Jan
23
New hospital is on the cutting edge
Filed Under Health Care | Leave a Comment
Gulf Coast Medical Center to offer high-tech patient care
Story and photos
by SARA FITZPATRICK
Associate Editor
Sure, hospitals are in the business of taking care of people. But they’re in another business as well: the information business.
Hundreds of patients, thousands of possible drug interactions, medical histories – the old days of shuffling pencil and paper charts are gone. Investing in information technology at the ground level more than pays for itself in the long run, realized in strides in patient care.
The new Gulf Coast Medial Center, set to open March 8 at the corner of Metro and Daniels Parkways, sits on the campus of Gulf Coast Hospital and physically wraps around that building. Along with the existing facility, GCMC will assimilate the patients, staff and services of Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center, which is scheduled to close. Together, the two will have 349 beds, including 233 in the new build. More than that, however, the new building offers a model of information management, flexibility, efficiency and comfort.
On a recent hard-hat tour (the hospital plans to hold a Community Open House on Feb. 14 that will include a public tour), Vice President of Patient Care Cindy Boily and System Director Alex Greenwood treated SWFBT to a preview of the building they expect will set a new standard in healthcare facility planning.
Jan
23
FHBA: Bank regulations are bringing stable developers to the brink
By BOB MASSEY
Editor
Timing is running out for Florida builders. No, not the ones having financial issues, but the ones with spotless payment histories, that are actively engaged in construction.
This effectively places the entire industry’s ability to provide housing in jeopardy, according to the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA).
Jan
23
Realtor makes slow market pay off
Filed Under Profiles | Leave a Comment
Grimes succeeds with mixture of optimism and hard work
By JESSICA HEHIR
Business Writer
Lee County is now in a position to boast one of the highest – possibly the highest – foreclosure rates in the country. And Denny Grimes says that’s a good thing.
“Who wants to be second?” he challenged. “If we are going to be the foreclosure capital of the United States, that is fabulous. And you know what? I want the news media across the country to run that and put it on every bus bench there is. Because people that are looking for sales always go to the stores that have the best buys.”
Denny Grimes has served as a full-time Realtor in Lee County for the past 26 years and owns Denny Grimes & Company. During that time he has accumulated an impressive track record – including, most recently, a partnership with investor O.J. Buigas, manager of the Private Equity Group. He and Grimes sold 80 homes in Coral Lakes in just five days last March despite the bleak housing market.
Grimes said it proves a point.
Jan
23
Beyond the Bottom Line
Filed Under Vince Crew columns | Leave a Comment
Seven questions to ask before you even THINK about starting a business
By VINCE CREW
At the beginning of a New Year, many find themselves “casualties of corporate downsizing” or just plain fed up with having someone else in control of their careers, income and daily lives. I know I did.
Starting your own business can be very tempting, but the results can be disastrous.
Franchising, consulting or turning a hobby into work is tough. Most fail. And those of us who have had any degree of success feel obligated to tell you what you’re getting into before it’s too late.
For each success story, there are literally – and I’m not exaggerating – millions that fail within a few months of paying the credit card bill for cool home office furniture and a PC upgrade.
So here are seven questions to ask before going out on your own: Read more
Jan
23
What do you do when your cash flow doesn’t?
Filed Under Business Builders, Editorial & Guest Columns | Leave a Comment
By KARL M. GIBBONS
Guest Columnist
Is your business profitable – yet you still have problems making payroll or paying your vendors on time?
Do your best customers take longer and longer to pay you and treat you like their bank? Do you feel you can’t cut off their credit for fear of losing a “good” customer?
Think you can’t afford that new piece of equipment that you badly need?
In any economic climate, particularly today’s, it’s important to make regular, sustainable profits – but that’s no good if you run out of cash! You can, of course, ask your bank for an increase in your line of credit (not always easy!), find a friendly investor or dip into your retirement savings. Alternatively you can take some steps to improve your business’ cash flow.
Let’s look at a few simple things you, as a business owner or manager, can do to help maximize your cash flow and free up time to devote to growing your business and making a profit.
Jan
23
Regional chambers gear up to help members in 2009
Filed Under Economic Development | Leave a Comment
By BOB MASSEY
Editor
Instead of staying stagnant and hoping for that much-desired upswing in the economy, area chambers of commerce are adapting to the needs of their members, and helping them to be survivors.
That’s what SWFBT found in this, our inaugural survey of all the chambers in our readership area. We’re starting off the New Year by asking these organizations to recap the highlights or 2008, as well as what they have planned for 2009.
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