The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Officials urge caution, as COVID-19 cases ramp up

By

Florida COVID-19 cases continue to rise, with 9,478 cases recorded on July 2, according to Florida Department of Health figures.

The day before, 9,529 positive cases were reported.

The surge in new cases has prompted additional measures to try to limit the spread, and has prompted cancellations of more planned events.

As the Fourth of July weekend approached, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees asked Floridians to do their part.

“As we head into this holiday weekend, I encourage all Floridians be diligent in avoiding closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings, and remember to wear a mask. Together, we must continue to take the appropriate steps to slow the spread of this virus,” DeSantis said, in a news release.

They also reminded those at greatest risk of severe complications to avoid crowds and minimize contact. People over age 65 and those with underlying medical conditions are most vulnerable to serious consequences from the virus.

“Many asymptomatic individuals are unknowingly carrying the COVID-19 virus in public,” Rivkees said, in the release.

As the number of positive cases rises, local officials are taking actions aimed at reducing the spread.

Local events continue to be scrapped.

Both the traditional Fourth of July parade in Lutz, and the Rattlesnake Festival and Rattlesnake Run set for October at the Pasco County Fairgrounds were canceled.

Pasco and Hillsborough public school districts also have dropped plans for traditional indoor commencement ceremonies, the districts initially had delayed. Instead, Pasco will have outdoor ceremonies at high school stadiums, and Hillsborough will have virtual graduation videos, and will have drive-thru diploma events at district high schools.

Mask requirements continue to evolve.

The City of Tampa and Hillsborough require masks indoors at businesses, where social distancing of 6 feet or more can’t be maintained.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles issued a similar mask order on June 23, which was discussed at the Pasco County Commission’s June 29 meeting.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley voiced his support for the mask order.

“Ever since COVID has started, we’ve been following the CDC guidelines, and in there it has been speaking of masks as ‘recommended,’” Oakley said.

“From that time until we issued that order, we never got any full acceptance of wearing masks. You go in businesses and probably less than half of patrons in those businesses — grocery store, wherever — have been without masks,” he said.

That changed, once the order was imposed, Oakley said.

“Every time I go into one of these businesses now, whether it be a drugstore or your Publix, or wherever, everyone has a mask on. So, the fact of it is, the order is to make us do what we should take responsibility, each of us, to do anyway to protect ourselves.

“The reason for this order, we are protecting our employees, all of our first responders and all of our citizens in Pasco County.

“We feel at this time, with COVID cases rising that this is what we need to do. None of us want us to shut down businesses.”

“If I go to a business, I put that mask on,” Oakley said.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore agreed that efforts must be made to stop the spread.

“Besides protecting the health of the community, I think we need to protect the health of our small businesses out there,” Moore said.

“If they go to a Phase 1 or a total shutdown again, it’s going to be bad. Really, really, really bad. We don’t need any of these small businesses having to close again,” Moore said.

The Pasco County School Board also has signaled support for mandatory masks on school buses and at school campuses, when school resumes. The details will be worked out by district staff.

Pasco Schools Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd told board members, at a June 30 meeting, that planning for the coming school year has been challenging.

“The daunting task of staff is to bring some order to the chaos that I think we’re all experiencing at the moment,” Gadd said.

The infection rate for COVID-19 is spiking, Gadd said, adding “we’re not particularly optimistic about when that is going to change.”

He also noted: “The wearing of masks, for the executive team, is not an ideological issue. If  infection rates are raging, we want to have the option of requiring masks.”

Board members said they support that approach, but said the district should remain flexible, if conditions change.

School Board Chairwoman Colleen Beaudoin put it like this: “I would just rather be safe than sorry.

“The vast majority of teachers and staff members I heard from said they wanted the students to wear masks.

“Parents, right now, all I’m hearing is that they want to know, so they can make a decision. They want to know if we’re going to be requiring masks, or not. They need to know what we’re leaning toward, so they can make decisions,” Beaudoin said, referring to whether parents want their child to return to a school campus or to learn virtually, at home.

For more information about school reopening options, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us for Pasco schools and SDHC.k12.fl.us for Hillsborough schools.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees are appealing to Floridians to avoid the Three Cs:

  • Closed spaces: Closes spaces with poor ventilation could allow contagious droplets to linger in the air.
  • Crowded places: The greater the number of individuals in an area, the greater the chances of COVID-19 spreading from person to person.
  • Close-contact settings: Close-range conversations can contribute to the spread; be sure to stay at least 6 feet away from others.

Published July 08, 2020

Planning for the vulnerable during crises

By

People with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia especially can be vulnerable during disasters, such as severe weather, fires, floods, hurricanes and other emergency situations.

It is important for the caregivers of those afflicted to have a plan that includes the special needs of people with impairments in memory and reasoning that could severely limit their ability to act appropriately in a crisis.

In general, caregivers should be prepared to meet the needs of the family for three days to seven days, including having supplies and backup options when basic services like water or electricity, are lost, according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross can provide information on how to make a general disaster preparedness plan.

And, the Administration for Community Living (ACL.gov) has a disaster planning toolkit for people with dementia.

Here are some tips from the NIA on how to plan ahead:

  • Caregivers should consider the needs of the person with Alzheimer’s while assembling supplies for the disaster kit. All supplies should be stored in a watertight container. A kit could include: incontinence undergarments, wipes and lotions; a pillow, toy or something the person can hold onto; favorite snacks and high-nutrient drinks; recent photos of the person; and, medical documents and medications.
  • If a move to a safer place is required, such as to a community shelter or someone’s home, caregivers should be sensitive to the Alzheimer’s patient’s emotions, by staying close, offering their hand, or giving reassuring hugs.
  • While planning an evacuation, know how to get to the nearest emergency shelters; arrange with someone else for transport; make sure the person with Alzheimer’s wears an ID bracelet; take general supplies and disaster kit; keep neighbors, friends and family informed about your location; keep comforting items on hand; and keep your cellphone charged.

For more information, including what to do in the case of caregiver/patient separation, and how to prepare for disaster situations, consider contacting these organizations:

• Eldercare Locator: Call (800) 677-1116, visit Eldercare.acl.gov, or email .

Published July 08, 2020

Health News 07/08/2020

By

Shrinit Babel, left, and Emileigh Morissette (Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Volunteers receive scholarships
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s Volunteer Association recently presented two $2,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who have served as volunteers at the hospital.

Shrinit Babel graduated first in his class from Steinbrenner High School in Lutz, with a 5.8 weighted GPA. He plans to attend the Judy Genshaft Honors College at the University of South Florida, to study biomedical sciences, as he works toward becoming a doctor.

Emileigh Morissette graduated from Fivay High School in Hudson with a 3.9 weighted GPA. She also plans to attend the University of South Florida, to study health science, as she works toward becoming a physician’s assistant.

Donna Owen, director of volunteer and pastoral care, said these two teen volunteers demonstrated not only academic excellence, but also a kind and generous spirit with a desire to serve and inspire others.

Face masks made available
Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles issued an executive order as of June 25 that requires residents to wear face masks/coverings while indoors at any county government facility or public business, in an effort to slow the increase of COVID-19 cases.

The following locations, in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, will now allow residents to pick up one mask per person:

  • Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., Dade City, Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, 38550 Fifth Ave., Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • East Pasco County Government Center lobby, 14236 Sixth St., Dade City
  • Pasco County Animal Services, 19640 Dogpatch Lane, Land O’ Lakes, Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 5:30 p.m.
  • Pasco County Utilities-Central Branch, 19420 Central Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • All Pasco County Fire Stations, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., when crews are available and while supplies last
  • North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, by appointment only. Call (813) 994-8534.

No Visitor Policy reinstated
AdventHealth West Florida Division as of June 29 has reinstated a No Visitor Policy for its hospital locations, except for special circumstances.

Visitation will be continued for special circumstances, including end-of-life situations. Other exceptions include:

  • Patients age 18 and younger may be accompanied by one adult visitor (parent, legally authorized person or caregiver). No additional visitors or siblings allowed.
  • Obstetrics patients can have one adult visitor.
  • Extenuating circumstances, such as imminent end-of-life or unique patient needs for support

These area hospitals have the No Visitor Policy in effect: AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills.

Other locations include Lake Placid, North Pinellas, Ocala, Sebring, Tampa and Wauchula.

Health News 07/01/2020

By

Pelvic health for women
Dr. Vanessa M. Brockhouse,  a women’s pelvic health physical therapist, recently opened her practice in Wesley Chapel, Fruitful Womb with virtual and in-person sessions.

Dr. Vanessa Brockhouse

The practice emphasizes prenatal and postpartumin care, including preparation for birth, prenatal exercise and postpartum care to ensure good bowel, bladder and sexual health.

Brockhouse treats women with complex cases of pelvic pain, urinary conditions, bowel conditions, sexual dysfunction, orthopedic hip/pelvic pain, prenatal and postpartum conditions.

As an advocate for women, and a pelvic health educator, Brockhouse believes in addressing women’s health with a whole body approach, which allows identification at the root cause resulting in relief of symptoms.

Dr. Brockhouse’s office is at 2136 Ashley Oaks Circle, Suite 102, in Wesley Chapel.

For information, visit FruitfulWombPT.com, call (813) 607-8776, or email .

COVID-19 facility doubles beds
Hillsborough County is in the process of contracting for an additional 60 beds at an assisted living facility that is serving as a transition unit for senior care facility residents diagnosed with COVID-19, County Administrator Mike Merrill announced on June 15.

The decision to pursue additional transitional beds at The Inn at University Village is a proactive step, Merrill said in a news release.

The Inn is for senior care facility residents who were hospitalized with the virus, but who do not require hospitalizations. The facility is serving as a transitional unit between the hospital and their senior care community for those patients while they wait for final clearance to return to their previous residence.

The patients are temporarily residing in a separate wing specifically designed for COVID-19 cases.

Teens and sleep
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sleep problems also are a concern for teenagers, and the average teen needs about nine hours of sleep a night.

Children and teens who do not get that much may have problems getting along with others, and they may feel angry and impulsive, have mood swings, feel sad or depressed, or lack motivation. They also may have issues with paying attention, and may get lower grades and feel stressed.

In addition to the sleep tips offered to adults, teens can try:

  • Avoiding screen time at least an hour before bed
  • Banning all-nighters (don’t leave homework for the last minute)
  • Writing in a diary or on a to-do list just before sleep, to reduce stress
  • Sleeping no more than two hours later on weekend mornings than on weekday mornings

COVID-19 prompts local face mask requirements

By

As Florida’s positive COVID-19 cases continue to climb, local officials are taking action to require the wearing of face coverings.

The requirements vary by jurisdictions.

Pasco County has joined the list of local governments imposing restrictions in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles issued an executive order on June 23, requiring everyone in Pasco County to use face coverings while indoors at a public business or county government facility. The order took effect immediately, with enforcement beginning on June 25.

While wearing an N95 mask for her safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, Linda McCabe, of Dade City, confirms the amount of food bags needed for one of the cars that showed up recently for the Pasco County school district’s free lunch program, at the Pasco High School. (File)

There are exceptions to the order, which include children under age 2 and anyone with an existing health condition that would be complicated by wearing a mask.

Pasco County Code Enforcement is enforcing the ordinance, focusing first on education.

Under Pasco’s order:

  • Face coverings should cover nose and mouth.
  • All businesses and county government facilities open to the public must comply.
  • Businesses must ensure compliance, with those found in violation facing a fine of up to $250.

The county also announced the availability of face masks at several locations.

Those wishing to report a violation should call (727) 847-2411, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pasco County Schools issued a statement in response to the county’s order, noting that while the order doesn’t apply to schools, the school district will require masks or face coverings for employees and visitors.

Masks or face coverings will be required for anyone visiting any district school or work site open to the public, according to the district’s news release.

The county order and school district’s directive will remain in place indefinitely and both are subject to change as circumstances change.

These actions follow requirements imposed by the Emergency Policy Group of Hillsborough County, which voted 5-3 on June 22, to require face coverings be worn by customers and employees in indoor spaces of businesses, when social distancing of 6 feet cannot be achieved.

That order is automatically set to expire within 7 days of its adoption, unless renewed.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor imposed a face covering order on June 19, also requiring masks when inside any business within the city of Tampa, when not maintaining social distancing, excluding family members or companions.

Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees also has issued an advisory recommending “all individuals in Florida should wear face coverings in any setting where social distancing is not possible” and discouraging social gatherings of more than 50 people.

The North Tampa Bay Chamber notified its members about the requirements for face coverings, providing links to the various government jurisdictions for more information.

The chamber also offered its members the opportunity to contact its office to obtain some free masks, through touchless pickup. The masks are being made available through the chamber’s partnership with the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Pasco County.

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) also issued updated safety and operating guidance for members of the hospitality industry, to ensure the safety of employees and guests.

The FRLA is strongly encouraging all Florida residents and visitors to wear masks in public spaces, including at restaurants and hotels, and to practice social distancing.

“Ensuring employee and guest safety is of the utmost importance,” Carol Dover, the FRLA’s president and CEO said, in a news release.

“All Florida businesses must do everything possible to contribute to the health and safety of our communities. We are strongly urging all Floridians to adhere to statewide Executive Orders, comply with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and other business regulators, follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the Florida Department of Health recommendations on mask-wearing and social distancing. These collective efforts will help ensure the safety of all Floridians and our visitors,” Dover said.

Information available on the afternoon of June 26 showed that Florida had a total of 122,960 positive cases, including 8,993 on June 25. The state recorded 3,336 deaths of Florida residents and 98 deaths of non-residents.

Hillsborough County had 8,108 cases, including 7,941 Florida residents and 77 non-Florida residents.

The figures for Pasco County stood at 1,326 cases, including 1,314 Florida residents and 12 non-residents.

The median age of those testing positive was 35 statewide, compared to a median age of 31 in Hillsborough County. Pasco County’s median age for those testing positive mirrored the state’s age of 34.

Published July 1, 2020

Florida’s COVID-19 cases surpass 100,000

By

Florida’s positive COVID-19 cases have exceeded the 100,000 mark, according to the most recent Florida Department of Health data available on the morning of June 22.

The state figures show Florida had 100,217 positive cases, including 98,047 Florida residents and 2,170 non-residents.

The state’s death toll stood at 3,173, including a 17-year-old male from Pasco County, whose death was recorded on June 19 in Florida Department of Health records.

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning announced Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19.

A news release from the school district said Browning experienced relatively minor symptoms, including fever, chills and general achiness since June 18, which led him to be tested.

The test came back positive on June 20, and Browning now is in isolation at home.

Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the state’s rising numbers during a news conference on June 20.

He said the increase of positive cases results partially from widespread testing, but he also said that people in the 20-to-30 age group that are testing positive at a higher rate.

“Our cases are shifting in a radical direction, younger,” DeSantis said.

The governor said the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation will be enforcing social distancing requirements in businesses it regulates, with the aim of creating greater compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.

“You do hear reports about people just jampacked into some of these places,” DeSantis said.

The CDC’s guidance calls for maintaining a social distance of 6 feet.

“If you can’t social distance, it’s recommended you wear some kind of face covering,” DeSantis said. He doesn’t anticipate making that a state requirement, but he said he hopes people will do what they can to avoid spreading the virus.

The governor also reiterated the need for elderly people, and those with significant underlying conditions, to avoid crowds and take other measures to avoid exposure.

Despite the rising number of positive cases, DeSantis said Florida’s hospitals are well-positioned to treat COVID-19 patients.

“The whole reason the mitigation was done was to flatten the curve, so the hospitals wouldn’t be overwhelmed,” DeSantis said.

He also noted: “We have way fewer patients on ventilators today than we did in April.

“The ICU COVID hospitalizations are significantly down from where they were,” he added.

Plus, “daily fatalities have continued to trend down,” he said.

As of the morning of June 21, the national death toll stood at 119,615, which was 560 more than the previous day, according to the CDC. The national number of positive cases exceeded 2.2 million, including 32,411 more cases than the day before.

The Hillsborough Emergency Policy Group has approved a requirement that face coverings be worn by employees and patrons when social distancing is not possible within businesses.

The order will apply for seven days only, unless renewed.

Under the order, business operators must enforce the requirement for face coverings, except for categories exempted in the order. Individuals cannot be charged for failing to wear masks.

The emergency policy group approved the order on a 5-3 vote on June 22, after extensive discussion among policy group members, testimony supporting the requirement from the medical community, and public support and opposition.

Florida COVID-19
Positive cases, last 14 days
June 8: 1,151
June 9: 1,225
June 10: 1,655
June 11: 1,634
June 12: 2,319
June 13: 2,125
June 14: 1,767
June 15: 2,698
June 16: 2,420
June 17: 2,699
June 18: 3,308
June 19: 4,023
June 20: 4,664
June 21: 2,779

Case totals
Statewide: 100,217, including 98,047 Florida residents; 2,170 non-residents
Pasco County: 872, including 861 Florida residents, 11 non-residents
Hillsborough County: 5,973, including 5,904 Florida residents, 69 non-residents

Death counts
Statewide: 3,173
Pasco County: 17
Hillsborough County: 115
(Most recent data available)

Published June 24, 2020

Health News 06/24/2020

By

Presidential awards

Joanne Van Atta

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point (RMCBP) has announced that two of its volunteers have been awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, which comes from the office of the President of the United States.

The award was initiated to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of volunteers and volunteering throughout the nation.

Recipients receive a certificate, an order of congratulations from the President, a pin and a gold medallion.

Carol Del Santo

Joanne Van Atta has been a volunteer at RMCBP for more than 17 years and has logged more than 16,000 hours of service. During most of that time, Van Atta assisted in the Outpatient Lab. She also received the Volunteer of the Quarter in 2011 and Volunteer of the Year in 2016.

Carol Del Santo began volunteering at RMCBP 30 years ago and has accumulated more than 16,000 hours of service. Del Santo began as a courier and now volunteers as a courier dispatcher. She also was selected as the Volunteer of the Quarter and received Volunteer of the Year in 2018.

Technology grant
A team of scientists from the University of South Florida has been awarded a Rapid Response Research Grant from the National Science Foundation (about $167,000), to advance its efforts to establish technology that can rapidly sterilize and electrostatically recharge N95 respiratory masks.

The technology, designed to fight coronavirus, uses corona discharge and low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma, and works to deactivate pathogens on a mask and restore its electrostatic charges.

Patient safety grade
AdventHealth Dade City has earned a Leapfrog “B” grade, from the Leapfrog Group, for patient safety.

AdventHealth acquired AdventHealth Dade City on April 1, 2018, and the hospital has worked to attain excellence in patient safety. The “B” grade shows the hospital does a better job at protecting patients from mistakes, injuries, accidents and infections than it did prior to acquisition.

According to a news release, leaders at AdventHealth Dade City continue to implement key strategies to enhance patient safety, including:

  • Tele-ICU, which provides critically ill patients immediate access to critical care intensivists and nurses, via tele-monitoring and direct communication
  • Electronic health records, which allow physicians to place the patient medication orders directly into the computer and allow nurses to scan a patient’s medications prior to administering them. This has shown to significantly decrease medication errors to the patients.
  • A full-time clinical quality analyst who reviews patient records daily to address any potential patient quality issues
  • A strong commitment to understanding the culture of safety with all care team members

 

Health News 06/17/2020

By

Team members at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel take a knee on June 5 for silent reflection in support of the ‘White Coats for Black Lives’ campaign. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

‘White Coats for Black Lives’
AdventHealth physicians, nurses and other team members across West Florida took to bended knee together in solidarity with other health care professionals across the nation, for a moment of silent reflection as part of the ‘White Coats for Black Lives’ campaign.

The nationwide movement is centered on combatting higher rates of disease among black communities; high barriers of entry to the health care industry for black individuals; lower rates of black medical students; and, the fear among black individuals to seek medical care.

All AdventHealth team members were invited to join in kneeling for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, in remembrance of George Floyd and others.

Those who participated maintained social distance, wore masks, and were encouraged to share photos as an expression of support online with #WhiteCoatsForBlackLives.

People to People
AARP Community Connections offers its Friendly Voices program for those that may feel isolated and need a voice on the other end of the line to help in challenging times, or just to say hello.

To request a call for yourself or a loved one, call (888) 281-0145 and leave your information. A trained volunteer will call you back.

New BayCare doctors
BayCare Medical Group, 2529 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, has welcomed two new doctors to its staff.

Dr. Radhika Ranganathan is board certified in pediatrics and accepts patients newborn to age 18. She is affiliated with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, and speaks Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and medical Spanish.

Dr. Steven Shechtman is board certified in internal medicine and accepts patients age 18 and older. His focus is long-term, comprehensive and complex illnesses in adults and in the elderly.

To reach either doctor at BayCare Medical Group, call (813) 920-1800.

Charity of the month
All five locations of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office will offer opportunities for customers to donate to AdventHealth’s Care 360 Transportation Fund, during the month of June.

The Care 360 fund provides the cost of transportation services that help seniors and other patients in need get to and from the hospital for appointments, treatments and when they need a ride home upon discharge from the hospital.

For information about the AdventHealth Foundation and the transportation fund, call Connie Bladon at (813) 929-5497.

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

Leader shares his hospital’s COVID-19 experiences

By

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Erik Wangsness CEO assumed the leadership role of the hospital on Sept. 1 — during the midst of a hospital expansion and months before COVID-19 became a global pandemic.

“Our world changed about three months ago,” the hospital executive told members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber, during the organization’s first Zoom breakfast meeting on June 2.

“We had heard since the beginning of the year about this virus coming out of Wuhan (China), and its spread.

Erik Wangsness, CEO of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, recently talked via Zoom to members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber, about the experiences at his hospital amid COVID-19. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

“And then, in March, it really started to get real for us — and for you,” Wangsness said.

In March, like other businesses, the hospital had “progressively more aggressive reactions to COVID,” he said.

“We started by screening questions at the front. Then, it was screening questions and limiting visitation, masking and then it was no visitors.

“It got very serious, very quickly,” he said.

“We did a lot of modeling around what to expect with COVID, starting back in February and March.

“We were expecting infection rates in Hillsborough and Pasco County — about 4(%) to 7% — of the community, we thought were going to be infected by COVID,” he said.

That modeling showed a need for rooms, ventilators and personal protective equipment that was much greater than the hospital had, he said.

“We scrambled. We set up triage tents and surge tents on our campuses. We brought in more equipment; huge orders for personal protective equipment.

“As time went on, the models dropped and dropped and dropped — and we found that less than 1% — thankfully, of the citizens of Pasco County and Hillsborough County — ended up being infected, that we know of.

“Of course, we haven’t had, as you know, the ability to perform widespread either testing or antibody testing to see what was the true infection level of the community,” he said.

Their testing, of both people who were symptomatic and some who were asymptomatic, showed less than a 1% infection rate, he said.

The hospital leader praised his staff’s response to the pandemic, and also the community’s support.

“There were many, many powerful moments during the last three months,” he said. ““Some were extremely sad, patients we lost, who were infected by the virus.”

At the same time, “there were also incredible highs,” he said, sharing a video of the hospital’s first COVID patient who came off a ventilator at the hospital, and was discharged.

“This was very real, and very difficult, heavy lift, for not only (AdventHealth) Wesley Chapel, certainly, but all hospitals, all health care across Tampa Bay,” he said.

“One of the things that has been for me, that has been incredibly comforting and heartwarming, was that we were absolutely embraced by our community.

“People delivered food. Businesses delivered food. Handmade masks. Letters. Posters from kids, from the community supporting us — and telling us, and our staff, that they were thankful for us.

“It made a huge difference. It was just incredibly powerful to the staff here at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel to know that the community, the business community, the faith community were behind us.

“We had several parades.

“Groups wanted to come and parade through the campus to show their support. Honk horns, fly balloons and banners, show support for the people,” he said.

He also praised the response of the region’s medical facilities.

“Another very powerful kind of component of this is that the hospital systems in Tampa Bay — Tampa General, BayCare, HCA, AdventHealth — all came together, to work together, to treat COVID patients, to test COVID patients, to support each other. It’s been a wonderful thing,” he said.

COVID concerns keep people away from hospitals
While AdventHealth Wesley Chapel was gearing up for the COVID-19 challenge, fewer people were coming to the hospital with other conditions.

“Our surveys and focus groups show a very high level of concern remains in our communities about the danger of COVID at hospitals.

“We saw, over the last three months, a significant decrease in our census — in people coming to the hospital to receive care,” he said. He estimates that the hospital’s census declined by about 50%.

“So, one of the ironies was that we were going full speed trying to prepare for this pandemic that we thought was going to overwhelm us, but at the same time the business that we had in the hospital was artificially low.

“We know that ambulance calls for very significant conditions — stroke and heart attack fell significantly across Florida and across the United States compared to the same time prior year.

“Think about that, stroke and heart attack victims would rather stay home than call an ambulance to seek care because of the fear of being infected at the hospital,” he said.

As a result, care has been delayed and when people arrive at the hospital they are sicker because of that delay, he said.

The hospital’s messaging has been focused on explaining what it is doing to keep patients and others safe, Wangsness said.

Staff members at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel hold cards of appreciation dropped off by The Learning Experience, a local day care. Besides the cards made by the kids, the day care delivered pizzas.

“So, what will you see, at our facility and virtually every hospital you go to?

“You’ll see universal masking. All of our staff. All of the physicians in the hospital, will be wearing masks. Visitors, patients who come, are masked as well.

“Everyone, every day, temperature is checked upon arrival. That’s our staff, our physicians, any contractors and vendors, any patients and visitors. We’re checking and screening everyone upon arrival.

“There’s limited visitation. For a couple of months there were no visitors in the hospital. Now, each patient can have one visitor. Someone coming in for surgery can have one visitor. But again, all visitors are masked and screened upon entry,” he said.

The hospital’s social distancing strategies include appliques on the ground to remind people to stay 6 feet apart, and the hospital also has removed some furniture from its lobbies, waiting areas and cafeteria, to help keep people farther apart.

Additionally, the hospital has stepped up its sanitizing, especially in public areas, in addition to private areas within the hospital.

Wangsness asked members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber to help spread the word.

“My request of you, of the business community, is let people know that hospitals are working diligently — not just ours, but all hospitals — and physician offices, and imaging clinics, to make sure that we’re keeping them (patients) safe.

“They really shouldn’t delay their care because of the COVID, really, at this point, they’re doing themselves a disservice,” the hospital executive said.

Published June 10, 2020

Health News 06/10/2020

By

Volunteers of the year
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has selected its 2019 Female and Male Volunteer of the Year.

Pat Edington

Pat Edington has been a volunteer in the Emergency Department for 23 years, providing comfort to patients and families while assisting staff in a positive, professional manner. For the past year, she also has served as a member of the hospital’s Board of Directors.

Gene Hausladen

Gene Hausladen has been one of the most active volunteers since he began five years ago. He has been a courier, worked in the CPRU (Cardiac Procedures Recovery Unit), was one of the hospital’s first ER concierge volunteers, and also has worked in the lab organizing and filing slides, and performing other duties assigned by the staff.

 

Charity of the month
All five locations of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office will offer opportunities for customers to donate to AdventHealth’s Care 360 Transportation Fund, during the month of June.

The Care 360 fund provides the cost of transportation services that helps seniors and other patients in need get to and from the hospital for appointments and treatments, and when they need a ride home upon discharge from the hospital.

For information about the AdventHealth Foundation and the transportation fund, call Connie Bladon at (813) 929-5497.

For information about the charitable giving programs at the tax collector’s office, call Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at (727) 847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing
Premier Community HealthCare has expanded its COVID-19 testing capabilities with drive-thru testing, to provide a safe and efficient option for community members.

The drive-thru testing is done by appointment only, and is available at no cost to all Pasco and Hernando county residents, regardless of age or symptoms.

The Pasco site is at 14105 Fifth St., in Dade City, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The Hernando site is at the Brooksville Family Health Center, 300 S. Main St., on Thursdays and Fridays, starting June 11, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

To request an appointment, call (352) 518-2000, or visit PremierHC.org.

Testing results should be available within three days to five days via telephone and Premier’s patient portal.

All patients are advised to self-quarantine until results are confirmed.

Access health Care triage
In an effort to prevent the spread of infection, Access Health Care has established several locations throughout the Tampa Bay area as triage locations for those with symptoms of COVID-19.

If you are coughing, sneezing, feverish or have any other respiratory symptoms, and/or have traveled extensively in the last 14 days, call your doctor/primary care physician if you believe that you have symptoms, or go to one of the triage centers.

In Hillsborough County, visit the office of Dr. Brunel Joseph, 2137 W. Martin Luther King Blvd., in Tampa.

In Pasco County, go to the office of Dr. Jennifer Laman, 13235 State Road 52, Suite 108, in Hudson.

For information and other locations, call (352) 688-8116.

Tips for better sleep
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about one in three American adults do not get healthy amounts of sleep. Stress can make the problem even worse, too.

The NIH says adults need seven hours to eight hours of sleep each night, to stay in good mental and physical health, promote quality of life, and avoid an increased risk of injury.

The institute offers these tips to get a good night’s sleep:

  • Go to sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, even on weekends.
  • Don’t take naps after 3 p.m., and don’t nap longer than 20 minutes.
  • Stay away from caffeine and alcohol late in the day.
  • Avoid nicotine completely.
  • Get regular exercise, but not within two hours to three hours of bedtime.
  • Don’t eat a heavy meal late in the day. A light snack before bedtime is OK.
  • Make your bedroom comfortable, dark, quiet, and not too warm or too cold.
  • Follow a routine to help you relax before sleep, such as reading or listening to music. Turn off the TV and other screens at least an hour before bedtime.
  • Don’t lie in bed awake. If you can’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, do something calming until you feel sleepy, like reading or listening to soft music.
  • Talk with a doctor if sleep troubles continue.