Governor Crist Visits Hospital

Shriners Hospitals' Role in Florida Health Care Highlighted

Florida Governor Charlie Crist and Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Secretary Andrew Agwunobi, M.D., recently visited Shriners Hospitals for Children – Tampa.

The special guests were greeted warmly by Shriners, patients, staff and volunteers. Gabby Falcone, a patient at the hospital, presented Gov. Crist with a Shriners Hospitals for Children logo pin as a souvenir of the visit.

One of the top priorities for the governor is improved and accessible quality health care for all Floridians, especially children. The governor commended Shriners Hospitals staff for their service to the state, and beyond, for the orthopaedic care the hospital provides, at no charge, to children under the age of 18. The Tampa Shriners Hospital provides care to more than 13,000 children a year throughout Florida and Georgia.

Dr. Agwunobi and his agency have also recognized the Tampa hospital for its key role in bridging the gap in accessible pediatric orthopaedic specialty care within the state of Florida. AHCA is responsible for many aspects of health care in Florida, including the administration of the Medicaid program, health facility licensure, inspection and regulatory enforcement, and the operation of the Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis.

Their brief visit to the hospital included tours of the orthotics and prosthetics department, where orthotists custom-make artificial limbs for orthopaedic patients, and the outpatient clinic areas. The governor took time to greet every patient and staff member along the tour. The group also took part in a live telemedicine demonstration between the Tampa and Cincinnati Shriners Hospitals.

Telemedicine allows Shriners Hospitals to follow-up with some patients and their hometown medical providers using video/audio technology. The technology allows for “virtual” check-ups between patients and medical specialists who maybe separated by great distances. It works like a phone call, but with images, and allows for real-time communications.

The Tampa hospital staff and Florida Shriners have worked hard to raise public and legislative awareness of the specialized services offered by Shriners Hospitals’ one-of-a-kind health care system, and were honored to personally welcome the governor and Dr. Agwunobi to the hospital.

Photos:

Upper left: James Full, executive vice president and COO of Shriners Hospitals for Children greets Governor Crist at the Tampa hospital.

Right: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Dr. Andrew Agwunobi.