WATCH: 30th Annual Brevard County Long Term Care Symposium Now Underway

By  //  November 6, 2019

presented by Dr. John Potomski and the Brevard County Medical Directors Association

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Danny Treanor visits with the leaders of the Brevard County Long Term Care community during Dr. John Potomski’s 30th Annual Long Term Care Symposium, including Nurse Practitioner Michelle Lewis, JoAnn Fisher and Joan Burritt.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Danny Treanor visits with the leaders of the Brevard County Long Term Care community during Dr. John Potomski’s 30th Annual Long Term Care Symposium.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The 30th annual Annual Brevard County Long Term Care Symposium, sponsored by VITAS Healthcare, is set for Nov. 6 at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place and is presented by the Brevard County Medical Directors Association.

Brevard County Medical Directors Association President John H. Potomski, Jr., D.O., CMD, who created the event, has been a medical provider for residents in Brevard County’s rehabilitation and nursing centers, as well as assisted living facilities for more than 36 years.

Online registration is now open for those who would like to attend the dinner at the 30th Annual Long Term Care Symposium – and you may register online as a vendor HERE.

“If any of your organizations would also like to donate to our raffle (gift baskets, gift cards, etc.) please let us know. If would be greatly appreciated,” said BCMDA Executive Director Jared Lewis.

“We are excited to celebrate three decades of presenting the symposium and we look forward to this one being full of excitement and energy for our medical professionals who serve in the long-term care industry.”

Dr. Potomski spends much of his free time advocating for medical legislation at the national, state and local level care for the patients in practice settings.

He is devoted to ensuring continuous quality, safe care and conditions for seniors, the most vulnerable demographic age group, Dr. Potomski was recognized as a Central Florida Humanitarian in 2011.

Initially, this was intended as an educational offering to the nursing staff in our long term care facilities as a thank you for their hard work and commitment.

The 30th annual Annual Brevard County Long Term Care Symposium, sponsored by VITAS Healthcare, is set for Nov. 6 at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place and is presented by the Brevard County Medical Directors Association.
Dr. John Potomski Honored As Southeast Physician of the Year By Life Care Centers of AmericaRelated Story:
Dr. John Potomski Honored As Southeast Physician of the Year By Life Care Centers of America

“Thirty years ago, this program was started as an educational dinner meeting for approximately 80 health care professionals in long-term care, and has now grown to a spectacular educational event for approximately 500 health care providers,” said Dr. Potomski.

Several pharmaceutical companies, hospice and home health care organizations, as well as some of Brevard County’s assisted living facilities and pharmacies will support the symposium as exhibitors.

“Without their help this program would not be possible,” said Dr. Potomski.

The symposium’s invited attendees include medical directors, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, nursing directors, administrators, pharmacy consultants, hospice and home health care representatives and facility department heads.

SOLARIS HEALTHCARE Merritt Island veteran Stephanie Allen, LPN, was awarded the 2017 Long Term Care Achievement Award by Dr. John Potomski. Above, Allen is congratulated by Solaris staff, along with Administrator Shawn Corley, Director of Nursing Rita Spencer and Medical Director Dr. Brian Walls.

SPEAKERS AND SPONSORS 

• Eyeing Post-Acute Care with the Lens of Innovation
Speaker: Arif Nazir, MD, CMD, President-AMDA
• Sepsis as a Readmissions
Speaker: Leonard Hock, D.O.,CMD, FMDA Chairman
• Topic- Xarelto in CAD/PVD
Speaker: Sean Cannone, D.O., CMD
• Keynote: 45 Years Bridging Past to Present
Speaker: David Browning, The Mayberry Deputy

Deborah Grassman, ARNP – OPUS Peace Founder 

Grassman is a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner whose 30-year career at the Department of Veterans Affairs included being the Director of the Hospice program, as well as personally taking care of more than 10,000 dying veterans.

She is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts in caring for Veterans nearing the end of life. She is a contributing author in four textbooks, has 25 published articles, and five documentary films featuring her work.

Grassman is most well-known for identifying the unique needs of Veterans as they near the end of life which has become the basis for NHPCO’s We Honor Veterans program.

Deborah Grassman is a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner whose 30-year career at the Department of Veterans Affairs included being the Director of the Hospice program, as well as personally taking care of more than 10,000 dying veterans.

Arif Nazir, Chief Medical Officer, Signature Healthcare; President, SHC Medical Partners

Nazir is the president of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine and is also the past chair of its Innovations Platform Advisory Council.

He has received many professional awards, most notably the Louisville Business First’s 20 People to Know: Healthcare award in 2018, and the Indiana Hulman Health Achievement Award for Public Health in 2015.

Nazir has published his research in several peer-reviewed journals and frequently presents at regional and national platforms on geriatric care issues.

Arif Nazir is the president of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine and is also the past chair of its Innovations Platform Advisory Council.

David Brownings, also known as  “The Mayberry Deputy”

David Brownings is a multifaceted entertainer portraying “Barney Fife” whose improvisation talent and characterizations is a bridge between “The Andy Griffith Show” and today.

Brownings is a multifaceted entertainer portraying “Barney Fife” whose improvisation talent and characterizations is a bridge between “The Andy Griffith Show” and today.

The doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and attendees will have the opportunity to network and browse the more than 30 symposium sponsor’s vendor booths exhibiting and promoting various health care services and products before the symposium begins. The program will begin at 6 p.m.

“Without the support of our loyal sponsors, we would not be where we are now and I can’t thank them enough,” said Dr. Potomski.

As in the past, the final highlight of the evening is BCMDA’s recognition of an individual, over the age of 60, who has devoted at least 20 years of their career to providing outstanding long-term care to their patients.

The individual is nominated by their peers and selected for the honor by the BCMDA awards committee.

For more information, call 321-412-0577 or e-mail bcmdacare@gmail.com

Special guest correspondent of Space Coast Daily, Danny Treanor will be at the 2019 Long Term Care Symposium to meet and greet the guests and interview the featured speakers.

THE 2016 CENTRAL FLORIDA HUMANITARIANS will be recognized during the Gala event on Thursday, Nov. 3 at the Hilton Rialto Place in Melbourne, Florida. The Central Florida Humanitarian Awards were created to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that dedicate their Time, Talent or Treasure to help people in need locally – and around the world. Above, Space Coast Daily Special Correspondent and Central Florida media legend Danny Treanor will be on the Red Carpet interviewing honorees during the Humanitarian awards on Nov. 5. Treanor will also act as the keynote speaker for the 26th Annual Long Term Symposium on Nov. 2.
THE 2019 CENTRAL FLORIDA HUMANITARIANS will be recognized during the Gala event on Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Hilton Rialto Place in Melbourne, Florida. The Central Florida Humanitarian Awards were created to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that dedicate their Time, Talent or Treasure to help people in need locally – and around the world. Above, Space Coast Daily Special Correspondent and Central Florida media legend Danny Treanor will be on the Red Carpet interviewing honorees during the Humanitarian awards on Nov. 7.

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