News: (May 29, 2008)

CEO Kathryn Abbate Noted For Making Healthcare Accessible For All

SOURCE: Miami Today - Week of Thursday 5/29/08

THREE CITED FOR MAKING QUALITY HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL

….Marvin O’Quinn, president of the Public Health Trust and CEO of Jackson
Health System, says it’s Kathryn Abbate, CEO of Miami Beach Community Health Center, who deserves recognition as a healthcare leader.

“She is basically in the same business as I’m in, but she’s taking it from a different approach, primary care on the ground,” Mr. O’Quinn said. “She’s managed to expand her operation and make a lot of progress.”

“I think I’ve always had a passion for the underserved,” said Ms. Abbate, who has been with the organization 10 years, “and that derived from a variety of ways, I think.”

The center’s mission is to “provide quality, affordable healthcare to Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County, with five locations” she said. The center on average sees 25,000 people a year, totaling more than 100,000 visits.

“We serve people that do not have insurance, those who are underinsured and those below the poverty level. We use a sliding fee scale, but we help even if they can’t pay. We have an OB-GYN, a pharmacy and we even deliver our own babies. Additionally, we have an excellent dental department.”

During her time at Miami Beach Community Health Center, Ms. Abbate has expanded the Immune Support Program, the center’s HIV unit, and also pushed for the OB-GYN with the ability to deliver babies.

“We see the mothers before they deliver the baby, during the delivery and after,” she
said.

These two changes have left her feeling the most accomplished, she said, but she also noted she’s happy to see the behavioral health unit, which staffs psychologists, psychiatrists and licensed clinical social workers, gain footing.

“If you’re poor, you have a lot of issues that are related to funding and money,” she said, noting the center helps patients deal with stress management and other related issues.

“I am so proud of the team we’ve assembled. They have enabled us to move to comprehensive care,” Ms. Abbate said.

Additionally, Ms. Abbate is active in the National Association of Community Centers, many local chambers of commerce and the Health Choice Network.

What’s her motivation?

“Well people produce better results,” she said. “Children who are healthy learn.”

Because of quality healthcare’s far-reaching benefits, she believes keeping community members well trumps many services.

“If you’re putting in a new park or park bench, that’s good,” she said, “but it doesn’t mean much if your community members are sitting on that park bench ill.”