Having a baby can be very exciting. But Ana Rivas has a story she will never forget. She welcomed her baby into the world on September 9th at Community Health of South Florida’s Marathon Health Center.

Rivas made her way toward the center for her weekly pregnancy exam with Dr. Sharon Ward, CHI OB/GYN Specialist. But she said she felt different that day.

When she arrived in the lobby, medical assistant, Vilma Del Valle, saw Rivas and asked her what was wrong. Rivas told Vilma she wasn’t feeling well and felt nauseous.

“I knew something was not okay,” said Del Valle. “I immediately went to check her vitals to see what was going on.”

When Del Valle took Rivas to the vitals room, she started moaning on the scale. Ana was experiencing pain every seven minutes.

“I quickly realized she was having contractions,” Del Valle said. “They came more frequently and ferociously every time.”

Del Valle quickly brought Dr. Ward to the exam room to check on Rivas.

“Mrs. Rivas was nine centimeters dilated,” recalled Dr. Ward. “We knew we had to keep an eye on her because she could deliver the baby at any time.”

Dr. Ward informed Del Valle that if her water broke, they would need to deliver the baby there.

Del Valle stepped out of the room for a minute and when she returned, she found water all over the place. 

“Everything happened very quickly,” said Del Valle. “At that moment, I just screamed YES because I was very excited to see a baby being born at our center.”

Dr. Ward came back in the room along with other doctors in the center at the time: Dr. Cooreman, Primary Care doctor, and Dr. Morales, Pediatrician.

Staying calm, Rivas leaned back, kicked up her legs, and delivered the baby. She swaddled the crying child in a blanket and held him to her chest.

 “It was a team effort,” said Dr. Ward. “It was all thanks to the people that were with us that made this delivery process so smooth and successful.”

In fact, Del Valle won CHI’s 

ACTion Hero Award for her impeccable work in helping deliver the baby. Del Valle’s effort to put Rivas’ needs first built a trust and comfort for the laboring mother. 

The little guy weighed 5 pounds and is 19 inches long. Rivas is thankful the CHI team was there to help.

“Thank God for the great team that received me and the baby and took really great care of us,” said Rivas.

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”21271″ img_size=”450×650″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent” up=”15px” down=”15px”][vc_column_text]“Diabetes Drive-Through” sounds like a nickname for fast-food sweets, but at Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI), it is an innovate blood sugar screening program. Patients drive up to the station at one of CHI’s health centers and get their A1C test, blood pressure, a foot exam, and their test results. Diabetics need regular monitoring, but many didn’t feel comfortable coming into the health center during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This ensured that those patients with a chronic condition still received the necessary help and guidance. 

The A1C test is a common blood test used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It also monitors how well they are managing their diabetes.

“I am extremely satisfied with the service I received during my appointment,” said Rosa Garcia, CHI patient. “The nurse that helped me through the process did not hesitate to explain everything to me as we were doing the test.”

CHI hosts the drive-through twice a month. The medical team wears full protective equipment and ensures high-quality care for each patient.

“Our physical layout is ideal to follow the necessary precautions during this pandemic,” said Allison Madden, Assistant Vice President for Performance Improvement. “We are so pleased to see many of our patients returning to our centers, even if it is through our drive-through operations.”[/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent” up=”15px” down=”15px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”21116″ img_size=”250×300″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we head into the holiday season, I encourage you to find ways to be grateful. Despite our trying times, there are glimmers of hope and rays of sunshine all around us. One such glimmer of hope is the Children’s Crisis Center that we are building for kids with severe behavioral health issues. 

Tis’ the season to give, and we hope you will find it in your hearts to give to the Children’s Crisis Center. As we continue the construction of this 11,400-square-foot facility on our main campus, we are giving hope to the hundreds of children in crisis who arrive here every year with nowhere to turn. This facility will be like an intensive care unit for kids with severe mental health issues. Please do your part and support this project by donating at chisouthfl.org/give.

We are also excited to launch our Bricks for Hope campaign. These bricks will pave the entrance of our Children’s Crisis Center. The multitude of names all around will provide a sense of support to every child entering the building. They will know that they are not alone during their crisis. You can permanently leave your name at the entrance for just $250 to $400, depending on the size of the brick you desire.  It can also serve as a nice gift for a friend, colleague, or loved one this holiday season. To buy a brick, call (786) 293-5504.

I’m proud to share with you that CHI was recognized by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a Health Center Quality Leader. The award recognition ranked CHI among the top 10 percent of health centers nationwide for best overall clinical performance. I want to thank our care team for their tremendous work. 

I would also like to remind you that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I want to encourage women to get a mammogram. Our Doris Ison Health Center has a state-of-the-art radiology and women’s center, so you can see your provider and have your mammogram all in the same place. As your medical home, we take great pride in providing quality convenient health care.

Yours truly,

 

 

 

Brodes H. Hartley, Jr.

CEO[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”21123″ img_size=”600×800″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent” up=”15px” down=”15px”][vc_column_text]CHI has hired proven South Florida fundraiser Victoria Castro. Castro draws from more than 25 years of successful fundraising and development expertise to help raise funds for the children’s crisis center and other critical projects.

“I am honored to be a part of this storied institution and look forward to the tireless work ahead to get the needed funds to complete this worthwhile project,” said Castro.

Castro previously worked for University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, where the majority of her tenure focused on supporting the Department of Pediatrics, Miami Transplant Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She was subsequently tapped as Senior Director of Development for UM’s School of Business Administration, for the school’s department of health sector management and policy.

Before joining CHI, she served for two years as Senior Vice President of Development at Jackson Health Foundation, which only confirmed her love of fundraising for projects that have an immediate impact on the communities she serves.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”21119″ img_size=”800×600″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”21118″ img_size=”800×600″ add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_separator type=”transparent” up=”30px” down=”30px”][vc_column_text]June marked a special occasion for Community Health of South Florida, Inc., (CHI) and the Brodes H. Hartley Jr. Teaching Health Center’s class of 2020. After months of hard work coupled with the challenges of fighting a global pandemic, four family medicine residents, one OB/GYN, and three psychiatry residents were honored on Saturday, June 20, at the teaching health center’s first-ever virtual graduation.

In compliance with CDC guidelines and social distancing, the graduation ceremony was live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, while a small group gathered at CHI’s main campus to award the residents their certificates.

“This year, we achieved significant milestones together,” said Dr. Elizabeth Philippe, Chief of Family Medicine, Associate Director of Medical Education, and Program Director for family medicine. “Our residents presented themselves as leaders for social justice and the underserved community. We became fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), and overcame unprecedented obstacles, from COVID-19 to telemedicine to the ever-changing healthcare system.”

This year’s graduation was very different from past commemorations, which hosted a trove of families, friends, faculty, and former residents at CHI facilities but there was no shortage of joy and pride among those attending the virtual event. Dr. Ajoy Kumar, former president of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians and a passionate advocate for the teaching health center, delivered the keynote address.

On Wednesday, June 24, CHI also held a virtual White Coat Ceremony to welcome in a new class of residents. The donning of the white coat is a symbol of passage for incoming residents. Each individual must take on the responsibility of becoming a physician for the community. This role is no easy feat and one that requires compassion, engagement, and a lifelong dedication to CHI’s slogan, “Patient Care Comes First.”

“I am very proud of our graduating class and thrilled to welcome our incoming residents,” said Dr. Saint Anthony Amofah, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical and Academic Officer. “Now more than ever, training the next generation of healthcare professionals is extremely important, and our teaching health center is keeping us well-positioned to deliver comprehensive quality care for everyone.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]