Immersive experience provided to Leadership Englewood class on Healthcare Day

What do a miniature therapy horse, a fire engine, a robot and a warm-scented towel all have in common? They were all featured prominently during Healthcare Day for the Leadership Englewood 2024 class.

The program, led by the Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce, provides an opportunity for those in the business community to achieve personal and professional development by learning more about the community, testing leadership skills, strengthening their network and making a meaningful contribution to the community. During the nine-month program, the class focuses on various topics such as tourism, not-for-profits and education. Healthcare Day is designed to provide an understanding of the growing need for healthcare resources and services available for the community.

HCA Florida Englewood Hospital kicked off the day, hosting the group for an "insider's look" at the hospital operations. Class members met with CEO Joe Rudisill to hear about services provided to more than 45,000 patients annually and plans to break ground for a new freestanding emergency center in the Wellen Park® residential community in April.

After donning surgical-grade protective gear and learning how to perform a surgical hand scrub, participants learned about the robotic-assisted surgery program at the hospital. Class members took turns utilizing the surgical console where the specially trained surgeon performs procedures using a highly magnified 3DHD image with state-of-the-art instruments that bend and rotate beyond the abilities of the human hand. Robotic surgery allows for faster recovery time, less need for narcotic pain medicine, minimal scarring and shorter inpatient hospital stays.

The Leadership Englewood group visited patients at the hospital to share get-well cards designed by the 2D Art Class students of Lemon Bay High School and hand out scented warm towels. Art teacher Nicole Lee shared, "We discussed how initially it's difficult to make a card for someone you've never met, but how nice it is to get a creative handmade card. Several students discovered they loved making cards for people, and a few made 30 cards each. I am happy to offer students an opportunity to use their talents to bless others."

In a stop at the Englewood Area Fire Department Station 71, Chief Kevin Easton provided an overview of how his crew is often the first to respond when someone is having a health crisis in the field now that they have paramedics on the units. "Three of our four stations have advanced life support capability,” said Chief Easton, "We have four more firefighters and paramedics in school right now." As he spoke, his crew moved into action to respond to an automatic fire alarm on Manasota Key.

Hope, the miniature therapy horse from Branded Heart Stables in Englewood, met the group at Brookdale Rotonda Senior Living, where they visited with the residents to brighten their day and tour the facility.

The class also visited the HCA Florida Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, Rejuvenate Mobile IV Hydration and Gulf Pines Memorial Park.

Englewood Hospital Chief Medical Officer, Paul Chupka, DO said, “We have supported the Leadership Englewood program for many years. There are many ways to champion health. Healthcare day allows the class to broaden their view on the health needs and services available in our community.”

Other sponsors of the day included The Waverly Restaurant & Bar, Leslie Edwards, broker with Key Realty, Gulf Pines Memorial Park and Cornerstone Pharmacy. To learn more, visit Leadership Englewood.

To learn more about HCA Florida Englewood Hospital or to find a physician, visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.