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Meagan Becker, a registered nurse at Lower Keys Medical Center for more than six years, has received a national 2022 Nursing Excellence Award. Becker was surprised with the recognition during a reception with hospital leadership where she was presented with a crystal plaque and a symbolic check for the cash award she received, among other gifts. CEO David Clay said, “Meagan is often mentioned in our patient surveys because of her compassionate care and has been nominated for other awards by her peers an... ... Read More

Making new year’s resolutions is a common tradition, but 77% of people who make them, break them within just a few weeks. This year, focus on long-term lifestyle changes that can make a big impact on overall health and longevity. “The start of a new year symbolizes a time for change, but adopting new, healthy habits isn’t limited to just one time of year,” says Courtney Bonner, D.O., board certified internal medicine physician with Keys Medical Group Primary Care at Searstown. “Even small, incremental c... ... Read More

Keys Medical Group welcomes Naomi Andrews, M.S., CNM, WHNP-BC. Andrews is a certified nurse midwife who obtained her Master of Science in nursing and midwifery at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She joins Stanley Santiago, M.D., MBA, FACOG, and Margo Von Mauw, MSN, APRN, CNM in Keys Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology. Andrews provides trauma-informed midwifery care in miscarriage, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum periods; gynecological care; family planning; patient education and famil... ... Read More

Breast cancer remains a top risk for women, making up 30% of all new female cancer cases in the U.S. annually. Fortunately, a screening mammogram can help detect breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages. Lower Keys Medical Center is encouraging women to schedule their screening now, because when breast cancer is detected early, life-saving treatment can begin right away. “The best chance for survival of any cancer is early diagnosis and treatment,” said Stanley Santiago, M.D., MBA, FACOG,... ... Read More

Lower Keys Medical Center has established a Patient Family Advisory Council which is dedicated to the improvement of quality in the provision of compassionate, connected care for our patients and family members. The Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) includes members of the hospital staff and former patients or family members of patients. “Gaining patient and family perspectives about the healthcare experience helps us maintain our patient-focused care and make improvements,” said David Clay, CEO. C... ... Read More

Maintaining a healthy digestive system, or gut, could be the key to better health. When healthy, the gut absorbs nutrients from food, eliminates waste, communicates with the brain and supports a healthy immune system and nervous system function. If the gut is unhealthy, it can cause digestive diseases which affect 60 - 70 million Americans according to the National Institute of Health. Signs of an unhealthy gut include an upset stomach, sudden weight gain or loss without changes in lifestyle, disrupted ... ... Read More

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... ... Read More

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, an... ... Read More

The childbirth team at Lower Keys Medical Center is now using an artificial intelligence-based maternal-fetal early warning system called PeriWatch Vigilance to enhance patient safety during labor and delivery. The system continuously monitors maternal vital signs, fetal heart rate, contractions, and labor progression to help clinicians quickly identify any concerning developments for faster intervention. Lower Keys Medical Center delivers approximately 400 babies each year. Nicole Fisher, Chief Nursing... ... Read More

Lower Keys Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke 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. 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 ... ... Read More