November 30, 2023 - St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System in Savannah, Georgia, has partnered with EHR vendor MEDITECH on an enterprise EHR implementation to drive interoperability.

The health system recently deployed the EHR to over 100 primary care and specialty physicians, as well as physicians across its emergency departments. Additionally, St. Joseph’s/Candler Health launched the Expanse Oncology EHR in its cancer center and infusion clinics.

“Our goal is to be as connected as possible in order to provide our patients with the best care,” Allan Kennedy, St. Joseph’s/Candler physician network vice president, said in a press release. “Having all of our primary care physicians, specialists, hospitalists, and ED physicians on one EHR, and soon our oncologists, is a great step towards this goal.”

“Having an intuitive, mobile, personalized EHR that gives us a holistic view of our patient’s care helps reduce the burden on our clinicians,” Kennedy added. “It also enables them to provide more targeted, patient-centered care.”

The enterprise EHR is set to enhance interoperability across the care continuum to drive patient outcomes.

For instance, the health system’s oncology services, centered around the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion, connect to a network of community infusion clinics and radiation facilities throughout the area.

“By providing a leading cancer research center in the heart of Savannah and through several integrated treatment centers across the region, we bring world-class cancer care closer to home and relieve at least one burden from some of our most vulnerable patients,” said Leonard Henry, medical director for the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion.

“MEDITECH Expanse will make connecting all points of care to a single EHR easier, enabling all of our providers to see a more complete picture,” Henry added.

Brandon Area Primary Care, PA, a primary care practice in Brandon and Apollo Beach, FL, has switched to an eClinicalWorks EHR system to streamline workflows.

Since the EHR implementation in July 2023, the practice has experienced a boost in staff productivity and received positive feedback from its patient network.

“We needed support on our internal processes and a partner that provided tailored solutions to match the needs of our patients,” Jason Stibich, MD, medical director of Brandon Area Primary Care, PA, said in a press release. “We selected eClinicalWorks because we were impressed with the ease of use, flexibility, and advanced technology.”

“We believe this partnership will enable us to provide even better healthcare while streamlining our operations,” Stibich said. “We look forward to working closely with eClinicalWorks, helping us seamlessly integrate and optimize our new system with minimal disruption to patient care.”

Through the eClinicalWorks system, the practice has access to a health information search engine to retrieve patient data from hospitals, urgent care centers, primary care providers, specialties, and more.

Burnett Medical Center (BMC) in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, recently implemented an Epic EHR platform to enhance health data interoperability.

“The conversion to Epic will greatly benefit our patients,” Gordy Lewis, CEO of BMC, said in a public statement. “We will be able to seamlessly communicate with other Epic facilities, ultimately delivering better patient care no matter where you are.”

“Our staff have been diligently training to prepare for this transition,” Lewis added. “They already love what they see, and they are excited to roll out the benefits to our community,”

The implementation aims to drive care coordination through improved health data exchange between BMC and other healthcare providers.

Additionally, the new EHR system is set to improve the patient experience by eliminating the need to repeat health history, including medications and allergies, to care team members. Patients will also have access to personal health information online through the MyChart patient portal.

The Western Auto Building stands tall on 2107 Grand Blvd.

It’s a staple in the Kansas City, Missouri, skyline. The pie-shaped building is easy to spot from the highway for those driving into the city, which is perhaps why curiousKC follower Marlene Vaught asked: “Why is the Western Auto building shaped like a quarter of a cylinder?”

The answer takes us back to the days before it was called the Western Auto Building. Kansas City Public Library records reveal that it was initially known as the Candler Building or – the best revelation of this historical investigation – the Coca-Cola Building.

In the early 1900s, Coca-Cola business executives Asa G. and Charles H. Candler, president and vice president, were struck by Kansas City’s growth and promise for their booming business. So they selected the parcel of land on Grand as one of the regional headquarters locations, more specifically as a plant and distribution center.

“We found it to be equally advantageously located for passenger traffic,” Candler said, according to the library’s Missouri Valley Special Collections record. “Capital and labor were apparently living together in more harmonious relations than in any other city of equal importance.”

The company purchased the property in 1913, which was close to the new Union Station – a prime location for commerce.

Its design is another key piece to the puzzle. This unique building was created by the company’s chief of construction Arthur Tufts. His designs were all one-of-a-kind, in an effort to set all regional headquarters apart from neighboring buildings. Tufts was responsible for the centers in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, New York City and Winnipeg.

In Kansas City, Tufts decided to make the building pie-shaped following the shape of the land. The building design was called “commercial-style,” made popular in the early 20th century.

The price tag for this Kansas City landmark was $425,000 when it was completed in 1914. It was topped with the classic Coca-Cola sign, which stayed there until 1928. During this time, the Candlers sold the building and later bought the building back when it went into foreclosure in 1929.

The building was renamed the Candler Building in 1932, which they owned for another 15 years until they gifted it to Emory University. In 1950, New York investor Jerome Riker purchased and then sold the building to Western Auto Supply Co.

And that’s how one of Kansas City’s most notable landmarks, which has since been converted for residential use, came to be.

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The win propelled 24th-ranked UWF (5-1, 4-0 Gulf South Conference) to its fifth-consecutive victory and best start in conference play since starting football four years ago.

UWF turned defense into offense all game long, scoring all four touchdowns as a result of UWG turnovers.

Jervon Newton recorded his second 100-yard game of the year with 100 yards on 21 carries to lead the Argos. UWF finished with 184 yards on the ground.

But the game started about as poorly for the Argonauts as the last regular-season visit to UWG – a 16-0 first quarter deficit in 2017. On Saturday, Austin Reed threw an interception on the second play of the game and the next time UWF got the ball, a fourth down snap got past punter Dawson Hamlin and into the end zone for a safety, spotting the Wolves a 2-0 lead.

Both teams struggled to move the ball in the first quarter as they figured out how to play in the heavy downpour on the natural grass surface.

But it was the Argos who figured it out. Following a missed field goal, UWF forced a UWG miscue when Kedrick Bradley stripped Chauncey Williams. Three plays later Jaden Gardner scored on a 17-yard run to put UWF ahead 7-2.

On the ensuing possession, UWF recovered a Willie Candler fumble at the UWG 16-yard line. Three players later, Reed completed a 23-yard pass to Kevin Grant with just over a minute left in the half to give UWF a 14-2 lead.

The Wolves got the ball to start the second half and fumbled on the third play when Candler was sacked by Gael Laurent. Three plays later Reed barreled in from 15 yards for another touchdown.

The Argos recorded their record-setting sixth turnover on the next possession when Bradley intercepted Candler and returned in 21 yards to the UWG 34. Reed pushed his way into the end zone again on a 13-yard rush for a 28-2 edge.

UWF forced four turnovers in the span of 16 Wolf plays from the end of the first half through early in the second half.

After trading punts, Hamlin pinned the Wolves on their own four with a 54-yard kick. Ian Bush then recorded a safety for the Argos when he tackled Jaevan Ward in the end zone for a 6-yard loss on a pass play.

Gael Laurent had a monster game to lead the Argos with seven tackles, three-and-a-half for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.

UWG (4-3, 2-2) had just 78 rushing yards after entering the game with 189 yards per game.

The Argos compiled 227 yards of total offense with 184 of those on the ground. The wet conditions aided in the 43 passing yards on 2-of-15.

UWF improved to 3-2 all-time in the series with the road team winning every game.

UWF will return to action next Saturday in the Third Annual Coastal Classic, traveling to Melbourne, Fla. to face Florida Tech (3-4, 1-3). The game featuring the only two Division 2 football-playing schools in the state of Florida will kickoff at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time at Palm Bay High School’s Florida Tech Panther Stadium.

Photo: Morgan Givens

CANDLER — Lula Mae Keaton, hailed as a caring mother, charitable neighbor and tireless worker, celebrated her 105th birthday along with family and friends at a gathering here on June 25.

"I'm fine," said Keaton as she chatted with well-wishers.

Local guests were joined by guests from locations including Albany, Georgia and Tampa.

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Keaton said her faith is important to her and she feels God has blessed her with a long life.

Keaton smiled, fielded questions and spoke to guests throughout the celebration.

Guests included Keaton’s children Robert Taylor, Annie Harts, Diane Welcome and Judie Taylor. Keaton’s son Hardges Taylor Jr. died in 2018.

Lula Mae Keaton was born in 1917

Lula Mae Keaton was born June 15, 1917, near Monticello, Florida, and spent a number of years as a field worker, according to her son Robert Taylor, 76.

Keaton moved to Marion County in the late 1940s and then, after a brief return to the Monticello area, returned to Ocklawaha, where she worked for years in local orange groves.

Keaton and Diane Welcome currently live in Ocklawaha.

Keaton's husband, Hardges Taylor Sr., died in 2021.

Family members said Lula Mae Keaton has 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

"She's in good health," said Welcome.

The aging of America

According to "3 Ways that the U. S. population will change over the next decade," at PBS.org, U.S. Census demographers state the number of people aged 100 "grew from over 53,000 in 2010 to 90,000 in 2020."

By 2030, the number of 100-year-olds is expected to increase to "over 130,000."

Trasz Clayton, 35, one of Keaton's grandsons, called her "a blessing" who could outwork anyone and a person with "wisdom."

Aaron Keaton of Tampa, a nephew of Keaton's, attended the celebration and recalled Lula Mae Keaton as a hard worker.

Guests Roberta Welcome and Sandra Tribble helped serve ribs, baked chicken and more.

Roberta Welcome said Lula Mae Keaton is a “good cook” and "giving person," while Sandra Tribble described her as someone who "loves community.”

The 'hardest working woman in Ocklawaha'

Jon Howard, a great-nephew, came from Albany, Georgia to attend the celebration, while Cynthia Keeton, Juanita Keeton Cannon, Shirley Keeton Parker, Ollie Keeton Burgin and Betty Sue Coleman traveled from Tampa to wish Lula Mae Keaton a happy birthday.

Several guests described Lula Mae Keaton as “amazing.”

Robert Taylor Jr. said at the celebration that his grandmother ”gets around” and she “knows everybody."

Freddie Welcome said at the celebration Lula Mae Keaton is the “hardest working woman in Ocklawaha.”

Judie Taylor said her mother helped needy neighbors and called Lula Mae Keaton a "loving mother." Taylor said she is "so thankful to be her daughter.”

Annie Harts was accompanied by her daughter, Kayla Hart.

During the celebration, the group sang “Happy Birthday" to Lula Mae Keaton and she cut the first piece of birthday cake.

Valerie Wilson, Lula Mae Keaton's granddaughter, said at the celebration her grandmother raised children with manners and required them “to be mindful and respectful to others, especially adults” and say "yes, Sir and "yes, Ma'am.

“(Lula Mae Keaton) never held a “9 to 5” job but she was able to build a home from the ground up to raise her five children… My grandmother believes in having her own without depending on no one to do things for her,” Wilson wrote in a later text.

Wilson described Lula Mae Keaton as “independent.”

One of our Facebook fans on Golf Advisor recently asked for our advice on a fairly common question about winter golf in Florida for seniors:

They wrote:

"Looking for some nice, central Florida courses for mid-60s seniors in central Florida in February."

I may have a few years to go until I reach my 60s, but I have a fair idea of what senior golfers are looking for: forgiving-but-interesting courses that are reasonably priced for fixed incomes, and are ideally quiet and void of the theme park riff-raff.

With those criteria in mind, either course at Mission Inn Resort, located in the laid back town of Howey in the Hills northwest of Orlando, is a no-brainer. El Campeon is one of the most historic and best resort courses in the state, celebrating 100 years of golf in 2017. Las Colinas is a little more affordable but still has some nice roll to the land and is very scenic. The clubhouse and resort is a much more intimate size compared to some of the massive properties closer to Orlando.

For a traditional layout and Arnold Palmer nostalgia, check out Rio Pinar Country Club, which hosted the Florida Citrus Open (which is now known as the Bay Hill Invitational) and was won by Palmer in 1971. Bay Hill itself is also wonderful for seniors, but requires a mandatory stay at the onsite lodge.

North of Orlando, Ocala is still considered "central Florida" and up here your money can go a little farther than busier Orlando. Candler Hills does very well on Golf Advisor (Top 10 in 2015). Also, Juliette Falls is a rolling and very scenic layout by John Sanford, and you can choose from a 5,700-yard or 6,200-yard set of tees.

Most of Orlando's championship courses promote signature architects and really long championship yardages over 7,200 yards. Don't let that deter you. Click on their course pages on Golf Advisor for "More info" and you should be able to expand the senior tee slope/rating and yardage.

But enough about what I think. I filtered our Ocala-Orlando-Lakeland area course reviews (no Tampa) from the past two years by age for 55+ to find which courses are scoring highest among seniors. I looked at the overall, value and layout scores, as those are most likely to fluctuate based on age. What's great about the following chart is that there is a mix of price points and locations, from Lakeland to Ocala, so you should be able to find a great course or two for your group.

Do you have your own golf and travel question? Be sure to like us on Facebook and ask there, or follow us on Twitter, and our experts can help out.