ER department; we will be offering the basic medical services, orthopedic services, gastro services, gastrointestinal services.” But this is a community hospital, and not all services can be provided there, Wetzel explained. As different medical needs show up in the ER, staff can evaluate whether these services should be added on a permanent basis. Specialized needs will be directed to other hospitals within the Orlando Health system. “For pediatrics, if we can’t provide, we have Arnold Palmer Hospital,” he said. “We won’t be providing (obstetric) services initially; we’ve got the support of Winnie Palmer behind us. Any of the more complex things, like neuro … we’ve got the support of Orlando Health ORMC behind us. “We’re planning as comprehensively as we can … to provide for the needs of the people right there in Horizon West,” he said.
HEALTH MATTERS
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APRIL 2020
Necessary changes Community Health Centers is adapting its services so it can continue to serve its patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
President and CEO Debbie Andree spoke about the global demand for protective masks and other equipment for doctors and nurses to use. It’s a difficult scenario for which to plan ahead, she said. “Even if the supply was there, there are things that expire and have a shelf life or have to be stored in certain conditions,” Andree said. “I just don’t know that anyone would have had that capacity or forethought to be even half prepared for what the demand is for that personal protective equipment. … I hear everyone talking about that on TV, but some of the realities of it and the logistics ... I think for the first few months after a pandemic’s over people would pay attention, but 10 to 15 years down the road no one’s going to store all of that or know what to store for which possible emergent pathogen there may be at what unknown time. I think everyone’s just responding the best they can, and we’re using the personal protective equipment as indicated by the CDC. We have it, we use it when we need it and we’re trying to keep everyone safe.”
TIM FREED CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Community Health Centers is on a mission to provide primary health care services to insured, uninsured, underinsured and underserved children and adults — despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The private, not-for-profit organization has new precautions in place, screening team members and patients for cough, fever and respiratory issues before they can enter facilities to keep everyone safe. Community Health Centers also has been adjusting some of its services, suspending general dental services such as cleanings and checkups and instead providing emergency dental for adults fulltime. That includes urgent issues such as swelling, infections and pain. “Even though our dental services have been limited by orders, we are reaching out to our partners in the community to hopefully take some of the burden out of the emergency rooms of those dental emergencies that might present (themselves) there to free them up to care for patients needing other emergency care,” President and CEO Debbie Andree said. Community Health Centers currently offers telehealth services related to behavioral health, but additional services over the phone pertaining to family medicine and pediatrics soon will be provided.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION Photo by Tim Freed
LOCAL LOCATION COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WINTER GARDEN 13275 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden PHONE: (407) 905-8827
“We’ve been adapting rapidly, and it’s ever-changing as we try to continue to meet the needs of our patients,” Andree said. “We are continuing to see well visits … we want everyone to have preventative care so that they don’t end up with an unanticipated illness due to delay of medical care,” she said. “We understand that the care we provide is essential medical care, and to the best of our ability we’re still offering that at our 13 locations in Orange County.” John Riordan, director of marketing and community relations, said Community Health Centers is pushing its free mail-order service for prescriptions patients might need while also extending their refills to 90 days so they have a good supply. It’s a similar approach to the optometry services — glass-
es and frames are being mailed at no cost. Hours for the facilities haven’t changed, but there has been an uptick in patients not showing up for previously scheduled appointments, specifically after Orange County’s stay-at-home executive order began March 26, Riordan said. “It’s impacted us quite a bit,” he said. “Any time a pandemic happens, people are a little cautious. The longer it goes, the more comfortable they’ll be with the processes and procedures we’ve put in place to protect not only our team members but our patients.” Riordan said the pandemic shouldn’t affect the timeline for the new Four Corners center — Community Health Centers’ 16th location set to open the first half of 2020. Four Corners Community Health Center, at 508 Cagan View Road in Clermont, will offer pediatrics, family medicine, pediatric dental, adult dental, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy and lab. The building construction is
Community Health Centers recently was recognized as a Best and the Brightest Company to Work For by the National Association for Business Resources for the second consecutive year. The program awards companies that excel at employee relations, use innovation to motivate employees and implement creative compensation programs. Winners will be recognized at the National Best and Brightest Illuminate Summit in March 2021, in Dallas, Texas. The 2019 national winning companies were assessed by an independent research firm. The program honored 540 national winning organizations from across the country out of 5,000 nominations.
finished, and a certificate of occupancy should be coming soon, Riordan said, adding that Four Corners Community Health Center hopefully will start serving patients in June.
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HEALTH MATTERS
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ADVERTORIAL LEARN MORE To see more health news and trends, wellness & prevention tips, visit the Orlando Health Content Hub at OrlandoHealth.com/ContentHub.
CONTRIBUTED BY Orlando Health I Health Central
T
he best way to deal with any medical condition — even COVID-19, the disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus — is by using prevention. It’s important that we do whatever we can to avoid getting sick, and that includes washing your hands thoroughly, regularly and effectively. Many viruses are transmitted by your own hands. STRENGTHEN YOUR SYSTEM Here are 7 ways to fight off possible infections by boosting your immune system:
mation and actually suppressing your immune system, making it less effective. Many studies have shown those reporting the least amount of stress were also the least likely to get infections. 3. Maintain an adequate amount of sleep. This doesn’t only mean getting the right number of hours of shuteye, but also doing what you can do to ensure quality sleep as well. One reason for this: Sleep-deprived patients are more likely to develop an illness after exposure to a virus. Aim for 6-7 hours of quality sleep per night.
1. Establish (or continue) an exercise routine. Regular exercise has been shown to keep your immune system functioning at top levels. When you’re physically active, you can keep pathogens out of your lungs and airways, minimizing illness. If you have a current routine you’re following, don’t let up on it. If you don’t, it might be a good time to begin.
4. Drink less alcohol. Limiting alcohol consumption may mean a more restful night, but that’s not all. Studies have shown that excessive alcohol consumption leads to an increase in respiratory infections and impaired immune responses. Consider drinking moderately, up to one drink a day for women or two per day for men, according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
2. Minimize stress. When you experience stress, it can release the hormone cortisol, boosting inflam-
5. Vaccinate against other infections. It is possible to get more than one infection simultaneously —
and it’s also dangerous. If you contracted the flu on top of COVID-19, for example, it would mean a much more complex medical situation. Vaccines are currently available for protecting against the flu, pneumonia and pertussis (among others). 6. Stop smoking/vaping. As a general rule, anything you put in your lungs unnecessarily is going to lead to a higher likelihood of respiratory infection. 7. Support a healthy immune system. Eating healthy is important. A healthy gut will allow you to fight infections more effectively. Support your immune system by adding foods rich in vitamins A, C and D as well as zinc into your dietary regimen. Consume them often — at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. KNOW YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Wondering what the differences between a serving of fruit and a serving of vegetables are? A serving of fruit amounts to either a medium-sized piece of fruit (roughly the size of a tennis ball)
or a half cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruit that’s packed in either water or 100 percent juice. A serving of vegetables can be one cup of raw, leafy vegetables; a half cup of fresh, frozen or canned vegetables (look for those with “no added salt” on their label); or a half cup of vegetable juice (such as V8 Vegetable Juice). Don’t be afraid to get creative with your nutrition. You have options. In fact, there are many ways to get your five recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. FROM A TO ZINC Some healthy (and delicious!) suggestions include: Vitamin A Cantaloupe Carrots Dairy products Eggs Fortified cereals Green, leafy vegetables Pumpkin Red peppers Sweet potatoes
The Orlando Health Center for Health Improvement at Orlando Health Medical Pavilion – Horizon West also hosts classes, workshops and other programming centered around nutrition, stress management and more. For more information, visit OrlandoHealth.com/CenterforImprovement.
Vitamin C Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cantaloupe Citrus fruits Kiwi Peppers Strawberries Tomatoes Vitamin D Eggs Fish liver oil (such as cod liver oil) Fish (herring, mackerel, salmon, trout, tuna) Fortified products such as cereals, dairy products, orange juice, soy milk Zinc Beans and peas Beef Dairy products Fortified cereals Nuts Poultry Seafood Whole grains
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7 Ways to Boost Your Immune System
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CHOOSE EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT-CARE QUALITY AND SAFETY.
Orlando Health — Health Central Hospital is proud to be recognized with a Top Hospital Award and an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. We are committed to providing the highest level of safe, quality care for you and your family. Orlando Health is dedicated to excellence in patient-care quality and safety throughout our system. To learn more about our award-winning care, visit ChooseOrlandoHealth.com.
Source: The Leapfrog Group Top Hospital award, 2019, and Safety Grade program, Fall 2019.
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