Life-Changing Healthcare for Seniors

John Knox Village celebrated the grand opening of the Center for Healthy Living on May 19, 2021. This initiative was the brainchild of our CEO Gerry Stryker, who reached out to me as a JKV Board of Director, asking for my involvement.

Dr. Sal Barbera, who teaches Health Administration Management courses at Florida Atlantic University, is also a long-time JKV Board of Director. He is shown here at the CFHL ribbon cutting with fellow Board member Kelley Babcock.

I quickly realized that this concept was one that could have a long-term impact on the residents, employees, and the community at-large by providing a partnership-driven proactive approach to promoting wellness. The mission of this center (CFHL) is to create strategic partnerships that have been established with Everside Health, Johns Hopkins Healthcare Solutions and Holy Cross Health.

Combining JKV’s excellence in managing healthcare, with top-tier research, clinical discoveries, and advancements in achieving mind and body health will consistently promote positive outcomes. JKV will continue to push the market and solidify itself as an organization that is the undisputed leader in providing proactive healthcare, while also encouraging and representing innovative thinking.

The CFHL embodies Gerry’s vision. He strongly believes that establishing a platform for integrative, complimentary wellness programming, with the overall objective to improve the lives of those within John Knox Village, and eventually the greater community at large, is paramount to long-term success.

The CFHL is positioned to offer a balance of health and wellness services geared to complement an individualized dynamic plan created by participants and various providers and educators. It is the goal of the CFHL, and its partners, to maintain an active research component that will continuously bring forward the latest thinking and service opportunities directed at proactively seeking and maintaining wellness.

The CFHL is a $1.5 million, contemporary medical center that will serve JKV’s 800+ staff and 1,000 residents right on its campus. This convenience factor will be instrumental in promoting the variousservices available and when coupled with the ongoing research agenda, the center will remain current and practicable.

The center is pleased to have Dr. Howard S. Koch serving as the on-site physician, and Myrlene Ismael-Allyne, a board-certified physician assistant, working with Dr. Koch. Dr. Koch has 40 years’ experience in medicine, specializing in older adult wellness. The scope of services that the Center for Healthy Living will provide include:

● Routine physicals

● Wellness counseling

● Immunizations and vaccinations.

● Chronic condition management (diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol, hypertension, depression,

and more)

● Diagnosis and treatment of routine ailments or medical conditions such as colds, flu, etc.

● Office-based lab work, including urinalysis and blood draws

● Office-based diagnostic testing (i.e., EKG)

● Lab services for bloodwork, strep, pregnancy, mononucleosis, and glucose rapid testing

● Preventative care services

● Health, disease prevention and wellness

● Education programs and activities

● The Seven Dimensions of Wellness

and much more!

The CFHL is located at 550 SW 3rd St, Pompano Beach, in the former Professional Center Building. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (954) 788-2260 for more information or make an appointment.

As a Board member, I am honored to have been part of the development of this program and look forward to witnessing its guaranteed success.

–Salvatore Barbera, DHA, MSM, FACHE