Our Compassionate Team Serving You
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Dr. Jorge Exposito, pharmacist at the Doris Ison Health Center
Dr. Jorge Exposito is a pharmacist at the Doris Ison Health Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Clinica Campesina Center. Dr. Exposito started his career at CHI as a pharmacy tech 14 years ago. In last few years, he graduated from Florida International University and Larkin University and received his pharmacist license. Becoming a pharmacist has brought more responsibility for Dr. Exposito as he sees about 300 patients in a day. But it is an incredibly rewarding job in which he enjoys interacting with his patients and taking care of their needs. He appreciates that CHI provides options for patients to have access to affordable medication. Dr. Exposito takes pride in being a first-generation pharmacist. In his free time, he likes to go out, travel, and attend sporting events.
Environmental Service employee, Patricia Salazar, at the Doris Ison Health Center
Patricia Salazar is a dedicated member of the Environmental Service Department at CHI. She has worked with the organization for seven years and says that the best part of her job is being on the move and seeing different faces every day. She travels to four different CHI centers throughout the week, which has allowed her to build strong relationships with fellow staff. Salazar is responsible for keeping CHI centers sanitized and managing the inventory of supplies. She is dedicated to her role at CHI and is happy to contribute her efforts to the organization’s success. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she finds joy in unwinding and spending quality time with her beloved family.
Beyond Medications: CHI’s Warfarin Clinics Prioritize Health and Community Ties
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Dr. Rolando Caldrin and patient Karl Mills at one of CHI’s monthly Warfarin clinics
Throughout the years, Rosa Jackson Sneed has become well acquainted with Warfarin, an anticoagulant medication that she has relied on since 1999 due to a longstanding history of blood clots. The medicine prevents her blood from clotting, which could lead to death. Understanding the crucial part that Warfarin plays in maintaining her overall health, Sneed turns to Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) for healthcare support. For more than ten years, CHI has had monthly clinics for patients taking Warfarin and other anticoagulants. These sessions provide education and create a sense of community among the patients. Actively participating in these clinics at the Doris Ison Health Center, Sneed ensures her well-being through ongoing participation.
“I have been with CHI for years and coming to this clinic for the longest,” Sneed said. “It has been a help. We get our blood checked at the same time and come to class. It has been very beneficial.”
At the November session, Sneed was among a handful of patients in the room who completed lab work and took to their seats for the education portion of the program. CHI pharmacists and pharmacy students addressed their concerns and provided information for treatment options.
Patient laboratory results are then closely monitored by pharmacists and doctors. The goal is to check patients on the spot and adjust their treatment plans immediately. “If their test shows us that their levels are high, they will have bleeding issues,” said Dr. Rolando Caldrin, a CHI pharmacist. “If their levels are low, they will have blood clots. That’s why we adjust it on the spot.”
CHI Director of Pharmacy Services, Dr. Samuel James, who has played a role in this initiative, recognizes that although this is a challenging time for the patient, he is grateful that they have access to services like these.
“They come to this class for us to help them stay healthy and we adjust their treatment based on what levels are on the test,” he said. “It has become a small little community. It gives some of these patients who have nobody to talk to, an opportunity to talk to each other and feel better about their situation.”
Dr. Caldrin reflected proudly on more than a decade of collaboration between CHI clinicians. A program that started as a mere concept, has now expanded to 50 patients in the group.
“We have a whole policy and procedure that was created just for this class,” Dr. Caldrin said. “The idea is both compliance and education, so the patient can—to a certain point—fend for themselves. It has been successful!”
Elevating Patient Care: The Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center’s Expansion for a Brighter Future
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President and CEO Blake Hall, Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center residents, and CHI providers and staff, pose for a photo inside new suite
The Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. Teaching Health Center at Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) embraces growth with the unveiling of the new family medicine and behavioral health facility at the Doris Ison Health Center. The 7,000-square-foot space is equipped with 15 state-of-the-art family medicine exam rooms and seven consultation rooms for behavioral health services. This clinical expansion not only provides additional access to healthcare for CHI patients, but also serves as a great learning environment for the Teaching Health Center residents. Chief of Family Medicine, Dr. Elizabeth Philippe, highlights that the driving force behind this expansion was the commitment to elevate education for the residents and ensure proper care for patients.
“The goal was to have an integrative space for the residents where they can see patients and be able to provide primary care,” Dr. Philippe said. “We wanted to have a bigger space with more exam rooms so we can accommodate all 35 residents on their clinic days.”
In this new facility, both teams enjoy designated spaces alongside support staff and nurses. The real advantage, however, is the emphasis on residents working closely together, promoting collaboration and opportunities for learning.
“With the family medicine and psychiatry residents working side by side, they can work in a close environment,” Dr. Philippe said. “If a family medicine resident needed to consult someone for a behavioral health issue they could, and vice versa.”
As the Teaching Health Center continues to grow and evolve, these advancements will help better prepare residents for their future as doctors. This progress not only improves the residents’ training but also promises improved patient care, reflecting a positive path for CHI.
President & CEO Message
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Happy Holidays to all of you! I hope the warmth and joy of the season are upon you and your family. As we approach the end of 2023, I want to express my gratitude for the community partnerships that support the mission of CHI and the team that works tirelessly to care for our patients and keep our health centers running at a high-quality level. I also want our patients to know that we are so thankful for the opportunity to serve as your medical home. We know you have a choice and putting your healthcare in our hands is a privilege that we take very seriously.
The holidays are usually associated with joy and celebration, but not for some. Together we can make a difference. If you know someone who is alone, depressed, or suffering this holiday season, you can be the light to carry them through. We have a compassionate team of psychiatrists, therapists and more who are ready to help. Don’t delay in getting behavioral healthcare to change your mindset or help someone else change theirs.
I’m very pleased with the progress I’m seeing as the construction of our Children’s Crisis Center moves forward. Crews have completed pouring the concrete slab that serves as the base of the center. Right now, they are making the steel structure. We hope the project will be complete by the end of 2024 so that we can have a special place to heal the young hearts and minds of children with severe mental health issues in our community. If you’re looking for an impactful gift this holiday season, consider buying a Brick of Hope. The bricks will line the entrance of the Children’s Crisis Center and can be personalized with your name or a loved one’s name. It’s a lasting impact that will always connect that person to the mission of helping these children. Just visit chisouthfl.org/bricksofhope or call (786) 293-5504.
I wish you all love, happiness and good health in the New Year!
Yours Truly,
Blake Hall
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