Miami, Florida, June 23, 2015 – Baptist Health International (BHI) today announced the opening of a new office in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Dominican medical community and the public at large will benefit from the new facility which will be equipped with the latest in videoconferencing technology and telemedicine capabilities.

The new office, part of a project more than three years in the making, will provide a higher level of continuous support to the local medical community through nursing education, consulting to help hospitals achieve prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and increased access for students to medical leaders renowned in their fields, among other services.

The new office will serve as Baptist Health International’s consulting headquarters and can be used for teleconferencing, videoconferencing and virtual grand rounds which will benefit physicians in the country. Among the advantages that the new Baptist Health International office in Santo Domingo will provide are facilitating communication and cooperation between physicians in the Dominican Republic and Baptist Health in the U.S., allowing them to consult on clinical cases without the need to travel. This reinforces Baptist Health’s commitment to cultivating relationships with physicians, medical associations and international hospitals.

The office was designed to be used as a workplace for Baptist Health’s international team, which collaborates on various projects currently being developed in the country, besides serving as a hub to expand the organization’s presence in the region and facilitate relationships with the private and public sectors.

“We are delighted to extend our services to our Caribbean neighbors,” said Dr. Mario A. Mendez, Corporate Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Baptist Health International. “At Baptist Health International we are committed to providing our unique services across the region and look forward to having a permanent presence in the Dominican Republic, which will allow us to further collaborate with international physicians and patients.”

The new center, located in Novo-Centro Plaza, opened on June 23, 2015 with a press conference led by Dr. Mario A. Mendez.

About Baptist Health South Florida

Baptist Children’s Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida. Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital) and more than 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has more than 15,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians, and also includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health is listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America (#23 in the nation) and has remained on the list for 15 years. It was also recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the fifth year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute.

About Baptist Health International

Baptist Health International, based in Miami, is one of the largest international hospital programs in the United States. Thousands of people travel each year from all over the world to receive care by our respected physicians. Baptist Health International is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high quality services to physicians and their patients worldwide, including hospital admissions, outpatient medical exams medical consultations, and counseling services.