HCA West Florida Recruiters

Growth and Opportunity at Largo Medical Center

This week’s post is from Sherry Scallon.  Sherry graduated from Middlesex County Community College in Middlesex, New Jersey with her Associates degree and will complete her BS degree from The College of New Jersey in May 2010.  Sherry has been a Human Resource professional for the past 20 years and has spent most of her career working for a fortune 50 Healthcare company in New Jersey before moving to Florida with her family in 2004.  Sherry joined our HCA West Florida Division in 2008 as the Nurse Recruiter for Largo Medical Center and Sun Coast Hospital located in Pinellas County.  She enjoys running, yoga, meditation, healthy eating, reading, movies and spending time and having fun with her two teenage boys and husband. 

When I was first hired in March 2008, Sun Coast was recently purchased by Largo Medical Center.  Sun Coast Hospital was established in 1957 and is the largest osteopathic teaching hospital in the southeast.  Over the past two years, I have witnessed a lot of change and growth between the 2 hospitals.  In my HR experience, I have found that change can be a challenge for employees to go through.  However, I must say that the Nursing Leaders and Executive Management across both hospitals did an amazing job.  After two years of hard work, on January 27, 2010, Largo Medical Center officially announced the all new Largo Medical Center - Indian Rocks.  Sun Coast Hospital is now completely part of a 456 bed hospital located on two campuses.  A special Open House Event was held and local dignitaries including Largo Mayor Patricia Gerard, Largo Chamber President Tom Marrissette and President and CEO of Largo Medical Center, Richard Satcher were all in attendance to help celebrate.  At the event our CEO stated, “Since our acquisition of Sun Coast Hospital, we have been working toward this event where we officially combine two different facilities into one incredible health system.” 

As part of the growth and change, Largo Medical Center at the Indian Rocks Campus opened up the Retreat in December 2009.  The Retreat is located on the 5th floor and is an adult treatment program that addresses mental health needs.  The unit has 14 private patient rooms that are spacious.   Each room includes a private bathroom and a large window that lets in a tremendous amount of light.  Throughout the entire unit, the color scheme is soft earth tones with matching floor tiles and decor.  The nurses’ station is top of the line and includes a private lounge, locker room and lunch room.  For patients, the program offers a clinical model geared towards diagnosis stabilization and individual multidisciplinary treatment planning in the least restrictive and intensive setting necessary.  The program emphasizes the importance of instilling hope and decreasing shame by providing care in a free and supportive environment.  The care is flexible and creative and the primary focus for each patient is on accountability, responsibility and daily goals. 

Another exciting announcement for Largo Medical Center was on January 21, 2010, as we were named the West Coast Academic Center of Nova Southeastern University.  Since the acquisition of Sun Coast hospital we have operated a medical education program for medical students, residents and fellows.  In 2009 the program provided training for 62 residents and 210 medical students.  Our CEO, Rickey Satcher said, “It is an honor and privilege to provide medical education and training to future doctors of America.  Our goal is to serve the medical needs of our community in an academic environment that strives for excellence and patient satisfaction.  We welcome this opportunity to partner with Nova Southeastern University as its West Coast Academic Center.”

In addition to working with the West Coast Academic Center for Nova Southeastern University, we also partner with 14 teaching hospitals in Florida and Georgia throughout the consortium for Excellence in Medical Education.  Our program is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to train physicians at the post graduate level in the following:

• Traditional Rotating Internship
• Family Practice Residency
• Anesthesiology Residency
• Dermatology Residency
• Internal Medicine Residency
• General Surgery Residency
• Orthopedic Surgery Residency
• Rheumatology Fellowship
• Cardiology Fellowship
• Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
• Gastroenterolgoy Fellowship
• Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship

Currently we have six residency programs offered with 71 approved positions at our hospital. 

Another exciting growth opportunity and the Indian Rocks Campus is that we will expand our inpatient rehabilitation program by 10 beds.  This will allow us to offer one of the highest therapist to patient ratios in Pinellas County.  Largo Mayor Patricia Gerard said, “The City of Largo is very excited about the continued expansion of our wonderful community partner, Largo Medical Center and Largo Medical Center - Indian Rocks.  The additional beds will allow even more of our residents to experience high quality medical services that we have enjoyed for many years in our community.  Congratulations, Largo Medical Center.” 

Please come back and keep checking out our blogs.  You never know what exciting changes and growth we will announce next with our 16 Hospitals on the West Coast and Central Florida. 

Yours in recruiting the “Best” Nurses for Largo Medical Center,

Sherry Scallon

© 2010 Recruiting at HCA West Florida.