Florida has the worst passing rate on national nursing exam in the country, but it’s improving

Florida nursing students are passing the national licensure exam at higher rates than in the past decade, but the rates remain the worst in the country, according to a report published Monday. The state’s 2024 pass rates for registered nurses and practical nurses to get their licenses (84.9% and 80.78%, respectively) are well under the national average, which was 91.16% for RNs and 88.38% for PNs, according to the annual report from the Florida Center for Nursing. More from the Florida Phoenix and Health News Florida.

Florida Hospital Association honors two top docs in the state for 2024

Two medical professionals were honored for their top performances this month by the Florida Hospital Association. The recipients of Caregiver of the Year and Health Care Leader of the Year for 2024 were unveiled by the association representing medical professionals at Sunshine State hospitals. Christina Canody, a doctor at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and medical director of pediatrics of BayCare Health System in Tampa, was named Caregiver of the Year. Meanwhile, Tim Curtin, executive director of community services for Memorial Healthcare System in Broward County, was honored as Health Care Leader of the Year. [Source: Florida Politics]

Senate proposal expands opportunities for children with autism and their families

The bill (SB 112) filed by Sen. Gayle Harrell, expands a health care grant program established by the Legislature last year to include free screening, referrals, and related services for autism. It also creates two education-related grant programs: one for specialized summer programs for children with autism and the other to support charter schools exclusively serving them. The bill contains no appropriation, which means the necessary funding will be subject to negotiation as part of next fiscal year’s General Appropriations Act. [Source: Flagler Live]

Florida home care law affects Medicaid, funding for families of medically fragile children

Kristina and Nick Bruno were overjoyed when a 2023 Florida bill passed, meant to help support the treatment for their medically fragile child, only to be unable to access the funding two years later. The law (SB 391), which passed in 2023, allows parents and caregivers of children with chronic and complex medical needs to be paid a salary to care for that child. However, it is almost impossible for a parent to be enrolled without losing their Medicaid eligibility, linked to the new income. For the Bruno family, losing Medicaid isn’t an option. [Source: WUFT]

UF recommits to outreach medical programs amid decreasing access to health assistance

With more financial challenges facing Floridians, the University of Florida (UF) health care professionals are offering more services to help residents deal with the rising costs of staying healthy. UF officials point out that recent studies found that 46% of all Florida households have trouble paying for necessities such as food, transportation, and rent. Health care is often put on the back burner. The United Way ALICE report — Asset-Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed — included that data. [Source: Florida Politics]

Trend Mention

Last Week to Register for Best Companies to Work for in Florida

Is your company one of Florida's BEST? We want to hear all about it! Register your company for the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Florida before the FEBRUARY 14, 2025 deadline! Don’t wait—register now at bestcompaniesfla.com. Winners will be featured in the August 2025 issue of Florida Trend!

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Construction begins on pediatric center at Jacksonville palliative care facility [Health News Florida]
A new center to help children with serious illnesses is under construction at the Community Hospice & Palliative Care headquarters in Jacksonville. Ground was broken last week on the 8,300-square-foot Dorion Family Pediatric Center, which will help children deal with complex medical conditions, as well as help their families work through their deaths. The hospice's foundation said it has raised just over $6.6 million of the $10 million cost for a facility named after Dottie Dorion, one of the founding members of what was known as Hospice of Northeast Florida.

› ‘Increase access to quality medical services:‘ Orlando Health opens bilingual clinics in Osceola County [Click Orlando]
There are two new bilingual healthcare clinics in Osceola County to break down language barriers in healthcare. Orlando Health Physician Associates Doctors’ Center Clinic has opened two new locations in Osceola County. These clinics are the result of a partnership between Orlando Health and Doctors’ Center Hospital in Puerto Rico. The services offered at these locations include family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology.

› Hillsborough County is accepting applications for opioid settlement money projects [WUSF]
Groups that work to help people struggling with opioid addiction in Hillsborough County may be able to get extra money for their efforts. The county is accepting applications to determine how to spend $25 million that it's receiving in settlement money following Florida's lawsuits against opioid makers and distributors. In 2023, the state secured more than $3 billion over the next two decades from the lawsuits.

› Broward health care giants join forces to combat worker shortages [South Florida Business Journal]
The major health care organizations in Broward County are partnering together like never before to meet the growing needs of the population amid a worker shortage. A monthly event in Fort Lauderdale by the Broward Workshop, made up of CEOs from top local companies, welcomed four health care leaders for a public discussion on the issues facing the county of about 2 million residents on Feb. 5.

Previous Healthcare Updates: