Page 13 - Stuart Exposure - March '24

Stuart Exposure, Page 13

kids Corner

Community Foundation Beach County right now,

Launched Early Literacy 52 percent of third-grade
students are not reading
Fund At 11th Annual at a third-grade level. In
Martin County that number
Founders Luncheon is 49 percent. Further, local
school districts are seeing
New Fund To Address Alarming Local a downward trend. The
Statistics That Show Failing Reading Rates Palm Beach County School
For Third-Graders District was downgraded
from an A to a B rating in
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and December 2023 and Martin
Martin Counties launched its new Early Literacy Fund at County also received a B rating. With the fail rates on
the organization’s 11th Annual Founders Luncheon held third-grade reading assessments rising above 50 percent,
on Feb. 28 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. The the Community Foundation was moved to create the
Annual Founders Luncheon highlighted Hope for Early Early Literacy Fund. The fund is designed to help those grade literacy rate well below acceptable levels. That
Education, and celebrated the powerful philanthropic nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth is why the Community Foundation was moved to lead
and nonprofit partners making a difference locally in literacy rates in Palm Beach and Martin counties. a philanthropic response and create the Early Literacy
early literacy. The Community Foundation is a not-for- “Experts tell us a child’s ability to read at grade Fund.”
profit organization that leads partnerships with donors, level by third grade is the single greatest predictor of Beginning in 2024, the Early Literacy Fund will be
nonprofits and community members to solve the region’s future success, because this is when they transition incorporated into the Community Foundation’s annual
chronic and emerging issues. from learning to read to reading to learn,” said Danita competitive Community Impact grantmaking cycle –
The Early Literacy Fund is the Community Foundation’s R. DeHaney, president and CEO of the Community specifically in its priority area of education and youth.
philanthropic response to the alarming youth literacy rates Foundation. “Youth in the communities we serve are Competitive grants are a hallmark of the Community
in Palm Beach and Martin counties. Specifically, in Palm falling behind in record numbers, with the current third- Foundation and are a lifeline for those nonprofit partners
tackling our area’s greatest needs at the grassroots level.
Through the grantmaking cycle, donors directly support
over 100 community-focused organizations each year.
“The Community Foundation has been a voice of
leadership in supporting local nonprofits that are working
hard to improve education in the communities we serve,”
said Jeffrey A. Stoops, chair of the Board of Directors of
the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin
Counties. “Our vision is to make 2024 a transformative
year for children’s literacy with the launch of our Early
Literacy Fund.”
For more information or to donate to the Community
Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin counties, please
visit https://yourcommunityfoundation.org/give-now/.
For more information on the Early Literacy Fund, please
visit https://yourcommunityfoundation.org/funds/early-
literacy-fund/.

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SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH CARE

Surgeon stresses successful procedures go well

beyond the operating room.

By Valerie Staggs more to do with making the surgery expe- of surgical equip-
rience more comfortable for patients and ment. Equipment
Vivek Patel, MD, has been in and out their families. One of the biggest concerns is moved from op-
of operating rooms for over 15 years. A families have when their loved one is un- erating rooms to
board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon dergoing surgery is understanding what to the sterile process-
specializing in minimally invasive valve expect before surgery and being able to get ing department via
and open heart surgery, Patel performs
cutting-edge procedures that treat com- updates on their loved one during the sur- dedicated elevators
gery. In a 2020-21 survey commissioned for clean instru-
mon heart conditions such as faulty heart by the American Board of Internal Med- ments and those
valves and clogged arteries.
icine Foundation, 600 physicians were requiring steril- Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical Institute at Jupiter Medical Center.
As a cardiothoracic surgeon, Patel is keen- asked what the biggest challenge in ensur- ization. Jupiter
ly aware of his patients’ trust in him and ing patient trust is. Poor communication Medical Center has implemented several
his weighty responsibility to ensure their was cited as number one. different pathways for sterilization to max-
well-being while in his care. This care, Pa- Health care providers like Jupiter Medical imize efficiency, getting instruments back
tel is quick to point out, goes well beyond Center are making strides to make com- in surgeons’ hands quickly and seamlessly.
what happens in the operating room.
munication a priority. At the hospital’s The operating rooms are also designed for
“I think we need to look at the whole new Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical Insti- efficiency. Patel explains that operating
process, not just for patients, but for tute, families are kept up to date through- rooms can often get crowded, making a
their families too,” says Patel. He cites out their loved one’s surgery via patient surgeon’s job challenging. The operating
the new Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical tracking monitors in the waiting rooms. rooms at the new surgical institute are er-
Institute at Jupiter Medical Center as an Families now have real-time updates on gonomically designed, allowing for ease
example of how surgical facilities are now their loved ones throughout their surgery, of use and efficiency during surgery. Five
being designed with features that give pa- minimizing the anxiety of waiting for robotic operating systems and two hybrid
tients and families peace of mind while news about their loved ones. operating rooms provide state-of-the-art
giving surgeons the technology they need technology, enabling surgeons to offer the
to ensure success. Many of the patient benefits Patel is ex- most cutting-edge surgical options to their
cited about happen behind the scenes at
“I have never worked in a better equipped the surgical institute. Efficiency in a surgi- patients, oftentimes with shorter recovery Vivek Patel, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon
times.
and integrated facility that vastly benefits cal setting is vitally important in ensuring
patients,” says Patel of the new surgical in- that surgeons can operate effectively while “All these changes will affect how health
stitute, which opened in December. ensuring the safety of patients. “A lot of care is delivered in Palm Beach Coun- For more information about the
thoughtful design went into the surgical ty,” says Patel. “We are centered on the Surgical Institute please visit
The benefits he refers to have less to do institute,” explains Patel. One area of en- patient. That’s the way medicine should
with the surgical instruments he uses and jupitermed.com.
hanced efficiency relates to the sterilization be practiced.”
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