LWMC OFFERS FREE INFORMATION SESSION ON

HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE

LAKE WALES – Anyone interested in signing-up for health coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace—but you find the information overwhelming or confusing – Lake Wales Medical Center is ready to help.

The hospital will have Certified Assisters on-site at Lake Wales Care Center’s Community Room. 140 E. Park Ave., on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. to share information, answer questions, and to schedule free appointments for application assistance.

Open Enrollment runs November 1 – January 31, 2017. This marks the federal government’s fourth annual campaign to extend healthcare coverage to more Americans, specifically to those who otherwise wouldn’t have access to services or who would face a financial crisis due to medical bills.

“We have helped hundreds of individuals enroll on the Marketplace since it first launched four years ago,” said Rebecca Brewer, CEO of Lake Wales Medical Center. “It’s very gratifying to help individuals enroll knowing they will be able to access healthcare when they need it. It’s a relief for so many people.”

Lake Wales Medical Center also is offering free one-on-one assistance throughout the Open Enrollment period at the hospital. Residents can schedule appointments by calling 863-678-2734, or can book an appointment online at www.GetCoveredAmerica.org/connector. Certified assisters will help with plan comparisons, determining any tax credits or discounts, and filling-out applications.

Lake Wales Medical Center offers free, one-on-one help evaluating your health coverage options. We can help you compare plans on the marketplace, determine if you qualify for any tax credits or discounts, and fill-out an application.

Want to Learn More?

We are hosting an event to share information and answer your questions:

When: Tuesday, Nov. 29

Time: 6 p.m.

Where: Lake Wales Care Center, Community Room, 140 E. Park Ave., downtown Lake Wales

  The Marketplace may be more affordable than you think¹:

• 8 of 10 enrollees receive help (subsidies) with monthly premium payments
• 70% of enrollees currently pay $75 or less in monthly premiums
• Subsidies increase as premiums rise; your cost is based on income/household size.
• 1/3 of enrollees currently have deductibles of $250 or less; over 1 /2 have deductibles under $1,000

¹www.EnrollAmerica.org “Marketplace Consumers Gaining Financial Protections”; 8/15/16

To make a free appointment with one of our Certified Assisters, please call 863-678-2734,

Or book an appointment online at www.GetCoveredAmerica.org/connector.     

Lake Wales, Florida – Lake Wales Police are investigating an early evening shooting that occurred on November 11, 2016 at 624 S. 6^th St.  At around 5:30PM Officers responded to the area of E. Emerald Ave. and S. 6^th St after residents called reporting hearing gun shots and seeing a female run from her residence.

When Officers arrived they spoke with Jacquelyn Jennings and Yul “Terry” Gaines.  Officers were told a subject known as “Bombay” had just arrived in a blue SUV. “Bombay” was later identified as Bobby Butler, a 34 year old Avon Park resident.  Gaines and Butler were inside the residence when Jennings reported an unknown black male wearing white pants, a red hooded sweat shirt and blue shoes walked up to the residence, pulled a handgun from his waist band, and shot several rounds toward her and the residence.  Several rounds were fired into the front and rear of the residence but nobody was struck by the bullets.  Jennings, Gaines, and witnesses reported the unknown suspect and Butler both entered a blue SUV and fled the area.  Jennings reported knowing the shooting suspect from the Avon Park area but did not know his name at the time.

Upon further investigation the shooter was identified as Leon Devince Kerney III, a 19 year old Avon Park resident. An arrest warrant was issued for Leon Kerney on November 12, 2016. In the early morning hours of November 13, 2016 the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office located Kerney and arrested him on the arrest warrant issued. Kerney was charged with Attempted Murder in the 2^nd degree and Shooting into a building. After Kerney’s arrest, Bobby Butler was located and questioned. This case is still ongoing at this time and more charges may develop.

Kerney was booked into the Highlands’ County Jail on the charges of attempted murder and shooting into a building. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective David Hernandez at (863) 678-4223 extension 264 or by email at [email protected]. You can also remain anonymous by calling Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800)-226-TIPS (8477).

HUSTON NAMED CHIEF NURSING OFFICER AT LWMC

Lake Wales, FL – Jennifer Huston, RN, MSN, has been named Chief Nursing Officer at Lake Wales Medical Center. Huston comes to Lake Wales from Indiana, where she served as vice-president of nursing at a 74-bed hospital. During her career, she has worked at not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems, serving in roles that have included staff nurse, orthopedic coordinator, and surgical services director.

“Jennifer has a plethora of experience that makes her ideally suited to fill this critical role at our hospital,” said Rebecca Brewer, CEO of Lake Wales Medical Center. “Her comprehensive knowledge of healthcare operations, nursing administration, patient care delivery systems and mentoring make her ideally suited for helping us take our level of patient care to even higher levels. She understands that we are focused on providing excellent care for our patients, and providing that care in a way that makes our patients and their families feel like they’re a member of our family.”

Huston holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern Indiana, and has yellow belt certification in Lean Six Sigma. In 2006, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ivy Tech State College, from which she earned her AS in Nursing in 1995.