Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Alfin Jeyaseelan was one of them.

Jeyaseelan, an otherwise healthy young man, experienced his stroke at just 25 years of age. Although his symptoms were atypical, his mother insisted they call the paramedics. Jeyaseelan soon was admitted to the Stroke Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, where the life-saving care and treatment he received allowed him to make a full recovery.

“It's been almost five months since my stroke, and I still think about it quite frequently,” Jeyaseelan said. “And I thank God every day that it went the way it did. In my life, it was a miracle.”

In this episode of the Florida Health Care Insider podcast, presented by Cleveland Clinic in Florida in partnership with the South Florida Business Journal, Jeyaseelan joins Dr. Michal Obrzut, section head of the Neurointerventional Radiology Department at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, to discuss his stroke and subsequent recovery. They also explore the innovative work taking place at the Stroke Center and how to spot the signs of a stroke. “It's really important to be aware of the symptoms of stroke, especially since now we have a treatment that can change it and take it away as if it had never happened,” Obrzut said.

Tune in to this episode to hear about:

• Jeyaseelan’s life after stroke (14:49)
• Revolutionary treatment methods for stroke (18:30)
• The multidisciplinary treatment approach at the Stroke Center (22:54)
• Recognizing the signs and symptoms of stroke (26:59)

Click here to learn more about the Stroke Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital.

Disclaimer

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any professional health care services.The information provided is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a health care provider-patient relationship.This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any professional advice or medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a licensed medical professional before undertaking any form of medical treatment, exercise program, or dietary guidelines.If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, you should call a physician or 911 immediately.It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement ofCleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health Systemor theSouth Florida Business Journalpolicy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation byCleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health Systemor the South Florida Business Journal.This podcast is provided as a courtesy, and we cannot guarantee that it is completely accurate or error-free. You assume all risk arising from the content of this podcast andCleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journaldisclaim any liabilities to any parties.

There are headaches. And then, for almost 40 million Americans, there are migraines.

“A migraine is more than just a simple or even a bad headache. For some people, it can be a debilitating neurological dysfunction that can significantly impact daily life,” says Anam Baig, MD, a neurologist with the Headache and Facial Pain Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital.

In this episode of the Florida Health Care Insider podcast, presented by Cleveland Clinic in Florida in partnership with the South Florida Business Journal, Dr. Baig discusses migraines’ myriad causes and symptoms, and existing and potential future remedies.

Dr. Baig says one of the most exciting recent developments for treating migraines is Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) inhibitors. These medications block the effect of the CGRP molecule, one factor that causes migraines. Botox injections are another option that Dr. Baig says can be highly effective for some people.

Before any treatment is administered, patients undergo detailed, individualized evaluations to uncover potential causes or “triggers” and their unique symptoms - and then determine treatment plans.

“Our number-one goal is to create a holistic treatment plan that fits the patient and delivers the relief they’re seeking,” Dr. Baig says.
Listen to this episode to hear about:

• Some surprising migraine triggers (4:40)
• The latest medical treatments (9:15)
• Feedback from patients at the Headache and Facial Pain Center (13:30)

Learn more here about the Headache and Pain Facial Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital.

Disclaimer

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any professional health care services. The information provided is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a health care provider-patient relationship. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any professional advice or medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a licensed medical professional before undertaking any form of medical treatment, exercise program, or dietary guidelines. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, you should call a physician or 911 immediately. It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal. This podcast is provided as a courtesy, and we cannot guarantee that it is completely accurate or error-free. You assume all risk arising from the content of this podcast and Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal disclaim any liabilities to any parties.

For Dr. Nicolas Brozzi and heart-transplant recipient Anamaria Hernandez, April – National Organ Donor Awareness Month has personal significance.

“Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States and developed countries throughout the world,” says Brozzi, a cardiothoracic surgeon and researcher with Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Heart Transplant Program. “Although much progress has been made in treating cardiovascular disease, we continue to live with many risk factors and are working hard to defeat it.”

In this episode of the Florida Health Care Insider podcast, presented by Cleveland Clinic in Florida in partnership with the South Florida Business Journal, Brozzi and Hernandez share insights into the impact of organ transplants and donations.

“I'm eight months post-heart transplant now, and I feel great,” says Hernandez, whose surgery took place at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital following a lifetime of debilitating, heart-related problems that threatened her life.

Despite the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, Dr. Brozzi says advances in medical interventions are providing more treatment options for patients.

“Medicine continues to evolve at a very rapid pace,” Dr. Brozzi says. “There is opportunity to modify risk factors and prevent heart disease from advancing to late stages.”

Listen to this episode to hear about:

• Heart conditions that can lead to patients becoming-transplant candidates (10:58)
• The multidisciplinary nature of heart transplant procedures (16:53)

Click here to learn more about Cleveland Clinic’s Transplant Center in Weston Hospital.

Disclaimer

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any professional health care services. The information provided is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a health care provider-patient relationship. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any professional advice or medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a licensed medical professional before undertaking any form of medical treatment, exercise program, or dietary guidelines. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, you should call a physician or 911 immediately. It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal. This podcast is provided as a courtesy, and we cannot guarantee that it is completely accurate or error-free. You assume all risk arising from the content of this podcast and Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal disclaim any liabilities to any parties.

For Marylise Boutros, MD, the high point of her career has been leading research that can improve the quality of life for patients following surgery for colorectal cancer. It’s a reward that continually pays dividends with each recovering patient.

“This is the fruit of my last 12 years of work and really my passion,” says Boutros, director of research for Cleveland Clinic’s Ellen Leifer Shulman and Steven Shulman Digestive Disease Institute in Florida.

In this episode of the Florida Health Care Insider podcast, presented by Cleveland Clinic in Florida in partnership with the South Florida Business Journal, Dr. Boutros discusses advances in post-surgery care for patients experiencing low anterior resection syndrome, or LARS — advances she helped develop.

One advancement: an AI-assisted app Boutros and other researchers are developing that connects patients with each other, and with physicians, who can provide support and answer questions.

“Patients will be able to seek education and counseling and not feel alone and get real expert advice,” Boutros says.

Listen to this episode to hear about:

• The cornerstone of LARS management (8:59)
• Boutros’ interest in the interaction between the brain and the gut (22:57)

Learn more here about Cleveland Clinic in Florida’s Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute.

Lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic are creating far-reaching challenges for health care organizations nationwide.

In this episode of the Florida Health Care Insider podcast presented by Cleveland Clinic in Florida in partnership with the South Florida Business Journal, Rishi Singh, MD, vice president and chief medical officer of Cleveland Clinic Martin North and South hospitals, and Surendra Khera, MD, vice chief of the Primary Care Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, explore lessons learned during the pandemic and innovative new strategies put in place at the organization and shared across the U.S. health care system.

“One of the big (pandemic-related) boons has been the value that we found in Hospital Care at Home, which is a unique product at Cleveland Clinic in Florida,” Singh says.

For the staff, new approaches to care are helping alleviate burnout.

“Across the region, we have clinicians called ‘in-basket captains,’” Khera says, who monitor physicians’ and other clinicians’ emails when they are unavailable. “Not only does it make communication efficient,” but it also has reduced the primary care team’s “digital workload."

Listen to this episode to hear about:

• The “continuous model of improvement” (9:04)
• An innovative use of AI in primary care (28:42)

Learn more about Cleveland Clinic in Florida’s primary care initiatives and innovations.

Disclaimer
This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any professional health care services. The information provided is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a health care provider-patient relationship. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any professional advice or medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a licensed medical professional before undertaking any form of medical treatment, exercise program, or dietary guidelines. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, you should call a physician or 911 immediately. It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal. This podcast is provided as a courtesy, and we cannot guarantee that it is completely accurate or error-free. You assume all risk arising from the content of this podcast and Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal disclaim any liabilities to any parties.

No matter the diagnosis, a synergistic approach to advanced medical treatment is the key to better patient care and outcomes, says an expert in the field of neurology.

In this episode of the Florida Health Care Insider podcast, presented by Cleveland Clinic in Florida in partnership with the South Florida Business Journal, Amre Nouh, MD, regional chairman of neurology at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, describes the vast medical interventions – and the array of specialists conducting them – at the Neurological Institute.

“We have multidisciplinary teams or program offerings in different domains, including neuromuscular, dementia, an epilepsy program, our Movement Disorders and Parkinson’s Disease Program, and our Brain Tumor and Pituitary Surgical Program for acute and post-acute needs,” Nouh says.

The institute then pairs these and other services and marries them with “the research and cutting-edge technology that is happening globally and within Cleveland Clinic.”

According to Nouh, more innovation is on the horizon.

“Next for the future of neurosciences is how we can leverage artificial intelligence to discover new pathways for treatment and different ways to approach things. Novel solutions to problems that we've been dealing with for decades.”

Listen to this episode to hear about:

• The institute’s “robust” headache management program (5:48)
• An increase in disease modifying therapies (8:35)
• The speed at which stroke patients are treated (13:36)

Take a closer look at the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Florida.

Disclaimer

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any professional health care services. The information provided is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a health care provider-patient relationship. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any professional advice or medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a licensed medical professional before undertaking any form of medical treatment, exercise program, or dietary guidelines. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, you should call a physician or 911 immediately. It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal. This podcast is provided as a courtesy, and we cannot guarantee that it is completely accurate or error-free. You assume all risk arising from the content of this podcast and Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal disclaim any liabilities to any parties.

For employers, managing health care costs is not only about safeguarding the bottom line but also ensuring the health and well-being of their employees.

In this episode of the Florida Health Care Insider podcast, presented by Cleveland Clinic in Florida in partnership with the South Florida Business Journal, Meghan Cassidy, senior director, product development for Cleveland Clinic, explains how the Employer Solutions program influences costs and care.

“We build solutions that give organizations a means to take care of rising costs while improving the experience and quality for their employees,” says Cassidy, from transparent pricing to expanding access to care for “patients all over the country, many of whom are underserved in their local markets.”

A major component of the program is a focus on avoiding unnecessary care and the subsequent costs for employers and employees.

“About one out of every five times that we see a patient who thinks that they need surgery, we will hear, ‘You don’t need surgery’ or ‘You don’t need surgery right now,’” Cassidy says. “It’s an avoidable cost out of the employer’s pocket, assuming they’re self-insured and paying100% for the benefit. It’s also a reduced cost out of employees’ pockets because they don’t have to have surgery.”

Listen to this episode for more about:

• The Centers of Excellence program (5:31)
• Enhanced support for employees and families dealing with breast, colon and prostate cancer (8:08
• Medical directors who offer expert guidance to C-suite executives on issues such as wellness strategies and mental health (10:22)
• The Executive Health and Concierge Medicine programs (11:29)

Request more information or subscribe to our newsletter at clevelandclinic.org/employers.

Disclaimer
This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any professional health care services. The information provided is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a health care provider-patient relationship. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any professional advice or medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a licensed medical professional before undertaking any form of medical treatment, exercise program, or dietary guidelines. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, you should call a physician or 911 immediately. It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal. This podcast is provided as a courtesy, and we cannot guarantee that it is completely accurate or error-free. You assume all risk arising from the content of this podcast and Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal disclaim any liabilities to any parties.

Prescription diabetes medications, like semaglutides (such as Ozempic) and tirzepatide (such as Mounjaro) are among the latest – and perhaps the most well-known – types of drugs to treat obesity.

In this episode of the Florida Health Care Insider podcast, presented by Cleveland Clinic in Florida in partnership with the South Florida Business Journal, Raul Rosenthal, MD, director of bariatric and metabolic surgery at the Ellen Leifer Shulman and Steven Shulman Digestive Disease Center at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, discusses these revolutionary drugs, surgery and more.

But first, Rosenthal emphasizes, obesity “is a chronic disease. What we can do with medication or with an operation is to bring the obesity disease into remission, but we can’t cure it.” Factors such as genetics, metabolism and phenotype (“the interaction of a human being with the environment”) come into play.
However, today’s most-popular weight loss drugs – which Rosenthal predicts will become more affordable and easier to use in a few years – as well as bariatric surgery and lifestyle changes are effective tools for treating obese patients.
“It’s important that people understand they need to do something about obesity because the long-term consequences are irreversible,” says Rosenthal.

Listen to this episode to hear about:

• One reason patients don’t seek medical or surgical treatment for obesity (6:25)
• Why insurers and employers are favoring bariatric surgery (9:12)
• Which bariatric operation is performed most often at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital (17:45)
• The international bariatric journal Rosenthal edits (25:09)

Discover more about the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute and Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Florida.

Disclaimer
This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any professional health care services. The information provided is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a health care provider-patient relationship. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for any professional advice or medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a licensed medical professional before undertaking any form of medical treatment, exercise program, or dietary guidelines. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, you should call a physician or 911 immediately. It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal. This podcast is provided as a courtesy, and we cannot guarantee that it is completely accurate or error-free. You assume all risk arising from the content of this podcast and Cleveland Clinic Florida Regional Health System or the South Florida Business Journal disclaim any liabilities to any parties.