Nurse vacancies declining in Florida
The nursing industry is rebounding after rough times. That doesn’t mean a longstanding shortage of nurses is over. And projections remain dire against state growth and an ever-aging population. An annual healthcare workforce survey by the Florida Hospital Association found a dramatic turnaround this year in vacancy and turnover numbers. [Source: Naples Daily News]
OneBlood needs blood donations as Florida preps for Hurricane Milton
A statewide blood bank is urging Floridians to donate blood and platelets ahead of Hurricane Milton. The hurricane is expected to slow operations when it makes landfall Wednesday on Florida's west coast. OneBlood said it is especially in need of O negative, O positive and platelet donors ahead of the storm. [Source: Central Florida Public Media]
Florida's restrictions on trans care will continue after court refuses to reconsider stay
A federal appeals court Thursday refused to reconsider a decision that allowed Florida to restrict treatments for people with gender dysphoria while a legal battle about the restrictions plays out. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in August granted Florida’s request for a stay of a ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle that blocked the restrictions. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Baptist Health and Florida Blue make a deal, but challenges remain for many patients
The people who may feel the worst reverberation of the new hospital-insurer agreement between Baptist Health and Florida Blue may be older adults and low-income people. Details of the agreement, reached last Monday, began to come into focus Thursday. And separately, an impasse remains in similar negotiations between United Healthcare and the UF Health system. [Source: Health News Florida]
Can a car ride help your health? For South Florida maternity patients, it’s an issue
A new partnership that nonprofit Green Cars for Kids recently launched with Jackson Health in Miami-Dade, Broward Health and electric car service Freebee to make prenatal and postpartum care more accessible in South Florida. The goal: to help pregnant women and reduce the risk of preventable pregnancy complications for moms and babies. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida hospitals, health care centers close ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall
Dozens of health care facilities in Florida are suspending services and/or preparing to evacuate as Hurricane Milton approaches. On Sunday, Pinellas County – located on the west central Florida coast and including Clearwater and St. Petersburg – issued mandatory evacuation orders for long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and hospitals in three evacuation zones.
› Florida health care group establishes hurricane relief fund for long-term care workers
Health care workers who have been adversely affected by Hurricane Helene are getting some much-needed assistance from the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA). The FHCA announced it is establishing a Hurricane Helene Relief Fund for its professionals who are members of the organization and work at nursing centers and assisted living facilities.
› As Medicare fraud spreads, South Florida tops US for billions lost
For two decades the Justice Department has spent a sizable fortune cracking down on criminals ripping off Medicare, but the federal health insurance program still bleeds billions of dollars a year due to persistent fraud in Miami and other hot spots across the country.
› Orlando Health completes purchase of majority stake in Tenet Alabama hospitals
Orlando Health has taken over day-to-day operations of the Brookwood Baptist Health system after paying a reported $910 million for the majority stake in the Birmingham-area facilities. The system, which will be known as Baptist Health beginning next year, remains a faith-based organization.