​Over the course of a year, Lower Keys Medical Center makes a meaningful impact in the community, as the skilled and compassionate hands of  physicians, nurses and other team members deliver safe, quality care around the clock every day. Beyond clinical care, the hospital is a major employer and regularly invests resources to expand and enhance the services available locally. The overall community benefit each year is significant and totaled more than $87 million in 2021.
 
Last year, the hospital and Keys Medical Group providers delivered care during more than 128,000 patient visits as the pandemic heightened the need for medical attention. The hospital has supported more than 400 COVID inpatients since March 2020 while sustaining all of its other medical services. To help protect the community from the COVID-19 virus, more than 350 outpatients were treated with monoclonal antibodies, helping them avoid serious symptoms and hospitalization.
 
“While our team at Lower Keys Medical Center cared for patients with COVID-19, we continued to provide emergency and routine care and treatment for patients with a variety of conditions,” said David Clay, chief executive officer for Lower Keys Medical Center. “I am so honored to work with this resilient and committed family of clinicians and caregivers who make a difference for so many patients each day.”
 
Employees and medical staff brought their skills and compassion to support more than 23,000 emergency department visits, more than 3,000 inpatients and perform more than 3,000 surgeries. Over 99,000 patients received care across our imaging centers, laboratory, physical, occupational and speech therapy clinics and the Keys Medical Group physician clinics. We also delivered joy to local families as more than 400 babies were born.
 
Lower Keys Medical Center continues to grow and evolve as resources are directed toward increased medical services, facility improvements and technologies that are important to patients. These include the addition of four new Keys Medical Group providers in orthopedics, obstetrics and psychiatry, implementation of a Cardiac Catheterization call team, upgraded robotic surgery equipment, purchase of a Cardiac MRI, replacement of flooring throughout the main campus, and the start of patient room renovations.
 
As Lower Keys Medical Center works to continuously meet patients’ needs, it also gives back to the Lower Keys region. The hospital provided over $21 million in charity and uncompensated care for the community’s most vulnerable. And the $3 million paid in property, sales and GRT taxes helps support civic resources and services.
 
Lower Keys Medical Center also works with local charitable and community organizations such as Boys and Girls Club of the Keys, Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Keys, and the Key West Police Love Fund, who received donations in honor of the medical staff on Doctors’ Day last year.
 
The hospital’s payroll of more than $47.9 million ripples across the local economy as employees buy goods and services. The hospital also made capital improvements totaling more than $2.4 million.
 
“We are part of this community and are committed to doing all we can to provide quality healthcare services to help our residents live healthier lives,” Clay added.
 
Working with The College of the Florida Keys, Lower Keys Medical Center is helping to develop the next generation of clinicians. A new scholarship fund will also help local students discover their passion for healthcare.
 
To enhance the health of the community, Lower Keys Medical Center last year launched a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration. Individuals can sign up at LKMC.com/enewsletter-sign-up.
 
About: Lower Keys Medical Center accreditations include The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Acute Care Hospitals, The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center and for Laboratory Services, The American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center, The American College of Radiology for Mammography and the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for Echocardiography Services. The hospital has also been recognized with the American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines”: Stroke Silver Plus Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. 

Key West Art Center & Gallery, which is celebrating their 62nd year in its present location at 301 Front Street, will present the 14th annual Plein Air Key West on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Artists in all media are welcome and can register at the gallery between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. to participate, or pre-register online, with artists returning completed art work back to the gallery by 1:30 p.m.

Plein Air Key West is an all-inclusive and fun event that attracts local artists and talented amateurs throughout the Keys with many visiting artists planning their trips to Key West around this time to participate. Watercolor, acrylic, oil and pastel paintings, charcoal, and pencil sketch artists are all welcome.

​A reception will be held the evening of March 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the rear courtyard of the Art Center and people’s choice awards will be announced. All artwork from the event will be for sale and will hang until March 19.

​For information, a show application and registration, go to keywestartcenter.com or stop by Key West Art Center & Gallery at 301 Front Street daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The City of Key West today announced the release of its 2021 Annual Report. For the first time in over a decade, the publication is available in print as well as electronically.

The report highlights the City’s accomplishment over the past year and provides the community a quick, accessible guide to the various departments that serve our citizens.

“I’m proud to present the first annual report to be issued under my leadership,” said City Manager Patti McLauchlin, who took the reins in June of 2021 after serving as interim City Manager for 18 months.

“This report serves as a progress report,” she said, “and much more. You’ll find departmental budgets, contact information, a listing of city boards and other details to help our citizens understand their City government.”
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The 2021 Annual Report is available at City Hall, 1300 White Street. The electronic report is available on the City’s web site at www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov.