Monday, September 14, 2009

Le Presentamos al Equipo Ganador

Hay un nuevo grupo de cirugía cardíaca y torácica cautivando la atención en
Baptist Hospital y South Miami Hospital. Es un nuevo equipo de destacados y expertos
cirujanos del corazón y del pecho. Nos enorgullecemos de presentarlos al sur de la Florida.

  • El Dr. Niberto L. Moreno es jefe de cirugía cardiotorácica de Baptist Health. El Dr. Moreno ha estado afiliado a Baptist Health desde 1995. Fue uno de los pioneros en la cirugía mínimamente invasiva y realizó la primera cirugía de corazón latiente en 1994.
  • El Dr. Lynn H. Harrison Jr. llega a Baptist Health de la Universidad deMassachussets, donde fue jefe de la división de cirugía cardiaca. Tiene a su haber la transformación del programa de cirugía cardiaca en la universidad convirtiéndolo en uno de los 100 mejores programas en los Estados Unidos.
  • La Dra. Lynn Seto llega a Baptist Health de Cleveland Clinic en Ohio. Su concentración especial está en el área de cirugía cardiaca robótica y mínimamente invasiva, particularmente la reparación de la válvula mitral. En Cleveland Clinic, realizó 400 cirugíascardiacas sin ninguna muerte. La Dra. Seto capacita a otros cirujanos en la técnica del robot da Vinci.
  • Al Dr. Mark Dylewski se le considera uno de los cirujanos más avanzados del país en el área de técnicas robóticas, particularmente la cirugía del pulmón mínimamente invasiva. Ha desarrollado la técnica Dylewski usando el robot da Vinci para extirpar el pulmón sin cortar o separar las costillas—una técnica que otros médicos robóticos están adoptando ahora.
  • El Dr. Lisardo García-Covarrubias se une al Grupo Quirúrgico Cardiaco y Torácico después de una extensa capacitación de postgrado. Terminó dos fellowships en trasplantes cardiotorácicos, uno en el Centro Médico de la Universidad de Pittsburgh y otro en el Miami-Jackson Hospital de la Universidad de Miami.

Get To Know Our Talented Team

Baptist Health South Florida introduces and impressive new team of expert heart and chest surgeons in the new advertisement currently running in both the English and Spanish editions of the Miami Herald. Get to know our talented team:

  • Niberto L. Moreno, M.D., is Baptist Health’s Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Moreno has been affiliated with Baptist Health since 1995. He was an early innovator in minimally invasive surgery, and performed the first beating heart surgery in 1994.
  • Lynn H. Harrison Jr., M.D., joins Baptist Health from the University of Massachusetts, where he was chief of cardiac surgery. He is credited with leading the transformation of the university’s heart surgery program into one of the top 100 programs in the United States.
  • Lynn Seto, M.D., from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, is a specialist in the area of robotic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery, particularly mitral valve repair. At Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Seto performed 400 heart surgeries without a single fatality. She teaches other surgeons the technique using the da Vinci robot.
  • Mark Dylewski, M.D., is considered one of the country’s cutting-edge surgeons in the area of robotic techniques, particularly minimally invasive lung surgery. He developed the Dylewski technique using the da Vinci robot to remove the lung without cutting or spreading the ribs—a technique other robotic physicians are now adopting.
  • Lisardo Garcia-Covarrubias, M.D., joins the cardiac and thoracic surgical group after extensive postgraduate training. He completed two heart transplant fellowships, one at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the other at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

US Medical Tourism Statistics

A study by Deloitte LLP has found that more than 400,000 non-U.S. residents obtained medical care in the United States in 2008. It has also forecasted an annual increase of inbound medical tourism of 3%.

Deloitte states, "inbound medical tourism is primarily driven by the search for high-quality care without extensive wating periods. Foreign patients are willing to pay more for care within the United States if these two factors play a large role."

This is indeed the case, as 3.5% of inpatient procedures at U.S. hosptals in 2008 were performed on international patients. Many of these international patients were from Canada and were looking for a shorter waiting period for care.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Inbound Medical Tourism to Florida


Inbound medical tourism to the United States can offer higher quality health care than would be available in another country. International patients travel to the U.S. for access to procedures that are not available in their home country, freedom from long lines or waiting lists, lower cost care and the ability to combine tourism with medical care.

Florida is the optimal medical tourism location in the United States because of the already robust tourist attractions. South Beach in Miami, Disney World in Orlando and Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral draw tourists from all over the world and will only supplement the amount of people traveling to Florida for medical procedures.

Baptist Health International in Miami is one of the most popular destinations for international patients, treating over 12,000 international patients from 100 countries in 2008. Foreign patients are attracted by the concierge and language assistance services offered by Baptist Health International. Patients are picked up at the airport, assisted with travel and accommodation reservations and offered medical information in their native language.

Medical tourism will also benefit locals by stimulating the declining economy in the much needed area of tourism and by upgrading the medical services offered in order to compete on a global scale.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Baptist Health International Opens Cayman Islands Office

Baptist Health International of Miami opened an office in the Cayman Islands Thursday, June 25th.

The office is located at 25 Governors Square on West Bay Road, Grand Cayman and will serve as an outreach facility for care services such as rheumatology, neurosurgery and interventional cardiology which are largely unavailable on the island.

Allen Brenteson, Corporate Vice President Baptist Health South Florida said, “Our facility will serve as an extension to Miami and will be a second point of contact for tertiary care. We have seven hospitals in South Florida and we have 12 out patient centres. Our location here in Cayman is strictly an outreach facility to assist the medical needs of the medical community and the people of the Cayman Islands.”

Mr Brenteson said the office would make overseas care more convenient and accessible for Cayman residents.

“We have had a long relationship with Cayman and we felt that it was time that we became a full time member of the country. We will offer second opinions electronically through our tele-medicine capabilities. This will avoid a lot of initial trips when people find it necessary to travel off island for tertiary medical care,” he said.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Gamma Knife Surgery Animation

The Gamma Knife isn't a knife at all, it is a non-invasive neurosurgical procedure that uses precise radiation to treat diseased or cancerous brain tissue while leaving healthy tissue intact.

Check out this animated video to see how Gamma Knife Surgery works:

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

MIAMI: Where Worlds Meet

Miami is one of the most diverse, multicultural cities in the world. Miami has so much to offer: sunbathing on South Beach, visiting Downtown Miami, or taking a cruise from the cruise capital of the world, Port Miami. This is Miami: Where Worlds Meet.


It is not only an ideal getaway destination, but Miami is also a great place to live, work, or receive medical treatment. Each year, thousands of people travel from around the world to receive medical care from the respected, world-class medical facilities and physicians at Baptist Health International in Miami.

Friday, June 12, 2009

ITIJ Interviews Baptist Health Vice President Allen Brenteson

The International Travel Insurance Journal (ITIJ) interviewed the Corporate Vice President of Baptist Health, Allen Brenteson, in the February 2009 issue.

Allen Brenteson spoke to ITIJ about the ways in which Baptist Health hospitals handle medical tourism and international patient services.

With ten years of experience, Baptist Health has gained extensive knowlege of the international market. The hospital's international department is well staffed and offers accurate pricing for medical procedures. Baptist Health also has an internal insurance specialist and finance team who work with foreign insurance providers in order to make the process run smoothly.

Allen Brenteson reminded ITIJ of Baptist Health's philosophy - to provide cutting-edge medical care at the best price. The hospital's pricing policy is fully transparent to avoid price descrimination.

Mr. Brenteson also told ITIJ of his previous employment experiences, his passion for golf and his educational background.

Baptist Health Miami Raises Awareness and Funds for Heart Health at Red Dress Event

The Turks & Caicos Heart Foundation, along with Baptist Health International Center of Miami, hosted an annual Red Dress event to raise awareness about women’s heart health as part of the international “Go Red for Women” campaign. 

Funds raised at the event were used to assist heart patients of the Turks & Caicos with medication and other personal needs during these difficult times.

“Heart disease is the number one cause of death among women,” said association President Karen Malcolm, “Awareness about healthy lifestyle choices and early detection of heart disease are more important than ever. We are grateful to all participating in this important event, particularly Baptist Health, for helping us to promote this vital mission.”

One hundred guests attended the luncheon, including government officials, medical staff, heart patients and other influential members of the community. Renowned cardiologist, Dr. Marcus St. John, M.D., Interventional Cardiologist with the Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute, was the keynote speaker at the event and his presentation was broadcasted via webcast.

Baptist Health Sponsors Luncheon to Prevent Heart Disease

On April 19, 2009, Baptist Health International Center of Miami partnered with the Nassau Bahamas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to sponsor a red-themed "Make Your Heart a Healthy Heart" luncheon. 
The luncheon honored women and heart disease and featured a presentation by Baptist Health South Florida cardiologist Stratego Castanes MD, about controlling and preventing heart disease in women. The event benefited Delta Sigma Theta Sorority which provides economic relief to needy residents and scholarships to Bahamian students. 

Monday, April 20, 2009

Integrative Care: Pathway to a Healthier Nation

On February 26, 2009, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions met to discuss America's healthcare policy including Integrative Care. 
The Committee advocates preventative, alternative and less costly healthcare reform as a means to a healthier nation. 

A video of the hearing is available online and can be viewed at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension's website.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Medical Tourism Association Patient Surveys

The Medical Tourism Association (MTA), a Florida based organization made up of international hospitals and healthcare providers, has released preliminary results from its patient surveys in the industry. The complete results will be published in the medical tourism magazine. A few of the survey results are duplicated below:

How did you find out about medical tourism (traveling internationally for medical care)?
Internet 48.8%
Friend 17.1%
Newspaper, Magazine or TV 14.6%
My doctor 2.4%
Other (please specify) 17.1%


How did you research your information for medical tourism on country destinations and hospitals?
Internet 73.2%
Books/Magazines 0.0%
Asked a friend 4.9%
Medical Tourism Facilitator 4.9%
Other 17.1%

Did you travel alone or with a companion?
Alone 17.5%
Companion 82.5%

Did you or your companion do any tourism such as site seeing, shopping, eating dinner or a lunch out of the hospital or hotel or enjoying the local culture?
Yes 95.0%
No 5.0%

Was there a language barrier or communication problem at the hospital?
Not at all 70.7%
Occasional problems, but did not significantly affect my experience 29.3%
Yes, significantly affected my experience 0.0%

If you have travelled abroad for a medical procedure to either Baptist Health International in Miami or elsewhere, we want to know how your experience went, feel free to leave a comment detailing your trip. 

Get More Out Of Your South Florida Vacation

Florida has long been a tourist destination for travellers of all ages from around the world. Our beaches and attractions are some of the most famed destinations for those looking for sand, sun and Disney fun. 

But South Florida is now becoming one of the top destinations for Medical Tourism, especially for residents of Latin America. Whether it is for a yearly checkup or a high tech surgical procedure, the world class medical care offered at Baptist Health in South Florida will make the trip well worth it. 

On top of the care you receive at our South Florida International Hospitals, you can also enjoy all that South Florida has to offer. Enjoy a relaxing week at the beach after your recovery, or spend a few days with your family at Disney World Orlando. 

Of course, this is supposed to be a vacation, that's why Baptist Health International will do everything possible to make your stay enjoyable, comfortable and relaxing. We will arrange your transportation and accommodation for your stay and offer 24 hour emergency on-call services to international patients.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Miami Healthcare Mecca

Miami Today and Baptist Health System organized a roundtable “Miami: International healthcare Mecca.” 
The panel included Allen Brenteson, Baptist’s corporate VP international; David Angelone, CEO of UnitedHeath Group Int’s Cross Border Solutions; and Patricia Ziomek, a principal partner for S & Z Co.

Check out videos from the event featuring Baptist's own Allen Brenteson!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Florida's Medical Tourism is Thriving

Florida's medical facilities are helping foreigners seeking healthcare services which are too costly or have a long waiting list in their home country. 400,000 foreign residents visited the U.S. for medical tourism in 2008. Collectively, these foreign patients spent $5 billion on treatments which would have been more expensive or unavaliable in their country. 
Many Florida hospitals are beginning to offer special services for international patients, including help applying for tourist visas, scheduling flights and booking hotels. 
Baptist Health of Miami treats 12,000 foreigners per year. Most of these foreign patients are seeking treatment from specialists in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics and gastroenterology. 
Baptist Health of Miami is working to provide healthcare for those who need it, even if the services are not offered in the patient's home country. 

Friday, February 13, 2009

35 Florida Hospitals Make The Grade

35 Florida hospitals made HealthGrades' 2009 Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence list. 35% of Florida's eligible hospitals qualified this year, the fourth highest percentage in the nation. In 2008, 40 Florida hospitals made the list.
Baptist Health of Miami was among the 35 Florida hospitals which made the grade this year. 

Friday, January 23, 2009

Baptist Health South Florida Included in "100 Best Companies to Work For" List


Baptist Health South Florida has been included in
FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. 

Baptist Health ranked 79th on the list of the top 100 employers. This is the ninth time that Baptist has made FORTUNE's top employers list in the 12 years of the list. The complete list will be featured in the February 2nd issue of FORTUNE and is also available now at FORTUNE.com/bestcompanies

One of the most important factors of this year's list is a company's ability to create jobs. 73 of the 100 companies listed, including Baptist Health, are currently hiring. Baptist was in the top 20 companies for job openings and the top 10 for child care. Baptist also ranked 44th for the highest salaries. 

Friday, January 2, 2009

Tune in for LIVE Minimally Invasive Lumbar Surgery

Baptist Health is committed to keeping up with the latest trends and innovations in the healthcare industry. The next exciting and educational event will happen this month.

On Wednesday January 28th at 4:00 p.m. E.S.T., Neurosurgeon Sergio Gonzalez-Arias, M.D. will be performing a minimally invasive lumbar discectomy in order to fix a herniated disk on the lower back. 

The procedure will be broadcast LIVE online via Webcast. This is a great opportunity to watch a live surgical operation featuring a cutting-edge procedure. It will be an educational experience for all observers. 

We invite you to watch as Dr. Gonzalez-Arias begins the operation by making a small incision, before spreading the muscles around the area. This innovative spreading technique has many advantages over the traditional method of cutting the lower back muscles. There is often less blood or pain during recovery and most patients are able to return home the day of surgery.

Tune in to the LIVE Webcast and watch the procedure Wednesday, January 28th at 4:00 p.m.!