KEY WEST, Fl – JUNE 13, 2025 – Lower Keys Medical Center and Keys Medical Group recognized the first recipient of the Keys Medical Group O.A.R. award – Jessica Phelps, RN, Keys Medical Group Orthopedics. The Outstanding Achievement and Recognition program celebrates employees who demonstrate exceptional commitment to patients and co-workers.
 
Director of Keys Medical Group, Brad Lutz, said, “Congratulations to Jessica. She has been recognized by her peers for her strong work ethic, teamwork, and compassionate approach to patient care. Patients want to feel that they are being heard. Jessica makes sure they know we are listening.”
 
About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, and American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center.

KEY WEST, Fla. – May 30, 2025 – As hurricane season begins, Lower Keys Medical Center encourages residents to review your preparedness for the months ahead. Taking action to stock your home and car with emergency supplies and think through your family’s disaster response plan now can provide peace of mind when the storm warnings begin.
 
“Our hospital, our community first responders and our military and emergency management partners regularly conduct drills to prepare for disasters, and individuals and families can benefit from the same concept,” said Drew Bigby, chief executive officer at Lower Keys Medical Center. “It’s much easier to think through the necessary details while the weather is calm so we’re well-prepared long before a storm. Those preparations allowed the hospital and our partner organizations to evacuate inpatients prior to the impact of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and to continue to deliver care during subsequent storms.”
 
Communications can be challenging during a weather crisis, so it’s important to think ahead. Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them accessible, program them into your cell phone and have every family member keep a printed copy in their wallet. Establish an emergency point of contact in a different town such as a friend or relative in case phone lines are busy during an emergency. Because cellular, internet and landline phones can be impacted, investing in a battery-powered radio is recommended.
 
Know your community so you’re prepared to take action – find out where the nearest shelter is and the different routes you can take to get there. For online materials such as contact lists or maps, take time to print them now. Power outages around a storm can make accessing data online difficult.
 
Home emergency supplies can help keep you and your family safe and healthy. While store inventories are high and it’s easy to get to and from the store, make sure you have the following basics on hand:
 
Food and Medicine

• Water – at least 5 gallons per person
• Food supply for at least 7 days (like granola bars and canned foods)
• Baby food or formula
• Prescription medicines

Safety Items

• First aid kit and instructions
• Fire extinguisher
• Battery-powered radio
• Flashlights
• Extra batteries
• Sleeping bags or extra blankets
• Supplies to make drinking water safe (like iodine tablets or chlorine bleach)

Personal Care Products

• Hand sanitizer
• Wet cleaning cloths (like baby wipes)
• Soap
• Toothpaste
• Diapers

Your car’s emergency kit should include:

• Food that doesn’t go bad (like canned food)
• Flares
• Jumper cables
• Maps and/or GPS in your car or on your smartphone
• Roadside emergency kit
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Flashlight and extra batteries

 
To learn more about hurricane preparations, visit www.monroecountyem.com.

About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, and American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center.

KEY WEST, Fla. – In recognition of Emergency Medical Services Week, Lower Keys Medical Center hosted a luncheon for first responders in Monroe County.
 
Tadd Mallard, director of the emergency department, welcomed crews from Key West Fire Rescue, Monroe County Fire Rescue/Trauma Star, and Florida Keys Ambulance. Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez read a proclamation honoring the life-saving care provided by EMS.
 
About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, and American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center

KEY WEST, Fla. – MAY 15, 2025 – A growing trend in orthopedics reveals that younger people are undergoing hip and knee replacements, raising questions about the optimal age to undergo these procedures. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, by 2030, people younger than 65 will account for more than half of hip replacements and more than 60 percent of knee replacements.

Only an orthopedic surgeon can help determine if a joint replacement is appropriate for a younger person, but they are becoming increasingly common among GenX and Millennials. Younger people are opting for the procedure due to advances in minimally invasive techniques and faster recovery times.

“We’re seeing patients in their early 60s, 50s and even 40s say they are suffering from joint pain, and they don’t want discomfort to hold them back from the activities they enjoy,” said Christopher Bensen, M.D., FAAOS, with Keys Medical Group Orthopedics. “What was once considered a last resort and only for seniors, joint replacement is now thought of as a viable option for younger generations who want to live an active lifestyle—and remain active for decades to come.”

Joint pain is a common complaint among all ages, and it affects each individual differently. Some people feel joint pain all of the time, or mostly when they’re moving. For others, it comes and goes, or radiates to other parts of the body. There are many treatments for joint pain, and orthopedic specialists may consider other interventions before surgery, including medications, physical therapy, injections like cortisone or hyaluronic acids, heat or cold therapies, and other options that can relieve pain.
​
For those seeking relief and weighing their options, Dr. Bensen highlights what to expect from an orthopedic evaluation:

●Medical history: Patients will go over their family and medical history, surgical history, other existing conditions they have been diagnosed with—such as arthritis, osteoporosis, anemia, diabetes, obesity and hypertension—and evaluate their overall pain and functional limitations.
 
●Physical examination: The provider will assess the patient's alignment, swelling, range of motion, and function including ability to walk, sit, stand, climb stairs and bend over.
 
●Diagnostic tests: Patients can expect to undergo imaging, such as an x-ray to look for joint deterioration, cysts, deformity or incorrect alignment. Blood work and MRI scans are also sometimes necessary.
 
“The good news is that when joint replacement procedures are needed, they are usually very successful and can greatly improve mobility and quality of life,” added Dr. Bensen. “There are also steps younger people can take now to reduce the potential need for a joint replacement in the future.”

To protect joints, Dr. Bensen recommends:

-Eating a healthy diet that includes calcium.
-Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce pressure on your joints.
-Quitting smoking. Smoking increases the risk of arthritis.
-And, exercising regularly. Consider embracing some lower impact exercises such as swimming, cycling or brisk walking.
 
For patients contemplating or scheduled for joint replacement, Lower Keys Medical Center offers a monthly seminar, led by the rehabilitation team, covering pre- and post-surgery considerations including home preparations, strengthening exercises, post discharge care, and physical therapy. Visit https://www.lkmc.com/classes-events-programs. 

​KEY WEST, Fla. – MAY 9, 2025 – Lower Keys Medical Center hosted a reception during Nurses Week, honoring the Intensive Care Unit team members and April Bruggemann, RN, Quality, with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award recognizes nursing professionals for excellence in clinical care and for exceptional compassion.
 
The nurses were nominated and selected for the award for creating a personalized environment of care for a patient.  The patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit through the Emergency Department, having traveled to Key West to fulfill his dream of seeing the beautiful waters of the Keys. During report to the ICU, the ER staff shared his wishes. Taking this to heart, the ICU team fulfilled the patient’s desire, moving his hospital bed every day to a window with a water view, while also helping him get stronger. Quality Coordinator April Bruggemann also saw the patient’s wishes written in progress notes and coordinated with the ICU to have a water view painting hung in his room during his stay.
 
Lower Keys Medical Center chief executive officer Drew Bigby said, “The DAISY Award recipients are skilled nursing professionals and, beyond that, are deeply caring and kind individuals.”
 
The award recipients were presented with hand-carved Healer’s Touch sculptures, DAISY certificates and signature bouquets of daisies. Key West Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez presented a proclamation in honor of National Nurses Week during the reception.
 
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died in 1999 from complications of an autoimmune disease. His family was inspired to create the Foundation to honor nurses who make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and families.
 
About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, and American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center.

KEY WEST, Fla. – APRIL 21, 2025 – As part of a continuing investment in technology, Lower Keys Medical Center has enhanced its surgical capabilities with an upgraded surgical visualization platform. The camera tower allows surgeons performing minimally-invasive surgeries to more clearly see the procedure area. As the surgeon guides the instruments, the camera brightens and magnifies the movements. A versatile design makes the technology useful in a variety of procedures, including:
​
General surgery: Fluorescence imaging – the use of fluorescent molecules to see biological structures – aids in procedures such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, colorectal surgery, and general procedures by illuminating the area allowing visualization of blood flow and critical structures intraoperatively. This shortens the length of a procedure, decreases conversions to open procedures, and shortens hospitalizations.

Orthopedic surgery: In arthroscopic shoulder or knee surgery, the camera features a range of brightness and contrast, providing more details in shadows and highlighting small cavities and dark areas.

Ear, nose and throat surgery: With improved lighting and the ability to display more than 60 times more colors, the camera helps surgeons navigate through small cavities and improves visualization of color variation in tissues and structures.

Urological surgery: A cystoscope uses the camera and light to visualize the bladder and urethra.
Phyllis Stout, RN, Director of Surgical Services at Lower Keys Medical Center said, “We are pleased to be able to offer this next level technology that aids our skilled surgeons in delivering quality care for our patients.”

About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, and American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center.

KEY WEST, Fla. - Lower Keys Medical Center has completed renovations to the nuclear medicine room and upgraded the nuclear medicine camera and equipment. The new technology offers faster scan time, reduced dosage of tracers, enhanced detection of small lesions, and higher image quality from a premium camera. 
 
Nuclear medicine diagnostics examine structure and metabolic function of body organs such as the kidneys, gallbladder, thyroid, parathyroid glands, and stomach and can be used to identify bone infections, blood clots, intestinal bleeding, and gallbladder dysfunction. The scan also assesses heart function and the presence of blocked coronary arteries and assists in locating sentinel nodes for breast cancer or melanoma surgery. 
 
"This upgraded nuclear medicine equipment is part of our ongoing commitment to investing in the hospital, and complements our range of imaging services," said Rosanna Mullen, chief quality officer at Lower Keys Medical Center. "From x-ray to PET/CT scanning, we have the technology capabilities to provide patients with the care and services they need, close to home." 
 
In addition to the nuclear medicine camera and equipment, Lower Keys Medical Center offers x-ray, ultrasound, mammography, bone densitometry, computed tomography (CT), echocardiography, fluoroscopy, angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cardiac catheterization lab also uses imaging technology to examine heart function and PET/CT scanning helps diagnose, stage and monitor various conditions, such as cancer. 
 
About Lower Keys Medical Center
Lower Keys Medical Center is an acute care community hospital offering 24 hour emergency department services. Accreditations include The Joint Commission Acute Care Hospital Program and Primary Stroke Center, and American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center.

​KEY WEST, Fla. - In a 2024 poll, 79% of respondents said they made New Years’ resolutions involving their health. While sweeping resolutions are notoriously hard to keep and often forgotten by spring, there are small, simple steps that you can take every day to make a lasting improvement in your health.
 
“Even small lifestyle changes can increase longevity, reduce the risk associated with chronic disease, improve mental health and increase energy,” said Courtney Bonner, D.O., primary care physician at Keys Medical Group at Searstown. “Rather than setting unrealistic goals, I encourage patients to take small steps in areas that we know make an impact, like movement and better nutrition, to create new, healthier habits that can be maintained over time.”
 
Making small changes around four healthy lifestyle factors can kick start your journey to better health and create a foundation for new habits that will keep you feeling your best.
 
Move More
Experts recommend adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week to combat the health effects of sedentary behavior. The good news is that every minute counts. Small changes like taking the stairs, walking around the block or exercising in short 5-10 minute bursts can help you reach a meaningful activity goal.
 
Eat Your Veggies
Diet is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Including a variety of healthy foods in your diet can have a significant impact on health.  Get started by adding fresh vegetables and fruits, along with other minimally processed foods high in vitamins and minerals, to the menu.
 
Get Enough Sleep
The recommended amount of sleep for adults is at least seven hours per day, yet more than 36% report getting less than that amount. To take steps toward improving your sleep habits, make it a goal to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, and avoid electronic devices at bedtime.
 
Phone a Friend
Participating in meaningful activities with friends and family members creates a sense of purpose in daily life that improves health, happiness and resilience. Make time for positive relationships by joining a group focused on a favorite hobby, volunteering your time or taking a group exercise class.
 
“Getting started is the first step toward a healthier lifestyle,” added Bonner. “It is easy to get discouraged if your goal seems out of reach, but all of us can find a few minutes a day to move more, go to bed a few minutes earlier or connect with a friend. Small steps can add up to significant health improvement over time.” 
 
An annual wellness exam is a great opportunity to talk with your physician about risk factors for chronic disease and lifestyle changes to support your health.  Make an appointment today at KeysMedicalGroup.com.

​KEY WEST, Fla. – Lower Keys Medical Center welcomes Leandro Perez, M.D., and Julian Javier, M.D., board-certified interventional cardiologists. They join Cesar Jara, M.D. in the Lower Keys Medical Center cardiac catheterization lab, providing 24/7 STEMI coverage and performing procedures to diagnose and treat cardiac conditions, including heart attacks.
 
Dr. Perez received his medical degree at Madre and Maestra Pontifical Catholic University in Santiago, Dominican Republic and completed his internal medicine residency and a Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology and Endovascular Therapy at Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.  He completed a Fellowship in Cardiology at Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
 
Perez’ additional board certifications include American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiovascular medicine; American Board of Vascular Medicine in vascular medicine and endovascular medicine; National Board of Echocardiography in adult echocardiography; and Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology in nuclear cardiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Society for Vascular Medicine, American Society of Echocardiography, and Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.
 
Javier is a graduate of Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, in Dominican Republic. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, where he also completed Fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases. He completed Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, in Little Rock, AR.
 
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Perez and Dr. Javier to the team of experienced interventional cardiologists providing round the clock, lifesaving cardiac care,” said Gregory Repetti, FACHE, interim chief executive officer at Lower Keys Medical Center.