Bostick Heart Center

After eighteen years of anticipation and hard work, Winter Haven Hospital physicians and staff have finally received state approval to proceed with open-heart surgery.

Winter Haven Hospital’s first cardiac surgery procedure was performed on October 5, 2005. To date the team has completed over 140 heart surgeries, which include aorta-coronary bypass surgeries, valve replacements, valve repairs, and sometimes a combination of both. Our surgeons have also performed vascular surgeries including carotid endarterectomies, thoracic and abdominal aneurysm repairs, lung surgeries and implanted pacemakers and defibrillators.

Hospital CEO Lance Anastasio expressed the thoughts of many people associated with our new heart center, “We are extremely fortunate to be able to team up with Dr. Michael Carmichael and the Ocala Heart Institute. They share our commitment to excellence and compassion and they have demonstrated in other locations that they are the best.” The Ocala Heart Institute, based at Monroe Regional Medical Center, in Ocala, annually receives recognition as one of the “Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospitals in the Country.” The Ocala Heart Institute’s quality reputation has resulted in their being asked to start heart programs at hospitals in Leesburg, Inverness, Venice, Stuart and Winter Haven.

Dr. Carmichael was instrumental in the crucial planning phase for our new heart center, including selecting of equipment and requirements for the construction of 2 new state of the art operating rooms. He also arranged for Winter Haven Hospital employees to receive training at Monroe Regional Medical Center in August 2005. Hospital registered nurses and anesthesia paramedics traveled to Monroe Regional for 6 weeks learning to scrub in on a variety of cardiovascular cases. They also learned about techniques, supplies, and equipment. Our CVOR (Cardiovascular Operating Room) staff included: Catherine Downard, RN, Assistant Unit Manager, James Fuentes, RN, Rochelle Jereos, RN, Jana Summerall, RN, Susie Kolb, Anesthesia Paramedic and John De La Rosa, surgical assistant. In addition to mastering the responsibilities associated with a new open-heart program, all four Registered Nurses have taken and passed the national certification exam for operating room nurses (CNOR) in the last five months.

Leslie Medders, RN, BSN, MSA, Director of Surgical Services stated, “Our staff went to Monroe Regional as individually good operating nurses and returned to Winter Haven Hospital as a well honed CVOR team. Daily they display competency, caring and compassion in placing the patient’s needs first.”

Staff hired to work in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit also trained at Monroe for three weeks and now provide exceptional services here. Debi Wolf, ARNP, Assistant Vice President, Tim Spoor, RN, April Guindon, RN, Susi Mathai, RN, Ruth Clifford, RN, Carol Parker, RN, Billy Boquiren, RN, Beth Vamos, RN, and Neil Watkins, RN, initially oriented in the CVICU. Amy Potthast, RN and Elena Chance, RN joined the staff shortly after the unit was opened.

Debi Wolf explains, “Long term, highly experienced intensive care staff chose to be in the new CVICU. We all share a commitment to be the best and we are striving to assure the unit is patient and family friendly. Patients remain in CVICU for one to two days after surgery, and then go to our Progressive Care Unit.”

Progressive Care Unit (PCU) staff trained for three weeks in the cardiovascular unit at Monroe Regional and received excellent experience as well. Sue Starr, RN, Unit Manager of Winter Haven Hospital PCU explains, “In addition to the great experience at the Ocala Heart Institute we also did our own extensive research and training to assure we would be ready.”

Our cardiac rehab team developed the Bostick Heart Center cardiac surgery education program, which is a wonderful resource for all heart surgery patients and their families. A resource manual for each patient and a formal education class for patients and families prior to surgery was also developed. Lisa Whidden, RN, Director of Cardiac Rehab notes, “In addition to these educational opportunities we are also working on creating a video for Bostick Heart Center patients. This will be another asset for patients and families.”

Dr. Carmichael has done a remarkable job selecting our lead, full time Bostick Heart Center surgeon. We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. David Evans lead our open-heart surgical team. He graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Indiana University hospitals. Dr. Evans practiced cardiovascular surgery in Indianapolis until his relocation to Florida in 2006.

Dr. Evans has been very impressed in his time with Winter Haven Hospital to date. He explains, “the clinical competence and compassion of hospital staff is exceptional. They are the best I have experienced in 15 years of providing heart surgery.”

Dr. Nicholas Fernandez is our primary, highly skilled anesthesiologist and intensivist. Beyond his basic anesthesia training Dr. Fernandez has received special education in perioperative cardiovascular and thoracic care room. He follows each patient after surgery in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Fernandez graduated from Escuela Colombiana de Medicino, Bogota’, Colombia. He completed his anesthesia residency and cardiovascular fellowship in Colombia and then at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Jersey. He has practiced cardiovascular anesthesia in Bogotá, Colombia and in Florida. Dr. Fernandez notes “Winter Haven Hospital has the perfect combination to succeed: a committed and competent team, and state of the art equipment, including the latest innovations in cerebral oximetry monitoring to prevent strokes, and the finest transesophageal echocardiography for use during surgery and in the Intensive Care Unit.” Both Dr. Evans and Dr. Fernandez received extensive training at the Ocala Heart Institute in Ocala prior to joining us.

Doing what needed to be done necessitated teamwork. Winter Haven Hospital Planning and Engineering staff helped by assuring two new operating rooms, with state of the art equipment, were constructed. Additionally, they assured that the new Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit was created. Other departments vital to the opening of the Bostick Heart Center included: Operating Room, Materials Management for supplies, instruments, and equipment, Medical Imaging (x-ray), Lab, the Blood Bank, Pharmacy, Respiratory Care, Nutrition Services, Cardiac Catheterization and Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Mary Jo Schreiber, RN, Vice President of Patient Services, and an experienced cardiac specialist, has looked forward to Winter Haven Hospital having this service for years. She notes, “We have been seeking this crucial service for our community for over 18 years. I am so excited about the remarkable team we have. Now, people needing this service can be close to their loved ones and close to their cardiologist and they simply cannot get better cardiac care than they can right here.”

In summary, Winter Haven Hospital President/CEO, Lance Anastasio explains, “We are extremely proud of what has been accomplished and we are very grateful to Mr. Guy Bostick for his generous donation in support of our cardiovascular services. With his active participation on the Board of Trustees and his philanthropic support it is very fitting the Bostick Heart Center bears his name. We are totally confident that should anyone need the services of the Bostick Heart Center, their heart will be in the right place.”