​Today, with the help of Monroe County Veterans Affairs, Key West resident and Army Veteran Alvin Alce was formally issued a Purple Heart for wounds incurred as a direct result of enemy action while serving in Vietnam 53 years ago. Alce was one of 372 Americans wounded in the Battle For Hamburger Hill when he was hit several times by enemy small arms fire. He was joined by high-ranking military officials, county officials, and many of his family and friends at a packed house at Harvey Government Center in Key West.
 
In December 2019, Monroe County Veterans Affairs discovered Alce was never formally issued the Purple Heart for the wounds he suffered during combat in Vietnam. Monroe County Veterans Affairs petitioned the Department of the Army to formally correct his official military personnel record, which is now complete.
 
The Purple Heart is one of the most recognizable awards for military merit and wounds received in action. It is an award for those who bravely pay the high price of sacrifice for the freedom of Americans.
 
ALVIN ALCE’S BIO
Alce was born Dec. 17, 1949, in Key West and was drafted into the U.S. Army in August 1968. He was honorably discharged on Aug. 1, 1970. His decorations include the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device, and now a Purple Heart for his dedicated service to the United States. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry, Americal Division, and the 101st Airborne Division.
 

​The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released updated Medicare overall hospital quality star ratings on its Care Compare website, and Lower Keys Medical Center has improved to a 4 Star Rating. Of 213 hospitals in the State of Florida, only 55 have earned a rating of 4 or 5 stars. 
 
"We continue to focus on quality improvement and patient safety," said David Clay, CEO. "That is how we have been able to consistently improve our CMS Star rating over the past several years. It takes a dedicated team to move from a 3 Star to a 4 star and I am so proud of my colleagues at Lower Keys Medical Center. We have implemented multiple quality initiatives and measurements to guide us on our continuous quality improvement journey."
 
Lower Keys Medical Center performed well in the areas of Timely and Effective Care, Complications and Deaths, Unplanned Hospital Visits and Payment and Value of Care. 
 
The overall rating shows how well an individual hospital is performing compared to other hospitals in the US, on average. CMS uses more than 100 quality measures to determine a hospital's star rating. The ratings are designed to help individuals compare facilities and understand quality metrics. 
 
Lower Keys Medical Center has focused on several initiatives including establishment of an internal patient experience committee and an external Patient Family Advisory Council; daily reporting and discussion on patient experience surveys; executive and nurse leader rounding; hourly nursing patient rounding; enhanced bedside shift reporting; daily interdisciplinary team meeting addressing patient discharge needs and post-discharge follow up care; streamlined registration process; multidisciplinary approach to medication education for patients throughout their admission; enhanced infection prevention programs; and daily examination of readmissions with a focus on prevention. 
 
About:  Lower Keys Medical Center's accreditations include: The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program (re-accredited February 2022); American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center; The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center; The Joint Commission, for Laboratory Services; The American College of Radiology for Mammography; and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for Transthoracic Echocardiography (TEE). The hospital is also recognized by the American Heart Association's "Gold Plus "Get With the Guidelines" Stroke quality achievement award.

​Professionals from charitable organizations across the Keys will convene on Tuesday, September 13, for Florida Keys Nonprofit Day. The event, to be held from 1-5 p.m. at the Marathon Community Theatre, is free to paid staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations, students, and community members interested in nonprofit service.
 
Free registration for the September 13 event is available at cffk.org/nonprofitday.
 
The afternoon will include an education session presented by Naples-based John Riley, CFRE, vice president of philanthropy at United Way of Collier and the Keys, who will share “10 tips for donor relationships.” Professional development expert Dr. Janelle Abela, traveling from Canada to address the group, will explain how our local nonprofits can maximize success using inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. A networking reception is sponsored by First State Bank of the Florida Keys.
 
Florida Keys Nonprofit Day is presented by the Florida Keys Funders Alliance, led by the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, Ocean Reef Community Foundation and United Way of Collier and the Keys.
 
A limited number of Monroe County nonprofit professionals will have the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive online learning experience with Dr. Abela, organized by Reef Environmental Educational Foundation and funded by the Michael Dively Social Justice and Diversity Endowment at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. Participants in the IDEA Learning Group will work as a cohort devoting six hours per month from October 2022 to March 2023. Information is available at reef.org/idea.

​Keys Medical Group welcomes Jennifer Shue, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC. Shue is a certified family nurse practitioner who obtained her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL. She joins Courtney Bonner, D.O., board-certified internist, in Keys Medical Group - Primary Care at Searstown.
 
Keys Medical Group - Primary Care at Searstown providers offer general medical care for patients 16 years of age and older, including disease diagnosis and management, preventive medicine, annual wellness visits for men and women, and treatment for hypertension, diabetes, lipid disorders, and infectious diseases. Shue is passionate about providing care that is accessible, inclusionary, and non-judgmental. "I consider my relationship with a patient to be a 'partnership' because we both have to do our part to have positive outcomes," Shue said. 
 
Appointments, including telehealth, may be requested online at KeysMedicalGroup.com or by calling (305)293-4073. The Primary Care at Searstown office, located at 3224 N. Roosevelt in Key West, is open 7 days a week. New patients are welcome and most major insurance plans are accepted. 
 
About: Keys Medical Group is a multi-specialty practice of board-certified physicians and providers in Primary Care, General and Interventional Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery/Sports Medicine, Psychiatry and Pulmonology. 
 

​The City of Key West was honored to welcome U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda L. Fagan as she designated Key West as a Coast Guard City.
The Thursday morning ceremony at the Truman Waterfront Park was set off by two fast response cutters, the USCG Cutter Ingham Museum, several smaller vessels, and a USCG helicopter flyover.
The turnout of people included a huge swath of the community, representatives of other military branches, and several hundred members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Admiral Fagan noted that it was befitting to bestow the honor on the 323rd anniversary of the founding of the Coast Guard.
Mayor Teri Johnston and City Manager Patti McLauchlin accepted the proclamation.
“We are honored – and humbled -- to have such distinguished guests visit our Southernmost City,” said McLauchlin, who was on the dais with Admiral Fagan, Mayor Teri Johnston, District 7 Commander Rear Admiral Brendan McPherson, and Sector Key West Commander Capt. Jason Ingram.
“Key West has had close ties to the United States Coast Guard for many years,” said McLauchlin. “Indeed, we can trace our relationship back to 1824 when the schooner Florida sailed into Port Key West and established a permanent station here. Today we are very proud to be a homeport to multiple cutters and boats and important shore-based operations.”
She gave special thanks to the families of the Coast Guard members stationed here.
“Coast Guard members and families are an important part of our Conch Family,” she said. “They play on our sports teams, they volunteer, and they work civilian jobs throughout the city. The Coast Guard and their family members are part of the fabric of our community. We are honored to have you in Key West.”
The Coast Guard has been operating in Key West protecting the nation’s interests since Key West was designated a Port of Entry into the United States in 1823 even prior to the City’s incorporation in January 1828.
 
In the photo: Rear Admiral Brendan C. McPherson -- Commander of the 7th District, Mayor Teri Johnston, Admiral Linda L. Fagan, City Manager Patti McLauchlin, and Sector Key West Commander Capt. Jason D. Ingram.
 

​Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief Steven Hudson completed the professional designation of “Chief Fire Officer” (CFO) through the Commission on Professional Credentialing. As a result, Hudson becomes one of only 1,755 CFOs worldwide.
 
“This has been a long process,” said Hudson. “Achieving this designation signifies my career commitment to fire and emergency services and Monroe County.”
 
The peer-reviewed program is voluntary and designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in seven areas: experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement, and technical competence. In addition, applicants identify a future professional development plan.
 

​With the help of Monroe County Veterans Affairs, Key West resident and Army Veteran Alvin Alce will be formally issued a Purple Heart for wounds incurred as a direct result of enemy action while serving in Vietnam. The public is invited to attend his Purple Heart ceremony on Monday, Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. at Harvey Government Center in Key West. Immediately following the ceremony, attendees are encouraged to join Alce at a celebration and luncheon provided by the American Legion Post 168 at the 803 Emma Street, Key West location.
 
Alce was one of 372 Americans wounded in the Battle For Hamburger Hill when he was hit several times by enemy small arms fire. 
 
In December 2019, Monroe County Veterans Affairs discovered Alce was never formally issued the Purple Heart for the wounds he suffered during combat in Vietnam. Monroe County Veterans Affairs petitioned the Department of the Army to formally correct his official military personnel record, which is now complete.
 
The day before the celebration, Aug. 7, is National Purple Heart Day, a day to remember and honor the men and women who bravely represented their country and were wounded or killed while serving.
 
ALVIN ALCE’S BIO
Alce was born Dec. 17, 1949, in Key West and was drafted into the U.S. Army in August 1968. He was honorably discharged on Aug. 1, 1970. His decorations include the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device, and now a Purple Heart for his dedicated service to the United States. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry, Americal Division, and the 101st Airborne Division.
 

​The Key West Fire Department’s medics are taking a refresher course this week with several unique patients. Bill McGrath and Richard Gonzalez, of the Southeaster Medical Academy and affiliated with Braxton College, arrived with patient simulators including a pregnant woman and several children from infant to pre-teen.
These high-tech training manikins do most things a living person would. Their eyes open and close and the pupils dilate and respond to light. They breath and have a pulse. And the simulated woman gives birth.
All of the symptoms are controlled by the trainer via a nearby computer pad.
The training allows the medics to work through a variety of scenarios and see immediate and realistic results.
“This hands-on training is so valuable,” said Emergency Medical Services Chief Keith Hernandez. “The mannequin simulators are about as real as it can get for our medic students to apply their knowledge and skills they have learned thus far.”
“We are thrilled to have access to this kind of training,” said Fire Chief Alan Averette. “We want to do everything we can to be sure that the Key West Fire Department provides the best care possible to our community.”
 

They’re doing it again! The Miami Marlins are supporting the Key West Police Athletic League by proclaiming the second game of the August 13th double header as Key West Night.
At that game, Mayor Teri Johnston will throw out the first pitch. At half time, a group of Key West kids will join Marlins’ mascot Billy on the field during the seventh inning stretch to sing “Take me Out to the Ballgame.”
But wait, there’s more! Key Westers will get a special ticket price of $25, and $5 of that will be donated to or PAL.
This is the second year in a row Key West has been so honored.
Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman worked with Florida Keys Media’s Rick Lopez to make this happen, noting that Key West has always been a baseball town. The commission, during this week’s regular meeting, proclaimed August 15th a Miami Marlins Day.
The Marlins will be playing the Atlanta Braves the evening of August 13th. Tickets are available on the PAL website.
 
In the photo: PAL President Officer Jesse Hammers, Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover, Mayor Teri Johnston, Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman, Capt. Jason Castillo, Chief Sean Brandenburg, Commissioner Clayton Lopez, and Sheriff Rick Ramsay.
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