KEY WEST, Fla – AUGUST 22, 2025 – Lower Keys Medical Center has developed an exciting new initiative designed to empower our community to live longer, healthier lives. Enjoy the Ride: Navigating a Longer, Healthier Life is a FREE 12-day, longevity-focused email series launching on September 15, 2025.

According to the CDC, Americans’ average lifespan is longer than ever – 74.8 years for men and 80 for women. But Americans’ healthspan – how long a person is healthy and free of disease – is decreasing. Baby Boomers are more likely than their parents to have cancer, lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, gut issues, hearing problems, and mobility difficulties. Longevity merges lifespan and healthspan in the idea of growing older and staying healthy at the same time.

“Longevity takes into account not only a person’s chronological age, but also biological age,” says Giovanni Campanile, M.D., Keys Medical Group Cardiologist. “Age-related decline doesn’t have to be a foregone conclusion. With informed, proactive choices, at age 80, a person essentially could have the level of health expected at age 60.”
The Enjoy the Ride email series is designed to help people make proactive choices for long-term wellness. Daily road trip-themed emails include information about conditions most prevalent with aging, ways to prevent those diseases, and descriptions of how healthy choices can impact longevity. 

“We find people in their 30s are already considering longevity, especially if they have a family history of conditions like heart disease or dementia,” says Drew Bigby, Lower Keys Medical Center chief executive officer. “We’re happy to see this trend because it’s never too early to start thinking about what you want your future health to look like—and we want to help people map that for themselves.” 
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To learn more about maintaining your brain, vision, hearing, heart, kidney, liver, gut, musculoskeletal and sleep health as you age, sign up for Enjoy the Ride: Navigating a Longer, Healthier Life, at LKMC.com/longevity. We’ll also give away prizes every day to help you on “the road” ahead.
 
About Lower Keys Medical Center:
 
Lower Keys Medical Center is accredited by The Joint Commission in Hospital and Laboratory Programs, and as a Primary Stroke Center. The hospital is also accredited by the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center.

KEY WEST, Fla – AUGUST 15, 2025 – Lower Keys Medical Center offers free monthly education classes to the community as part of its mission to help people get well and live healthier.
 
Joint Replacement Seminars: For individuals considering or scheduled for total joint replacement, the free seminar covers important topics related to the rehabilitation journey, including explanations of the various procedures, home safety considerations, pre-surgical exercises, preparations for surgery, expectations during the hospital stay, post-discharge care, physical therapy, wound care and rehab equipment. Meet the rehabilitation team. Attendees receive lunch and are encouraged to bring a partner or caregiver.
 
Breastfeeding and Lactation: A certified lactation counselor from the Department of Health – Monroe County provides helpful information including benefits of breastfeeding, how to prepare, latching and positioning, feeding cues, milk supply, common challenges and solutions, and breastfeeding support. Attendees are encouraged to bring a support person. Classes are available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
 
Childbirth Education: A collaboration with The Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition, the four-hour class helps parents prepare for labor and delivery. Topics include comfort options, coping skills, preparation for a hospital stay, engaging a support team, signs and stages of labor, and newborn and postpartum care. Attendees receive lunch and a tour of the maternity unit, and are encouraged to bring a partner or support person.
 
For information on dates, times, and registration, visit LKMC.com/classes-events-programs.
 
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, FL (DATE) – Lower Keys Medical Center (LKMC) earned a 4-star overall hospital quality star rating in the most recent update from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The LKMC “above average” rating includes quality measures related to mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, and timely and effective care.
 
LKMC achieved a 4-star rating in 2022 and 2023, and received a 3-star rating in 2024. To re-establish its 4-star CMS rating, Lower Keys Medical Center made improvements in multiple patient experience measures including communication about medications, communications with nurses, quietness and staff responsiveness. Additional areas of advancement include fewer complications for inpatients, a reduction in length of stay for patients seeking care in the emergency department who did not require hospital admission, and a decrease in 30-day all-cause mortality rate for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia patients.
 
“It takes a consistent commitment from our entire team to achieve an above average rating from CMS,” said Rosanna Mullen, Chief Quality Officer, Lower Keys Medical Center. “Every day, we are focused on delivering safe, quality care to our patients, and this four-star rating reflects those efforts. While we will celebrate this milestone, we will continue to be vigilant in our approach by collaborating with our physicians and nursing leaders, providing education and training and implementing processes that support continuous improvement.”
 
The Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings were first published in July 2016, when CMS, along with key stakeholders, developed the methodology to calculate and display overall hospital-level quality using a star rating system. This was done to make the information easier to use and understand to help consumers and their healthcare provider make decisions on where to receive care.
 
“These Star Ratings provide consumers with transparency and data about the quality of care they can expect at any given hospital,” said Drew Bigby, CEO, Lower Keys Medical Center. “When patients come to Lower Keys Medical Center, we want them to be confident in the quality of care they will receive. I commend the team at LKMC for their unwavering commitment to safe, quality healthcare and a great patient experience.”

​Complex processes contribute to health and well-being

​KEY WEST, Fla – AUGUST 1, 2025 - We’re repeatedly told getting a good night’s sleep is important and Brien Tonkinson, M.D., Keys Medical Group Otolaryngology/ENT wants you to know some of the reasons why. Dr. Tonkinson says your overall health and well-being directly benefit from the complex internal work going on while you sleep. Sleep frees your body and brain to experience important changes and processes that, if not completed, can lead to less effective physical and mental functioning.
 
During sleep, your body’s metabolic rate lowers and conserves energy for repair and restoration. Your heart rate and blood pressure lower to allow the cardiovascular system to rest and recover. The brain experiences an active state of unconsciousness, where neural activity cleans out things the brain doesn’t need, consolidates memories, sends signals for the creation of hormones and strengthens communication between brain cells.
 
Effective sleep takes time, as the repairs and actions vary throughout multiple sleep cycles of rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep. In a typical sleep period, you will cycle through four or five times. People who get insufficient total sleep may not progress through enough sleep cycles to get the restorative benefits that come from proper rest.
 
“Sleep is a compilation of complex processes vital to our well-being and researchers are still learning how they work,” said Dr. Tonkinson. “While sleep is seemingly passive, your brain and body are engaged in activities that are necessary to live and linked to quality of life, both mentally and physically.”
 
According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep and the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, play an important role in production and regulation of several hormones affecting overall health. As light exposure decreases, your body naturally produces melatonin to help you sleep. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol reach their lowest point a few hours after sleep begins and start climbing as you get closer to waking. Sleep can affect the production of growth hormone that supports bone and muscle development as well as levels of leptin and ghrelin that regulate your appetite.
 
“Creating good sleep habits plays an important part in getting a good night’s sleep,” said Dr. Tonkinson.  “Your body has a whole lot to get done each night in order to help you. When you have a sleepless night or a night where you wake up several times, there’s a decided impact on your functioning the next day.”
 
Beyond the lack of rest, sleep disturbance negatively impacts your hormonal rhythms and metabolism. Obesity, insulin insensitivity, diabetes, hormonal imbalance and appetite dysregulation can all result from insufficient, or poor quality sleep. And your brain’s ability to input and process information learned during the day or remember the following morning is notably less.
 
Dr. Tonkinson has several tips to help you get a better night’s sleep, including lowering the temperature in your bedroom, keeping the room dark and being consistent in your bedtime. Follow a relaxing routine to wind down your mind and body – try meditation, simple stretching, reading or taking a bath. Avoid alcohol or caffeine and try to minimize your intake of liquids two hours before bedtime so you are less likely to need to get up in the middle of the night.
 
If you have an ongoing problem getting a good night’s sleep, or frequently experience insomnia, an otolaryngologist can help determine the cause.

KEY WEST, Fla. – JULY 16, 2025 – Pamela Goodwin, a registered nurse at Lower Keys Medical Center for 2 years, has received a national 2025 Nursing Excellence Award.
 
Goodwin is one of ten national winners selected across all hospitals affiliated with Community Health Systems. She was presented with the recognition during a July reception with hospital leadership where she received a crystal plaque and a symbolic check for the monetary award. Goodwin also received a plaque from Lower Keys Medical Center and a bouquet of flowers at an event earlier this year.
 
Drew Bigby, chief executive officer of Lower Keys Medical Center, noted that Goodwin was nominated by peers who acknowledge her as an extremely caring and compassionate nurse. Reading comments from Goodwin’s co-workers, Bigby said, “Pamela approaches her shift with a smile and kind words for every patient she touches. She also stresses the importance of team work and safety, ensuring patients and staff have a strong sense of security through her innate leadership skills. She brightens the night shift at Behavioral Health with her infectious positivity, quick wit and unmatched kindness.”
 
The Nursing Excellence Award was created to honor the critical role nurses have play in our communities. The peer-nominated award program was open to qualifying RNs and LPNs working in a direct patient care position who consistently demonstrate characteristics synonymous with nursing excellence. These characteristics include outstanding care, compassion, service and innovation, and reflect the efforts of someone who is a demonstrated team player and/or mentor to others, is a leader in times of crises, and who regularly promotes health in the community.

The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care

KEY WEST, Fla. – JULY 10, 2025 – Lower Keys Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
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Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
“Lower Keys Medical Center is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Drew Bigby, CEO.  “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to help more people in the Lower Keys and Key West experience longer, healthier lives.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
 
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Lower Keys Medical Center for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
 
Lower Keys Medical Center also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke℠ Honor Roll Elite Plus award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.
 
Lower Keys Medical Center also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department. 

​KEY WEST, Fla – JULY 3, 2025 - Children are often encouraged to drink milk for strong bones, but after that, bone health is largely ignored until the golden years. However, taking steps to support bone strength is important to provide structural support, protect vital organs and enhance mobility throughout our lives. According to Dr. Pasquale Dell'Api, with Keys Medical Group Family Medicine - Big Pine Key, adults reach peak bone mass in their twenties, and maintaining bone density is important to prevent osteoporosis as they age.
 
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, and increases the risk of broken bones. In the most extreme cases, even a minor accident can cause a bone fracture and the risk of fracture increases as you age. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 10 million Americans over 50 have osteoporosis and an additional 43 million have low bone mass, which puts them at risk for developing osteoporosis.

 “It’s never too early to adopt healthy habits that support strong bones and help to maintain bone density, including the right kinds of exercise and a healthy diet,” said Dr. Dell'Api. “A fall or bone fracture can create significant health challenges for older adults and impact their ability to remain independent. Adopting habits that support bone health earlier in life is important for healthy aging.” 

The best exercise for bone health include weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging or climbing stairs and resistance training such as lifting weights or working out with resistance bands. Calcium and Vitamin D are also essential for bone health, along with a balanced diet that includes nutrient dense foods such as fruits and vegetables.

Osteoporosis affects nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men over the age of 50. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends screening for women 65 and older and men 70 and older, with earlier screenings recommended for individuals with certain risk factors.

“A bone density scan is a painless procedure that provides important information about bone health and can help us to assess the risk of osteoporosis or a bone fracture,” said Dr. Dell'Api. “Early detection of osteoporosis or low bone density can enable patients to adopt lifestyle changes or begin medication to slow the progression of the disease.”

Dr. Dell'Api recommends that patients talk with their primary care physician about the importance of bone health, especially if they have a family history of osteoporosis or hip fractures, or have broken a bone after a minor fall.

KEY WEST, Fla. – JUNE 27, 2025 – Lower Keys Medical Center thanks active participants in the annual hurricane evacuation drill held June 26, 2025, including North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, and Mississippi Air National Guard, NAS Key West, Monroe County Emergency Management, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Key West Fire Department and EMS, Monroe County Fire Rescue, E-Care Ambulance, Southernmost Medical Transport, Keys Health Ready Coalition, and Florida Health – Monroe County. 

KEY WEST, Fla. – JUNE 20, 2025 – In collaboration with multiple national and local emergency preparedness organizations, Lower Keys Medical Center is coordinating an inpatient hurricane evacuation simulation which will be held on June 26, 2025, at multiple locations. 
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Each year, Lower Keys Medical Center sponsors a hurricane evacuation drill to test preparedness in the event of a major hurricane which would require hospitalized patients to be evacuated to a safer area of the mainland until the storm has passed. This choreographed exercise involves hospital staff, emergency management, ground and air transportation, fire rescue, law enforcement, multiple military branches, meteorologists, and community health organizations. To ensure the safety and efficiency of all participants, the drill is not open to the public. 
 
The drill begins with modeling of a fictional scenario of a developing system, identifying the steps in the week and days leading up to the storm, including tracking the progression from a tropical depression, to a tropical storm, to a major hurricane, and the communications and preparations involved through those steps. Community partners and military resources are requested following established protocols.
 
The physical aspects of the drill include training by the Air National Guard to transfer volunteers portraying patients on special litters from the hospital setting into ground transport and onto the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron aircraft, staged at NAS Key West. Hypothetically, the “patients” would then be flown to a receiving hospital out of the range of impact. The drill concludes with a meeting of all organizations to evaluate and critique interagency communications and collaboration.
 
Tadd Mallard, RN, LKMC Director of Emergency Services and Emergency Management Chair, said, “The annual drill not only gets all of our partners together – and each organization has a crucial role in a successful evacuation – it also continues to strengthen our relationships and hardwire our interactions. I recall our last evacuation of patients during Hurricane Irma in 2017, which was successful because everyone knew their roles and executed them with familiarity and experience.”
 
“We can’t thank our evacuation drill collaborators enough,” said Drew Bigby, chief executive officer at Lower Keys Medical Center. “Being prepared is part of our commitment to the safety of our patients, community, and staff, which is our highest priority."
 
Active participants in the annual hurricane evacuation drill include the Air National Guard, NAS Boca Chica, US Coast Guard, Monroe County Emergency Management, Coast Guard Emergency Management, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Trauma Star, Key West Police and Fire Departments, Monroe County Fire Rescue, National Weather Service/NOAA, E-Care Ambulance, Southernmost Medical Transport, Keys Healthy Ready Coalition, and Florida Health – Monroe County. 

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.