Tampa General Hospital announced it has completed its first clinical ex vivo lung perfusion procedure, employing a system designed to evaluate and enhance donor lungs outside the body prior to transplantation. The donor lungs involved presented multiple complications, including extended periods without adequate blood flow and oxygen, challenges in achieving full expansion, a detected blood clot, and an unreported surgical injury. The hospital utilized XVIVO’s XPS technology to conduct the assessment, repair, and optimization of the lungs before transplanting them into a patient diagnosed with a rare genetic lung condition. Hospital officials reported that the recipient is currently recovering well.

Ex vivo lung perfusion, or EVLP, positions donor lungs within a specialized platform that delivers oxygen, nutrients, and a blood-like solution while providing gentle ventilation. This process enables real-time monitoring of lung function, facilitates the correction of certain deficiencies, and supports decisions regarding organ suitability for transplant.

"EVLP gives us something we have never had before: clarity and confidence," stated Kamal Ayyat, a thoracic transplant surgeon and director of Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion at TGH. "Instead of rejecting donor lungs due to uncertainty about their condition, we can evaluate them directly, address specific issues, and make more informed decisions."

Haytham Elgharably, surgical director of TGH’s Lung Transplant Program, led the transplant operation. Transplant pulmonologists Purav Shah and Lauryn Benninger contributed to donor-lung recovery, assessment, and recipient care. Additional leadership within the program includes Satish Chandrashekaran, medical director, and Kiran Dhanireddy, vice president and chief of the TGH Transplant Institute.

"This milestone represents a significant step forward in our ability to help more patients receive the lifesaving transplants they need," Dhanireddy remarked. "EVLP gives us the ability to evaluate and potentially recover lungs that previously may have been considered unusable, allowing us to honor the gift of donation while saving more lives."

Senator Rick Scott has called on federal health officials to prioritize American-made medical devices and pharmaceuticals, expressing concerns that Chinese-manufactured equipment might compromise patient data security. In a letter dated October 2 addressed to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, Scott advocated for domestic data storage mandates and limitations on federally funded acquisitions of Chinese-origin equipment. He referenced a federal cybersecurity alert concerning a Contec Medical Systems patient monitor, which he described as containing a backdoor capable of exposing patient information. Scott also urged safeguards for funds allocated through the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, arguing that such resources should not facilitate expanded market access for Chinese manufacturers within U.S. hospitals. This initiative follows a prior request by Scott and Senator Dave McCormick for a Federal Communications Commission inquiry into China-linked smartwatches and fitness trackers.

Mount Sinai Medical Center conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a newly constructed emergency center in Westchester. U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar participated in the event, having helped secure $7.65 million toward resilience upgrades at the facility. This contribution forms part of nearly $15 million in direct federal investments earmarked for healthcare and medical research across South Florida.

"Quality healthcare must be both accessible and affordable," Salazar stated. "This means delivering excellent care close to home, ensuring sufficient provider availability, providing access to necessary treatments, and maintaining cost structures that families can manage. I am proud to join Mount Sinai in this expansion and will continue working across party lines to strengthen healthcare for South Florida."

Gino Santorio, President and CEO of Mount Sinai, emphasized the significance of the new facility. "When we broke ground, we committed to bringing nationally recognized care to the Westchester community. Today, that commitment is fulfilled," he said. "Families in this area now have emergency services nearby, with advanced imaging available on-site to provide diagnostic answers during visits rather than requiring referrals and additional trips. This marks the beginning of a substantial expansion effort."

Florida State University College of Law is set to host the Claude Pepper Elder Law Moot Court Competition on October 9 and 10, featuring 14 law school teams. This event, now in its fourth consecutive year, is recognized as the nation’s only moot court competition dedicated exclusively to elder law. The 2024 edition centers on consumer protection issues within nursing facilities.

The competition builds upon ongoing work conducted by FSU Law’s Claude Pepper Elder Law Clinic, directed by Rima Nathan. The clinic serves as Florida’s sole law school initiative focused on senior advocacy, offering students practical experience in representing low-income clients, delivering community education, and advancing policy reforms. Case topics encompass elder abuse, financial exploitation, consumer protection, advance directives, healthcare decision-making, public benefits, housing, and related legal matters.

"While the scenario presented to students is fictional, it mirrors real and growing challenges in elder law practice," Nathan noted. "The competition allows participants to engage with these complexities while refining their ability to construct persuasive legal arguments and advocate effectively before seasoned attorneys and judges."

The event is co-hosted by the AARP Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AARP. "Nursing facility cases reflect the daily concerns addressed by AARP Foundation attorneys to safeguard residents and their families," said Louis Lopez, Senior Vice President of AARP Foundation Litigation. "We are proud to support the development of a new generation of legal professionals committed to advancing this vital work."

The American Cancer Society has incorporated Guardant Health’s Shield blood test into its colorectal cancer screening recommendations, marking the first update to guidance since 2018. Shield received FDA approval in July 2024 and is administered via blood draw during a routine office visit. The Society advises its use for individuals who decline or are unable to complete stool-based screening tests or colonoscopies. A positive result necessitates a follow-up colonoscopy within six months.

Data from the ECLIPSE trial indicate that Shield identified 83% of colorectal cancers and 13% of advanced precancerous polyps. Guardant reports that more than 90% of the initial 200,000 patients completed the test. The Society notes that 66% of Floridians aged 45 and older are current with colorectal cancer screenings, compared with 69% nationally. Medicare covers Shield without cost-sharing for traditional beneficiaries, while Florida Medicaid includes coverage for enrollees aged 45 to 64 under provisions of SB 2514, the 2025 conforming bill requiring managed care plans to align with Medicare’s coverage standards.

Guardant introduced a national advertising campaign on September 10, featuring actor Patrick Dempsey and a tribute wall listing Americans who have died from colorectal cancer. Among those commemorated is Tasha Hurst of Lake Mary, a Get Your Rear in Gear Orlando volunteer who passed away in December after a seven-year battle with the disease.

Governor Ron DeSantis has voiced skepticism regarding the integration of artificial intelligence within healthcare, suggesting that AI applications may primarily benefit technology corporations and insurers rather than patients. He argued that AI tools are increasingly employed by large hospitals and insurers to pursue higher reimbursement rates or to deny more claims, resulting in increased premiums and claim denials without corresponding improvements in health outcomes. "Both Big Hospitals and Big Insurance are using AI tools to either seek more reimbursements or to deny more claims," DeSantis stated. "The result: AI providers generate substantial profits, individuals face higher costs and more denials, and overall health does not improve."

This perspective follows the release of a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association analysis estimating that increasingly complex hospital coding contributed $942 million in additional expenditures for Blue Cross plans between 2023 and 2025. The study expressed concerns that AI systems may assist hospitals in identifying additional billable diagnoses without corresponding clinical advancements. DeSantis previously voiced similar reservations during an Orlando healthcare summit, distinguishing between clinically valuable AI applications and what he described as consumer-oriented AI "slop," while highlighting risks related to patient privacy, data security, and potential impacts on children. Although DeSantis has attempted to translate these concerns into legislative proposals, including an AI Bill of Rights that did not advance during the regular session, he later incorporated AI protections into a special session agenda. The Senate passed a revised measure with a 37-1 vote, but the House did not act on the proposal. DeSantis has indicated plans to convene another special session on AI in September, though he acknowledged the possibility of legislative gridlock prior to the upcoming election.

Baptist Health has opened a new emergency center serving adults and children in the SilverLeaf area of a First Coast community. The facility, now operational since September 22, provides 24-hour emergency care alongside primary care, neurology, orthopedics, rehabilitation, cardiology, laboratory services, and wellness programs. Located on St. Johns Parkway in St. Augustine, the campus aims to improve access to specialized medical services for residents of St. Johns County.

"A truly healthy community requires care that supports individuals throughout life, from preventive checkups with primary care providers to urgent medical needs," said Matthew A. Zuino, President and CEO of Baptist Health. "With the addition of this emergency center to our new Baptist SilverLeaf Medical Campus, we are expanding access to expert care for families in this growing region and reaffirming our commitment to being available when communities need us most."

HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital recently hosted its annual Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Reunion, coinciding with NICU Awareness Month. The event, held in early September, brought together former patients, families, and caregivers for an interactive experience that included guided tours of an NICU simulation station and celebratory activities.

"Every year, we are honored to host this gathering that unites our hospital community with the families and caregivers who have demonstrated remarkable resilience," said Chad Patrick, Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital. "It is a celebration of hope and the significant progress achieved by our NICU graduates."

Suzanne Jones, Director of Women and Children’s Services at the hospital, highlighted the importance of the NICU program. "We are excited to celebrate the exceptional care provided by our NICU team to families in our community and look forward to reconnecting with our former patients."

Additional developments include a series of regulatory updates taking effect in October. These comprise the Department of Health’s final rule on Renewal Application Requirements for MMTCs, the Board of Occupational Therapy’s standards for dry needling practice, the Agency for Health Care Administration’s guidelines for Medicaid’s Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center Services, and several rules from the Division of Environmental Health concerning environmental health technician certification, radiologic assistant practice standards, emergency epinephrine auto-injector training, and definitions related to environmental health.

The upcoming calendar includes several community and professional events. The Broward County Medical Association will host its AI Conference 2026 on October 17 at Keiser University’s Fort Lauderdale campus, focusing on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in medical practice. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities will present its 20th annual Exceptional Employment Awards Ceremony on October 20 at the Florida Capitol, recognizing employers and employees who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to inclusive hiring practices.