Hospitals

Medical giant HCA Healthcare, which operates 180 hospitals in the U.S. and Britain, says the personal data of about 11 million patients in 20 states may have been stolen in a data breach.Samples of the data, including addresses, phone numbers, emails and birth dates, were posted to an online forum popular with cybercrooks by a hacker trying to sell them.

An influx of visitors and residents this time of year typically means more activity in hospitals, but Lee Health is experiencing a record-high number of hospitalized patients, prompting health system officials to urge people with only minor injuries or illnesses to avoid going to the ER and seek alternative paths to care.

COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across the Lee Health System have more than doubled over the past month amid a nationwide surge in coronavirus infections. Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System (NCH) and Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) report experiencing a similar uptick, although the number of COVID patients requiring ICU-level care remains low.

The Hospital for Special Surgery is the world’s largest academic medical center specialized in musculoskeletal health. Thousands of Florida residents are among patients from more than 100 countries and all 50 states who have travelled to New York City for treatment at the HSS main campus. As part of the collaborative agreement, NCH will build a state-of-the-art facility offering outpatient and inpatient services, including a jointly owned and operated ambulatory surgery center, and imaging and rehabilitation services, all under the guidance of HSS to provide residents with the highest-quality musculoskeletal care closer to home. The new facility will be on the campus of the NCH North Naples Hospital with construction scheduled to start on the two-year project after the holidays.

Trustees help guide philanthropic initiatives for Lee Health Foundation. Since 1995, the Foundation, its supporters and trustees have made it possible for Lee Health to serve a growing community with comprehensive medical services close to home.

Former Tennessee nurse RaDonda Vaught was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and abuse of an impaired adult for giving a patient the wrong medication. Vaught now faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison, and some nurses believe the case sets a worrisome precedent for the criminalization of medical mistakes.

State health officials reported 8,452 new COVID-19 cases, Wednesday, for a total of 1,134,383 cases.The Florida Department of Health also reported 137 new coronavirus-related deaths, Dec. 14, increasing the statewide death toll to 20,271 fatalities since the start of the pandemic. Florida surpassed the 20,000-death mark on Saturday.

Thursday marked another record high day for coronavirus-related deaths in Florida with health officials reporting 156 fatalities. Thursday’s deaths mark an 18 percent increase over the previous single-day high of 132 deaths reported Tuesday.The statewide death toll now stands at 4,782 fatalities. Florida's seven-day average for deaths grew to more than 95 a day, Thursday, which is more than double the daily death average less than two weeks ago.

The current surge in COVID-19 cases is prompting local health officials to once again resume daily press briefings. As of Thursday morning, 87% of Lee Health’s ICU beds were full, and 60% of critical care beds were full at NCH hospitals.

A hospital in downtown Fort Lauderdale has been evacuated after it lost power.