Nicklaus Children\u2019s Health System of Miami has strengthened its push deeper into Broward and Palm Beach counties with a new market president who will oversee expansion in Broward and a new leader to build affiliations and partnerships with healthcare providers in Palm Beach County.<\/p>\n
Yair Katz, who most recently had been chief executive of Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s Hospital in Long Beach, Calif., will guide Nicklaus Children\u2019s as it builds its presence in Broward County. The well-established Miami hospital has eight outpatient clinics in Broward County, including a new Davie facility that specializes in cardiovascular, orthopedic, and neuroscience care and plans to open more.\u00a0 It has also partnered with Broward Health to take over inpatient children\u2019s services at two Broward Health hospitals. That process already is underway.<\/p>\n
\u201cNicklaus Children\u2019s and Broward Health will transition pediatric services at Broward Health Medical Center and Broward Health Coral Springs to Nicklaus Children\u2019s in early 2026,\u201d said Matthew A. Love, president & CEO of Nicklaus Children\u2019s Health System. \u201cAs part of our expansion plans, Nicklaus Children\u2019s recruited, hired and onboarded a proven leader in pediatric healthcare to oversee operations in Broward County. Mr. Yair Katz is working with leaders at Broward Health to ensure a smooth transition. He, along with clinical leaders, will be responsible for operations for Nicklaus Children\u2019s at Broward Health as part of this innovative affiliation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Love said Nicklaus will add its logo to signage on the Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale and Broward Health Coral Springs campuses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve also held town halls with Broward Health nursing leaders, employees, and physicians who will be joining Nicklaus Children\u2019s, and we have started the transition employment process. Our IT departments are working closely to ensure our electronic health records are integrated for sharing of vital patient information.\u201d<\/p>\n
The partnership between Broward Health and Nicklaus was announced more than a year ago<\/a> and with the transition of Broward Health pediatric units to Nicklaus planned for early 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cBringing Nicklaus Children\u2019s to Broward Health is a huge undertaking and we knew it would take some time,\u201d Love added. \u201cBut we couldn\u2019t be more excited with each passing day. We know this is the right thing for pediatric care across South Florida. Opening at Broward Health is the logical next step in bringing Nicklaus Children\u2019s award-winning care to families in the community. The children and families of Broward County deserve access to the best pediatric care close to home.\u201d<\/p>\n The announcement initially was met with pushback at Joe DiMaggio Children\u2019s Hospital, which provides most of the pediatric medical care in Broward County.\u00a0 Shane Strum<\/a>, interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System, which owns Joe DiMaggio, also is CEO of Broward Health. Strum led the Nicklaus partnership, which created some tension within the health system.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Caitlin Stella, CEO of Joe DiMaggio Children\u2019s Hospital, said her 33-year-old Broward hospital is making its own growth plans.<\/p>\n \u201cOur planned growth and diversification of specialty services remain on track,\u201d she said. \u201cWhile there is understandable focus on what\u2019s happening with pediatrics in Broward County, we as leaders are focused on what children\u2019s healthcare should and will look like long term. We are already focused on a future vision consistent with trends in children\u2019s hospitals happening across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n The bigger goal, she said, is for eventual collaboration between DiMaggio and Nicklaus.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a bigger vision and, based on various market dynamics, the time to make it happen is now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n