Vol. 28 No. 50 December 13, 2010 A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine
Please see Health First Inc., page 19
Please see Health Care, page 16
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PRESORTEDSTANDARD
US POSTAGEPAID
BREVARD BUSINESSNEWS, INC.
By Ken Datzman
Health First Inc., which operates
multiple hospitals in the county, has
invested in the region’s first robotic–
surgery system, a breakthrough platform
designed to enable complex surgery using a
minimally invasive approach.
The system provides physicians with
superior visualization of the body during
surgical procedures.
Robotics is an example of how technol-
ogy has revolutionized the practice of
medicine. The product cycle has kept a
torrid pace over the last decade, with
software upgrades and new devices
reshaping patient treatments and creating
more options for minimally invasive
surgeries.
At the center of these technological
advancements is Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s
The da Vinci System, a robotic–assisted
device that is fast making inroads at
hospitals across the country, including
Holmes Regional Medical Center in
Melbourne.
“The biggest advantage of this tool is it
allows us to perform less–invasive surgery
with greater accuracy, fewer complications,
and quicker recovery times,” said Dr. John
Bomalaski of Health First Physicians, who
practices gynecologic oncology.
“For gynecology, it allows us to get to
the deep pelvis and those areas that are a
little more difficult to reach.” It may also be
used to assist with gynecologic laparoscopic
surgeries.
In general, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration has cleared The da Vinci
System for a wide range of procedures,
including prostate cancer surgery and
other urologic applications, such as total or
partial kidney removal, general surgery,
gallbladder removal, and several cardiac
and thoracic applications.
This type of high–precision robotic
technology has been available in the U.S.
market for about 10 years. Many improve-
ments have been made to the da Vinci
machine over the years.
Today’s robotic technology has the
potential to raise the standard of care for
complex surgeries, translating into
HF hospitals investingin leading technologies;robotic surgical system
By Lee BowmanScripps Howard Service
Hard to believe that, 17 years ago, the
Clintons were talking about a health
security card for every American.
Today, health care is looking anything
but secure.
A report released by the federal Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
calculates that 50 million Americans ages
18 to 64 and surveyed between January
and March went without health insurance
for at least part of the past year.
More than half of them had no usual
source of medical care.
Among adults with at least one
disability and no insurance, 61 percent said
they had skipped or delayed recommended
medical care in the past year due to
concern about cost. But so did 16 percent of
disabled adults with health coverage.
For those who have insurance, particu-
larly through an employer, the costs are
going up, either through a bigger share of
higher premiums or bigger deductibles, co–
payments and other cost–sharing, and
usually both.
And a survey of employer health
benefits for 2010 released in September
showed that workers on average are paying
nearly $4,000 a year toward the cost of
family coverage that carried a total average
tab of $13,770 (3 percent more than in
2009), and that workers were contributing
14 percent more than what they paid in
2009.
More than a quarter of all covered
workers now must pay deductibles of
$1,000 or more, with almost half of workers
at smaller firms (under 200 workers) under
such plans.
The survey, done for the Kaiser Family
Health costs on rise and 50 million Americans have no insurance
The new Viera Hospital, scheduled to open April 2, has purchased a ‘Flash CT’ scanner, touted forits scanning speed and radiation–dose reduction. Dianna Marks, left, is Viera Hospital’s radiologydirector. Liz Varecka is the hospital’s manager of radiology. Health First Inc. is making technologyinvestments at its three other hospitals in the county, too.
BBN Brevard Business
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DECEMBER 13, 2010Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising InformationBREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 2
BBN DIGESTBuena Vida schedules a fullslate of holiday events in area
Buena Vida Estates in West Melbourne, Brevard
County’s only continuing care retirement community, has
scheduled many activities and events for the holiday
season.
Some of the events will be held at Buena Vida Estates,
while others will be hosted at area facilities.
“The holiday season is always a special time at Buena
Vida,” said Doreen Boudreau, director of marketing at
Buena Vida Estates.
“There is so much warmth and holiday spirit with the
family of staff and residents of our community. Friend-
ships, family and holiday cheer fill the air at Buena Vida,”
she added.
Here is the schedule of events:
l The Goodtime Singers will perform at 2:30 p.m. on
Dec. 10.
l “Up the Creek,” a holiday show, is set for 6:30 p.m. on
Dec. 12.
l “A Holiday Light Tour” will be held in the local Buena
Vida area on Dec. 13.
l The Melbourne Municipal Band will present a holiday
concert at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the Melbourne Audito-
rium.
l A Staff “Thank–You Reception” will be held at 2 p.m.
on Dec. 16 for the residents.
l “Christmas Gift Bingo” is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on
Dec. 17.
l “Songs of the Season with Robbi Armstrong” is
planned for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 18.
l The “Nutcracker” will be performed at the Henegar
Center in downtown Melbourne at 2 p.m. on Dec. 19.
l Buena Vida’s holiday activities will close with
“Brevard’s Best” at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 19. This is an
entertainment show.
For more details about the holiday schedule, call Buena
Vida Estates at 724–0060.
‘Christmas Cookie Walk’ in MelbourneSt. Anthony Orthodox Church will host a “Christmas
Cookie Walk” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11.
St. Anthony Church is at 223 E. New Haven Ave., in
downtown Melbourne. Ethnic cookies will be sold by the
pound, including Greek, Lebanese, Russian, Polish,
Romanian and Swedish selections.
Melbourne Light Parade set for Dec. 11The 18th annual Melbourne Light Parade will start at
6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, at Florida Market Place, on
the corner of Hibiscus Boulevard and Babcock Street.
Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy, non–
perishable food item, or a bag of dog/cat food and hand it to
the people walking with the first float. The items will be
given to needy people in Brevard County.
BSO to perform holiday tunes in VieraThe Brevard Symphony Orchestra will perform from
6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16, at The Avenue Viera.
The concert is free of charge. The presenting sponsor is
Mercedes–Benz, Porsche, Audi of Melbourne. The BSO’s
Brass Quintet will play popular holiday tunes. For
additional information, call 634–5390.
UCF
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 3
Historic Cocoa Village Playhousebenefit set for King Center Jan. 22
The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse will celebrate 20
years of performances with a special benefit set for 8 p.m.
on Jan. 22 at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Perform-
ing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Road, in Melbourne.
The King Center is on the Brevard Community College
campus.
The event, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” will
feature songs from the most popular performances over the
past 20 years.
The program will be under the direction of Staci
Hawkins–Smith, Cocoa Village Playhouse executive
director, and emceed by veteran cast member Rick Roach.
The duo will take the audience down memory lane with
highlights from Broadway shows performed over the past
two decades.
In addition, a guest performance will be made by
English born music writer Tony Macaulay, whose hits
include “Build Me Up Buttercup” and “Love Grows Where
My Rosemary Goes.”
Macaulay is a resident of Cocoa Beach and has been a
strong supporter of the Cocoa Village Playhouse for many
years.
Ticket prices range from $15 to $25, with VIP reception
seating at $100. VIP seating includes a champagne
reception at 6:30 p.m., and a chance to win $10,000.
“This will be a historic night for the Playhouse, with a
big surprise that will be memorable for all,” said Bob
Wetzel, Cocoa Village Playhouse board of director member.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the
Playhouse at 636–5050 or visit
www.cocoavillageplayhouse.com. The King Center phone
number is 242–2219, or go to kingcenter.com.
The Playhouse was built in 1924. It was the centerpiece
of the small town of Cocoa. By 1985, it was a dilapidated
building with birds occupying the theater. BCC rescued the
building soon afterward, and by 1990 provided a venue for
quality entertainment.
The theater has recently been transferred back to the
City of Cocoa, so the upcoming benefit is timely as the
Playhouse is striving to raise funds for much–needed
repairs to keep the 1920s infrastructure up to code.
BCC offers the perfect holiday gift certificateLooking for the perfect gift for someone 50 or older?
Give the gift of lifelong learning with a Full Circle @BCC
gift certificate. The program offers multi–session enrich-
ment classes and single–session workshops for those who
seek intellectual stimulation with no tests or papers.
Classes and workshops vary by session and have included
topics such as “Introduction to Computers,” “Facebook,”
“Twitter and Skype,” “Genealogy,” “Photography Tips and
Tricks,” “Stress Management,” and “History You Were
Never Taught.” The purchase of a $40 gift certificate allows
the recipient to become a member of Full Circle @ BCC
and participate in as few or as many of the classes or
workshops offered through June 2011 (fee excludes any
charges for supplies as may be noted in some course
descriptions). Gift certificates may be purchased in any
denomination. For additional information about the
program or gift certificates, call 433–5015.
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 4
4300 Fortune Place, Suite DWest Melbourne, FL 32904
(321) 951–7777fax (321) 951–4444
BrevardBusinessNews.com
PUBLISHERAdrienne B. Roth
EDITORKen Datzman
OFFICE MANAGERFrank Schiffmann
Brevard Business News is published every Monday byBrevard Business News Inc. Bulk Rate postage is paid atMelbourne, FL and Cocoa, FL. This publication servesbusiness executives in Brevard County. It reports onnews, trends and ideas of interest to industry, trade,agribusiness, finance, health care, high technology,education and commerce.
Letters to the Editor must include the writer’s signatureand printed or typed name, full address and telephonenumber. Brevard Business News reserves the right to editall letters. Send your letters to: Editor, Brevard BusinessNews, 4300 Fortune Place, Suite D, West Melbourne, FL,32904, or email [email protected].
Subscription Rates for home or office mail delivery are$26.00 for one year (52 issues). Send all addresschanges to: Circulation Department, Brevard BusinessNews, 4300 Fortune Place, Suite D, West Melbourne, FL,32904, or email [email protected].
New device may reduce swallowing health risk in patientsBy Jill Pease
A hand–held device that strengthens the muscles
involved in swallowing can address a serious symptom of
Parkinson’s disease, according to a new University of
Florida study.
In what researchers believe is the largest randomized
trial of a behavioral swallowing treatment in patients
with Parkinson’s disease, scientists found that about one–
third of the volunteers who used the device improved
their ability to swallow. The findings appear in the Nov.
23 issue of the journal “Neurology,” the medical journal of
the American Academy of Neurology.
Nearly 1 million Americans have Parkinson’s disease,
according to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Finding
solutions to their swallowing problems is important
because their most common cause of death is pneumonia
caused by inhaling foreign material, such as food, during
swallowing.
“The many muscles involved in swallowing progres-
sively weaken in patients with Parkinson’s disease and
become uncoordinated in the same way that patients lose
coordination and strength in their arms and legs,” said
Michelle Troche, the study’s lead investigator and a
clinical lecturer and speech pathologist in the UF College
of Public Health and Health Professions’ department of
speech, language and hearing sciences.
It also becomes more difficult for patients to sense
material in their airways and cough hard enough to expel
it, she said.
For the study, researchers trained participants with
Parkinson’s disease to exhale into an Expiratory Muscle
Strength Training, or EMST, device. In previous studies,
EMST has improved swallowing and cough function in
patients with multiple sclerosis and in elderly, sedentary
adults.
“EMST uses the basic exercise theory behind any
strength training program,” said co–investigator Chris-
tine Sapienza, a professor and chairwoman of the
department of speech, language and hearing sciences.
“This small device capitalizes on that concept of
overload with a calibrated pressure release valve that
won’t open until you generate a great enough lung
pressure. The patient or clinician can vary how much
pressure is needed to open the valve on the device. The
greater the pressure you need, the stronger the muscles
have to be. It acts much like a pin on a weight machine
and uses the same concept to strengthen the muscles
involved in swallowing and breathing.”
Sapienza developed the device along with UF re-
searchers Paul Davenport, a professor and interim
chairman of the department of physiological sciences in
the College of Veterinary Medicine, and A. Daniel Martin,
a professor in the department of physical therapy.
“Their efforts are pioneering and it is likely that this
study will stand the test of time as a landmark in
Parkinson’s disease swallowing research,” said research
collaborator Dr. Michael Okun, a co–director of UF’s
Movement Disorders Center and an associate professor of
neurology with the College of Medicine and UF’s
McKnight Brain Institute.
Participants in the Parkinson’s disease study were
divided into two groups of 30. In one group participants
used the EMST device with proper calibration. The other
participants used a device that looked exactly the same
but did not work to strengthen the muscles.
Neither the participants nor the study therapists
knew who had the real device and who had the sham
device. Participants used the devices in their homes for
20 minutes a day, five days a week for four weeks.
Therapists visited once a week to make sure participants
used the device correctly. Following the study period,
participants in the sham group received the EMST
treatment.
The researchers measured participants’ swallowing
function before and after treatment with a standardized
swallow safety scale, the Penetration–Aspiration scale,
developed in part by UF faculty member John Rosenbek,
also with the department of speech, language and
hearing sciences. Researchers used videofluoroscopy to
obtain motion X–ray images of the participants’ swallow-
ing muscles as they swallowed liquid.
One–third of participants who used the device with
calibration had significantly improved swallow safety
scores compared to 14 percent of the participants in the
sham group. The researchers also found that for patients
in the treatment group, there was greater movement in
the muscles that lift the voice box out of the way during
swallowing. Quality–of–life measures related to swallow-
ing improved in both the treatment and sham groups.
“The fact that EMST is a home–based treatment is of
particular importance as many individuals with
Parkinson’s disease cannot travel the long distance to
attend clinic or hospital therapy sessions,” said Stephanie
Daniels, a visiting associate professor at the University of
Houston and an assistant professor at Baylor College of
Medicine, who was not involved in the study. “Very few
swallowing treatment studies have incorporated the
rigorous research design used in this study. We need
more studies such as this to support the different
treatment approaches used in swallowing rehabilitation.”
Sapienza has a potential financial interest in Aspire
Products LLC, the manufacturer of EMST. Portions of
the study were funded by the Veterans Affairs Rehabili-
tation Research and Development, the Michael J. Fox
Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. The
UF Movement Disorders Center receives support from
the National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence.
Space Coast Area Transit posts record ridership for fiscal yearSpace Coast Area Transit’s fixed–route ridership reached an all–time high of 1.6 million passenger boardings for
fiscal year 2009–2010, ending Sept. 30.
The ridership total is an increase of 13 percent from the previous fiscal year’s ridership. The increase continues Space
Coast Area Transit streak of annually boosting ridership for the past 18 years.
Space Coast Area Transit, a service of the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, operates 15 fixed bus
routes throughout the county.
The growth in ridership is attributed to several factors, said Jim Liesenfelt, transit director.
Ridership is up on existing routes, with established customers using it more and new customers trying the system for
the first time, he said. An agreement with Brevard Community College to allow students to ride for free has played a
role as well.
“We are seeing that bus service is a viable transportation option to a number of citizens,” said Liesenfelt, “and our
employees have worked very hard to keep buses on time and provide quality service to our customers.”
For further information on fixed route bus service and for maps and schedules, contact Space Coast Area Transit at
633–1878 or log on to www.RideSCAT.com.
Visit BrevardBusinessNews.com for Advertising InformationDECEMBER 13, 2010 BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 5
BBN DIGESTBrevard Community College tobegin a 12–week acceleratedterm at Melbourne campus
Brevard Community College in Melbourne will be the
pilot site of an accelerated 12–week term this spring
designed to help new students, including the unemployed
and displaced aerospace workers, who were unable to meet
current registration and tuition deadlines.
The accelerated term will begin Feb. 14 and will span
12 weeks rather than 16 weeks, the length of the tradi-
tional term, which begins Jan. 10.
The condensed term will better assist recently displaced
aerospace workers and the unemployed by providing them
an expedited option to earn college credit and gain critical
skills necessary to landing a new job and launching a new
career. In addition, the later start date will provide
students more time to familiarize themselves with the
college admissions process, which often involves testing.
“Sometimes students miss deadlines and they have to
scramble to get testing and paperwork done in order to
start class on time,” said Sandra Handfield, associate
provost of the Melbourne campus. “This accelerated term
gives students more time to compile the necessary
documents so they can focus solely on their academic
goals.”
The 12–week term will be offered on the Melbourne
campus with 22 courses in a variety of disciplines including
business, managerial accounting and communications.
Already dozens of courses following the same acceler-
ated 12–week term are offered online through eBrevard,
the college’s online learning division.
If students embrace the accelerated format in
Melbourne this spring, it will likely be expanded to the
other BCC campuses for the fall term and beyond.
The Melbourne campus also will offer a second “mini–
mester” from March 14 through May 9 with nine courses
available. These are eight–week terms.
“The college is yet again using a non–traditional
approach to help all students, as well as displaced aero-
space workers and the unemployed, by providing more
courses in a variety of ways,” said Dr. Jim Drake, BCC
president. “We are extremely hopeful that the accelerated
term will further expedite the academic success of many
students who are in need of fast–track training.”
Many BCC campuses also offer condensed “mini–
mesters.” Check the BCC spring catalog at
www.brevardcc.edu for full course offerings.
Brevard Art Museum to host workshopsThe Brevard Art Museum School will open 2011 by
hosting several workshops. Potter Bruce Swahlan will
present a “Mud Slinging Workshop” Jan. 15 and 16 from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also
on Jan. 15, glass–artist Brett Tam will give a “Glass–
Bead–Making Workshop” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Addition-
ally, Nancy Trezza will conduct a “Make Your Own
Dinnerware Workshop” Jan 29, Feb. 9 and Feb.12. All
workshops require registration. Call 254–7782 for
workshop fee information and to register for the programs.
The Brevard Art Museum School is in the Renee Foosaner
Education Center, 1520 Highland Ave., in Melbourne.
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 7
‘Operation Medicine Cabinet’ a bigsuccess for Brevard Sheriff’s Office
On Nov. 13, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, in
partnership with Hobbs Pharmacy and Health First
Inc., conducted “Operation Medicine Cabinet,” which
was a big success.
This program was held at six locations throughout
Brevard County and was the second such event spon-
sored this year.
Deputies along with volunteers from the co–sponsor-
ing groups were present at Sheriff’s Office Precincts,
Hobbs Pharmacy on Merritt Island and Barefoot Bay.
These locations served as collection points for citizens
to drop off unused, expired, and unwanted pharmaceuti-
cal medications and medical supplies. The operation was
intended as a preventive measure to remove dangerous
drugs from households thereby reducing the chances of
theft or abuse.
“By taking aggressive action such as this community
collection and awareness program, we can decrease
abuse and hopefully prevent overdose deaths,” said
Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker. “We must do
everything possible to inform our citizens about the
dangers of misusing prescription medications. Just
because it is prescribed doesn’t mean it can’t be harmful
to us, our loved ones and our environment.”
He added, “We want to thank our sponsors, Mark
Hobbs of Hobbs Pharmacy in Merritt Island and Health
First, for coming to us with the idea for Operation
Medicine Cabinet to rid our community of unwanted and
unneeded medications.”
Deputies and volunteers collected 108,211 individual
units of pharmaceutical medications along with 3,712
items of miscellaneous medical supplies, Parker said.
For calendar year 2010, the Sheriff’s Office and
sponsoring organizations have achieved a combined total
of 331,857 individual units of pharmaceutical medica-
tion and 8,308 items of miscellaneous medical supplies.
Among the medications collected were large amounts
of Roxycodone, Hydrocodone, Darvocet, Lortab, and
Alprazolam (Xanax). These narcotics are the most
widely abused prescription medications in Central
Florida, Parker said.
Zonta Club teams with History CenterThe Zonta Club of Melbourne has teamed with the
Old Town Hall History Center to exhibit its Historic
Melbourne Ornaments at the center through the new
year. The exhibit can been viewed on Saturdays from
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Old Town Hall History Center is
at 2373 Oak St. in Melbourne Beach (across from the
Spessard Holland Golf Course). Admission is free of
charge. The center presents a historic picture of the
region from early Indian settlements through the
development of the town of Melbourne Beach. The
display features 12 historic ornaments depicting local
landmarks such as Dragon Point, the Henegar Center,
and Strawberry Mansion. The ornaments are available
for purchase at Meehan’s Art and Office Supply in
downtown Melbourne, or at www.zontaspacecoast.org.
Proceeds from the sales support the Zonta Club’s three
scholarship funds and its local service projects.
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 8
SCHRA elects its new board membersThe Space Coast Human Resource Association recently
elected new board members who, along with returning
board members, will serve the chapter in 2011. The new
board members are: Dean Rosenquist, professional
development chair/certification chair; Amanda Ellis,
membership chair; Susie Van Meter, college relations
chair; Onelia Ortiz, facilities chair; Myrna Galligano,
legislative chair; Douglas Barclay, sponsor chair; Valarese
Poole, marketing and communications chair; Sherly Cost,
work–force readiness and diversity chair; Thomas Bliss,
webmaster; and Lourdes Quintero, SHRM Foundation
chair. Returning board members include: Andrea
Wilkinson, president; Tina Snyder, treasurer; Ashley
Hudson, secretary; and Carrie Wilhite, past president. The
new board will be inducted at the chapter’s holiday party
at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at Courtyard by Marriott
Resort in Cocoa Beach.
Hessinger named Youth Players directorMaggie Hessinger has joined Surfside Players in Cocoa
Beach at its new Youth Players director. She has more
than 11 years experience in children’s theatre. Formerly
the technical director for Titusville Playhouse, Hessinger
directed their Children’s Summer Camps for more than
three years. She will be assisted by Mikilin Pearson and
Heather Shadrick at Surfside Players. With the new
director and staff in place, The Youth Players will resume
its semester programs in 2011. The format has changed
slightly; classes are divided into grades 3–5 and grades
6–8, each meeting once a week for 14 weeks. Tuition is
$220 per student and includes a class T–shirt. For full
program details and to register, contact Robin Pena at
626–1343 or send an e–mail message to [email protected].
HBCA honors Franz, Reed with awardsTom Franz was honored as the 2010 Builder of the Year
and Sue Reed of Whirlpool Corp. earned the 2010 Associ-
ate of the Year award at the recent Home Builders and
Contractors Association of Brevard’s Fall Parade of Homes
Dinner and the 2011 HBCA Board of Directors Installation
Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront in
Indialantic. These prestigious awards are presented
annually to the Builder and Associate members of the
association who have made outstanding service contribu-
tions to the community, industry and the association. The
HBCA is a not–for–profit professional trade association
celebrating its 52nd year in Brevard.
Art Museum teams with Florida TechThe Brevard Art Museum and Florida Tech are
teaming up to present a class titled “Foundations of
Modern Art.” This class will feature a weekly art history
lecture at Florida Tech in Melbourne along with weekly
“hands–on” studio classes at the Brevard Art Museum
School in Melbourne. The first unit, in a series of three
lectures offered this spring, is titled “Modernism at the end
of the 19th Century” (Jan. 11 to Feb. 11). What makes this
course unique is the students’ ability to create a weekly
painting or collage based on the lecture by Florida Tech
professor Lars Jones. Participants who register for the
course through the Brevard Art Museum School may sign
up for one week for a fee of $60; a single unit of four or five
weeks for $225; or all three units for $600. Call 254–7782
to register for the program.
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Charles Dickens'
PRESENTS Christmas Carol The Radio Drama adapted for radio on stage by ANTHONY E. PALERMO
directed by JOAN DUNN
December 10 - 19, 2010 Fridays 8:00 pm Saturdays 8:00 pm presented by Sundays 2:00 pm special arrangement with RuyaSonic Radio Dramas
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Visit BrevardBusinessNews.com for Advertising InformationDECEMBER 13, 2010 BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 9
BBN DIGESTNational Realty announces top producers
Gale Bray, broker of National Realty of Brevard Inc.,
has announced her company’s top–producing associates for
October. The top listing agents were: Beth Glover, of the
Melbourne office; Maria Kaps, Melbourne; Claire
Sliptchuik, Indialantic; Tim Costello, Port St. John; and
Cyndi Jones, Suntree–North Melbourne. Top sellers:
Susan Northwood, Indialantic; Robert Beatty, Palm Bay;
Donna Sprague, Port St. John; and Jones. Top producers:
Mike Miller, Melbourne; Northwood; Pam Harrell, Palm
Bay; Sprague; and Andrea Betting, Suntree–North
Melbourne.
PAL seeks donations to help area youthThe Palm Bay Police Athletic League is accepting end–
of–year donations that will be used to benefit area youth
through a variety of positive social–development programs.
PAL is a nonprofit organization and its programs help
equip youth with the life skills needed for successful living
through athletic, educational, social and wellness pro-
grams. Police officers serve as role models to help youth
foster positive relationships with law enforcement and
build self–esteem. In 2010, roughly 800 children partici-
pated in PAL programs. Charitable contributions made to
PAL can be used as a tax–deduction for 2010, if the
donation is made by Dec. 31. For more information on
Palm Bay PAL or to make a donation, call 952–3530 or
mail the contribution to: PAL, 190 Malabar Road SW,
Suite 103, Palm Bay, Fla., 32907.
Cocoa Rotary wins international awardsThe Cocoa Rotary Club was presented with two
international awards recognizing the generosity of the club
members. Of 34,103 such clubs worldwide, the Rotary Club
of Cocoa was one of 1,555 groups to achieve a “Top–Three
Highest Ranking in Per–Capita Annual Giving.” The club
was also one of 669 Rotary Clubs worldwide to attain 100
percent membership participation in contributing at least
$100 to the foundation. Recently, the club presented 658
dictionaries to third–grade students in Cocoa and Port St
John. This is the fourth year that the club has provided
these dictionaries. At the beginning of the school year, book
bags were presented to needy children in all Cocoa
elementary schools. The club continually conducts fund–
raising projects and members personally donate to these
projects.
County, Waste Management offer recyclingResidents in unincorporated Brevard County now have
the ability to recycle fluorescent light bulbs, both the
compact and tube styles, through Brevard County’s Solid
Waste Management program and vender Waste Manage-
ment. Through the county’s newest recycling contract,
residents may contact Waste Management’s customer–
service department to order a specially designed Mercury
VaporLok bag. The bag for compact fluorescent lights will
hold up to 13 bulbs, and the bag for the fluorescent tubes
will hold seven to 16 straight bulbs that are less than four
feet in length. When the bag is full, a pickup can be
scheduled. There is no cost to the resident for the
VaporLok bag or for the pickup. To request a VaporLok
bag, customers north of Viera Boulevard and Patrick Air
Force Base should call 636–6894. Customers south of
Viera Boulevard and Patrick Air Force Base should call
723–4455.
Brevard Workforce
new ad emailed
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Community Foundation
new ad emailed
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Brevard Family Partnership
new ad emailed
for Good. for Brevard. forever.
An everlasting gift…
…for community wellness. A healthy community is a vibrant community – vibrant because people care. Brevard is vibrant because people like you live here. Establish an endowment with the Community Foundation. You choose where you want the annual charitable gift to go. Your preferred charities continue to receive. We do all the leg work. It’s an investment in community wellness – for Brevard, forever. Legacies start here: www.cfbrevard.org or give us a call 321.752.5505.
Invitation to Negotiate Brevard Family Partnership is seeking proposals
for banking services. Refer to solicitation at: www.brevardfp.org.
The closing date is Noon on January 10, 2011.
Funded by the Florida Department of Health
Join Today (321) 255-0800 or
(321) 259-7262 www.brevardtobacco
initiative.org
A community partnership supporting policies that create tobacco-free environments, increase restrictions on
minors’ access to tobacco and promote smoking cessation programs.
(And a tobacco(And a tobacco(And a tobacco---free New Year!)free New Year!)free New Year!)
From:From:From: The Brevard Tobacco The Brevard Tobacco The Brevard Tobacco Initiative (BTI)Initiative (BTI)Initiative (BTI)
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DECEMBER 13, 2010Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information
BBN BUSINESS
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 10
By Ken Datzman
Americans may be living in one of the most
stressful periods in recent history, considering the
economic downtown, which has driven unemploy-
ment to new heights in many communities across
the nation.
In general, it’s a stressful world we live in.
Hundreds of thousands of homeowners around the
country are on edge, as foreclosures continue to
mount. Even many airports in the U.S. have created
an uneasy environment for passengers these days.
“Right now, the real stressor is the economy and
the financial impact it is having on people’s lives,”
said Kristi Van Sickle, assistant professor in
community health at Florida Tech’s College of
Psychology and Liberal Arts.
As the aftershocks of the recession continue to be
felt around the nation, money, work and the
economy remain the most often–cited sources of
stress for Americans, according to the American
Psychological Association’s 2010 “Stress in America”
survey.
Employment concern is on the rise as a source of
stress. Nearly half (49 percent) of adults reported
that “job stability” was a source of stress in 2010,
compared to 44 percent in 2009.
In the report, America is described as an
“overstressed” nation. “That’s a fair characterization.
If you travel abroad and see how other people live,
an example is Europeans, it seems very different
from the way we drive ourselves here,” said Dr. Van
Sickle.
Findings from the APA’s newly released survey
raises red flags about the long–term impact that
chronic stress could have on our physical and
emotional health and the health of our families,
psychologists say.
The survey was conducted online by Harris
Interactive in August 2010 and released in Novem-
ber. The survey shows that Americans seem to be
caught in a vicious cycle where they manage stress
in unhealthy ways, and lack of willpower and time
constraints impede their ability to make lifestyle or
behavior changes.
“People tend to eat more when they are stressed,
and they grab ‘comfort foods,’ unhealthy foods. They
typically increase their alcohol consumption, and
stress increases smoking behaviors in people who
smoke,” said Dr. Van Sickle, who holds a Pys.D.
degree from Florida Tech and is a certified public
accountant.
She says good nutrition is important to managing
stress. Exercise is another way to help curb stress.
“Exercise is absolutely one of the best ways to
America is an overstressed nation — is taking a physical andemotional toll on families; the difficult economy driving stresslevels; Brevard Healthcare Forum addresses obesity concerns
cope with stress. First of all, it helps with the
psychological effects of stress, so it lowers your heart
rate. Exercise increases self–esteem and self–
confidence, which lowers stress. Unfortunately,
when people are stressed a lot of it has to do with
time, and one of the first things they cut is exercise
or sleep, and both are really important.”
To better cope with high levels of stress, Dr. Van
Sickle recommends everything from yoga to massage
therapy to “cultivating optimism” in your life, to
seeking “professional help if you need it to social
support, reaching out to people and disclosing your
concerns.”
During the holidays, she suggests “taking a break
from your usual daily routine. That’s really impor-
tant.”
Dr. Van Sickle adds that people need some stress
in their lives. “We put a very negative connotation on
stress, but we all need a certain level of stress in our
lives or we wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning.
Stress is to some extent motivating, causing a little
bit of arousal.”
Parenting is particularly stressful. One–third of
parents report that their stress levels are “extreme”
(a level of 8 — 10 on a 10–point scale), and parents
overall say they are living with stress levels that
exceed their definition of healthy (parents report an
average stress level of 6.1, while the average healthy
level is 3.9).
“Stress in America” survey results show that
children and adults alike who are obese or over-
weight are more likely to report that they “feel
stress,” and overweight or obese children report that
their parents were “often or always” stressed over
the past month.
Obesity continues to be a major public health
problem in the U.S. In 2000, no state had an obesity
prevalence of 30 percent or more.
The number of states with an obesity prevalence
of 30 percent or more has tripled in two years to nine
states in 2009, according to a Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention “Vital Signs” report.
The report also finds that no state met the
nation’s “Healthy People 2010” goal to lower obesity
prevalence to 15 percent.
Dr. Van Sickle, the executive director of Brevard
Healthcare Forum, said Brevard County has a
childhood obesity issue. “For the last several years,
the Brevard Healthcare Forum data has shown that
some big problems in the county include childhood
obesity. More than 20 percent of our children
between the ages of 2 and 19 are considered obese,
according to CDC standards,” said Dr. Van Sickle,
who has a business degree from Indiana University
and a master’s in taxation from DePaul University
in Chicago and once worked in the corporate world.
Obesity is a complex problem that requires personal and community
action, experts say. Dr. Van Sickle said the Brevard Healthcare Forum
is addressing this issue and others, including access to care.
“Access to care is a huge problem for uninsured people. We are
working on a new initiative trying to increase access to low–cost and
free prescription medication. In our last survey, which was conducted in
2008–2009, the biggest access issue that people identified was not
being able to afford their prescription medication,” she said.
The Brevard Healthcare Forum is a coalition of health–care
providers in the county and other related organizations that work
together using community health–assessment data to identity gaps in
care and health concerns.
“We try to bring partners together to share expertise and data, and
to develop initiatives to address these gaps,” Dr. Van Sickle said,
adding that adult chronic drinking in Brevard is one of the issues the
organization is discussing.
The forum is comprised of board members from Brevard’s three
hospital systems, county government, public schools, Florida Tech,
Healthy Start Coalition, Circles of Care, and Devereux, among other
area participants.
Dr. Kristi Van Sickle is an assistant professor in community health at FloridaTech’s College of Psychology and Liberal Arts. She also is the executive directorof the Brevard Healthcare Forum, a coalition of health–care providers in thecounty and related organizations.
BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth
Visit BrevardBusinessNews.com for Advertising InformationDECEMBER 13, 2010
BBN BUSINESS
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 11
By Ken Datzman
TITUSVILLE — Parrish Medical Center has
introduced a new service that centers on customer
service, timeliness, and helping the emergency room
better manage its patient flow throughout the day.
PMC has become the first hospital in Brevard
County to use the services of “InQuickER,” a start–
up company headquartered in Dalton, Ga., that is
experiencing strong growth signing up ERs around
the nation to partner with them in this new
venture.
More than 17 hospitals in the U.S. have aligned
themselves with InQuickER, from Emory–
Adventist Hospital in Georgia to Loma Linda
University Medical Center in California and PMC
in North Brevard County.
InQuickER is an advance online–registration
system for the emergency room and urgent–care
center. In a nutshell, it allows non–emergency
patients to register online, pay a small fee, and hold
their place in line while they wait at home.
“It is inherit in our business that obviously we
see sick patients first,” said Dr. Francisco Garcia,
medical director of emergency medicine at PMC.
“If you are a non–emergency patient in the ER,
you may have to wait some time before you’re seen
by a physician. The concept behind InQuickerER is
that the system will save a place for the patient in
our fast–track area, which is dedicated for non–
emergencies. The patients are seen without delay,”
he added.
All emergency departments use a triage system.
As a result, patients with low–acuity conditions may
wait for hours while higher–acuity patients receive
priority treatment. InQuickER allows low–acuity
patients to wait in the comfort of their homes,
rather than in the hospital waiting room.
InQuickER guarantees that patients who
register online and provide all requested informa-
tion will be seen within 15 minutes of their sched-
uled arrival time.
The cost for the service is $4.99 for the emer-
gency room at PMC on North Washington Avenue.
The service fee is currently being waived at the
MedFast Urgent Care Center inside Parrish
Healthcare Center at Port St. John.
“This is a win–win for the hospital and the
patient,” said Frank Corcoran, PMC’s executive
director of critical care.
“If the patient goes online to register for
InQuickER, they can check the posted wait times. If
they are really busy, they can choose a time slot to
fit their convenience. It’s kind of like going to Disney
and getting a ‘fast pass.’ It helps us better manage
our patient flow, because we control the time slots
through the peaks and troughs of the day.”
Both Dr. Garcia and Corcoran stressed that if a
patient has chest pains, shortness of breath or other
life–threatening symptoms, they should call 911
immediately and get to the ER. The online registra-
tion system is for minor illnesses.
Patients who use the InQuickER registration
service can enter their demographic and medical
information online, before they arrive at the
emergency department.
With InQuickER, an emergency–medical profile,
including information such as current medications,
allergies, and medical conditions, is sent to the
emergency department before the patient even
walks through the front door.
“When a person registers for InQuickER, we
receive an e–mail and the charge nurse looks at the
patient’s description of their symptom or symp-
toms,” said Corcoran.
“If we think this is something that can’t wait for
a diagnosis, we will call the patient and let him or
her know. We’ll tell them they should come in now.
The system screens for key words like ‘chest pain’ or
‘abdominal pain.’ This is one of the beauties of the
InQuickER system,” he said.
The economy in general and high unemployment
are increasing pressure on emergency departments
and their patients. In addition, hospital emergency
departments continue to close around the nation,
which reduces access to emergency care.
The American College of Emergency Physicians
says the number of emergency departments has
decreased from 4,114 in 1997 to 3,925 in 2007.
“Access to care has gotten worse for the general
population over the years,” said Dr. Garcia. “As a
result, the uninsured and the underinsured are
using the ER as an umbrella.”
Dr. Garcia said PMC’s ER averages 105 to 103
patients a day. “And probably 20 percent of the
patients would fit into the non–emergency cat-
egory.”
He said PMC’s ER resources are “challenged at
around 125 to 130 patients.” The busiest times for
PMC’s ER are 11 a.m. to 1 .a.m., said Dr. Garcia,
who has practiced ER medicine for 25 years,
including in Miami.
Babies less than 12 months old had the highest
ER visit rate in 2008, at 88.5 visits per 100 infants,
according to a new report from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. The second highest
visit rate was by adults age 75 and older, with 62
visits per 100 people.
The report also says the main issue contributing
to overcrowding in ERs has been delays in moving
the sickest patients to inpatient beds. Admitted
Parrish Medical Center introduces ‘InQuickER,’ an advanceonline–registration service that allows patients to bypass theemergency–waiting room, hold their place in line at home
patients have often been boarded in the emergency departments or
hospital hallways for hours, resulting in overcrowding.
November begins the busy season for many ERs in Florida as
winter residents arrive.
Corcoran said PMC is working to inform more people in the
community about the InQuickER service. “It’s an option for them to
check out.”
PMC’s Natalie Sellers, director of communications and service
excellence, says InQuickER provides “for a better patient experience.
First and foremost, it is the patient experience we are trying to
enhance with this system, as well as quality and process improvement
from an ER perspective. And we are able to do that. It’s a great
process–improvement tool.”
Wait time is a significant component of patient satisfaction in the
emergency room and InQuickER patients spend little to no time in the
waiting room. Instead, they spend that wait time relaxing at home.
To use InQuickER, visit www.parrishmed.com and click on the
InQuickER icon on the home page. Follow the instructions to hold your
place in line.
PMC is one of a growing number of hospitals now using a system called ‘InQuickER’to better pace non–emergency patient flow into their waiting rooms. It allows patientsto register online, pay a small fee and hold their place in line while they wait at home.PMC’s Dr. Francisco Garcia, right, medical director of emergency medicine, andFrank Corcoran, executive director of critical care, say the new system helps thembetter manage patient flow and improve customer service.
BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth
DECEMBER 13, 2010Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information
BBN DIGEST
BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 12
Surfside Players to presentDickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’
In celebration of the Christmas season, Surfside
Players in Cocoa Beach will present the classic “A Christ-
mas Carol” as a radio–on–stage event, adapted by Anthony
Palermo.
The golden age of radio in the 1940s had skilled voice
actors performing a show live in the studio before an
audience of sponsors and VIPs. In 2010, the patrons of
Surfside’s playhouse are the VIPs.
A small cast will stand before microphones, in formal
dress and with scripts in hand, and become multiple
characters from the Charles Dickens classic, while sound
effects will set the background and mood of 19th century
London.
Carols will be sung in the lobby before the show begins.
The show is directed by Joan Dunn.
Performances of “A Christmas Carol” are set for
Dec. 10–19 (two weekends), on Fridays and Saturdays at
8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Admission is $10. This show
is appropriate for all ages.
Surfside Playhouse is on the corner of Brevard Avenue
and Fifth Street South. For more information about the
presentation, call 783–3127 or visit
www.surfsideplayers.com.
Unique holiday gifts at the Astronaut StoreFor holiday shoppers searching for elite and unusual
gifts, the Astronaut Store (www.astronautstore.org), a
space boutique, offers rare and priceless items. Sales from
the store benefit the nonprofit Astronaut Scholarship
Foundation. The store boasts unique gifts as space relics
and prints signed by former astronauts John Glenn,
Buzz Aldrin, James Lovell and Fred Haise. The inventory
includes hundreds of rare items signed by astronaut
legends covering all eras of space travel, from the Mercury
program to the golden age of Apollo to today’s space
shuttle. The astronauts donated their signatures so that
100 percent of the proceeds would support the next
generation of technological leaders through scholarships
the ASF provides. The ASF has awarded more than
$3 million to students nationwide. For more information,
call 455–7013 or visit www.astronautscholarship.org.
Rain barrel workshop offered Dec. 11Residents who are interested in putting rainwater to
use in their landscapes and gardens, rather than watching
it run down streets and driveways, washing pollutants into
water bodies, will have the opportunity to create their own
rain barrels at a workshop sponsored by the Brevard
County Natural Resources Management Office, UCF
Stormwater Academy, University of Florida Cooperative
Extension, and Community Matters Inc. The workshop is
scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Univer-
sity of Florida Brevard County Extension, 3695 Lake
Drive, in Cocoa. This fun, informative workshop will allow
participants to learn about the benefits of collecting rain
while enjoying hands–on construction of 55–gallon rain
barrels. The rain–barrel kit fee is $45, paid by cash or
check at the door the day of the program. To register for
the workshop or for more details about the program, call
Elizabeth Melvin at 633–2016, extension 56721, or visit
www.brevstorm.org.
Michaels mens Wearpick up BBN
11/29/10page 12
Visit BrevardBusinessNews.com for Advertising InformationDECEMBER 13, 2010 BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 13
BBN DIGESTDec. 11 concert at King Centerto feature a Southwestern flavor
The Brevard Community Chorus, along with the
Brevard Children’s Chorus and members of the Brevard
Symphony Orchestra, will present “A Celebration of the
Season” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, in the King
Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Road,
on the Brevard Community College campus in Melbourne.
The choruses and orchestra will be joined by soloists
from the choir in a portion of the program dedicated to
Spanish language carols and lullabies.
An introduction to Christmas traditions in Spanish–
speaking countries will be provided by Javier Molinares,
publisher of Central Florida bi–lingual newspaper “Al Dia
Today.”
Molinares will also sing a Columbian song of peace,
while daughter Kassy Baldwin, a senior at Bayside High
School, will dance in traditional costume.
The concert will include holiday choral favorites,
selections by the Brevard Children’s Chorus and music
of the season. Tickets are $20 for general admission and
$15 for students and senior citizens. They are available at
the King Center box office (242–2219), or by visiting
www.BrevardCommunityChorus.org.
Dr. Robert Lamb, chairman of the Department of Fine
and Performing Arts at BCC, thinks “A Celebration of the
Season” will be a “crowd–pleaser.”
“It’s always fun to perform with the Brevard Children’s
Chorus. And this year, we’ve added another dimension
with the Spanish–language portion of the program. I think
people are going to love it,” he said.
Women’s organization to meet in VieraSpace Coast Unit 75 of WAVES National will meet at
11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, at the “At Ease Club” of the
Indian River Colony Club on Murrell Road in Viera. This is
a Christmas luncheon, to be followed by a business
meeting and entertainment. WAVES National welcomes
discharged, retired and active duty women from the sea
services. For additional details about the organization, call
Pamela McRoy at 626–4546.
Historic Pritchard House ready for holidaysThe Historic 1891 Pritchard House in Titusville will
host a community holiday gathering from 3 to 7 p.m. on
Dec. 16. A “sneak preview” of the interior of the house that
is decorated for the holidays is open to the public for a
donation of $5 on that day. Holiday music will be provided.
Extended tours of one hour can be arranged for groups of
12 at $5 per person, by calling Roz Foster at 267–4480. The
Historic Pritchard House is at 424 S. Washington Ave.
Faith Fellowship to host Christmas musicalFaith Fellowship Church in Melbourne will host a
Christmas musical production titled “A Time to Believe,”
Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 16, 17 and 18. The
program will be presented by the FFC Music Ministry.
Tickets are available for the two evening performances, as
well as the Saturday matinee, by calling the church office
at 259–7200. All seats are reserved; premier seating is
available for $5. Free seating will be offered on a limited
basis. Faith Fellowship Church is at 2820 Business Center
Blvd.
Light Festpick up BBN
12/0610page 9
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DECEMBER 13, 2010Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising InformationBREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 14
BBN DIGESTUCF developing green jet fuel of the future; saveairlines money, reduce environmental impact
ORLANDO — Algae–based biofuel could someday power commercial jets, courtesy of
the University of Central Florida and its New Mexico partner.
Engineers at UCF and New Mexico State University are collaborating on a $2.4 million
grant from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop the fuel, which would save
airlines money and reduce planes’ impact on the environment.
“We are developing a cleaner, sustainable fuel that would have applications through-
out aviation, from passenger and cargo airplanes to military jets,” said Jay Kapat, a
mechanical engineering professor at UCF working on the project.
Lead researcher Shuguang Deng, a chemical engineering professor at NMSU, said only
algae can meet the demands for a renewable energy source to power aircraft.
“Algae have the highest energy content of plants,” Shuguang said. “I expect that in five
to 10 years, we’ll start seeing algal biofuels on the market.”
Several groups around the country are developing algae–based fuel. In January 2009,
Continental Airlines became the first U.S. commercial carrier to conduct a demonstration
flight using an alternative fuel that included some algae.
EADS, the maker of the Airbus, earlier this year completed a demonstration flight
fueled by an algae mix. The plane was a diamond aircraft, much smaller than a commer-
cial jet. However, EADS publicly committed to developing an algae–based fuel because it
has the potential to be more efficient, less costly and better for the environment.
Florida has slowly been getting into the algae–biofuel business. Aurora Biofuels has
been researching and producing algae–based fuel in Vero Beach since 2007. Algenol
Biofuels Inc. has announced plans for a pilot–scale biorefinery in the Fort Myers area.
Kapat said the UCF/NMSU project should create new economic development opportu-
nities in Florida and New Mexico.
“We are at a crossroads,” Kapat said. “This is a great opportunity to be strategically
placed to be part of a whole new generation of innovation in aviation and space.”
Others working on the algae project at UCF include Richard Blair from the Chemistry
Department and Yongho Sohn and Ranganathan Kumar from Mechanical, Materials and
Aerospace Engineering.
Kapat, who joined UCF in 1997, has a doctorate from MIT and has received six patents
for his research. His research is funded by more than $9 million worth of grants.
He is a Lockheed Martin Professor of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineer-
ing at UCF, and leads the Siemens Center of Excellence on campus. He also is associate
director of the Florida Center for Advanced Aero–Propulsion and director of the Center for
Advanced Turbines and Energy Research.
Caregiver classes offered at Sunflower HouseThe Sunflower House and the East Central Florida Memory Disorder Clinic are
offering two classes focused on helping caregivers cope with a loved one who has been
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. “Making New Holiday Memories
When Your Loved One Has Alzheimer’s Disease” will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday,
Dec. 15. Farah Sivolella from the East Central Florida Memory Disorder Clinic will
conduct the class. At 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, Sivolella will present “Caregiving and
Anger.” To register for these classes, call 452–4341.
Fifth Avenue Art Gallery to host receptionThe Fifth Avenue Art Gallery at 1470 Highland Ave. in Melbourne will host a recep-
tion from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, to kick off the new exhibit showcasing the
expansive possibilities of black–and–white art. The opening reception, free of charge and
open to the public, is part of the First Friday Art Walk in Eau Gallie. The show is titled
“Black, White and. . ?” The gallery is located in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne,
across the street from the Brevard Museum of Art. For additional details about the show,
call 259–8261 or visit www.fifthavenueartgallery.com.
LogiChem 2011 to be held in AntwerpLogiChem, now in its 10th year, will be held April 5–7 in Antwerp. This event is for
senior chemical supply–chain and global–logistics directors, service providers and other
industry professionals. More than 250 people are expected to attend the program, which
will feature 45 world–leading chemical supply–chain experts. The world’s top chemical
companies, including DuPont, BASF, Clariant, Dow Chemical and Lyondell Basell, will
have representation at the conference. For full details, visit www.logichemicaleurope.cpm.
Florida Business Bank
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BBN DIGESTBrevard Community College students to begintaking new college placement exam in the fall
Incoming students at Brevard Community College will be taking a new placement
exam, effective fall 2011. As a result of a new Florida Department of Education mandate,
the Postsecondary Education Readiness Exam (PERT) will replace the College Board
Accuplacer Placement Test (CPT), which had been used for the past 17 years.
The new exam, like the one currently being used, will be given to incoming freshman to
determine placement in college level English and mathematics courses.
Students cannot pass or fail a placement exam; it is strictly for placement purposes and
is required by the Florida Board of Education for all Florida colleges and universities. If a
student’s scores determine he or she is not ready for college–level English or mathematics,
the student will be placed into preparatory or remedial courses in reading, writing, or
mathematics.
BCC will begin to phase in the PERT during the spring 2011 term. The CPT will still
be used during the spring term to place students into courses; however, current plans call
for the PERT to be administered to a selected number of preparatory–class sections in the
first or second week of class to help determine what scores should correlate with specific
preparatory courses.
The PERT will be used as the primary placement mechanism by the fall 2011 Term.
The Florida Department of Education expects that “the test will more accurately than
previous instruments, measure the knowledge, skills and abilities that have been
identified as foundational to entry into freshman level college–credit bearing courses
without the need for remediation.”
More accurate placement into courses is essential considering the correlation between
students succeeding in English and mathematic courses and success in the rest of their
college career.
“English and mathematics are the building blocks to a student’s education,” said
Monica Sutton, specialist for advising and testing at BCC in Cocoa. “Students that are
well–prepared academically are much more likely to stay in college and complete their
degree or certificate.”
Because of the significant impact the placement test has on college students, the
Florida Department of Education asked all colleges and universities to submit an
implementation plan for the PERT by September 2010. BCC submitted its plan as
requested, she said.
BCC’s plan includes comprehensive training for testing staff, and the creation of an
Implementation Team composed of Testing and Student Services staff, administration
and faculty. This team will direct the transition at BCC and communicate the changes to
BCC students, faculty and staff, as well as communicate with the area high schools.
Dr. Phil Simpson, provost and dean of faculty, is leading BCC’s transition to the PERT.
“Planning for the transition from the CPT to the PERT is critically important to the
success of our students,” Dr. Simpson said. “Transitioning from one college placement
instrument to another is a complex process, impacting all areas of the College, the
community around us, and the students who come to us. Therefore, a plan that is
comprehensive yet flexible is required to ensure a seamless transition.”
Dr. Simpson said he is confident BCC’s team is well–prepared for the challenges that
lie ahead. “We have a strong implementation team in place to guide the College and the
community through this critical transition.”
For more information about the PERT, contact the Florida Department of Education at
(850) 245–0407 or visit www.fldoe.org/cc.
Hafer House Jazz to perform at museumHafer House Jazz will perform 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17, at the Brevard Art
Museum in Melbourne. This group delights audiences with swing–based jazz. The
program is part of Jazz Fridays held at the museum each month. Admission is $10; there
is no charge for museum members. Jazz Fridays are sponsored by WFIT and AT&T Real
Yellow Pages. The museum is at 1463 Highland Ave., in the Eau Gallie Arts District of
Melbourne. Call 242–0737 for additional details about Jazz Fridays.
Blood–pressure screenings at Sunflower HouseThe Sunflower House and VNA Space Coast are offering free blood– pressure screen-
ings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Dec. 21. No appointment is necessary. If you have any
questions about the screenings, call 452–4341. The Sunflower House is a senior and
caregiver resource center located in Merritt Square Mall.
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BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 16
Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust in each of the past 12 years,
shows that worker contributions to health premiums have gone up 47 percent since 2005,
while premiums rose 27 percent, wages increased just 18 percent and overall inflation
rose 12 percent.
Although preferred–provider plans still cover most workers, the only type of coverage
that actually increased were high–deductible plans coupled with health–savings accounts,
which now cover 13 percent of all employees, up from 8 percent in 2009.
“With the economy struggling, businesses have been shifting more of the costs of
health insurance to workers through premiums, deductibles, and other cost–sharing,” said
Kaiser President Drew Altman. While those changes may help keep premiums from
rising as steeply, “it also means that employer coverage is less comprehensive.”
No one knows just how costs will change for 2011 — still three years away from the
premium subsidies and purchasing exchanges and expanded coverage promised under the
Affordable Care Act approved earlier this year.
One survey done by the William Mercer consulting firm in late summer found employ-
ers anticipating health–premium costs to rise by 9 percent to 12 percent, and that they
would again seek to have workers pay a greater share of those costs — something many
workers with fall health–plan–enrollment periods are already seeing.
Employers in the survey attributed a couple of percentage points of the premium
boosts to the added benefits mandated under the health–reform bill, such as the elimina-
tion of lifetime limits on basic benefits and guaranteed coverage of dependents through
age 26 and greater coverage of preventive services.
It’s unclear to what extent attempts by newly empowered congressional Republicans to
repeal, alter, or de–fund the health plan might have on the health–care market during
2011 and beyond, but most companies and insurers are preparing for continued compli-
ance with the law.
While some workers will simply opt out of coverage because of higher premiums, most
will try to keep paying their share and maintain coverage, but may find high deductibles
or co–pays daunting and opt to delay or skip medical appointments, tests, and filling
prescriptions.
And that’s where the scrimping noted in the CDC survey comes into play.
Two studies published in the November issue of “Health Affairs” illustrate the impact
of co–pays for drugs.
Both showed that when employers or insurers dropped co–pays, patients were between
2 percent and 4 percent more likely to stay on track in taking life–saving drugs to prevent
strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and high blood pressure.
What the research could not show is how much hospital care those patients avoided
because they took their drugs as prescribed.
Health CareContinued from page 1
Chamber installs its officers, board membersThe Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce installed its officers and board
members for 2011 during the organization’s annual dinner at Captain Butchers in
Sebastian.
The new officers are: Debbi Vickers, president; Theresa Tolle, vice president; and Bob
Daberkow, treasurer. The newly elected board members include Betty Lollio of Seacoast
National Bank and Maggie Sammons of Custom Air Systems.
Other board members are: Sandi Gehrke, TD Bank; Emily Holliman, Sebastian River
Medical Center; Michelle Napier, Dill & Evans; and Patti Jamar, Vero Fashion Outlets.
Joining them as appointed directors are Capt. Christy Lenz, Casual Cruisin’; Chuck
Mechling, Collier Club, Chris O’Rourke, CPA; Ted Panckiewicz, Park Place; Beverly Paris,
Paris Productions; and Shawn Reeves, Merriweather Designs.
The 2010 Chamber Member of the Year was awarded to Sebastian River Medical
Center.
Also receiving honors were: Jamar, Chamber Director of the Year; Debbie Lloyd Lee
and Truly Nolen, Ambassadors of the Year; and Tom Whipple, Volunteer of the Year.
The Chamber recognized Daisy Knowles, marketing director of Sebastian River
Medical Center. She was presented a lifetime honorary membership in the Chamber for
her 37 years of service to the community.
The Chamber has more than 450 members. For more information, visit
www.SebastianChamber.com.
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BBN SPECIAL FOCUSHealth First Inc.Continued from page 1numerous potential patient benefits.
“We have already equaled the results of the gold
standard, which is traditional open surgery,” said MIMA
urologist Dr. Andrew Zabinski.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see it pass the traditional
method as we find new applications for it. We’re not only
doing prostate surgery using The da Vinci System, but
we’re also performing kidney surgery, removing tumors
from kidneys and putting the kidneys back together,” he
added.
The da Vinci System allows physicians to perform
surgeries through tiny openings. The surgeon has the
benefit of greater visualization and control of the instru-
ments. Three–dimensional lens magnify the surgical field
up to 10 times.
“When we are working in the deep pelvis, underneath
the pelvis bone, it’s a challenging area to get exposure to.
With the 3D focus, it really gives us the view we need to
avoid structures and decrease blood loss,” said Dr.
Zabinski.
The da Vinci System consists of an ergonomic surgeon
console, a patient–side cart with four interactive robotic
arms, a high–performance vision system, and proprietary
EndoWrist instruments.
Dr. Zabinski said he has performed 15 prostate
surgeries, or prostatectomies, using The da Vinci System.
These are “localized cancers,” meaning they are early stage
tumors in the prostate that have not spread to other areas.
“The patients I have seen at two months are continent
and their PSAs have been zero. Overall, they have been
very pleased with their surgeries,” he said.
Prostate cancer deaths are expected to jump 17 percent
this year as compared to 2009, according to estimates
based on National Cancer Institute data. The institute also
projects a 13 percent rise in diagnosed prostate–cancer
cases this year.
The robotic system is one of a number of investments
Health First is making in leading–edge technologies for its
hospitals. The investments total several million dollars.
The new Viera Hospital, scheduled to open April 2, is
installing a Somatom Definition Flash, or a “Flash CT”
scanner. These machines are being touted throughout the
industry for their speed and radiation–dose reduction.
The scanner features two X–ray beams, yet minimizes
the patient’s exposure to radiation and time required for
testing, said Dianna Marks, Viera Hospital’s radiology
director.
“It’s one of the fastest CT scanners on the market and
Viera Hospital is the third facility in the state of Florida to
have this technology. This piece of equipment will allow
our technologists to scan patients faster, and there is
minimized radiation exposure for the patients,” she said.
The manufacturer of the machine, Siemens Healthcare,
calls it the “world’s fastest CT scanner,” but also one with
the lowest radiation exposure.
Marks said a scan of the chest cavity can be done in
“less than one second (just 0.6 seconds),” capturing images
of the heart in less than half a heart–beat, and exposing
the patient to much less radiation.
She said some of the benefits of the new Flash CT
include decreased time for testing patients who have
difficulty “remaining still or holding their breath,” specifi-
cally children and trauma patients, and increased comfort
for patients with chronic medical conditions who require
frequent CT imaging.
“We can scan a whole body in less than 5 seconds, and
these are high–quality images,” Marks said, adding that
some machines can take up to 5 minutes to do a full–body
scan.
She and Liz Varecka are setting up the radiology
department for the hospital. Varecka is the manager of
radiology for Viera Hospital.
At Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa
Beach, physicians are offering a new option for patients
who have nerve compression and are no longer responding
to pain medications and epidural steroid injections.
The new surgical treatment is called Minimally
Invasive Lumbar Decompression, or MILD. Cape
Canaveral Hospital began offering the procedure in
early 2010.
“This procedure is just beginning to take off nation-
wide,” said Todd Bibens, Cape Canaveral Hospital’s
director of clinical nursing.
“Generally, it is for patients 55 to 65 who have nerve
compression that is secondary to central spinal stenosis.
These people find it difficult to walk more than a short
distance without having some type of leg pain from the
nerve compassion,” he said.
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a debilitating condition
affecting more than 1.2 million patients a year in America.
MILD is the first therapeutic option to provide relief from
LSS, as well as significantly improve mobility, according to
Vertos Medical Inc., the device manufacturer.
Cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for
decompression of the lumbar spine, MILD removes small
portions of the bone and tissue reducing the pressure on
the nerves through a low–risk posterior approach. The
entire procedure takes place using a 5.1 mm MILD Portal,
only about the diameter of a pencil.
“During the procedure, the physician makes two small
incisions in the back, to either side of the lumbar spine,”
Bibens said. “The procedure is performed using fluoro-
scopic guidance.”
MILD is done in an outpatient setting. Dr. Tejash
Dungarani and Dr. Stanley Golovac of Cape Canaveral
Hospital both perform MILD.
In the January/February 2010 issue of the peer–
reviewed journal “Pain Physician,” an observation study
demonstrates the “acute safety” of the procedure in the
treatment of LSS. The study found no reports of patient
complications related to the MILD devices or technique.
Study data was collected from a survey conducted by
14 physicians at 12 U.S. centers. The survey called for a
retrospective chart review of 90 consecutive LSS patients
treated with MILD between January 2008 and July 2009.
Health First’s investment in new technologies contin-
ues at Palm Bay Hospital, where the company recently
purchased a SpyGlass Direct Visualization System.
The diagnostic tool is designed to provide direct
visualization into the billiary ducts to identify stones and
strictures, said Regina Green, a registered nurse at Palm
Bay Hospital. She said the system includes a monitor, light
source, and camera.
“SpyGlass is a fantastic tool that allows physicians to
look into the ducts with a camera. Before, we could only
thread a catheter to do this. Now, we can put a camera in
the duct and look to see if there is a tumor or a stone
present,” said Green.
The SpyGlass tool is used in a procedure called
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio–Pancretography, or
ERCP, she said.
The specialized endoscopic procedure is performed with
fluoroscopy and contrast injection to examine and treat
conditions of the bile ducts and pancreas, such as removing
gallstones, opening obstructed bile ducts, and obtaining
biopsies in suspected tumors, Green said.
Conventional ERCP is hindered by the flat, two–
dimensional, black–and–white image rendered by
fluoroscopy, which can make it difficult to determine where
to obtain tissue samples and potentially lead to an
inaccurate or inconclusive clinical diagnosis.
Green said Palm Bay Hospital purchased the SpyGlass
instrument about two months ago and physicians have
used it in a number of procedures.
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The world’s most advanced medicine is now available for the
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