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Health News 11/11/2020

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Family Caregivers Month
November is recognized as National Family Caregivers Month — “a time to celebrate the contributions of caregivers, provide them with tools that they need, and continue to advocate for individuals with mental illness,” according to Mental Health America’s website.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, feelings of stress, worry and isolation may become familiar, and despite the current situation, the act of caregiving goes on.

The stress and challenges of the role of a caregiver can have a huge impact on the caregiver’s mental health, leading to more people in that role to experience depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and drug addiction, and anxiety.

It is important for caregivers to take care of their own needs, too.

Supporting caregivers with information and resources can help them maintain their mental health and better serve loved ones with mental illness.

Be a SHINE volunteer
The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program is a statewide volunteer program that offers seniors, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers, free, unbiased counseling on Medicare, prescription drugs and other health insurance matters.

The SHINE SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) Program educates beneficiaries on how to protect, detect and report suspected Medicare fraud, waste and abuse.

Individual volunteers complete professional training by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the local Area Agency on Aging; serve the community by educating others on an individual basis and through outreach events; and, gain knowledge about Medicare to benefit themselves and loved ones.

In order to participate, a volunteer application and online orientation must be completed.

To learn more, call (727) 217-8111, or visit FloridaShine.org and click on the Join Our Team link.

Is this a new era of policing?

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Law enforcement agencies nationwide have come under scrutiny, amid calls for reform to police practices, and redirecting funds toward mental health programming and support.

Some area agencies — such as the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the St. Petersburg Police Department —already incorporate social workers and specialized mental health units, in responding to nonviolent calls for service.

Those two programs were outlined during an Oct. 12  webinar panel discussion called, “The Evolving Movement to Engage and Protect Our Community.”

The discussion was hosted by Saint Leo University and FIRST, which stands for Florida’s Forensics Institute for Research Security & Tactics.

A look at Pasco’s BHIT program
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office’s Behavioral Health Intervention Team (BHIT), which began operating last June, seeks to match people who need services, with the services they need.

Phil Kapusta is the future operations bureau chief with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

The unit includes 12 detectives, two sergeants, a captain and a full-time civilian analyst (and two therapy dogs) working in partnership with local hospitals and mental health facilities, to conduct frequent visitations and welfare checks.

They help expedite referrals for behavioral health resources and criminal justice diversion programs for the county’s Baker Act repeats and other “high utilizers.”

Each BHIT detective has a caseload of 20 to 25 individuals they’re tasked to keep tabs on, and help with needed assistance and resources.

“We’ve literally given them the 250 most challenging people in Pasco County,” Pasco Sheriff’s Office Future Operations Bureau Chief Phil Kapusta said, referring to the program.

Before BHIT was implemented, one “high utilizer” had called the county’s 911 line 138 times in a single year.

The individual has since been assigned a BHIT detective, who is tasked with responding and speaking directly with that individual.

During the past year, that individual has made no calls to 911, Kapusta said. Instead, the person frequently calls the detective’s work number when he needs help.

“A lot of the times that were 911 calls, he just wanted somebody to talk to,” Kapusta said. Instead of responding to those 138 calls, the agency can respond to more urgent calls, he added.

Another BHIT responsibility is making contact with every nonfatal overdose victim within 24 hours of an incident.

Only about a third of those victims have expressed interest in rehabilitation services, Kapusta said, as most either refuse to speak to the unit or refuse to admit to having a drug problem.

But, 53 people, so far, have willingly gone into rehab as a result of BHIT’s intervention, Kapusta said.

“It’s a drop in the bucket to the overall drug epidemic,” he said, “but those are 53 people — it’s somebody’s mother, brother, sister, uncle— and when they come out of that and actually recovered, it’s like gaining that person back. Just that is worth the effort.”

That unit also works with the county’s homeless coalition and the St. Vincent De Paul Society to assist the homeless population. Often, besides lacking housing, they also have substance abuse or mental illness issues.

Anthony Holloway is the police chief in St. Petersburg.

The unit helps connect them with stable living environments and resources to work through other issues, with the goal of helping to “get them to where they’re contributing members of society,” said Kapusta.

Social workers respond to calls
In St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Police Department plans to integrate about 25 social workers into its agency by January, in an initiative it calls its Community Assistant Liaison (CAL) program.

St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway explained that social workers gradually will be phased into the department’s operations and 911 response.

The agency’s social workers initially will ride with a uniformed officer to nonviolent or non-criminal mental health calls, then eventually they will respond to those calls themselves, without police assistance.

Instances where social workers might be dispatched include drug overdoses, mental health crisis, unarmed suicide threats, disorderly or truant juveniles, panhandling, homeless complaints and so on. A police officer, however, always will be dispatched to a violent or life-threatening situation.

The CAL program also incorporates more law enforcement de-escalation police training organized by mental health professionals and regular follow-ups with those individuals facing a mental health or social crisis from the agency’s staffed social workers “to make sure that person is getting the care that they need,” Holloway said.

Holloway said the program has been long-needed, considering the agency isn’t really equipped to effectively handle every type of mental health crisis.

Underscoring the point: Of the agency’s 575 sworn officers, about 30% have fewer than five years’ experience on the force, he said.

“We feel like this will be very helpful for us and very beneficial to our officers,” Holloway said. “The law enforcement officers have been dealing with this for years and years, but it’s time for us to put professionals out there so we can deal with people that are going through a mental crisis, so we can be able to help them.”

Holloway said the agency received about 12,000 calls last year where it would’ve been deemed appropriate to send a social worker out to a scene, rather than a uniformed officer.

Jim Cowser is a licensed clinical social worker with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a national addiction treatment and advocacy organization headquartered in Minnesota.

“A lot of calls we saw were a lot of people going through those mental issues, where really they didn’t need a police officer, they needed someone to help them navigate through a system, and that’s what CAL is really about,” Holloway sad. “There is nothing criminal about it, it’s just someone that needs help.”

Working together for better outcomes
Such collaboration models between social workers and police has garnered support from clinicians and academia alike.

“It’s really reassuring to hear so many wonderful initiatives going on in the state, and the progress that’s being made,” said Jim Cowser, a licensed clinical social worker with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a national addiction treatment and advocacy organization headquartered in Minnesota.

Cowser reasoned, police ultimately see cost reductions via such initiatives, as they’re not forced to deploy expensive resources to a scene where it’s not warranted. Additionally, it also may reduce the need for arrests and reduce crime directly, by connecting a troubled individual with services, opposed to taking them into custody. He noted there’s “a significant relationship” between the motives or behaviors related to arrests and mental health and substance abuse issues.

By working together and cross-training with social workers, law enforcement agencies are “able to go out and more effectively handle a situation, and so all parties involved are better off,” he explained.

Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall is a professor in Saint Leo’s Graduate Social Work Department and a research associate in the Maribeth Durst Applied Research Institute.

She likewise summarized the benefits on having police and social workers team under the same roof, in some form or fashion.

“We’re all on the same page with regards to wanting everyone to stay safe,” Rapp-McCall said. “We want to steer people with mental health problems into that system, as opposed to the criminal justice system, where it’s costly and not always as helpful to them.

Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall is a professor in Saint Leo’s graduate social work department and a research associate in the Maribeth Durst Applied Research Institute.

“I think that social workers and police have already been working with the same individuals, just in different places, so why not harness our professional skillsets and work together to make this a little bit better system?”

Rapp-McCall detailed how law enforcement can use methods to involve social workers, in addition to co-responding and de-escalation training models.

Some agencies nationwide have called on social workers to accompany officers when they deliver death notifications. Others have leveraged them to attend court services with victims to provide comfort and support. Another opportunity is utilizing social workers for community outreach, whether it’s hosting public seminars on opioid use, human trafficking, parenting skills and so on.

Rapp-McCall’s shared findings from research and interviews on police departments incorporating social workers, too.

Results showed a decrease in injuries, involuntary hospitalization, detentions, arrests, and time on calls, which she said “all helped reduce costs of the entire criminal justice system, as well as the agency.”

Additionally, implemented police-social worker models led to an increased engagement in services for citizens involved, and an improved view of law enforcement by citizens. Also, Rapp-McCall noted law enforcement “overwhelmingly” found social workers to be helpful in agency operations.

Police consolidation on the way?
The United States has roughly 18,000 law enforcement agencies. About three quarters of those have less than 25 sworn officers.

The possible paradigm shift — with more social workers partnering law enforcements agencies — combined with more national standards and requirements, could result in smaller police departments consolidating with others, across the country.

And, that may not necessarily be a bad thing, said Phil Kapusta, future operations bureau chief with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. He explained that “smaller departments don’t necessarily have the same resources and can’t dedicate a certain percentage to behavioral health.”

“The U.S. has a long tradition against centralized police,” Kapusta added, “but going forward, we definitely think there’ll be a consolidation of those (smaller agencies).”

However it shakes out, he said he’s willing to see more law enforcement agencies utilize social workers, among other ways to tackle mental health issues in respective communities.

“Law enforcement, for better or worse, kind of in this country has become one of the mental health providers of last resort,” he said, “and we will be happy to pass a lot of those responsibilities on, but you need the system architecture, so that there are mental health professionals who will show up at 2 o’ clock on a Sunday morning and work with us, as long as it’s safe.”

Published November 04, 2020

How local hospitals have responded to COVID-19

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Just like COVID-19 has done with so many other industries, hospital and medical care systems also have needed to bob and weave, since the entire world changed around March.

AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City president/CEO Amanda Maggard outlined the medical community’s COVID-10 response — and what the future may hold for the pair of East Pasco hospitals that are part of one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health care systems.

“It has definitely been an interesting year, hasn’t it? 2020 is a year I don’t think we’ll soon forget,” Maggard said, as the opening speaker at the Zephyrhills Economic Summit, held on Oct. 14.

Hospitals staffers have had to be utilized in different ways amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as elective surgeries and procedures were postponed for months. (Courtesy of AdventHealth Zephyrhills)

The hospital administrator detailed many of the initial challenges when COVID-19 cases spiked in March, during the event organized by the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, and convened at Zephyrhills City Hall.

A major issue involved procuring as much personal protective equipment (PPE) as possible.

“We have had a lot of PPE to serve, but COVID really escalated the amount and types of PPE that we needed,” the hospital executive said.

As a result, the hospital supply chain system has been forever altered. Now, it emphasizes partnerships on domestically produced PPE, while moving away from a just-in-time delivery model for such equipment and inventory, she explained.

In short, the pandemic offered “lessons learned” on how health care conglomerates handle and manage workforce, products, equipment and so on.

“We will never go back to operating our supply chain the way we did before COVID,” said Maggard, who’s had her role since 2017. “We have much more of an inventory across our system today than we did before, and that will stay.”

Since the pandemic touched down in the spring, hospitals have stopped many elective surgeries and procedures, including outpatient physical therapy.

Instead of laying  off those employees, workers were re-deployed in any and every way possible. Some tasks included handling temperature checks, child care services, cafeteria and nutritional services, and even organizing fun activities for other team members, Maggard said.

“I’m so proud of the work that our team has done during this time,” she added.

Local hospitals are “continuing to learn and apply the latest clinical, evidence-based best practices, so we’re taking lessons from all of AdventHealth and around the country, and trying to apply those to make sure that we’re giving the best possible care to patients with COVID,” the hospital CEO said.

For example, the hospital is using Remdesivir, convalescent plasma therapy and “a number of other treatments, as we continue to learn and evolve,” Maggard said.

Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication; convalescent plasma therapy involves using blood from people who’ve recovered from an illness to help others recover.

Best practices to attack and treat COVID-19 have likewise involved ongoing learning because it began and still remains a relative unknown virus to the medical industry, Maggard said.

“We’ve been learning new things every day, and every week and every month,” she said, adding  “guidance has changed, as the science has changed and evolved.”

The entire AdventHealth system actively monitors the volumes of COVID-19 cases throughout its various hospitals. The “biggest surge” of cases was seen in mid-July, Maggard said, adding: “It’s declined since then, (but) we saw a little bump up recently.”

Going forward, the hospital system is continuing its myriad health and safety protocols — such as markers on the floor to remind people to maintain six feet of social distance;  temperature checks and screening everyone who enters the facilities every day; requiring masks; and regular deep cleanings throughout entire facilities, as well as other measures.

All patients who are COVID-19 positive, or suspected of being positive, are kept in a separate space — away from other patients — “to try to keep everyone safe,” she said.

Long-term health care consequences
A noteworthy consequence of the pandemic, Maggard said, is how many people have delayed routine or more serious health care issues — largely out of fear of going out to a public hospital or medical facility.

Between March and April, emergency rooms saw a 30% to 40% reduction in visits pertaining to heart attacks and strokes, Maggard said.

Amanda Maggard is president/CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City. She was a guest speaker at the annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit, organized each October by the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce. (File)

“The truth is, people were still having the same amount of heart attacks and strokes, but they were waiting and not coming to the ER,” Maggard said.

Because of those fear-driven consumer behavior changes, people who recently have been coming back to the hospital have more serious clinical issues, because they chose to delay care.

The same goes for routine screenings, primary care visits and procedures, such as colonoscopies, she added.

“My concern long-term with COVID is not just the immediate impact of COVID, but what is going to be the impact of health of folks around our country and around the world over the next few years, when we may have started to put off that routine care because we’re afraid to go be seen,” said Maggard.

“Don’t put your health care on hold. We want to continue to be here and not see your long-term health suffer because of not getting some of the screenings or preventative care that you may need today.

“If you’re experiencing any of those symptoms, you want to get into the hospital. We want to assure people that we are a safe place to be, we have a number of precautions in place to keep you safe, and we don’t want you to delay that care.”

Another related question is how newly jobless people will get their needed preventative services if they’ve been laid off and therefore lose their employer-sponsored health insurance.

“With the impact to the economy and the number of jobs being lost, what impact will that have in the coming 12 to 24 to 26 months?,” Maggard said.

Another looming question is how the hospital system’s financial losses amid the pandemic — due to postponing elective surgeries and decreased emergency room visits — will impact available capital in coming years. As a nonprofit, Maggard explained such capital would otherwise would be reinvested into the facilities for operating room expansions and technology and equipment upgrades to adequately serve in a growing community, such as East Pasco.

“There have been a number of financial losses,” Maggard said, “and that is something that we’re struggling with right now, is (how) our financial impact due to COVID is going to restrict the amount of capital we have available in these coming years,” she said.

Perhaps one of the positive developments in result of the pandemic is the increased accessibility and availability of telehealth services for physicians, primary care and even specialists.

Telehealth is the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies, allowing for long-distance patient and clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, education, intervention, monitoring, and remote admissions.

Simply, it allows patients to virtually see a physician or specialists without having to physically visit a hospital or medical office.

Telehealth, Maggard said, is “really, truly a positive thing in health care that could increase access for a number of folks.”

“That’s actually one of the really great things that has come out of COVID,” Maggard said. “The number of guidelines and allowances that came out from CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) are allowing more telehealth than we were able to do before, and we get reimbursed for that. I hope that’s something that stays out of COVID.”

Published November 04, 2020

Health News 11/04/2020

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Donate Life license plate
Gov. Ron DeSantis has enacted into law HB1135, which authorizes the creation of a specialty license plate to promote the need for lifesaving organ and tissue donors.

The specialty plate was requested by Donate Life Florida, a nonprofit coalition of Florida’s organ, eye and tissue donor programs.

The legislation requires Donate Life Florida to presell 3,000 vouchers toward the purchase of a new license plate within a 24-month timeframe, before production can begin.

Donate Life Florida has launched a virtual campaign to bring awareness and promote the new specialty plate.

Sales of the vouchers started on Oct. 16. The cost of the specialty plate is $25, plus $8 in state and local fees.

Residents can schedule an appointment at their local tax collector or driver license office to purchase the voucher.

For information on the plate or to register to become an organ donor, visit DonateLifeFLorida.org.

Adolescent outpatient program
Medical Center of Trinity’s Behavioral Health Center has opened an Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program, for ages 13 to 17.

The program includes 12 hours of therapeutic group activities per week on a variety of topics, including personal triggers, cravings, family issues and depression/anxiety.

It also offers:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Co-Occurring Diagnosis Therapy
  • Expressive Therapy
  • Educational Group Therapy
  • Medication Management
  • Family Systems Therapy

And, treatment for:

  • Psychiatric Disorders/Co-Occurring Disorders
  • Crisis Situations
  • Depression and/or Anxiety
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Grief/Loss Issues
  • Relational Conflict
  • Mood Swings
  • Inability to Sleep
  • Trouble Focusing or Completing Tasks
  • Difficulties at work/school

“With our new Outpatient Services for adolescents, we have more opportunities to ensure our community receives the care they need, when and where they need it,” said Kevin Sullivan, director of behavioral health services, in a Medical Center of Trinity news release.

“It is our hope that teenagers who are not sure which path to take, will choose the path to wellness,” Sullivan said.

For information, visit MedicalCenterTrinity.com.

Be a SHINE volunteer
The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program is a statewide volunteer program that offers seniors, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers, free, unbiased counseling on Medicare, prescription drugs and other health insurance matters.

The SHINE SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) Program educates beneficiaries on how to protect, detect and report suspected Medicare fraud, waste and abuse.

Individual volunteers complete professional training by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the local Area Agency on Aging; serve the community by educating others on an individual basis and through outreach events; and, gain knowledge about Medicare to benefit themselves and loved ones.

In order to participate, a volunteer application and online orientation must be completed.

To learn more, call (727) 217-8111, or visit FloridaShine.org and click on the Join Our Team link.

Local officials continue mask mandates, urge social distancing

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Elected leaders in Pasco and Hillsborough counties are still requiring masks to be worn indoors in their counties, as rates of COVID-19 remain concerning.

Mike Napier, health officer for the Florida Department of Health – Pasco County, updated the Pasco County Commission on current local conditions during an Oct. 20 meeting.

“I wish I had better news. Our goal, when we talked last time was, ‘Let’s see what the data looks like and maybe we can make revisions,” Napier said.

Concerns about the rate of positivity cases in Pasco and Hillsborough counties have promoted local elected leaders to keep mask mandates in place. (Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)

In his update, that came 30 days after his last appearance, Napier told board members:

“We have 10,294 positive cases, as of yesterday (Oct. 19). That’s a 3.5% increase over the last seven days. That’s 358 new cases, just this past week.

“The total population infected was just under 2%, and we have a less than 1% (.04) population that has died. That’s 229 cases.

“The other point that we talk about is the seven-day rolling average of cases. Last month, when I was here, we had increased from 29 cases per day, on average for seven days, up to 49. As of today, we’re looking at 53 cases per day. That represented an 8.1% increase from last month when I came and spoke with you.

“The other part that’s a little bit alarming is our 14-day rolling average. That’s the percent of positive cases that we get each day. It has climbed from 3.2% to 4.5%. That represents a 40% increase in the number of positive cases, percentage-wise.”

“As of today, we have 227 deaths.

The county is not seeing a huge increase, but it is trending in the wrong direction, Napier said.

The gold standard would be about 1 case per 100,000 — which means Pasco County would have 5.5 case per day, Napier said. “We’ve got a ways to get there.”

“We know that schools was one of the questions — what was going to be the impact of schools?

“I’ve got to give a shout-out to the school system. They’ve been great in working with the students and faculty and health department, in letting parents know as soon as we can about a positive case.

“I will tell you that the schools are not driving our case increases. They represent roughly 15% of our cases, which is what we had seen previously,” he said.

Students who have been exposed to someone positive must be isolated, which interrupts football practices and other things, as “life continues to go on,” he said.

“We understand that it’s disruptive, but we’re also trying to prevent the spread,” Napier said.

He said his staff is not finding spread within the schools themselves.

“Typically, what we’re finding is that a parent is sick and then the child is sick,” the health officer said.

“Our positivity rate is concerning. We were feeling pretty good when we were at 3%. We’re getting pretty close to 5% right now,” Napier said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley weighed in: “I think we should continue our masks,” he said, adding that he’d feel more comfortable doing away with the restriction when a vaccine becomes available.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey agreed with keeping the mask mandate: “I say, ‘Stay the course, still.”

She said she’d traveled to other parts of the country where restrictions were more extensive.

In some places, people are wearing a mask if they are outside their own homes, she said, noting she’d see people outside riding bicycles or on trails, wearing masks.

She doesn’t think Pasco’s ordinance is excessive.

Commission Mike Wells addressed Napier: “I’m assuming you’re telling us that you recommend us continue with the mask.”

Napier responded: “I don’t think anybody here is saying that masks are fun to use. Nobody enjoys using them. We understand that. It’s just a matter of the times that we’re in and the need to be able to do something to be able to prevent the spread of the disease.”

The mandate is being recommended throughout the region.

He said he spoke with his counterparts in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and the consensus was to keep the mask ordinance in each county in place.

“If I was standing here and the numbers had declined since my last presentation and we were starting to make good progress, then, all right, that might be a little bit different conversation. Right now, with what our numbers are demonstrating, I couldn’t suggest that the data says we should change course,” Napier said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said the county should “strongly recommend” rather than mandate masks, and he made a motion to that effect.

Wells told Mariano: “I do agree with you commissioner; I just don’t think there are three other votes.”

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said his colleagues should consult with local hospital CEOs, frontline medical workers and epidemiologists to help inform their decisions

Mariano’s motion failed, for lack of a second, keeping Pasco’s mandate in place.

Meanwhile, in Hillsborough County, commissioners extended the requirement for face coverings inside of local business, with certain exceptions, until Oct. 29, according to a news release.

The board approves its emergency orders for a maximum of seven days at a time. (See HCFLGov.net/facecoverings, for more detail).

Commissioners also approved spending $4.5 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for a project at Tampa General Hospital to repurpose an existing stand-alone structure into a dedicated COVID-19 unit.

The $8.2 million unit will contain 59 fully equipped ICU beds and up to 45 surge-readiness beds. Under a three-year contract with TGH, the unit also will serve as an alternate care site during declared states of emergency, the release said.

COVID19 statistics, as of noon on Oct. 26
Pasco County: Positive cases: 10,556 residents and 81 non-residents; deaths: 236
Pasco County Schools: Positive cases: students, 197; staff, 78
Hillsborough County: Positive cases: 46,813 residents and 267 non-residents; deaths: 759
Hillsborough County Schools: Positive cases: students, 465; staff, 372
Florida: Positive cases: 782,013 cumulative; deaths: 16,429 residents and 203 non-resident
United States: Positive cases: 8,553,827; deaths: 224,221
Worldwide: Positive cases: 42,745,212; deaths: 1,150,961

Sources: Florida Department of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; World Health Organization.

Published October 28, 2020

Health News 10/28/2020

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Embracing the needs of survivors
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club donated enough supplies to make two deliveries to the Sunrise of Pasco County Domestic Violence Shelter, for the benefit of the women and children residents. October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month and the woman’s club has long-supported this shelter. Included in the donations were personal and hygiene goods, children’s items, snacks and treats, sanitizers, club-made face masks for the kids, a check for $200, and a requested high chair. From left: Sabrina Scott, a shelter staff member and Nancy Swanton stand alongside the donations. For information on the club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

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.

Stroke center certification
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has received certification from DNV – GL Healthcare as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, recognizing the highest level of competence for treatment of serious stroke events.

The certification is based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association, and affirms that the medical center addresses the full spectrum of stroke care — diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education — and that the center establishes clear metrics to evaluate outcomes.

Medical staff announced
Advanced Cancer Treatment Centers, opening soon at 15211 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville, has announced its medical staff:

  • Radiation oncologists: Dr. Clayton Elliott Alonso and Dr. Peter Zavitsanos
  • Hematologists and medical oncologists: Dr. Aaron Denson and Dr. D. Alan Kerr II
  • Nurse practitioners: Amy Morgan and Elizabeth Morgan

The 21,000-square-foot facility will include an infusion room, medical oncology, examination rooms, radiation oncology exam rooms, treatment vault, in-house full laboratory, and the latest in radiation oncology treatment systems and diagnostic equipment, including CT scan and mobile PET.

For information, call Toni Martin at (352) 616-0698 or .

Safety upgrade for ambulances
AdventHealth has deployed expanded use of Aeroclave in all of its ambulances and has acquired 10 units of the disinfecting system.

Aeroclave is an aerosol disinfectant that creates a fine, dry mist that covers the entire inside of the ambulance, providing decontamination for COVID-19 and other viruses, after each patients is transported to a facility.

AdventHealth West Florida Division ambulances are able to be disinfected and returned to service in less than 30 minutes.

Aeroclave reduces staff and patient exposure to viruses, such as COVID-19, and provides a faster turnaround process, which doesn’t delay patient care.

Published October 28, 2020

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