Senate President Kathleen Passidomo appointed Couris to advance
innovative solutions to Florida's
health care challenges.
TAMPA,
Fla., May 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo appointed John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General
Hospital, last month to serve as a member of the Health Care
Innovation Council, a statewide volunteer organization established
this year to advance innovation in health care as part of the
Senate's priority Live Healthy initiative.
"Florida can serve as a
national model in delivering high-quality health care to all
Floridians. With support from Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and other leaders on the
state level, we can make strategic investments in innovation that
have the potential to revolutionize the way we deliver care in the
Sunshine State," said Couris. "I'm honored to be a part of the new
Health Care Innovation Council, where we will focus on dynamic and
strategic solutions that can increase access, cut costs and improve
patient outcomes."
The Florida Legislature established the Live Healthy Innovation
Council with the passage of Senate Bill 7018, proposed by the
Senate Health Policy Committee and co-sponsored by Senator
Gayle Harrell. Representative
Karen Gonzalez Pittman sponsored the
bill's House companion. The Legislature passed SB 7018 during the
2024 legislative session with overwhelming support from both
chambers. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on
March 21.
"John Couris was instrumental in
the development of the Live Healthy initiative. His
transformational vision for our health care system is increasing
access, improving care and reducing costs for patients," said
President Passidomo. "I am pleased to appoint him to the Live
Healthy Innovation Council."
The goal of the legislation is to harness the innovation and
creativity of entrepreneurs and businesses, in collaboration with
the state's health care system and stakeholders, to lead the
discussion on innovations that will address challenges in the
health care system, transform the delivery of care and strengthen
the quality of health care in Florida.
The Health Care Innovation Council consists of 15 members who
will lead discussions with innovators, developers and implementers
of technologies, workforce pathways, service delivery models or
other solutions. Based on the public input and information gathered
at public meetings, the bill requires the council to create best
practice recommendations and focus areas for the advancement of the
delivery of health care in Florida, with an emphasis on:
- Increasing efficiency in the delivery of health care.
- Reducing strain on the health care workforce.
- Increasing public access to health care.
- Improving patient outcomes.
- Reducing unnecessary emergency department visits; and
- Reducing costs for patients and the state without reducing the
quality of patient care.
Through a revolving loan program within the Florida Department
of Health (DOH), low-interest loans will enable applicants to
implement one or more innovative technologies, workforce pathways,
or service delivery models to:
- Fill a demonstrated need.
- Obtain or upgrade necessary equipment, hardware, and
materials.
- Adopt new technologies or systems; or
- A combination thereof to improve the quality and delivery of
health care in measurable and sustainable ways that will lower
costs and allow that value to be passed onto the health care
consumer.
The Health Care Innovation Council will review loan applications
and submit to DOH a prioritized list of proposals recommended for
funding.
As president and CEO of Tampa General, Couris has led the
hospital to become one of the leading academic health systems in
the nation through the implementation of emerging technologies and
innovations.
In partnership with University of South
Florida Morsani College of Medicine (USF Health), Couris and
Tampa General established the Tampa Medical and Research District.
Modeled after renowned medical districts in the nation's greatest
cities, the district is an ever-growing hub of world-class clinical
care, academics, research and biotechnology.
Couris oversaw the creation of the CareComm command center
within Tampa General nearly five years ago, which uses data and
analytics to increase efficiencies and direct hospital resources to
better support patients. As a result of this effort, Tampa General
has improved patient outcomes and reduced the length of stay,
resulting in lower risk for infection and overall health costs.
Recent adaptations of the CareComm command center, which relies on
GE Healthcare technologies, focuses on early warning and management
of sepsis which had reduced the sepsis mortality rate at Tampa
General to a quarter of the national average.
Couris also spearheaded the launch of a new, innovative program
– TGH at Home – which provides access to best-in-class hospital
care from health care providers in the comfort of a patient's home.
Since the program's launch, TGH at Home has demonstrably reduced
the risk of readmission for participating patients.
As part of the Health Care Innovation Council, Couris will
advance innovative, science-driven, reproducible solutions, capable
of meeting the state's growing need for health care.
ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL
HOSPITAL
Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit,
academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America
and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level
l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the
highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World
Report's 2023-24 Best Hospitals, with six specialties ranking among
the top 50 best hospital programs in the
United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as
a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top
Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to
growing and developing its team members is recognized by two
prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – in the top 100 nationally in
the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women and top 25 in
Florida in the 2023 America's Best
Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for
the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay,
and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit of
approximately $240.3 million in the
form of health care for underinsured patients, community education,
and financial support to community health organizations in
Tampa Bay. It is one of the
nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the
primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of
Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital
transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding
counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General
houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its
32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West
Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's
Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive
care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa
General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North which is comprised
of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical
Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH
Outpatient Center, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH
Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm
Beach counties. Tampa Bay
area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH
Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a
medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone,
tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital
(tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country,
Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open
a clinical command center that provides real-time situational
awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower
cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.
Media Contact:
Amanda
Bevis
(202) 680-9262 cell
Amanda@RedHillsFL.com
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SOURCE Tampa General Hospital