Baptist Health

BEWARE OF RECRUITMENT & HIRING SCAMS: Please be on alert for suspicious emails, texts or other communications from people claiming to be Baptist Health recruiters. Baptist Health will never: - Ask for money, credit card/banking or social security information during the recruitment or hiring process - Ask you to purchase equipment prior to being hired with the promise of reimbursement --- All current job openings are listed on our website: go.baptistjax.com/careers

🔟 YEARS OF SAVING LIVES! This year, the Baptist Health Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center celebrates its 10th Anniversary! When it opened 10 years ago, our stroke center filled a critical need in the community for comprehensive stroke care. Today, the facility includes: 🧠 State-of-the-art neurosurgical operating rooms with intraoperative MRI & CT & two neuro-interventional suites 🧠 72 private suites for medical & surgical neurological care 🧠 A dedicated, 24-bed neuro-intensive care unit for critical care patients 🧠 A team of neuro-endovascular surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, emergency physicians & nurses, neurological nurses, rehab specialists, social workers & more 🧠 A standardized system of care to connect all the stroke resources available in the community to ensure stroke patients are assessed & treated immediately This incredible 10-year stroke timeline was recently installed at our #BaptistJax campus near Starbucks - check it out if you have the chance! To see the full timeline, click here: go.baptistjax.com/4cdA2kF.

🥂 Cheers to 30 years! Baptist Primary Care Harbour Place hosted a surprise party last week for one of its founding providers, family physician Michael Waters, MD, who celebrated his 30th anniversary with the health system this week! A Jacksonville native and a 1980 graduate of Episcopal High School, Dr. Waters joined Baptist Health on Aug. 1, 1994, when Baptist Primary Care was known as Baptist Doctor’s Office Network. Dr. Waters earned his medical degree in 1991 from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham and as a medical resident once spent 68 hours straight caring for patients in a small Alabama emergency room during the March 1993 “Storm of the Century.” Congrats to this amazing physician on 30 years in the Baptist Family! #BaptistProud

Happy International Clown Week! Pinkie Bee the clown came to dole out body paint, balloon hats and smiles to team members at our downtown campus! 🤡

Congratulations to Jera Becklund, BSN, RN, on her recent DAISY Award! Jera is a labor and delivery nurse here at #BaptistSouth and was nominated by two of her patients, one of which also happened to be a team member: "Following a long and exhausting day, my husband and I welcomed twins into the world, with one of them requiring immediate care in the NICU. Overwhelmed with emotions, stress, and fatigue, we found solace in Jera's unwavering compassion and support. Despite the chaos, Jera stepped in with grace and empathy, offering to watch over our daughter while we visited the NICU to be with our son. Her presence brought relief and reassurance, allowing us to focus on our son's needs while knowing that our daughter was in capable hands. Throughout our interaction, Jera demonstrated exceptional clinical competence and listened attentively to our concerns and fears. She served as a steadfast advocate for our family, ensuring that our voices were heard, and our needs addressed. In the midst of uncertainty, Jera provided a beacon of comfort and compassion, embodying the true essence of nursing care. Her dedication to our family's well-being went above and beyond the call of duty, leaving an enduring impact that we will forever cherish." "I was very fortunate to have Jera as my nurse when I delivered my baby. She talked me through contractions and held my hand. Jera knew I had a birth plan and she quickly adapted to what I wanted and gave suggestions that helped improve my plan. She talked me through things I didn’t understand or gave an explanation that made more sense to me. I never felt as if I was being talked at instead, I was having a conversation and making decisions that would result in a better outcome for me. Throughout my entire experience with Jera, I could tell that she genuinely cared, and her personality made everything so much more pleasant. When I think about the birth of my beautiful daughter, I will forever think of how much Jera made a difference in this process. She is a nurse that not only goes above and beyond but does it with genuine compassion." Jera, we are #BaptistProud of the way you treat your patients with compassion and empathy! You are truly making a difference.

We're looking for a Neuro Interventional Radiology Technologist (IR) to join our #BaptistJax location. This is a full-time role with a weekend schedule and limited call requirements. Sign-on bonus offered. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/ehfvVPrb or contact tucker.maletta@bmcjax.com for more information.

Congratulations to Emmett Matthews on his recent LOTUS Award! Emmett is a security guard at #BaptistSouth and was nominated by a pediatric ED charge nurse: "Emmett was such an asset this evening with an upset patient. Emmett stayed back and sat with her for almost an hour until transport came, but he sat in the doorway and made the patient feel calm and comfortable. He was phenomenal and truly encompassed what a hospital security officer should be - caring and compassionate for the patient and staff alike. His calm and joyous demeanor was infectious to everyone around. We are lucky to have him as part of our team! He went above and beyond, and I wanted to take the time to recognize him for this. I cannot express how much I appreciate Emmett and his service." Thank you, Emmett, for keeping patients, families and team members safe and spreading joy in the process - we are #BaptistProud to have you on our team!

RUNNING WITH AFIB: Exercise has become a way of life for Timur Ozgur, so when his running performance and endurance began to wane, he suspected something might be wrong. In early 2023, he often had to cut his runs short when he’d become breathless. By spring, his palpitations intensified, lasting up to 24 hours. “I’d be walking or running and suddenly feel like I was going to pass out,” said Ozgur, a CT scan technologist at Baptist Medical Center South. It soon progressed to where his heart would race while he was at rest. “I’d be sitting on my couch and my smart watch would show my heart rate at 180 or 190 beats per minute, when normal is between 60 and 100. At that point, I knew something was definitely wrong.” After seeing his primary care physician Richard Bowles, MD, and cardiologist Nehu Patel, MD, FACC, Ozgur discovered he had atrial fibrillation (Afib), a common but serious heart rhythm disorder that can lead to heart failure and stroke if left untreated. He soon found himself in the office of Baptist Heart Specialists clinical cardiac electrophysiologist Aaditya Vora, MD. “Timur didn’t want to take medications that would affect his ability to exercise the way he wanted, so we discussed ablation as a treatment,” said Dr. Vora. The minimally invasive procedure uses radiofrequency energy to eliminate the small areas of heart tissue that are causing the irregular heartbeat. Dr. Vora encourages patients who are considering the procedure to do it before the disease progresses further. “When you transition from one form of Afib to the next and the episodes become more frequent and prolonged, the success rate of either form of treatment can decrease by up to 30%,” he said. Ozgur had his ablation at the new Heart Rhythm Center at Baptist Health Jacksonville in November 2023 and was able to leave the same day. “They got me right in, took me back and I woke up feeling like I’d had the best sleep of my life,” he said. Ozgur went for his first run two weeks after his procedure and hasn’t stopped since. While his athletic performance isn’t yet at the same level it once was, he no longer has Afib symptoms and he’s back to running and exercising several times a week. In April 2024, he participated in his first 5K race since the procedure, and he didn’t run it alone – he was joined by members of the South Dashers Run Club, the running club he started at Baptist South. So, what advice does Ozgur have for others who suspect something might be wrong with their health? “First of all, don't ignore the symptoms as long as I did. When you start feeling something isn’t right, go get it checked,” he said. “I was a little nervous, but my experience was a positive one. And the whole process – from seeing my primary care doctor to being referred to my cardiologist and Dr. Vora – was so smooth. I had a great, professional team and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.” To read his full story, visit: go.baptistjax.com/4c8rSdn 🏃🏼♂️

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲? For comparison purposes, the green and blue lines at the top of the chart come from publicly available data showing that health insurance companies nationally have been steadily increasing costs charged to their customers. We added our own data to tell the rest of the story. The red line at the bottom is the current rate of annual reimbursement increase Florida Blue has been paying Baptist Health for years. Florida Blue is among the health insurance companies who have been significantly increasing their charges to customers over the past several years, while only slightly increasing their reimbursement to Baptist Health for the quality care we provide. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Where has your money been going? Florida Blue is publicly claiming that if they pay us more, they will have no choice but to increase their charges to their customers. That’s a convenient way to blame us for doing what they have been doing year after year – charging their customers more. We can’t allow that gap to continue to grow at our expense. It’s not fair. It’s not sustainable. It’s not good for the community. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱. But what happens when your insurance company starts creating barriers to care by adding red tape and denying claims? According to our internal analysis, over the last year Florida Blue denied claims at more than 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚 the average denial rate of all our other commercial payors. Ultimately, 80% of the denials that we challenged on behalf of our patients were overturned and paid. This means considerable time and resources were unnecessarily wasted in re-submitting and fighting for what should have been approved in the first place. Patients are left wondering what they will owe for care they thought was covered. More importantly, denied insurance claims can cause patients to forgo or delay receiving the care they need. 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿? In our view, charging customers more every year while increasing barriers to care isn’t fair. Reimbursing us at below-market rates isn’t fair. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Not the highest rate, but a fair, market-based rate that adequately covers the costs of providing care. 𝗪𝗵𝘆? 𝗦𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻.

Congratulations to Shay Davani, BSN, RN, on her recent DAISY Award! Shay works on the 5A Medical/Surgical Unit here at #BaptistSouth and was nominated by both a team member and a patient. "Shay is so humble and continuously goes above and beyond the call of duty for her team and her patients. She sets an example for others, not only on her home unit but also on those that she floats to and leads. I often see her helping other nurses troubleshoot things and/or de-escalating patient situations. She is a leader and a mentor for her team. This is who we are at Baptist Health. This is a nurse living out our mission. I am honored to work alongside Shay. She is so deserving of this special recognition." "During rounds, Shay introduced herself as my nurse for the day. She was the most compassionate caring person I've ever met. Shay knew I was starving and couldn't eat anything before my surgery the next morning. So she filled me up with what was allowed when my clear tray came. But Shay had made the tastiest broth ever - even better than what was served from the kitchen. She took care of my every need, and it made me feel at peace and not worry about having surgery the next day. I wish I could've taken her home with me. She exceeded the expectations of a nurse, and she became family instantly. Thank you, Shay, for taking care of me." Shay, thank you for being an amazing example of servant leadership! We're #BaptistProud to have you on our team.