Abbey Delray and Bethesda Hospital East Welcome German Delegates

April 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Palm Beach County, FL – Members of the German Rotary Club will make their official U.S. stop at Bethesda Hospital East, the flagship of the nonprofit Bethesda Health hospital network, and Abbey Delray, a nonprofit senior living community, to gain a better understanding of health care practices.

The group of five German health care professionals will visit Abbey Delray on Thursday, April 11, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. and Bethesda Hospital East on Friday, April 12 from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

“The main goal of this program is for everyone to learn more about various types of health care, and how it’s funded and delivered in different parts of the world,” said Shawn Perrigo, executive director of Abbey Delray. “By doing so, we’re able to take away valuable insight and deliver an even higher level of service to residents at our community, as well as strengthen our relationships with our medical partners in the Palm Beach County area.”

Abbey Delray offers a range of lifestyle and care options for older adults, including independent living, as well as assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing, if needed. During the German's visit to Abbey Delray, the group will meet with residents and staff to learn about processes and case management from the perspective of a resident. The German group will also learn professional roles, responsibilities, budgets and how quality of care is measured.

During their visit to Bethesda, the group will visit the Bethesda Heart Hospital and the Cornell Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine, where they will learn about advancements in cardiovascular care and inpatient rehabilitation practices that have allowed Bethesda to achieve some of the highest rates for returning-to-home among patients age 75 and older.

The German group visiting includes: Katharina Korzinek, a Manager of Health Care Policy for the German Pharmaceutical Industry; Sabine Schneider, a Lawyer specializing in Medical Law; Max Cklinger, Health Care Business Consultant; Kristina Dehm, Physician for a hosptial ER and Ortho Surgeon in Germany; Anke Hackenberg, a Nursing Officer for residential homes for senior citizens.

Following the visit from the German delegation, Shawn Perrigo is one of five Palm Beach area health professionals who will travel to Germany as part of the rotary club exchange program. Perrigo was nominated as a leader to learn about German health processes, currently ranked by the World Health Organization as being one of the most responsive health systems in the world.

Interviews and media opportunities are available on April 11 at Abbey Delray or April 12 at Bethesda Hospital East. Contacts: Dani Row (913) 754-2311 or Lisa Kronhaus (561) 737-7733, EXT. 84320

About Abbey Delray
Abbey Delray is a Life Care retirement community offering active seniors a unique lifestyle experience and a variety of residential options, including 350 maintenance-free apartment homes and villas. Residents enjoy a full range of services and amenities, including housekeeping, linen service, fitness center, spa, swimming pool, library, hair salon, scheduled transportation, game room and guaranteed lifetime access to an on-site health center, if ever needed. Abbey Delray is located at 2000 Lowson Boulevard in Delray Beach, Florida. More information is available by calling (561) 454-2020, or by visiting www.AbbeyDelray.com.

About Bethesda Health, Inc.
Founded in 1959, Bethesda Health, Inc., is a nonprofit hospital network serving the medical needs of South Palm Beach County with a mission to provide quality health services in a caring manner. As the flagship of Bethesda Health, Bethesda Hospital East is a 401-bed hospital with more than 600 physicians in more than 40 areas of specialty.

Located on the northeast corner of Boynton Beach Boulevard and US-441, Bethesda Hospital West is a new 80-bed hospital that opened in January 2013. Together, with Bethesda Hospital East, these two hospitals and their affiliates offer a full array of healthcare services, including general, vascular and endovascular surgery, maternity, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, women’s health services and the Bethesda Comprehensive Cancer Center, an Affiliate of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. The Bethesda Heart Hospital, a 39-bed, all private room facility, provides the most comprehensive level of cardiovascular services and is ranked among the top heart hospitals nationwide by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Visit us at www.BethesdaWeb.com.