The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Moffitt exceeds early expectations

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When Moffitt Cancer Center at Wesley Chapel formed a medical partnership with AdventHealth, the idea was to bring Moffitt’s brand of oncology services closer to its patients, said Dr. Timothy Kubal, the cancer center’s senior medical director.

“We’re coming to you, as opposed to you coming to us,” Kubal said, explaining that a lot of Moffitt’s patients were coming from Wesley Chapel, Trinity, Dade City or Land O’ Lakes.

“We wanted to get closer to the patient and Wesley Chapel was a great opportunity to do that  with a partner,” he said, during Zoom economic development briefing with members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce on April 22.

As one of the nation’s top cancer centers, Moffitt wanted to deliver its expertise to patients, rather than them having to drive to its main campus in Tampa. At the same time, Moffitt wanted to partner with a high-quality hospital, he said.

“We can augment what they do; they can augment what we do,” he explained.

Moffitt’s center is located on the campus of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, at 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has built an entirely new floor for oncology patients, with the long-term prospect of having up to 50 beds for oncology patients, Kubal said.

The center has 20 exam rooms, 22 infusion bays and a linear accelerator.

“I can treat probably 20 to 30 patients a day on this lin-ac (linear accelerator). It delivers radiation specified to a tumor site,” he said. “We can do any body part, from brain to toe, for radiation oncology out here.

The nice thing about being located closer to patients is that they won’t have to drive as far each day to receive the treatment, he said.

“For example, you live in Wesley Chapel, you’ve got a breast cancer. You need 20 treatments over four weeks. You can get it close to your house, as opposed to going into Moffitt, parking your car, getting set up, getting 3 seconds of radiation to hit that tumor, and then doing the hour back.

“We’ve seen a lot of patients want to transfer their radiation oncology care to this site because they live out in this area. So, this is a big draw. Right now, I think they are 1000% over projected volume.

“Their growth far exceeds what we initially thought,” he said.

The center’s 22 infusion bays are in an area that gives patients a chance to be able to see outside.

That’s important for patients because an infusion can sometimes take up to six hours, the doctor said.

The center will be able to handle infusion services for about 100 to 120 patients a day, he said. At the moment, though, those numbers stand at between 30 to 40 patients day.

In addition to its modern equipment, the center will offer a different oncology approach than what’s been available in the area, he said.

“In the cancer community, you either see everything, or you see one thing.

“So, in the Moffitt community, you might just do, for example, right-sided liver lesions. You might just do surgery on the right side of the liver, when there’s tumors there.

“In the community, commonly, you’re going to do everything.

“But what we’ve found is that it’s hard to do everything. People want to do more than one thing.

“So, what we’ve done here is we’ve hired multiple oncologists to do what we call multi-specialists.”

Besides attracting patients from Pasco and Hillsborough counties, the Wesley Chapel center has patients coming from Lakeland and The Villages, Kubal said.

People coming from Lakeland say that driving the back roads is quicker than going to Tampa, he said.

He added: “Those Villages people are willing to drive. They like to park their own car, though.”

At Moffitt’s main campus, in Tampa, patients must valet. At the Wesley Chapel center, they can do self-parking.

Besides liking to park their own cars, people coming from The Villages often have very specific plans for where they want to eat or shop, after finishing their appointment, Kubal said.

But, they aren’t the only ones having an economic impact on the area, the doctor said.

“The money I make, it goes back into the community,” he said.

“I need to eat. I need to go to the gym. I need to be able to have a meeting and grab a beer at the end of the day. My kids need schooling,” he said.

The same economic impacts are true for other staffers, too, because many of them move into Wesley Chapel after they’ve been hired.

Published April 28, 2021

Health News 04/28/2021

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(Courtesy of Shantel Meyers)

Recycle, and donate to charity
GFWC Wesley Chapel Women’s Club member Cara Alberghina collected more than 20 pounds of aluminum can pop-tops for the Ronald McDonald House, a charity with programs near top children’s hospitals that allows parents who are far from home to stay close to their hospitalized child. The parents can benefit from having the comforts of home without incurring hotel and food costs. If you would like to help Alberghina and other members continue to collect the pop-tops for this charity project, email .

New imaging scanner
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz, now has a CT scanner, known simply as the “Force.”

A patient’s chest, abdomen and pelvis can be scanned in 1.5 seconds, according to Chris Blanchard, the hospital’s imaging manager.

The speed also eliminates the need to use medications to lower a patient’s heart rate before undergoing a scan.

New staff member
BayCare Medical Group has welcomed Dr. Paula Lundgren, surgical oncologist, board certified in general surgery.

Lundgren is experienced in breast surgery, and the care of benign and malignant breast disorders.

She received her undergraduate degree in microbiology from Pennsylvania State University in University Park and earned her Doctor of Medicine from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.

Lundgren continued her medical education by completing a general surgery residency at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a clinical breast fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio.

She is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. She is affiliated with Morton Plant Hospital.

Dr. Lundgren will see patients at the Comprehensive Breast Care Center, 2102 Trinity Oaks Blvd., Suite 202, in Trinity.

For more information, visit DrPaulaLundgren.org.

Mental health peer support specialists in high demand

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As community focus increases on mental health and substance use issues — particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic — the need for certified recovery peer support specialists may be at an all-time high.

That was the message of Tina Kinney, executive director National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Hernando, during an April 13 virtual social services event hosted by Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center.

Kinney’s talk came as part of a speaker series for students and prospective students interested in “helping careers.”

The topics for the free online series are designed to have broad appeal to those interested in social work, education, criminal justice, psychology, and human services.

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Hernando executive director Tina Kinney (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Throughout the webinar, Kinney highlighted the role of peer support specialists. They are people who’ve been successful in the recovery process themselves and who help others battling addiction, mental health or criminal justice issues.

Through their shared experience they can provide understanding, respect and mutual empowerment.

The peer support specialist focuses on holistic person-centered, strength-based support, where connections are made through crisis intervention teams, state hospitals, emergency rooms, correction facilities, courts, halfway houses, mental health offices and other community settings.

This approach has shown to reduce relapse and recidivism rates over time, the speaker said.

Kinney herself is a certified recovery peer specialist, based on her and family members’ mental health conditions.

She labeled a peer support specialist’s function as part mentor, part accountability partner, part sponsor — all while working in conjunction with clinical providers.

Kinney acknowledged how she’s overcome her own past mental health challenges to become the leader of a large nonprofit in Hernando — a prime example of encouraging outcomes peer specialists can share with others.

She put it like this: “We want to inspire hope and share our lived experience, because it is that lived experience that’s able to provide the hope for individuals. When they see someone like myself…that alone is an opportunity for people to be hopeful that this is not a lifelong sentence they’re going to have to live with.”

Peer specialists seek to make individuals aware of various community resources, which may include employment preparation and job prospects, transportation opportunities, assisting with food stamps applications, and general socialization techniques.

“I joke around about NAMI Hernando being the best kept secret in Hernando County, but we’re not the only ones,” Kinney said. “There’s a lot of resources in our community that people don’t know about, and so, because we have access to networking with all these other programs, we have information that can help people connect to more resources.”

Peer specialists also encourage people to explore other support networks, such as faith-based programs, yoga, art classes or other opportunities, to ensure needs are met in mind, body and spirit.

In other words, Kinney said: “A stool doesn’t stand on one leg.”

A peer specialist’s role can be likened to an around-the-clock therapist — which is almost a necessity given how the present pandemic-impacted landscape has overwhelmed behavioral health networks.

“Because we do not have enough (health care) providers in the community, peers have a little bit more of an opportunity to meet with people more often than maybe they can meet with their therapist; they may only meet with their therapist once a month or every other week, so if they have a peer support specialist, that’s somebody they can reach out to when they’re needing to overcome something specific, whether it’s 7 o’ clock at night, or 8 o’ clock in the morning, they can just reach out and talk to that peer support specialist.”

Becoming a certified peer specialist
Those interested in becoming peer specialists can choose a number of pathways.

There are various certified recovery peer support credentials that can be obtained, and opportunities can be researched and applied for through the Florida Certification Board (FCB).

Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center has an ongoing virtual social services speaker series focusing on social work, education, criminal justice, psychology, and human services. An April 13 webinar focused on the growing need for recovery peer support specialists to help those battling addiction, mental health and the criminal justice system.

That board designs, develops and manages programs for more than 30 health and human services professions across Florida.

Certifications are available for a youth, adult, family and veterans. The state also is working on a specific validation for forensic peer specialists, for navigating the criminal justice system, Kinney said.

To become a peer specialist, Kinney explained someone must prove they’ve been living in recovery for at least two years.

A 40-hour in-person or online content specific training course, 500 hours of supervised on-the-job training opportunities and an exam, among other components, must be completed to earn FCB certification.

“There are a lot of different steps,” Kinney said, but she said NAMI Hernando and a number of other organizations are willing to help those interested in navigating the process.

Kinney also noted that a criminal record does not disqualify someone from becoming a peer specialist, as there’s an exemption process for certain charges.

Opportunities in the field are increasing, Kinney explained, via law enforcement crisis intervention and mobile response teams, state hospitals, emergency rooms, halfway houses, jails, prisons, and traditional and specialty courts.

Moreover, a new development in the past year or so — state’s attorney and public defenders, in Hernando at least, have begun writing mental health treatment and peer supports into people’s pre-trial interventions, Kinney said.

“The job market for peers in all of these places is growing rapidly,” she said.

Upcoming Saint Leo human services webinars are scheduled for April 27 and May 11, focusing on youth mental health, and suicide prevention and awareness, respectively.

For more information about the East Pasco Education Center Social Service Speaker Series, email Yvonne Montell, senior associate director of admissions, at .

Tools for recovery
Tina Kinney, executive director National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Hernando, detailed three common tools used by peer support specialists to help individuals on their path toward recovery.

  • Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP): An in-depth plan created by individuals and led by a peer specialist to discover daily wellness maintenance tools, habits and routines to establish recovery; along with an outline to minimize risk and duration in crisis.
  • Recovery Capital Scale: Assessments and conservations regarding a person’s present needs, resources and priorities to sustain recovery, whether it is human capital, financial capital, social capital or community capital.
  • SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) Goals: A written plan that essentially takes a seemingly weighty goal or task, and breaks it up into smaller, digestible pieces to build a sense of accomplishment and muscle memory for constructive habits.

For instance, if someone has a goal of working out daily and getting fit, an initial step may call for having the person lay out their gym outfit the night before.

Published April 21, 2021

New Lutz hospital specializes in rehabilitation services

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Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Tampa — a 50-bed hospital specializing in helping people recover from illnesses and accidents — opened earlier this month at 3840 Atmore Grove Road in Lutz.

“We are an inpatient rehab hospital,” said Chris Ballish, area business development director for the hospital, which is located in the general vicinity of Idlewild Baptist Church.

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Tampa opened on April 6. It offers a variety of rehabilitation services. (B.C. Manion)

The facility provides a hospital level of care for acute rehabilitation, Ballish said, noting patients must meet specific criteria to be admitted.

For instance, they must require medical supervision by a physician and must be able to manage the recommended therapy.

They also must require around-the-clock nursing availability, Ballish said.

In general, the facility serves stroke patients, orthopedic patients, spinal cord patients, amputees, and patients with neurological disorders, he said.

Encompass Health is a national company, with 139 locations.

It has facilities in Spring Hill, Ocala and Altamonte Springs— but this is the company’s first new facility during the past five years in Florida, Ballish said.

When the facility is operating at its full capacity, it is expected to have more than 200 employees, he added.

Ballish said the company chose the Lutz location because of a need for its services, particularly in the rapidly growing area.

There’s a need for this level of care, he explained. “It’s about serving patients that need our services.

“Our mission is to get patients as independent as possible, and get them back into the community,” Ballish said. The average length of stay for this type of care is 10 days to 14 days, he said.

Patients are engaged in high-level therapy, undergoing therapy sessions, and receiving care from nurses and physicians.

“Our doctors that are attending are rehab doctors, rehab specialists.

“And then we have all of the consultants available. We have cardiology, pulmonology, neurology. All of the specialties are available,” Ballish added.

The 52,000-square-foot facility has 50 private rooms for patients.

The 52,000-square-foot facility also has the highest level of technology available to support the efforts of therapists, as they work with patients, he said.

“It’s astounding the type of technology that’s available,” Ballish said.

Therapy services outlined in a hospital brochure include:

  • Occupational therapy, which includes self-care skills for activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating and preparing foods. Therapists address cognitive (thought) and perceptual (visual) deficits.
  • Physical therapy: Focuses on such things as helping patients to walk; teaching wheelchair transfer techniques; and providing orthotic/prosthetic device evaluation and training
  • Respiratory therapy: Helping patients with respiratory muscle weaknesses or a susceptibility to respiratory difficulties
  • Speech/language pathology: Improves communications skills through basic cognitive retraining, increasing functional independence with decision-making, reasoning, memory and swallowing retraining.

The hospital also has a gym, with all sorts of equipment, to help patients in their rehabilitation. And, it has a room set up to mimic a patient’s home — providing them a chance to practice returning to the tasks of daily life, such as getting out of bed, using appliances, bathing and so on.

The North Tampa hospital serves a large market generally stretching from Wesley Chapel down to Riverview, over to Brandon and out to North Tampa, Ballish said.

As the facility ramps up to full capacity, the hospital intends to get involved with area chambers of commerce and to create partnerships with programs that prepare health care workers, Ballish said.

It also intends to offer a variety of support groups, such as stroke support groups, brain injury support groups and amputee support groups, he said.

Since opening, the hospital has enjoyed a warm reception, Ballish said.

“We’re very pleased and overwhelmed by the response of the community, so far,” he said.

Published April 21, 2021

Isolation Reduction Project

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The Florida Assisted Living Association (FALA) and Sunshine Health have launched the Isolation Reduction Project to help decrease the feelings of stress and sadness that may be the result of social isolation.

The FALA received a grant from Sunshine Health to provide tablets to dozens of long-term care facilities across the state in order to help reduce the social isolation of residents, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project aims to decrease the side effects, such as anxiety or depression and the use of anxiety medication.

More than 50 assisted living facilities and adult family care homes were chosen to participate in the program.

Ten-inch tablets were distributed to each of the select communities, and residents can use the tablets to communicate with family members via online platforms such as IMO, WhatsApp and Zoom. Residents also can access email and online games.

The following communities, within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, are participating in the Isolation Reduction Project:

  • Hillsborough County: Delince, Natacha – Adult Family Care Home; Stone Ledge Manor; Von’s Adult Family Care Home; and Weinberg Village Assisted Living Facility
  • Pasco County: Harrell, Terry – Adult Family Care Home; Rosecastle of Zephyrhills; Sunshine Christian Homes; and Trinity Place Assisted Living.

Vaccination efforts continue to expand

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Vaccine supplies, vaccine eligibility and vaccination sites have increased in recent weeks — as efforts continue to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and restore a sense of normalcy.

The availability of vaccine supplies and vaccination sites continues to change, so it’s a good idea to check with local health departments and congressional offices to secure updated information.

Adamaris Cruz-Seijo and Dana Van Deusen were among those taking part in a student vaccine clinic at Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Chad Gonzalez/Saint Leo University)

In Pasco County, for instance, the health department previously had vaccine appointments available on Friday afternoons for the following week. As of April 9, however, it began allowing  appointments for a two-week period.

“Working with local physicians’ offices and pharmacies, Pasco County now has over 130 locations that are offering COVID-19 vaccines” Health Officer Mike Napier, said in a news release.

Hillsborough County health officials are concerned about an increasing number of COVID-19 cases during recent weeks, despite the expansion of vaccination options, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

The release noted that Dr. Douglas Holt, who oversees the state’s health department in Hillsborough County, told the Hillsborough County Commission that Hillsborough’s newly confirmed cases currently average 400 a day, with the positivity rate at about 8.6%.

At this time, Holt told commissioners, there’s no indication that variants of the virus are causing the increase. But, he noted this could change rapidly as the variants are generally more contagious.

Holt’s report prompted Hillsborough commissioners to remind residents not to relax their guard and to be sure to continue following COVID-19 preventive measures.

Hillsborough commissioners are scheduled to discuss the county’s state of local emergency and other COVID-19 issues at their next regular meeting on April 21.

Mask mandates are evolving.

Pasco County dropped its mask mandate, effective April 6, although officials are continuing to encourage the use of masks at indoor public spaces, where social distancing isn’t possible.

Hillsborough County’s mask ordinance remains in effect, at least through April 15.

Hillsborough County Schools’ mask mandate remains in effect, according to the district website.

Pasco County Schools is retaining its mask mandate, at least through April 26. That’s when Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order is scheduled to expire. If that order isn’t extended, the school district will shift to optional masks for the rest of the school year.

Hannah Burrows, a sophomore at Saint Leo University, was happy to get her COVID-19 vaccine.

While there has been discussion in some circles regarding if COVID-19 vaccination passports should be required by air carriers, at sporting venues and in other places, Gov. DeSantis has banned the use of COVID-19 vaccination passports in Florida.

In authorizing the ban, DeSantis reasoned that such passports “restrict individual freedoms and will harm patient privacy.”

He also noted, “requiring so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports for taking part in everyday life — such as attending a sporting event, patronizing a restaurant, or going to a movie theater would create two classes of citizen based on vaccination.”

In other news, the governor has proposed a $1,000 bonus for Florida’s public school pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and public school principals.

In making the proposal, DeSantis said “we know how important it was for our students to return to school, and our teachers and principals answered the call.”

In other COVID-19 school-related news, Pasco County Schools has announced its plan to drop its mySchool Online option, when the new school year begins in the fall.

MySchool Online always was intended as a temporary measure to provide parents a remote learning option during the pandemic, Superintendent Kurt Browning said. The district will continue to operate its nationally recognized Pasco eSchool, which has operated since 2009.

Status of mask mandates

  • Pasco County has rescinded its countywide mask mandate as of April 5, however it recommends the continued use of face coverings in indoor public places where social distancing cannot be maintained.
  • The mask mandate remains in effect in Pasco County Schools until at least April 26, which is when Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order is scheduled to expire. If the governor doesn’t extend the Executive Order, Pasco County Schools will switch to an optional mask policy when the Executive Order expires.
  • Hillsborough County’s mask mandate remains in effect at least through April 15.
  • The mask mandate remains in effect in Hillsborough County Schools.

COVID vaccinations

  • Hillsborough County: Appointments are mandatory in Hillsborough County. Persons without appointments will not receive a vaccine and will be turned away. Florida residency is required. To make an appointment, go to the CDR Health Pro portal at PatientPortalFl.com. Hillsborough County sites dispense only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which can be given to individuals 16 years of age and older.
  • Pasco County: DOH-Pasco uses the Moderna vaccine, so Florida residents age 18 and older are eligible to sign up with CDR Maguire for appointments at the DOH-Pasco drive-thru vaccination sites at the Gulf View Square Mall and Saint Leo University. Eligible residents can go to PatientPortalFl.com, or call 844-770-8548 to create an account with CDR Maguire.
  • FEMA vaccination site, Tampa Greyhound Track, 755 E. Waters Ave., in Tampa, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily. Walk-ups accepted. As of April 6, the site is dispensing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only for new vaccinations. The second dose Pfizer appointments, for those who got their first dose at the FEMA site, still will be provided at their appointment time. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not approved for 16- and 17-year-olds.
  • Private providers: A number of private pharmacies also are administering vaccines. Check with individual websites to find out specifics.

COVID statistics
United States: 30,965,577 cases; 558,843 deaths
Florida: 2,084,173 positive residents; 34,021 resident deaths
Pasco: 37,594 positive residents; 703 deaths
Hillsborough: 125,515 positive residents; 1,637 deaths
Pasco County Schools: Total county for 2020-2021 school year: 2,152 cases student cases, 838 staff cases
Hillsborough County Schools: 4,766 students; 2,171 employees

Sources: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Florida Department of Health, Pasco County Schools and Hillsborough County Schools. Latest available information as of the morning of April 12.

Published April 14, 2021

Local stakeholders seek solutions to opioid crisis

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Much national and international focus the past year has centered on the COVID-19 pandemic, yet there remains another ongoing crisis that hits close to home — the opioid epidemic.

Local stakeholders addressed the issue at length last month during a virtual town hall organized by the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Addiction Prevention (ASAP) — a coalition made up of community members and committee partners collaborating to fight drug misuse in the area.

The March 2 event titled, “Virtual Opioid Town Hall: Use Only As Directed,” featured an in-depth panel discussion with perspectives from recovering addicts, medical professionals, lawmakers, law enforcement, educators and others.

Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone hydrocodone, codeine, morphine and many others. (Courtesy of Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention)

Among the takeaways from the 90-minute Zoom meeting — more efforts are needed to resolve the opioid issue nationwide, and in Pasco, as a result of damage done over the years plus the confluence of coronavirus and mental health issues.

Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone hydrocodone, codeine, morphine and many others.

New Port Richey-based attorney Jim Magazine has witnessed the problem up close, as part of a national consortium of opioid litigators handling lawsuits on behalf of cities, counties and states against drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies.

The Law Offices of Lucas & Magazine managing partner warned the addiction crisis seems to have worsened since COVID-19 touched down: “With the rise of the coronavirus, the opioid epidemic, at least from my perspective, has gone up exponentially. With people staying at home depressed, and the cocktails between opioids and benzodiazepine, people are OD’ing at an alarming rate that I see.”

He also cautioned the next frontier of opioid issues could arise with the introduction of prescription fentanyl transdermal skin patches, designed to alleviate severe pain around the clock.

“I think that fentanyl patches are becoming a norm,” Magazine said, adding the federal government needs to address that issue.

“I mean, they’re now being prescribed and I’m seeing overdose cases on a regular basis for people that have fibromyalgia,” he said. “There’s nothing in the world that would indicate that a drug 100 times stronger than morphine should be prescribed to an individual that has nonspecific muscle pain. But that’s happening all over the country and nothing’s happening about it, and people are dying every single day.”

Magazine went on to detail how the opioid crisis got out of hand over the years, especially locally. He singled out a standalone national chain pharmacy in New Port Richey once distributed 2.3 million oxycontin pills in 2010 “without any oversight, whatsoever.”

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor similarly underscored the gravity of the opioid crisis, during the virtual event.

“Sadly we have seen a huge spike in overdoses throughout the nation in recent years, and it is an epidemic,” said Bilirakis, who represents the 12th congressional district in Florida. “The strain of the pandemic also has exacerbated throughout the pandemic, particularly with the mental health crisis, and its’s not going to go away anytime soon. We’ve got to do everything we can.”

In the way of solutions, Bilirakis acknowledged “there’s so much more to do,” even following some $6 billion in federal spending earmarked for opioid addiction and mental health programs as part of the 2018 Omnibus bill, geared to advance treatment and recovery initiatives, improve prevention programs, and bolster efforts to fight the importation of illicit synthetic drugs.

“It’s going to take a lot,” Bilirakis said of fixing the opioid crisis. “Just one piece of legislation is not going to fix it.”

But, Bilirakis mentioned at least one step in the right direction is the implementation of national standards and rating systems for sober living home operations — plus increasing their accessibility overall. He explained “a big problem” of South Florida area treatment centers offering referral kickbacks, for instance.

“We have to have accountability,” the congressman said. “These residential treatment centers, people need to know, they need to be rated, because nobody really knows. You get first-hand, second-hand recommendations, and you spend thousands and thousands of dollars, and that’s another issue. …But you want to make sure it’s a good treatment center, so I’m going to continue to work on that.”

As another example of the far-reaching nature of the opioid problem, Bilirakis pointed out how it impacts any and all types of families and backgrounds, whether rich, poor or middle class. “It doesn’t discriminate,” he said. “It affects most families and we have to do everything we can.”

Pasco County Alliance Substance Addiction Prevention, or ASAP, is a coalition made up of community members and committee partners collaborating to fight drug misuse in the area. The organization last month hosted a virtual town hall on the opioid epidemic, titled, ‘Virtual Opioid Town Hall: Use Only As Directed.’

Gulf High School student Maddie Horn is a member of Safe Teens Against Drugs (STAND).

She personally understands how substance abuse and opioid addiction impacts families.

The Pasco ASAP Volunteer of the Year “grew up without a father because he chose drugs over my brother and I,” she said.

Horn simultaneously has witnessed her great-aunt abuse prescribed pain medication, be it taking multiple doses at once or not waiting the proper length of time between doses.

“It doesn’t just affect you, it affects the people around you,” said Horn. “You’re not only affecting yourself now, but you’re affecting yourself years down the road. I just don’t want that to happen to my cousins or anybody else in my family, so that’s why I’m so passionate (about drug prevention).”

When queried about drug and addiction trends in local schools, Horn stated vaping and marijuana are “a very big issue right now.”

“I see a lot of times that our bathrooms are closed, because that’s where students tend to go when they do (drugs) at school,” she said. “I’ve had friends I’ve had to stop talking to (because of drugs).”

Recovering addicts share experiences
The discussion also featured perspectives of individuals actively undergoing drug recovery, including Madeira Beach’s Nicole Harris.

Harris has battled opiate addiction off and on for about 13 years.

Some of her issues stem from being prescribed a host of pain pills when she was 24 years old, despite having a clear MRI showing no major issues.

A wakeup call came in January 2020 when she was admitted to the hospital with endocarditis — a severe blood infection related to prior IV drug use — which also claimed the life of her husband.

While hospitalized, Harris linked up with a social worker through the BayCare health system. She was steered to programs like 12-step addiction recovery and peer support groups. “I knew I had to change everything,” Harris said.

And, her life has changed for the better since entering treatment 14 months ago.

Harris has a driver’s license, is eligible for rent assistance, and her newfound peer groups all but provide “a family that I’ve never had before,” she said.

Meanwhile, through the 12-step program, Harris acquired life skills and discovered more about her inner self and feelings. “So many people go through issues and it just really showed me how to deal with all that, things I’ve been carrying forever that had nothing to do with me,” she said.

Harris otherwise expressed confidence with myriad recovery opportunities, noting it simply takes some encouragement and willpower to get the help needed to fight addiction. In other words, barriers to treatment aren’t as weighty as many might think.

“All the barriers I experienced were self-built. I could come up with a reason or an excuse for everything,” Harris said. “Once I fully surrendered to the program and to my addiction, I just started taking suggestions and life got a lot better.”

New Port Richey resident Cherrice Peters-Tanksley was similarly long reluctant to seek treatment amid feelings of shame, embarrassment and fear of being judged.

The mother of four boys has faced opioid addiction for 30 years after all, starting with using heroin at just 11 years old.

But, Peters-Tanksley now has been in recovery for almost a year, thanks to BayCare treatment programs, plus faith-based ministry outreach.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor was one of several panelists during a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the nation’s opioid crisis. (File)

She’s simultaneously picked up her life — working in a hospital with plans to study human and culture services, “so it is possible to live a good life with recovery,” she said.

Peters-Tanksley, too, strongly asserted “there’s no excuse” for other addicts not to seek much-needed help.

“There’s nothing that stops us from doing what we have to do but us,” Peters-Tanksley said. “The same way we were in those streets getting what (drugs) we needed to get, we’re going to do whatever’s necessary to get the help that we need to get. I was my own barrier to get the resources from BayCare, but once I saw I could trust people and talk to people, it was a no-judgment zone, then there were no barriers to be created, because I would do whatever was necessary for me to get treatment I needed to get.”

She added: “I just want everybody to be encouraged, to know that it can be done, because I come from such a heavy background.”

Harris and Peters-Tanksley also shared stories of medical professionals overprescribing pain medications.

Harris recalled being given upwards of 450 pills a month, ranging from Oxycontin to Xanax and others. “The overprescribing is crazy,” she said. “I feel like they get money or something from these manufacturers for writing these medications…”

Peters-Tanksley added she could get 300 Dilaudid and 300 Xanax at a clip by a doctor. She, too admitted to doctor shopping and previously selling excess pills on the side.

“I just want the doctors to know people don’t need all that medication,” she said. “There’s no way in the world I needed all that. Nobody is in that much pain. You’re basically overdosing slowly.”

Local agencies making strides
Locally, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and BayCare Behavioral Health have taken charge together to combat the opioid crisis in the community, through a partnership with the law enforcement agency’s innovative Behavioral Health Intervention Team (BHIT).

The specialized unit formed in September 2019 and is comprised of 12 detectives, an intelligence analyst, two supervisors and chain of command, plus a network of co-responding BayCare social workers.

BHIT members like Det. Michael Sudler assist vulnerable residents facing mental health and substance use disorders, which are oftentimes co-occurring, officials say.

Sudler, along with a social worker, continually strives to build a rapport and continued relationship with troubled individuals and families within 24 to 48 hours of an overdose incident.

Sudler and others make regular wellness visitations, distributing Narcan kits, providing opioid-related education, and referring them to community resources and outreach opportunities like area detox and rehab centers; programming is made possible through grants and partnerships with the Florida Department of Health.

“A lot of the times, these individuals don’t have people in their own lives who are motivating or encouraging or even referring them to resources in the community where they could get help,” Sudler explained during the town hall. “I find that I’ve been the most successful…by trying to be a friend to these individuals and continually reminding them that options are out there and empowering them to take advantage of them on their own.”

Sudler acknowledged there does remain “the cop” stigma when he encounters individuals through the BHIT program, likely due to previous unpleasant law enforcement encounters.

So for him and other detectives, having a social worker present for these door-to-door interactions helps “legitimize my role and efforts to encourage someone’s continued engagement in services.” The presence, too, “changes the tone and feeling” of the conversation, Sudler said, “to help people understand that it’s not a typical law enforcement interaction and it’s not going to result in a mugshot.”

Published April 14, 2021

Health News 04/14/2021

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(Courtesy of Shantel Meyers)

A brighter day for residents
The GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club painted mason jars and added flowers to deliver to 85 residents at the Hanna Assisted Living Facility in Tampa. Two of the club’s future Juniorettes also hand-made Easter cards to go with all the floral arrangements.

Ethical company
HCA Healthcare has been recognized for the 11th time by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies, according to a news release.

HCA Healthcare is one of seven honorees in the Healthcare Providers category.

The COVID-19 pandemic was at the forefront of 2020 and HCA Healthcare responded by protecting its colleagues and patients, and by partnering with others to improve care beyond the organization.

The company has not laid off any employees due to the pandemic and, in April, it instituted a pandemic pay program, which allowed the organization to continue to pay more than 127,000 colleagues, even when their hours were affected by the significant decrease in patients visiting hospitals across the country.

And, HCA Healthcare hospitals do not bill patients who are diagnosed with COVID-19, whether they have insurance or not, for testing or hospital care related to the treatment of the coronavirus.

In 2021, Ethisphere recognized 135 honorees spanning 22 countries and 47 industries.

To view the full list of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies, visit WorldsMostEthicalCompanies.com/honorees.

BayCare recognition
BayCare Health System has been named one of the 2021 Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma by Great Place to Work and Fortune, according to a news release.

BayCare ranked seventh on the list based on feedback from more than 825,000 employee surveys from companies across health care and biopharma industries.

Employees evaluated their workplace in more than 60 different categories during a global pandemic that put health care and biopharma organizations on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.

BayCare ranked as a top health care organization out of 28 large companies in the country for creating a great workplace experience for all team members, no matter who they are or what they do.

Gulfside receives grants
Gulfside Hospice has received two grants from United Way of Pasco, totaling $15,000, toward patient care costs and bereavement services, according to a news release.

The Community Impact Funding Grant provided $10,000 toward hospice charity care. The contribution will help cover hospice care costs for patients who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid benefits and cannot afford private insurance.

An additional Family Bereavement Grant was given to Gulfside in the amount of $5,000. These funds will provide staffing necessary for delivering free bereavement support services to Pasco County clients, training/certification for counselors to expand their skills, and equipment and software to create online content as a community resource.

For more information about Gulfside Hospice, visit Gulfside.org.

Pasco health department seeks community help

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The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County is reaching out to physicians and pharmacists to help provide COVID-19 vaccine to eligible Florida residents.

“As more COVID-19 vaccine becomes available and more people become eligible to receive it, more people will want to book appointments as quickly as possible,” Mike Napier, the county’s health officer, said in a news release.

“It’s just a matter of time before everyone who wants a shot can get one, and we need to work with our community doctors and pharmacists to make that happen,” Napier said.

To become a Vaccine for Adult (VFA) provider, physicians and pharmacists need to sign up for the Florida SHOTS program at FLShotsUsers.com. Those that are already a Florida SHOTS provider can log into their account and visit the COVID-19 enrollment page.

Pasco County continues to make progress in its efforts.

The county also is asking pediatricians to plan ahead for the time when vaccinations will be available to children.

For additional information, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Enrollment Desk at (833) 701-1397, or email .

For information about vaccine storage, handling and administration, visit CDC.gov/vaccines/covid-19/hcp/faq.html.

Published April 7, 2021

NAMI chapters get a boost from grant

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In its continued efforts to improve access to mental health services, the BayCare Health System recently awarded a $100,000 grant to the four National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) affiliates in the Tampa Bay area.

The grant allows the chapters to collaborate on an awareness campaign to reach across the Tampa Bay area, as well as to meet the unique needs of the Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk county NAMI organizations, according to a news release.

The mission of NAMI is advocacy, education, support and public awareness, so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

The mental health service organization provides free support groups and education courses to individuals and their families by supplying resources to local behavioral health agencies, and by sharing experiences during presentations to corporations, faith organizations, community groups and others, the release says.

The affiliates in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties each will receive $25,000, while Pasco County requested and received $21,928. Each chapter requested money to meet needs specific to that area, and each also contributed more than $7,700 of its grant money for the awareness campaign, “You Are Not Alone.”

The campaign will consist of direct mail and social media, with the goal of reaching those who feel alone during this time of social isolation and physical distancing, to spread the word that help is available.

Published April 07, 2021