Leapfrog touts St. Joseph’s Hospital-North
LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz earned a top grade for the fifth consecutive time in ratings from a national not-for-profit organization that promotes patient safety.
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North received an A grade in the Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grades released Nov. 15. St. Joseph’s Hospital-North also earned A in grades dating back to the fall 2022 grades.
The Leapfrog Group collects and analyzes data about infections, accidents, injuries and errors at nearly 3,000 general hospitals.
“Five consecutive A grades is evidence that patient safety is ingrained in our culture,” said Sara Dodds, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North president. “Patient safety is more than a priority. It is a mission and drives us in patient care.”
Other BayCare hospitals earning an A were Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor, Mease Dunedin Hospital, Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Morton Plant North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey, St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South in Riverview and Winter Haven Hospital.
Pasco County hospitals earn top grades
PASCO COUNTY – AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills have once again earned an A grade from The Leapfrog Group.
The nonprofit watchdog assigns grades to general hospitals based on over 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
“Pasco County is rapidly growing and the A Safety Grade received by our AdventHealth hospitals from The Leapfrog Group shows we have been and will continue to be a hospital system our Pasco County community can count on,” said Erik Wangsness, president and CEO of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. “This grade helps our neighbors feel confident walking in our doors that they will receive the highest standard of whole-person health care.”
Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
“We have worked tirelessly to implement systems that improve and maintain the highest level of patient safety, in our mission to Extend the Healing Ministry of Christ,” said Gwen Alonso, chief nursing officer for AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills.
Hospital hosting craft show
LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North invites the community to its sixth annual Craft Show.
Vendors will be displaying and selling arts, crafts and other merchandise and gift items, both holiday-themed and non-holiday themed.
The event takes place from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 6 in St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s atrium and garden classrooms. St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is located at 4211 Van Dyke Road.
Contact Jennifer Clark at 813-443-7980 or for more details about the show.
Finks donate $5M to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital
TAMPA – Scott and Kathy Fink, a Tampa family with ties across Tampa Bay, have given $5 million to advance children’s health care in West Central Florida, according to the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The gift will support the construction of a new children’s hospital to open in 2030, which will be named Pagidipati Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s.
“As philanthropists, my wife and I believe there’s simply no greater impact we can make than to invest in a child’s life.” Scott said. “It is an investment in family, community and an entire region.”
As parents of five children, Scott and Kathy have a personal connection to the hospital. Their youngest son, David, became a regular patient at 8 years old, due to a Crohn’s disease diagnosis.
Wangsness to lead AdventHealth Tampa
TAMPA – Erik Wangsness has been named president and CEO of AdventHealth Tampa, effective Dec. 15.
Wangsness most recently served as president/CEO of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, where he guided the development of its Graduate Medical Education program and provided oversight of an expansion project.
“I am excited and honored for the opportunity to serve AdventHealth Tampa and the surrounding community, working alongside the incredible leaders, physicians and team members to provide whole-person care,” Wangsness said. “Together, we will make a profound difference in the lives of those we serve.”
He will report to David Otatti, president and CEO of AdventHealth’s West Florida Division.
“Erik is a consummate servant leader who I believe will continue to enhance our quality of care, expanding access to services and building on the strong foundation established by the team at AdventHealth Tampa,” Ottati said.
Wangsness serves on the board of the Pasco Economic Development Council.
Registration open for brunch
NEW PORT RICHEY – The Alliance for Healthy Communities is accepting registration for its annual brunch.
The event, which will include a raffle and silent auction, will start at 10 a.m. Dec. 5 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 9426 Little Road.
Money raised through the event will benefit community-focused initiatives.
On the web: empoweredcommunities.org
