Surgery professor receives award from Florida Hospital Association

Joseph J. Tepas III, M.D., professor of surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine—Jacksonville, was honored by the Florida Hospital Association this week.

Tepas, chief of the division of pediatric surgery, was named the 2011 Florida Surgical Care Initiative Champion during the association’s annual meeting in Orlando.

Tepas is statewide surgical director for the initiative, designed to improve surgical outcomes of patients while reducing the cost of health care. He has been instrumental in recruiting providers across the state.

More than 100 Florida hospitals have expressed interest and 64 of them are now participating.

"Ultimately, care will improve, best practices will emerge, costs will go down and Florida will play a very prominent role in how surgical care develops in this country going forward," Tepas said.

The "champion" award is given to a member who raises quality and patient safety standards by implementing the initiative.

"It was the work of a lot of very talented people, I just get to be the pretty face at the top," Tepas joked.

The awards are chosen by FHA leadership and a team of judges from outside Florida. The association has more than 200 hospital and health system members across Florida.