The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Pasco County’s COVID-19 cases surpass 10,000 mark

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As Pasco County’s COVID-19’s positive cases surpassed the 10,000-mark, local officials continue to consider their best responses to the threats.

The Pasco County Commission and the Pasco County School Board were both scheduled to take up the issue during their meetings on Oct. 20, which occurred after The Laker/Lutz News’ deadline.

Pasco County commissioners were expected to hear an update on local COVID-19 conditions, from the health officer for Department of Health-Pasco County, during the board’s morning session.

Efforts continue to come up with a vaccine to provide protection from COVID-19. The United States has recorded nearly 8.1 million positive cases and more than 218,000 deaths. (Courtesy of metrocreativeconnection.com)

During a September update, Mike Napier, the public health officer for Pasco County told the board he realized there was significant interest on when it would be appropriate to lift mask mandates and social distancing restrictions.

At that time, he told them the best time would be when a vaccine was available, or medication was available to treat it.

From a practical standpoint, though, he told commissioners that the positive cases would need to be lower — and he said he would report back in October.

Napier also told commissioners that he’s on regular conference calls with health officers and county officials around the region, and they were leaning toward trying to come up with a regional response to the issue of face coverings.

The idea is to come up with a consensus on the numbers and benchmarks to use, and to consult with academics to determine the approach, Napier said.

Presumably, the presentation at the board’s Oct. 20 meeting provided an update on those issues.

Meanwhile the Pasco County School Board was set to take up the issue of masks and other personal protective equipment during its afternoon workshop on Oct. 20.

Board members were expected to consider a proposed rule change that would require mask or face coverings for everyone on a school campus, through the end of the 2020-2021 school, in the interest of protecting the health and welfare of students, staff and visitors.

The proposed rule also calls for observing social distancing, washing hands frequently and using other personal protective equipment, as may be necessary.

The workshop session is a discussion only, the issue will come back for a formal vote at a later meeting.

The local government boards are considering these issues at a time when Pasco County reported 10,238 positive cases and 224 deaths, as of the latest information available on the morning of Oct. 19.

Pasco’s public school district reported 170 student cases and 68 staff cases, requiring 3,225 students and 338 staff members to be quarantined, as of the same time.

Also, Hillsborough County reported 45,290 positive cases and 751 deaths, and its public school district reported 741 cases, including 337 staff cases and 404 students.

Meanwhile, the number of positive cases across Florida stood at 756,727 cases, with 747,183 being Florida residents. The death count stood at 16,021 resident deaths and 201 non-residents, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Nationally, nearly 8.1 million positive cases have been reported, with 218,511 deaths recorded, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wear a mask
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you wear a mask in public settings, when you are around other people and not able to maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet.

  • Wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19.
  • Wear the mask over your nose and mouth, and secure it under your chin.
  • Masks should be worn by people age 2 and older.
  • Masks should not be worn by children younger than 2, by people who have trouble breathing, or people who cannot remove the mask without assistance.
  • Do not wear masks intended for health care workers, for example, N95 respirators.
  • CDC does not recommend the use of gaiters or face shields. Evaluation of these face covers is ongoing, but effectiveness is unknown at this time.

The CDC also recommends you choose masks made of two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric. Be sure your mask completely covers you nose and mouth. Be sure that your mask fits snuggly against the sides of your face and don’t have gaps.

The best prevention is to avoid exposure.
Older adults and people with underlying conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, are at greater risk of a severe illness from COVID-19

Reduce your risk of becoming infected by wearing a mask, staying socially distant and frequently washing hands your hands with soap and water.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Published October 21, 2020

Health News 10/21/2020

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Safety tips for trick or treating
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers these steps to take when trick or treating:

  • Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters, and keep your distance. Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you. Indoors and outdoors, it is more likely someone can get or spread COVID-19 when in close contact with others for a long time.
  • Give out treats outdoors, if possible.
  • Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take.
  • Wash hands before handling treats. Bring hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) with you and use it after touching objects or people. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home and before you eat any treats.
  • Wear a mask: Make your cloth mask part of your costume. A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask. Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask, as it can make breathing more difficult. Masks should not be worn by children under the age of 2 or by anyone who has difficulty breathing.

For more information, visit CDC.gov/coronavirus.

Hospital earns platinum recognition
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has earned platinum-level recognition for its work and dedication in support of organ, eye and tissue donation and public health, while serving on the front lines against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between October 2019 and April 2020, Bayonet Point participated in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration’s Workplace Partnership for Life program.

The program challenged hospitals and health care organizations to team up with local organ procurement organizations, in this area LifeLink of Florida, to “let life bloom” by educating hospital staff, patients, visitors and surrounding communities about the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donation, and by offering the opportunity to register as a donor.

Bayonet Point worked with LifeLink of Florida, and during the campaign cycle was able to procure 151 donor registrations.

For information about the hospital campaign, visit OrganDonor.gov/hospitals.

For more on how to become an organ donor, visit DonateLifeFlorida.org.

Lutz makes fit city list
BarBend.com, a strength training resource and news outlet, has compiled a comprehensive list of the top fittest cities across Florida, according to a news release.

BarBend used data backed by studies based on a variety of factors that was combined to create an overall fitness score out of 100 for each city on the list.

Fitness factors in the study include exercise opportunities, access to healthy food, air pollution, drinking water violations, physical inactivity, obesity and smoking, among others.

Lutz emerged in the 264th position with an overall fitness score of 75.25.

The town was found to have a high rate of exercise opportunities at 920 (per 1,000 people), which suggests that the surrounding environment can play a key role in determining people’s fitness level.

Residents who live in neighborhoods with access to grocery stores where fresh fruit and vegetables are offered are more likely to have healthier diets.

The climate of Florida also creates a backdrop for outdoor pursuits, such as scenic trails and walks along the coast.

Additionally, Lutz was found to have comparatively low levels of air pollution, and low rates of physical inactivity, obesity and smoking.

To see the full list of Florida cities, visit BarBend.com/fit-cities-florida/.

Women’s services expanded
AdventHealth has signed an agreement to acquire Tampa Bay’s leading provider of comprehensive women’s services, Exodus Women’s Center, and its affiliated entities, according to an AdventHealth news release.

The agreement includes the purchase, or lease, of all 12 medical office locations in Hillsborough and Polk Counties, as well as an administrative office.

Clinical operations under AdventHealth are expected to begin in early 2021, and once final, all Exodus Women’s Center clinical locations will become part of the AdventHealth West Florida Division.

The West Florida Division continues to grow its network of care in response to the needs of the communities it serves.

The division also recently announced its partnership with Moffitt Cancer Center to expand cancer services in Wesley Chapel, and opened an outpatient imaging center and expanded physician locations in Brandon.

In addition, the AdventHealth West Florida Division network of care includes 10 hospitals, four freestanding emergency rooms, one long-term care facility, urgent care centers, express care clinics, mobile mammography services, hundreds of physician practices and a clinically integrated network.

Exodus Women’s Center has provided the community with women’s health care services since 1992, and specializes in low and high-risk obstetrics, gynecology, fertility, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, and menopause.

Health News 10/14/2020

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Community supports the Lighthouse
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices collected donations totaling $4,007.43, in support of the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired & Blind.

From left: Janet Oroz, Carlton Francis, Katrina Koscielniak, Sharlo Ward, Samantha Bisconti and Tammy Dziedzic, staff of tax collector’s Land O’ Lakes branch; and Jonathan Fister, CEO of the Lighthouse. (Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office)

The Lighthouse’s mission is to educate, empower and employ people who are visually impaired and blind. The organization’s services are provided at no cost to program participants, and all donations received help to provide more services to more people in need.

“We are so grateful for the support of the Pasco Tax Collector during these uncertain times,” Jonathan Fister, CEO of the Lighthouse, said in a news release.

“Thank you for serving the Lighthouse and for being a champion in the community,” Fister commented.

Fasano said, in the release, “The need for vision services is something we tend to think about only if we have a personal connection to the issue. That is what makes our Charity of the Month program so wonderful. We are able to help individuals who often are not thought of in the day-to-day bustle of life, especially during a time when COVID consumes so much of our waking moments.”

For information on the charitable programs, contact Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at (727) 847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

For more on the Lighthouse, call Patricia Porter, director of grants, donations and media, at (813) 713-2492.

Taking care of veterans
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s club delivered a check in the amount of $1,625 to Operation Patriot officers Ken Escobio and Sharon Richmond, to be used for the benefit of the residents of the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes.

The funds are earmarked for the veteran residents’ personal needs and treats, which are not covered by their modest pensions.

Operation Patriot will distribute the funds to the veterans.

For information on the woman’s club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.com.

Pasco experiencing recent spike of overdoses

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) has reported a record-setting spike in drug overdoses.

A lethal dose of the painkilling opioid Fentanyl is 2 milligrams, almost imperceptible, but the PCSO Narcotics Unit removed 435,000 lethal doses of the drug from the county’s streets during a six-week period.

The story doesn’t stop there.

Even a 2-milligram dose of the painkilling opioid Fentanyl, although almost imperceptible, can be fatal. After a recent uptick in overdoses, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized rehabilitation solutions. (Courtesy of Pasco County Sheriff’s Office)

Aided by a federal grant, the PCSO has established a Behavioral Health Intervention Team, which helps citizens with mental-health issues or substance-abuse problems. Members of the 16-person team contact overdose survivors within 48 hours of the incident, then connect them with community rehabilitation partners such as BayCare.

According to Sheriff’s Office records, Pasco County overdoses reached an all-time monthly high of 167 (37 fatal) in May, then maintained a steady pace in June (146, 18 fatal); July (140, nine fatal); and August (147, 24 fatal).

From 2017-2019, the largest overdose total in any month was 89.

In 2020, there were startling overdose upticks in May (297% increase), June (239% increase), July (204% increase) and August (234% increase), compared to the average of those month’s totals in the previous three years.

But, to Pasco County Sheriff’s Capt. Toni Roach, the key number is 49. Those are the people who have been placed under the care of a substance-abuse program because of the intervention team’s work.

“I know that doesn’t seem like a large number, but we’re running at about a 25% commitment into a program (after intervention),’’ Roach said. “That’s (49) people I know who aren’t going to potentially overdose and die in our community. That’s because the detective has been able to engage them and help them get appointments with behavioral health providers.

“We’ve created a path, giving these overdose subjects a golden ticket, getting them to the head of the line for services. These overdose subjects, they overdose, they almost die and they want help. “The overall effects of withdrawal and addiction manifest themselves within the first 24 hours. That’s why it’s crucial to get to them before they use again. If we get them into services quickly and reduce the withdrawal effects, they’re going to be more successful in staying,” she said.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to follow through, though.

Roach said the intervention team has worked with approximately 1,000 overdose follow-up assignments in the last year. About one-third of the subjects couldn’t be located, potentially because they were homeless, transient or intentionally avoiding authorities.

For subjects who are located, about half of them are interested in services. Most of the time, Roach said, they don’t know where to start.

“We have that hard conversation and tell them, ‘This is your rock bottom, and we’re here to help you,’” Roach said. “We help take away all the excuses. We do all the legwork and take people to their first appointment. If the process is intimidating or they don’t have transportation, we get them that help.’’

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, that help has been needed more than ever.

“We definitely saw an increase in the overdose numbers and there were multiple potential reasons,’’ Roach said. “Some of it was stimulus related. When the stimulus checks came out, some people partied like it was 1999. The substance abuse community relies heavily on peer support and interaction. So when we stopped meeting in person, churches closed and things went online, it wasn’t the same as having that human interaction.

“The whole aspect of social isolation has been a huge part of the pandemic and overall mental health. No doubt, isolation has played into it in a very big way,” she said.

Fentanyl also plays into it in a very big way. It’s the drug of concern for local officials.

“It’s extremely cheap and it’s extremely addictive because of its potency level,’’ Roach said. “It creates a bigger problem for us. The things that seemed more benign by comparison, such as marijuana, can now overdose and kill you because it’s now laced with something that is very fatal and highly toxic. It throws our entire community into a new playing field.’’

But, the intervention team continues to make headway.

“We’ve had a lot of great wins during this process,’’ Roach said. “As time goes on and we learn more and more, I think it will be even more effective.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published October 07, 2020

Health News 10/07/2020

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Health Library
Due to the temporary suspension of all classes, BayCare offers a Health Library online for those interested in finding health and wellness resources, and medical information.

The library includes a variety of topics for a variety of reasons, such as: Drug Interaction Checker; Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements; HealthNav; and, a Health Encyclopedia that contains information on thousands of conditions and treatments.

Podcasts and quizzes also can be found through the library link.

The information provided in the library is “not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice,” according to BayCare’s website.

For information, visit BayCare.org/health-library.

Rapid COVID testing
AdventHealth Centra Care has doubled its weekly rapid testing capacity for COVID-19.

The rapid antigen test is run in-house, with results back in 15 minutes.

The tests are now available at Centra Care locations.

The increase in testing capacity will allow Centra Care to conduct more than 20,000 tests per week, which averages to about 100 tests per day, at select locations.

Anyone who wants to be tested should make an online reservation, at Centracare.adventhealth.com/urgent-care/covid-19-testing, to be evaluated by a Centra Care provider.

Charity of the Month
The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation will be the featured charity of the month at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office.

The foundation’s main objectives are to advocate on behalf of patients, education the public on all aspects of breast cancer, and to provide funds for research seeking new treatments and ultimately a cure for breast cancer.

Individuals can choose to trade in a regular license plate for the “End Breast Cancer” specialty tag, with an automobile registration renewal.

Customers also can purchase the tag for newly registered vehicles, or use the voluntary check-off box on their registration form and donate directly.

All five tax collector office locations also will accept cash donations on behalf of the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation.

For information, contact Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at (727) 847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Temporary visitor policy
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, has instituted a Temporary Visitor Policy, in order to protect patients, visitors, physicians and caregivers from the spread of the coronavirus.

Visiting hours are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

  • Inpatient Units: One visitor per patient is permitted. No visitors will be allowed in the Coronavirus Units.
  • Emergency Room: One visitor per patient in the ER.
  • Patients Undergoing Procedures: One visitor allowed per patient. Visitor must remain in the designated waiting area. If the patient is admitted, the visitor can visit with the patient after the patient is admitted to a room.
  • Anyone younger than the age of 18 will not be considered for visitation, unless they are the parent of a hospitalized child.
  • Hospital cafeteria: Visitors are not allowed.

For information, visit BayonetPointHospital.com.

 

Pasco County retains masks, for now

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After a briefing from the director of the county’s health department, the Pasco County Commission has decided to continue its mask mandate — at least for now.

Mike Napier, director of the Pasco County office of the Florida Department of Health, told commissioners at their Sept. 21 meeting that positive COVID-19 cases had been trending in the wrong direction recently.

“I wish I had better news as far as what our cases have been over the last several weeks,” Napier said. “We’ve started to see some increased number of cases,” Napier said.

Mike Napier, director of the Pasco County office of the Florida Department of Health (File)

Pasco County’s cumulative number of cases he told commissioners was 8,834 cases, as of Sept. 21, the health director reported.

“The concern here really is, we were doing pretty well back in the early part of September, averaging about 3%, as a rolling average on our positivity. Last week, it was the first time in almost a month that we got almost a 6% positivity rate and we had 1,300 cases.

“The number that should be a little bit alarming to you is that in this past week, we’ve had a 61% increase in cases in the last seven days. So, we’re headed in the wrong direction at this point,” Napier said.

“At the low mark, the county was averaging 29 cases a day — to where we are today, where we’re averaging almost 50 day, and that’s over a two-week period,” Napier said.

“I know that schools were a big question.

“We had a total of 79 students and 26 staff that have tested positive, for 105 total cases (as of Sept. 18),” he said.

“There’s a lot of criteria that goes into the determination of whether or a not a student has to be excluded or not,” Napier said.

Out of the nearly 1,400 exposures at school, there are 857 students and staff currently quarantined, but also 542 people have been released, Napier said.

The public health officer said he knows there’s a lot of interest on when it would be appropriate to lift mask mandates and social distancing restrictions.

“From public health standpoint, I have to tell you, when we have a vaccine or when we have medication to treat COVID,” Napier said. From a practical standpoint, the number of positive cases needs to be lower. “We’re at 49 averaging a day.”

“We’re trending higher in our positivity rate. We were at 3%, we’re at 4% right now. That 1% does matter,” Napier said.

He said he’s on regular conference calls with health officers and county officials around the region.

“We’re all getting the same questions, right? We’re all trying to come up with that answer.

“We are looking at a regional approach for face coverings,” Napier said.

They’re trying to reach a consensus on the numbers and benchmarks to use.

“We’re actually looking to the academics, to be able to come up with something from a regional standpoint. We know that we have a community that moves from Pasco to Pinellas, and from Pinellas into Pasco. Hernando. Hillsborough — all of those counties.”

Initially, the increase in cases stemmed from the virus spreading within families, the public health official said. But now, there’s community spread.

Labor Day could have affected the spread. It’s too early to tell whether the recent opening of bars has had an impact,  he added.

COVID-19 remains a threat
“The pandemic is not over. I understand that face coverings are inconvenient and uncomfortable, however, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association continue to support the use of face coverings to reduce the exposure of COVID-19,” Napier said.

He continued: “Just as recently as last week, the CDC director Robert Redfield said, “The best defense that we currently have against this virus are the important mitigation efforts of wearing a mask, washing your hands, social distancing and being careful around crowds.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley said most of the people he’s heard from favor continuing the requirement for masks.

“I’d say that 80% to 85% of the citizens think it’s too early to remove masks, which is good to hear because I think they realize that it’s not over, and they still need to be taking precautions,” Oakley said.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles said steps that have been taken to reduce the spread have been working.

“The county has seen a decrease of about 72%, in its seven-day rolling average, from its peak,” Biles said.

Commissioner Mike Wells said he’s not a big fan of wearing a mask. But, he added: “I wear a mask when I have to. It could possibly save lives.”

At the same time, he has empathy for business owners who are trying to impose the mandate.

“I’ve seen businesses get in arguments with folks. It’s just tough,” Wells said. “I’ve been in WaWa, people yelling. I’ve been in Walmart. I’ve been in Target. Folks yelling. ‘You’ve got to wear a mask. You’ve got the wrong mask,’” Wells said.

But, Wells told Napier that he respects him, and added: “I support it (the mask mandate) until you tell us otherwise.”

Napier said if the numbers were trending down, he would be in a different position.

As it stands now, he told board members he wouldn’t lift the requirement before getting another update, which is expected in October.

Published September 30, 2020

Becoming more mindful about eating

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Many people say that eating healthy during the holidays is impossible: There are just too many opportunities to give in to temptation.

There’s the leftover Halloween candy.

There’s the turkey dinner and all of the fixins’ — that can add up to 4,500 calories for the average person — including appetizers, drinks and dessert.

Just like the environment of your neighborhood can play a role in your health (living near a grocery store, a park, etc.), so does the environment in your kitchen. Surround yourself with healthy options. (Courtesy of Alisa Boderick, Extension intern)

And, then, of course, there’s the Thanksgiving leftovers.

Plus, there are Christmas goodies throughout most of December, and, of course, New Year’s Eve parties, too.

It can be hard to stick to a healthy eating routine.

This year has been particularly challenging because being stuck at home — to learn and work —  has created too many opportunities to indulge. The added stress also fuels cravings.

Mainstream media has given a name to the recent weight gain many have experienced. It’s called the “Quarantine 15.”

So, here are some changes that you can make now that will help you not only with the “Quarantine 15,” but also will set you up for year-round success.

Practice mindful eating, not mindless eating. Mindless eating means you have little awareness of what you’re consuming. Mindful eating, on the other hand, means putting your full attention into what you are eating — when you eat, there’s no TV, no browsing on an electronic device, no online shopping, working, reading or other activities.

When you are fully aware of what you are eating, you are more likely to eat healthier food and eat healthy portions.

The author of the book “Mindful Eating” says that we make about 250 food decisions every day, not just on what we’re going to eat, but where we’re going to eat — on the couch or at the kitchen table? We also decide if we’re going to eat out of a bowl or a bag. We decide how much we’re going eat, one serving or two. We also decide whether we will be eating alone or with someone else. And, we’ll decide when we are going to eat.

Are you being mindful of these decisions?

Pay attention to your daily environment. Are you surrounded by highly processed food? Is your kitchen table welcoming or cluttered?  Do you have a structured eating routine, or is your routine just mindlessly eating sweet or salty convenience snacks at your work desk?

Set yourself up for success. Here are some simple steps to help:

  • Be a wise consumer: If you don’t put junk food in your shopping cart, it won’t end up in your house. Remove all junk food you currently have at home.
  • Stay hydrated. The part of the brain that signals thirst and hunger is similar, and it’s easy to confuse them. Your body may just want water instead of a snack. Stay away from sugary beverages.
  • Give your stomach 20 minutes to communicate to your brain that you’re full. Don’t have second servings or dessert right away because there’s a chance the first serving was satisfying enough if you give yourself time to recognize this.
  • Eat slower. Put down your fork/spoon/sandwich as you chew (both hands should be free) instead of having the next bite ready to go before you even finished the one you’re on.
  • If you’re on the go, take snacks with you. Keep a snack in your bag to avoid the impulse of fast food and vending machines.
  • Keep your snack nutrient-packed: Think nuts, fruits and veggies.
  • Mindless snacking may cause excess weight gain, so eat during breaks instead of while you work or watch TV
  • Portion out snacks: Pour a handful into a bowl and put the bag away. Wait the 20 minutes and you’ll likely realize that you’re full.
  • When at a holiday gathering, have just two or three bites of dessert and eat slowly. You’ll realize that’s all you need to satisfy your sweet tooth while indulging with friends and family.
  • At home, surround yourself with healthy options and make healthy decisions. And, once it’s safe to do so, surround yourself with family and friends, and indulge in a healthy amount of the occasional treat. Just a few bites will go far.

By Shari Bresin

Alisa Boderick, Pasco County Extension intern, contributed to this column.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

Almond cranberry trail mix
Recipe courtesy of Alisa Boderick, Extension intern

Make this trail mix at home and portion it into baggies.

Ingredients:
2 cups whole unsalted almonds
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup raisins

Directions:
Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix.
Pour ¼ cup into a plastic bag for an on-the-go snack.
You also can add options such as pumpkin seeds or whole grain cereal.

Source: Alisa Boderick, Pasco County Extension intern

Published September 30, 2020

‘Twindemic’ is new challenge now

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With the flu season approaching and the COVID-19 pandemic persisting, there’s already a catchy term to describe what could happen during the winter months.

“Twindemic.’’

The flu and COVID-19? What can you do to fight back? The local medical community offers a clear initial strategy. Get your annual flu shot — now.

Tim Hendrix is medical director for all AdventHealth Centra Care locations, including the Wesley Chapel facility. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

Tim Hendrix, medical director for all AdventHealth Centra Care locations (including the Wesley Chapel facility), said flu season officially begins Nov. 1, but the public should move urgently.

“We will start seeing cases in October,’’ Hendrix said. “If you look at the pattern historically, the reportable cases start creeping up in October. If you get to Thanksgiving and you haven’t gotten your flu shot, it’s too late. You really need to focus on now. Now is the time before the cases increase.

“Basically, you’re dealing with two epidemics. Our concern is overwhelming capacity at the hospitals and doctor’s offices with both COVID patients and flu patients. Every year, flu puts a strain on our system. We know that, and we’re prepared for that surge. But, now we have two different viruses to deal with, and it can put an even bigger drain on the system and make a lot more people sick,” Hendrix said.

Mark Vaaler, chief medical director of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz, said he’s also worried about an overtaxed medical system.

“If we have a bad flu season and another peak of COVID, if they happen at the same time, we certainly could face a real shortage of beds,’’ Vaaler said. “With our policy of quarantining and sending people home and the potential shortage of health care workers, even if we have beds available, the other concern is having enough workers to staff those beds.

“The best thing we can do is continue our social distancing and masking. That should help for the flu and COVID. I’m hopeful people will not forget the lessons we have learned, because those practices will mitigate both illnesses. And, of course, you need to get that flu shot as soon as possible,’’ Vaaler said.

In a normal year, anywhere from 30% to 50% of Americans get flu shots from doctor’s offices, medical centers or retail pharmacies. Hendrix and Vaaler agree that this year’s percentage needs to increase exponentially.

With the heavy attention given to COVID, flu shot awareness could be at an all-time high. There’s good news from the Southern Hemisphere, where Australia has reported a lighter flu season during its winter months. And that is partially due to COVID precautions. But, it shouldn’t prompt a false sense of security.

Mark Vaaler is chief medical director at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

“I never try to predict a flu season,’’ Hendrix said. “This season will be more variable. We got through the (COVID) surge in April, then Memorial Day hit, and I never thought we’d be where we are now with the number of cases that we’re seeing.

“We cannot model ourselves after Australia or South Africa and hope to have the same type of low flu seasons. Our behaviors are different. Our school years are different. We’re trying to open our schools back up and get our kids back in school,” he said. “Those factors will affect how the flu season looks.’’

Vaaler said he thinks the rise of COVID has been a great advocate for flu shot awareness.

“All the talk about COVID will not go away until we get a vaccine, so hopefully people will realize the only way to control the flu is to get the vaccine,’’ Vaaler said. “As far as completely preventing you from getting the flu, it’s not 100% effective as most people know. But, if you had the vaccine, it still mitigates the severity of the flu. There’s absolutely no reason not to get the flu vaccine.

“Oh, there’s inherent skepticism we as Americans have. Some people just don’t like being told what to do or how to do it. I haven’t seen that talk dissipate. There are always people who say they took the vaccine and still got the flu or they claim they got the flu from the vaccine itself. Those things are not true. The vaccine has great value and never more than in the year like we are currently experiencing.’’

This flu season might be confusing
Hendrix and Vaaler said the Twindemic year could have new twists. What if someone catches the flu and COVID-19 at the same time? What if they get sick and aren’t certain about which virus was contracted?

It can be confusing because the flu and COVID-19 have similar symptoms. The most obvious signs of differentiation are COVID’s tendency to prompt lack of smell and lack of taste, along with heightened aching and fatigue.

“We know co-infection can happen,’’ Hendrix said. “When COVID-19 started (roughly in February), we started seeing people with COVID and influenza. Those people got through it OK, but having two different viruses is never a good thing. The risk of complications is higher with co-infections, and it’s another reason to get a flu shot.’’

“The scary thing about it is you can get both of them,’’ Vaaler said. “You can also get one, get better, then get the other. And, the most serious part is it adversely affects our most vulnerable populations. This is absolutely the year we need to push for everyone to get their flu shot. By getting as many people vaccinated as possible, it can really help the situation.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published September 30, 2020

Health News 09/30/2020

By

Dr. Erika van Doorn

Trauma director appointed
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has appointed Dr. Erika van Doorn as the trauma medical director for the hospital’s Level II Trauma Center.

Prior to joining Bayonet Point as a trauma surgeon in 2019, van Doorn spent 14 years as a surgical specialist in several Texas hospitals, including Medical Center Plano, a 603-bed Level I Trauma Center.

She completed her general surgery residency and surgical critical care fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Dr. van Doorn is board certified in general surgery and surgery critical care.

New staff
Dr. Sanjay Jain has joined BayCare Medical Group, specializing in family medicine, and will provide continuity of care to geriatric patients, adults and children.

Dr. Jain is proficient with minor office procedures, including skin biopsies, excisions, joint injections and cryotherapy.

He also is certified in advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support and basic life support.

The physician earned his Doctor of Medicine from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York in Buffalo, New York.

He completed a family medicine residency with AdventHealth in Winter Park.

In addition to his medical education, Dr. Jain has a graduate degree in business administration also from the State University of New York.

The doctor will practice at 17512 Dona Michelle Drive, Suite 5, in Tampa, and is accepting patients age 5 and older.

Reaching out to seniors during COVID-19

By

If nothing else, COVID-19 has forced people to adapt — and to think of new ways of getting things done.

Hillsborough County’s Aging Services has been doing just that — through a telephonic program that is currently replacing personal visits to the department’s senior centers.

Soon, the department hopes to switch to virtual Zoom meetings to share programs with seniors, but until it does, it will continue using a call-in system.

Frances Duran Brea, a general manager with Nutrition & Wellness for Hillsborough County’s senior centers, shares her knowledge with seniors calling into Hillsborough County’s virtual wellness program, which is conducted through a conference call. The sessions are expected to be presented virtually on Zoom, soon. The county offers an assortment of virtual programs. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

“We’ve been closed since mid-March because of COVID-19, unfortunately,” said Frances Duran Brea, general manager with nutrition and wellness for the department of aging services’ senior centers.

The pandemic has been especially difficult for the elderly because they are in the age group considered to be at greatest risk for serious health consequences from the virus.

Because of that, those over age 60 are advised to limit their contact with others — which has the effect of being socially isolating.

“It’s definitely impacted them hard,” Duran Brea said, referring to the county’s older population.

“A lot of them live alone,” she said. And, even those who live with family members often must stay home while others come and go.

“Their families are afraid to take them out,” Duran Brea explained.

The call-in system gives the county a way to stay connected with seniors.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the program is offered in English, from 11:45 a.m. to 12: 45 p.m.

Then, it is offered again in Spanish, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Participants call (888) 585-9008, then punch in the Conference ID number, which is 784132094#.

“We do many of the programs we did at the centers. We have nutrition presentations with our registered dieticians,” Duran Brea said. “I usually do the health segments, the safety segments, and we have specialized activities staff who do a variety of programming.

“We’ve tried everything. We have drawing classes. We have some community partners who help us facilitate some of the programming. Reminiscing musical programs.

“We have a variety of health and wellness programs, around the seven dimensions of wellness,” she said.

Those seven dimensions are physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental, intellectual and spiritual.

Calls include a nutrition presentation and a health segment, and the rest of the hour consists of programming that varies, Duran Brea said. In essence, the programming is part educational, part fun.

Community partners help them find out about resources that are available, or provide useful information, she added.

Using the new mode of delivering services has had its share of obstacles, Duran Brea said.

Some elderly find that it’s challenging to call in.

They complain: “It’s too many numbers,” she said, and some forget to punch in the #symbol at the end of the Conference ID number.

Some people likely don’t know the program is available, she added.

The program will be shifting to a Zoom format soon, which will mean seniors will need to adapt to that change, Duran Brea said.

“Right now, we’re recruiting a lot of volunteers to give one-on-one assistance to some of the seniors that are requesting that — to set up the Zoom,” she said.

Those volunteers will call to give the seniors step-by-step instructions, she explained.

In addition to the countywide Tuesday and Thursday programs, individual senior sites throughout the county also offer call-in programs.

So, seniors can call those centers to take part in their virtual wellness program.

The Lutz Senior Center offers its program on Wednesday and Friday. The program is offered in  English, 11 a.m. to noon, and in Spanish, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

To participate, call (888) 585-9008, conference room 448-371-556#.

Want to help?
Volunteer opportunities include, but aren’t limited to: Senior centers and dining center, adult day care centers, gardening, arts and crafts, food service, fitness, special events, music, literature, administrative. To find out more, contact the volunteer coordinator at (813) 853-1067 or .

Need help?
For general information about services, call (813) 272-5250.

Want to connect?
Countywide call-in program, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The program is offered in English, from 11:45 a.m. to 12: 45 p.m.; it is offered in Spanish, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
To participate, call (888)585-9008, Conference ID: 784132094#.

Lutz Senior Center, Wednesdays and Fridays; English, 11 a.m. to noon; Spanish, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Call (888) 585-9008, conference room 448-371-556#.

Published September 23, 2020