Opening new doors to keep kids safe
Pasco Kids First had an open house and ribbon cutting at its new East Pasco office, in the Dade City Business Center, 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103. The new office houses the Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando East Pasco Team and Trauma Treatment Team. There were light refreshments, and guests could meet team members and learn more about the services provided for children and families. For information, visit PascoKidsFirst.org.
Gulfside center dedicated
Gulfside Hospice honored two special people who fully embraced and represented the spirit of Gulfside: Walter and Mary Rucki. To celebrate their generosity, a dedication took place in their honor at the facility, now called Rucki Center for Hospice Care. Friends, employees and board members came together to remember these individuals and share stories about their experience at Gulfside. The commemorative plaque was unveiled at the ceremony and will remain in the center. The Rucki Center is at 5760 Dean Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.
Autism grants
Every year, the Florida Support Autism Programs Specialty License Plate generates funds that support nonprofit organizations providing direct services for individuals with autism and related disabilities in Florida.
According to a news release from the Autism Services Grants Council, in 2018, nearly $99,600 was awarded to nonprofit organizations throughout Florida, bringing to life projects across the state.
All nonprofit organizations with a current Internal Revenue Service designation as a 501c(3) exempt organization, and a current State of Florida Charitable Solicitation Registration number that are providing services to individuals with autism and related disabilities in Florida are eligible to apply.
For information and to submit a proposal, visit AutismLicensePlate.com/grant-application/.
The deadline is July 31.
Hospital wins Gold Award
The Medical Center of Trinity has been awarded the Gold Winner “Best of Hospitals in West Pasco and North Pinellas” in the Suncoast Readers’ Choice Awards for 2019.
Sponsored by the Suncoast News, the Medical Center of Trinity received top honors in the hospital and medical center category.
Leah Massengill, CEO, said in a release, “It is gratifying to see that our community truly believes that we at Medical Center of Trinity walk the walk with regard to our mission, vision and values of providing the highest standards and most compassionate care to its community.”
In It Together scholarship
According to the Florida Center for Nursing, more than 40 percent of Florida nurses are approaching retirement age in the next 10 years, which could leave the state with a nursing shortage by 2025.
And, at the same time, health care jobs continue to grow in the Tampa area.
Altierus Career College in Tampa offers the “In It Together” scholarship to help make in-demand health care jobs more affordable to attain by reimbursing half of a student’s tuition, after the student completes the program and passes a certification exam.
The scholarship is for those enrolled in nursing or surgical technology programs at the school.
The nursing and tech programs at Altierus provide students with hands-on training in a realistic setting using industry-current equipment, included mannequins with functioning organs, ranging from a “mother that births babies” to infant and toddler-size mannequins.
For information, visit Altierus.edu.
Neuroscience Center hits milestone
One year ago, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point installed an x-ray imaging system for its Neuroscience Center, which allows physicians to view extremely detailed, real-time images of a patient’s head, neck and spine during stroke and other neuro-endovascular procedures that require exact precision.
The faster life-saving interventions can be performed on a patient, the greater the chances of survival and optimal recovery.
Patients at the Neuroscience Center receive treatment for a variety of medical conditions, including ischemic stroke, brain aneurism and neurovascular abnormalities.
As of July 12, Bayonet Point had successfully completed its 100th neuro-endovascular stroke intervention.
