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The Laker/Lutz News

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Health

Brushing up on a children’s book

January 31, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Kurt Weber fought tooth and nail to finish his children’s book.

While it took nearly a decade to complete and get published, the 63-year-old longtime Lutz resident and dentist knew he wanted to finish writing it before neck surgery in 2016. Even if he did end up rewriting in 2018.

He meticulously drew every illustration on every page.

Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush by Kurt Weber, DDS, is on display at his St. Petersburg and Seffner practices and available for purchase on Amazon. (Mike Camunas)

“I really just wanted to make Charlie Brown, but as a tooth,” Weber said. “I wanted him to tell a story, I wanted him to have adventures and an interesting life that children will want to read about, and if he teaches us a few lessons along the way, all the better.

“You want a simple message for children and sometimes that’s incredibly difficult to do, but I also feel very strongly that you don’t talk down to children,” he added. “They’re not going to listen to a lecture, but if it’s a cute story, and they see the pictures of him brushing or flossing, that will stick.”

That is how Weber invented his Charlie Brown.

In his book, “Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush,” Tooth Buddy and his new friend, Dentina Decay, teach lessons not only of the importance of brushing and flossing, but of respect toward others.

“I feel it is a very unique children’s book,” said Weber, who has dental practices in St. Petersburg and Seffner. “I really like the indirect message, but you have to distill down those lessons for oral care and for life to the bare minimum because if you say too much, eyes will glaze over — kids won’t pay attention.

“They’re not going to absorb dentistry if it’s too complicated.”

After years of writing and drawing and discussions with his wife of 39 years, Karen, an administrative medicine physician at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Weber’s book was published on Dec. 6, 2022.

Weber, who was an award-winning editorial cartoonist at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has always been “a doodler” since he was a kid, said both writing and illustrating were quite the task.

When it came to writing, Weber knew he couldn’t be too complicated with story and lessons, even if the book introduces many of the top 250 vocabulary words children need in the book’s 3 to 8-year-old age range.

“There are people in their 80s and terrified of the dentist or adults who are not educated on how to care for their teeth,” he said, “so the importance of teaching these (dental) skills early was my goal.”

As for drawing the illustrations, Weber said each picture, or page — such as the one of Tooth Buddy flossing with the caption, “Tooth Buddy flossed every day to keep cavities away, his breath fresh, and his smile healthy,” — took about 20 hours.

Lutz resident Kurt Weber, DDS proudly displays his book, ‘Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush,’ at his St. Petersburg practice, where he has been treating patients for more than 30 years. Weber spent nearly a decade writing, and meticulously illustrating, his children’s book featuring Tooth Buddy, who he calls ‘Charlie Brown, but as a tooth.’

“Children’s books are incredibly complicated to look simple,” Weber added.

Which is remarkable since Weber, while a father to his kids, Kurt II and Katarina, isn’t a pediatric dentist. He does see a few kids, but his practice isn’t solely for child patients.

“If you teach a child to break up that colony bacteria that’s on their teeth at least every 48 hours, you’re not going to have issues getting older,” Weber said. “Just trying to teach them to get that brush or floss in there about once a day, that will work.”

Weber knew this message would need to be straight to the point, especially since the rule of thumb is children’s books should not be more than 500 words.

Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush is 498 words.

And so, with good reviews and online sales, including in Australia, Canada, Asia and Europe, a sequel is already in the works: “Tooth Buddy and the Magical Lost Tooth Adventure.”

“I’m happy with the response to it,” Weber said. “Kids don’t buy these books though, grandparents do. They see them in the lobby, and one lady bought five and then sent them all over the place, so that’s great, especially when you hear that one of my friends, her grandson is carrying the book around the house or another who said her son named her toothbrush ‘Tooth Buddy.’

“That’s really cool! I like that — a lot! (laughs).”

Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush by Kurt Weber, DDS
Synopsis:
A fun adventure involving Tooth Buddy, his soon-to-be friend, Dentina Decay and, of course, the Golden Toothbrush. They teach four important lessons for children, ages 3 to 8. These include the importance of brushing and flossing, as well as the unstated larger-than-life lessons of nonviolent conflict resolution and respect for others and their property. Eventually, there will be a companion website to the book, which will include an interactive section for kids.
Cost: $18.59 for hardback on Amazon, Target, and Barnes and Noble

Published February 01, 2023

Sertoma club receives grant

January 31, 2023 By Mary Rathman

President Darrell Huling presents a check representing a $2,000 grant to Deborah Golinski, president/CEO of Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc. (Courtesy of West Pasco Sertoma Club)

The West Pasco Sertoma Club Inc., has received a 2022 Sertoma Club Grant, marking the club’s continued commitment to volunteer service, charitable support, and community leadership, according   to a news release.

Funds from the grant will go to benefit Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc., in support of hearing needs of the children of Florida, which includes hearing screenings and hearing aids, as well as other hearing related needs. To learn more visit FamilyHearingHelp.org.

West Pasco Sertoma Club Inc., is part of the national Sertoma Inc. family of local civic service clubs. Sertoma was established over a century ago. It is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those who are at risk of hearing loss, or affected by it, through the organization’s education and support efforts.

To learn more about West Pasco Sertoma Club Inc., email , or visit its Facebook page, Facebook.com/darrell.huling/.

Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January 17, 2023 By Mary Rathman

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) is partnering with the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking to prevent and respond to human trafficking cases.

The PSO says everyone can play a vital role by recognizing common warning signs and reporting potential human trafficking activity, according to a news release.

It is important to understand and recognize common indicators of trafficking. Physical signs of trafficking can include evidence of violence or untreated wounds, exhaustion and malnourishment, addictions or even branding.

Social and interpersonal signs can include being accompanied by a controlling individual, isolation from friends or family, little to no possessions, being severely underpaid or paid nothing at all for their work, and not being in control of their money or personal documents such as their driver’s license, the release said.

Mental and emotional signs can include low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, fearful behavior and not identifying as a victim of trafficking.

Behavioral signs can include individuals being submissive and nervous, avoiding eye contact with others, being afraid of law enforcement personnel and not being permitted to speak for themselves.

Rapid reporting of potential trafficking activity can help end human trafficking.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national, toll-free number, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in over 200 languages. The hotline number is 1-888-373-7888, and is a safe place to report tips, seek services and ask for help.

Discreet text messages or online chat communication also is available by texting “BEFREE” (233733) or by visiting HumanTraffickingHotline.org.

Giving a piece to keep a family whole

January 10, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Aaron Barnes really doesn’t want this kidney.

But he does need it.

“I just didn’t want it this way,” Barnes said. “I didn’t want it from her because what scares me the most is both parents going under the table, and if the kids lose both of us, boy, that brings tears to my eyes right now, and that’s why I didn’t want it to be her.

“If something happens to me, fine, they have another parent, but something happens to both of us … wow … and that’s why I wanted the kidney to come from someone else.”

Barnes, a 50-year-old Wesley Chapel resident, has been dealing with chronic kidney failure (CKF) for decades. Only in 2022 did it deteriorate his health so rapidly that while he was planning to get a kidney transplant, the need for the procedure was expedited.

Wesley Chapel resident Aaron Barnes is hugged by his wife of 20 years, Andrea, at Tru U Fitness in Lutz, where she is the co-owner. Aaron has been suffering from kidney failure for decades and as his health rapidly declined in 2022, it was time for a kidney transplant. It hasn’t been an easy process, including dozens of tests, lots of unsuccessful waiting, a monthlong hospital stay and even dialysis three times a week. However, Aaron finally found a donor: Andrea. (Mike Camunas)

He is on the national transplant list, but it’s a waiting game to be awarded a kidney or for someone to donate a kidney directly to him.

That is, until he found the perfect donor.

His wife of 20 years, Andrea.

In sickness and in health
Andrea is scared.

“Oh yeah, very scared., I’ve never had major surgery — well, c-sections — but never had an organ taken out,” the mother of three said. “We’re constantly trying to figure something out, but we’ll get through it. We’ve done it together and we’ll continue to do it together, quite literally.”

Sometime in February, Andrea will give her husband one of her kidneys. It will extend and better his life, one filled with dialysis sessions three times a week and a year of health deterioration that has taken its toll on the family of five.

The couple will travel to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and be there more than a month. Each will have a procedure, with Andrea undergoing a nephrectomy, or removing of the kidney. Aaron, on the other side, will receive the kidney, which will be placed in his lower abdomen, near his hip and the renal artery.

Aaron’s doctor also decided to remove his left kidney, as it was found to have a hematoma and is not functioning properly enough, even with dialysis.

It’s a process that has taken well over a year to get to, and it all started with a sharp decline in Aaron’s health in late 2021.

“I’m just 1 out of 39 million with CKD (chronic kidney disease),” Aaron said. “As a guy, they don’t tell you everything you go through, with kidney failure or a transplant. It just happens and you start going through all this and it takes everything from you: job, energy, your drive — it’s bad, but I always try to look at the positives and that it could be worse.”

It hasn’t been easy on Aaron and his family.

For years, Aaron had been dealing with CKD through kidney-sensitive diets and other healthy ways of living. However, once his glomerular filtration rate (or GFR, the way to test how well kidneys are working) fell below 20, that’s when dialysis began and it required an immediate life change.

Each session zaps Aaron of any energy and he’s done for the day less than a half hour afterwards. He couldn’t work. He couldn’t help around the house. He couldn’t do things with his kids.

That’s when the depression set in.

Lowest of lows
It hit Aaron hard.

Yes, dialysis took its toll on him, but not as much as the depression. And while going through this health crisis and major change in life would bring anyone down, the dialysis did cause a lot of it.

Aaron Barnes, 50, spent September of 2022 in AdventHealth in Wesley Chapel due to extreme kidney failure. His weight dropped to 139 pounds. During his hospitalization, he had surgery to place a hemodialysis port in his chest to aid with his dialysis sessions, which he receives three times a week. (Courtesy of Andrea Barnes)

He would be in a fog, which can occur to patients who receive dialysis and then feel depressed.

“When this happened to me, I finally experienced depression for the first time and it was way worse than the health crisis I am experiencing,” Aaron said. “(The depression) scared me more than anything else.

“When you’re that depressed, when you’re emotionless, you get to that point where you’re that down, you’re that depressed and no one can help you, not even your family — that scared the hell out of me, man.”

“I didn’t consider myself to be suicidal, but the lack of caring, the lack of desire to eat or get out of it, I might as well have been.”

For most of 2022, it was just dialysis and depression. Eventually, it was time to tell the kids: A.T., 15; A’saph, 13; and Azalea Barnes, 9.

“We kept them in the dark a little bit, but then it got really bad, and I had to have that hard conversation with them,” Aaron said. “I am OK with my fate, but then what it does to the whole household can be miserable. It impacts the whole family, and that’s what bothers me the most.”

“It did bring us closer together, a little,” Andrea added. “He was in a lot of pain, so the boys would come in and rub his head or we would all sleep together in the same bed when he first started dialysis at home.

“And it’s a lot, and they’re also trying to live regular lives, as teenagers, and they come home to our house and chaos!”

The chaos would get more chaotic. When Aaron’s GFR got too low (3), he was admitted to AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, staying there over a month.

His weight loss was dramatic, dropping to 139 pounds. Doctors opted to place a hemodialysis port in his chest to aid with his dialysis sessions. He had a low platelet count for four days after surgery, leaving him at extreme risk.

“It took me a long time to get out of depression,” Aaron said. “And getting critically ill, it helped in that, on this journey, it’s a fight. You have to fight, so I did.”

“And it’s a fight,” Andrea added, “that never ends.”

Connected together
As Aaron, Andrea and their children move forward, it will, again, be another life-altering change for the family.

As long as the surgeries are successful, both Aaron and Andrea will recover, but in very different ways. Andrea will need up to a week to recover, however, it will take some time to get back to her job as co-owner of Tru U Fitness Studio in Lutz.

Aaron and Andrea Barnes with their three kids: A.T., A’saph and Azalea. (Courtesy of Andrea Barnes)

“And I have to be his caregiver,” said Andrea, who went through the six-month process to get approved as a match to donate to Aaron. “Then we need someone to stay with the kids for about a month — it’s a lot.”

Aaron’s recovery will be more extensive, including starting an intense daily regimen of anti-rejection medication.

“Transplant is not a real solution — it’s a work-around,” Andrea said. “So it’s partly a solution, then it’s still work, it still changes everything and you adapt.”

The alternative is staying on dialysis, which isn’t a solution either. Dialysis raises a patient’s blood pressure to extreme levels. In fact, Aaron’s high blood pressure was delaying the surgery, as it needed to come down. So, Andrea would shoulder the burden of two parents.

Andrea wouldn’t necessarily tell Aaron everything happening with their teenagers, to keep Aaron from stressing out.

Soon, Aaron and Andrea will be closer than ever. Because an actual piece of his wife will help him live.

“No, not anymore am I scared,” Aaron said of the impending procedure. “After being in critical condition four times and almost dying four times, I’m not scared anymore.

“At this point, I can’t be scared anymore because this is what I need not to die.”

Becoming a Living Kidney Donor
While a kidney donation can come from someone who is on the organ donor list — someone who passes and has been allowed to be harvested to aid others — there is the option to become a living kidney donor. However, this is a lengthy process that involves several aspects.

For starters, it takes about six months from start to finish, with numerous tests to determine if one is healthy enough to donate — meaning a donor must be free of uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis or acute infections. Then there will be psychiatric tests to determine mental stability, plus one has to be a nonsmoker and can’t be pregnant.

As living donors, they can make a directed donation to a specific person — family member, friend, acquaintance, etc. — or a non-directed donation to an anonymous patient on the waiting list.

Every 10 minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list — and 82% of patients waiting are in need of a kidney. On average, a living donor kidney can function anywhere between 12 years to 20 years, and a deceased donor kidney can improve quality of life for 8 years to 12 years.

Additionally, the average wait time for an organ from the deceased donor list is 3 years to 5 years, while getting a living donation, a patient may be able to receive a transplant in a year or less.

For more information about becoming a living kidney donor, visit Kidney.org/transplantation.

Published January 11, 2023

Pasco County ranks 25th on 2022 Florida Child Well-Being Index

January 3, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The results are in for the Florida Policy Institute’s 2022 Florida Child Well-Being Index, and Pasco County is ranked 25th out of the state’s 67 counties.

Hillsborough County ranked 18th.

Florida Policy Institute (FPI), which is the state’s KIDS COUNT partner, provides the index to measure performance across 16 indicators, in four major categories: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community.

Pasco ranked 23rd in economic well-being; 13th in education; 43rd in health; and 28th in family and community, according to the index.

The rankings for Hillsborough were: 12th in economic well-being; 28th in education; 13th in health; and 35th in family and community.

“These snapshots of Florida counties can help us pinpoint which areas of the state are in greatest need of resources,” Sadaf Knight, CEO of FPI, said in a release from the organization.

FPI is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing state policies and budgets that improve the economic mobility and quality of life for all Floridians.

“Fostering strong public schools, bolstering the state’s safety net, and investing in a Working Floridians Tax Rebate to help boost income for Sunshine State families are all ways to reduce county-to-county child well-being disparities. We look forward to working with lawmakers to prioritize Florida children in the upcoming legislative session,” Knight added.

According to the index, St. Johns, Seminole and Broward were ranked highest overall for child well-being, while Hendry, DeSoto and Madison were ranked lowest.

However, Hendry, DeSoto and Madison did see improved graduation rates and fewer children living in poverty, the index shows.

“Counties with higher rankings are generally well-resourced places, where families can afford to invest in things like high-quality child care, education, and other opportunities for their children,” according to the FPI news release.

“Counties with lower rankings are regions that have borne the brunt of the state’s disinvestment in public services and where people face historic barriers to economic opportunity,” the release added.

“We want to recognize counties that are making the investment in their children and communities. The ultimate purpose of the Child Well-Being Index is to inspire all counties to ensure that children are able to grow and thrive,” Norín Dollard, PhD, senior policy analyst and KIDS COUNT director at FPI, said in the release.

The rankings were developed using KIDS COUNT data.

KIDS COUNT is a registered trademark of The Annie E. Casey Foundation in the United States and/or other countries and is used with permission of the Foundation.

Published January 04, 2023

Health News 01/04/2023

January 3, 2023 By Mary Rathman

Jennifer Downing

New director named
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has named Jennifer Downing as its director of surgical services, according to a news release.

In the new position, Downing will lead teams in preoperative, anesthesia, surgery, postoperative, PACU (postanesthesia care unit) and ambulatory care.

Her responsibilities include monitoring quality of care and safety, and ensuring the hospital adheres to regulatory guidelines and established national standards, the release said.

Prior to her appointment at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, Downing was nurse manager in surgical services at BayCare’s Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor (2016-2022) and Morton Plant North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey (2011-2016).

Downing has more than 30 years of health care experience with BayCare including registered nurse experience in preoperative, PCAU, recovery and discharge, critical care and operating room. She also is a certified nurse of the operating room, in addition to having registered nurse credentials.

Her education includes a master’s in nursing from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio; a bachelor in science from Florida State University, and two associate degrees, one in nursing and another in science, both from St. Petersburg College.

Resolve to be healthier
The West Central Florida County Health Departments, including Hillsborough and Pasco counties, recommends these healthy resolutions for the new year, according to a news release:

  • Quit Smoking. Kicking the habit can lower the risk of cancer and heart disease. Free help is available at TobaccoFreeFlorida.com for tips, support and supplies.
  • Be More Active. Join a gym or work simple exercises into your day such as walking, playing with the kids, or riding a bicycle. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week, which can be broken into five 30-minute brisk walks. Visit CDC.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults for more guidance.
  • Eat Healthier. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. There is no need to give up sweets and treats, but they should be saved for special occasions. Learn how to make a healthier plate by visiting CDC.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/eating_habits.html.
  • Visit Your Doctor. Use the new year as a time to reconnect and have a regular doctor checkup. Preventative maintenance is far less expensive than a trip to the hospital to treat an emergency. Call the local health department to see what resources may be available if you are uninsured or underinsured.
  • Get Vaccinated. Vaccines can help prevent illnesses such as tetanus, measles, polio, mumps and whooping cough, in addition to COVID-19 and the flu. Make sure vaccines are up to date.

For more information or questions, call your local health department: DOH Pasco at 727-619-0300 or DOH Hillsborough at 813-307-8000.

Photo calendar for sale

December 20, 2022 By Mary Rathman

‘Grand Ave Lights’ by Noriko Buckles (Courtesy of Gulfside Hospice)

Gulfside Hospice’s annual 15-month calendar is now for sale at all its thrift shop locations.

The calendar features photos taken exclusively in Pasco County to highlight the area that the organization serves and its communities.

The calendar is a product of a photo contest that include 140 submissions of events, places, landmarks and wildlife.

This year’s cover features a special tribute to Gulfside’s patient-centered care, one of Gulfside’s three core values.

The cost of the calendar is $5, and all proceeds help to support Gulfside patient care and bereavement services.

All five Gulfside thrift shops are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For addresses and phone numbers, visit Gulfside.org.

Health News 12/14/2022

December 13, 2022 By Mary Rathman

‘Florida Snowman’ by Pat Manfredo (Courtesy of Gulfside Hospice)

Pasco photo calendar for sale
Gulfside Hospice’s annual 15-month calendar is now for sale at all its thrift shop locations.

The calendar features photos taken exclusively in Pasco County to highlight the area that the organization serves and its communities.

The calendar is a product of a photo contest that include 140 submissions of events, places, landmarks and wildlife.

This year’s cover features a special tribute to Gulfside’s patient-centered care, one of Gulfside’s three core values.

The cost of the calendar is $5, and all proceeds help to support Gulfside patient care and bereavement services.

All five Gulfside thrift shops are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For addresses and phone numbers, visit Gulfside.org.

Safe Haven license plates
The State of Florida has approved the A Safe Haven for Newborns specialty license plate, the revenue of which will help to fund the many programs Safe Haven offers to girls and women in distress.

The cost of a presale voucher by check is $33; by credit card, $34.03.

Upon meeting the presale quota of 3,000 vouchers, the tax collector’s office will send a voucher to the buyer to exchange for the specialty plate. The process can take two months to four months.

The new tag will be available at all vehicle registration offices across the state, once the quota is reached.

For information, visit ASafeHavenForNewborns.com/ways-to-help/licenseplate/.

(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

An eye-opening tour
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club visited and took part in informational tours of Quantum Leap, a therapeutic riding facility in Odessa. The facility provides equine-assisted adaptive therapy for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities, wounded veterans, children with cancer and military service members. The farm currently is home to 12 horses, two donkeys and three goats, all of which are trained therapy animals. Carol Moore and Jan King present a check to two staff members/trainers at Quantum Leap. The woman’s club looks forward to supporting Quantum Leap in the future. Visit gfwclutzlandolakeswomansclub.org OR its Facebook page, for more information.

New blood test for cancer
HCA Florida Trinity Hospital will implement a programmatic “liquid-first” biopsy approach to molecular testing of lung cancer patients as recommended by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, according to a news release.

One the most useful blood tests has been the assessment of PD-L1 status of lung cancer, which allows for better personalized therapy, the release said.

The integration of Circulogene, a novel liquid biopsy, with an only plasma PD-L1 RNA marker will help determine the best course of treatment in lung cancer patients.

“Adopting a liquid biopsy with a PD-L1 marker will help us determine which patients will benefit from immunotherapy,” said Dr. Mathew Ninan, thoracic surgeon and director of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Nodule Program at HCA Florida Healthcare, in the release.

“Should the liquid biopsy results reflect actionable or driver DNA mutations or RNA fusions, then patients can begin a personalized treatment plan with the goal of better outcomes and survival rates,” said Ninan.

Health News 12/07/2022

December 6, 2022 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Linda Mitchell)

Serving the community, in more ways than one
The Little Women of Lutz recently visited the Ronald McDonald House on Davis Island to prepare a meal for the parents of children who are locally hospitalized. From left: Kate Frederick, Bridget Swenson, Ava Stiglic, advisors Nancy Branham and Pam Blumenthal, Katelynn Andrews, Ava Frederick, advisor Linda Mitchell, and Alyssa Mitchell. The club meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Lutz Community Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For information, email .

Safe Haven license plates
The State of Florida has approved the A Safe Haven for Newborns specialty license plate, the revenue of which will help to fund the many programs Safe Haven offers to girls and women in distress.

The cost of a presale voucher by check is $33; by credit card, $34.03.

Upon meeting the presale quota of 3,000 vouchers, the tax collector’s office will send a voucher to the buyer to exchange for the specialty plate. The process can take two months to four months.

The new tag will be available at all vehicle registration offices across the state, once the quota is reached.

For information, visit ASafeHavenForNewborns.com/ways-to-help/licenseplate/.

New dental office
Dental Care at Livingston Marketplace, 2701 E. County Line Road in Lutz, is expected to open at the end of the December, according to a news release.

Dr. Rachel Franz will offer dental services at this full-service, state-of-the-art family practice.

The dentist and her team will offer a variety of services including routine cleanings, simple fillings, and in-depth restorative and cosmetic services.

For more information, visit DentalCareAtLivingstonMarketplace.com.

(Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Top grade for Lutz hospital
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North received an A from the Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization that promotes patient safety. The hospital was ranked in Leapfrog’s Fall 2022 Hospital Safety Grades, according to a news release.

The nonprofit collects and analyzes data about infections, accidents, injuries and errors at nearly 3,000 general hospitals, and in the spring and fall it assigns letter grades ranging from A to F, and publicly releases those grades.

“At St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, the safety of our patients is always a top priority,” said Tom Garthwaite, president, in the release.

“Our teams work diligently every day to provide safe, quality care. Earning a Leapfrog A is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our medical staff and team members,” said Garthwaite.

For more information about Leapfrog, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

Health News 11/30/2022

November 29, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Eugene and Norma Ymiolek donated eight TVs for treatment rooms at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

A gift for patients
Norma and Eugene Ymiolek, of Lutz, donated TVs for all eight infusion treatment rooms in the St. Joseph’s Hospital-North Outpatient Infusion Center. The donation was made through the St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation.

“This will provide a wonderful distraction to the many patients that spend hours receiving chemotherapy treatment,” said Michelle Mulvihill, St. Joseph’s Outpatient Infusion Center nurse manager, in a news release.

“We are extremely grateful to them,” said Mulvihill.

The Ymioleks have supported St. Joseph’s for years, including a naming gift to the hospital’s chapel.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz.

Narcan kits available
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco) has announced the availability of free Naloxone (Narcan) Nasal Spray kits, according to a press release.

This lifesaving medication could reduce thousands of substance abuse deaths across the state.

Naloxone is available to people who use drugs; people with a history of drug use; others at risk of experiencing an overdose; and friends, family members and others who may witness an overdose.

“We need new solutions to an old problem when it comes to substance abuse and addiction overdoses,” said Mike Napier, health officer for DOH-Pasco, in the release.

“Distributing Naloxone (Narcan) into our community is just one of the many ways Pasco County is combating this growing problem,” said Napier.

Naloxone reverses the effects of an opioid overdose by restoring breathing and consciousness within minutes of its administration to the person who has overdosed.

The medication can be administered by a bystander (non-health care professional) before emergency medical assistance becomes available, but it is not meant to substitute professional medical care.

Individuals should call 911 immediately when an opioid overdose is suspected, before administering Naloxone.

Persons requesting a kit must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be 18 years of age or older
  • Individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose
  • Caregivers who may witness an opioid overdose or others likely to experience or witness an opioid overdose

The Naloxone kits can be obtained at these health department clinics (no appointment necessary):

  • Dade City Clinic, 33845 15th St. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • New Port Richey Clinic, 10841 Little Road. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Wesley Chapel Clinic, 33845 State Road 54. Monday and Friday only, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those using Naloxone will receive educational materials, referrals and connections for substance abuse intervention.

For more information, call 727-619-0300, Option 1.

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