The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Symposium seeks addiction recovery solutions

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A symposium is scheduled for later this month that will seek to create a blueprint for improving long-term substance abuse recovery efforts in Pasco County.

The Recover Out Loud Pasco Symposium is set for Sept. 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Calvary Chapel Worship Center, 6825 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey.

Admission is free.

The symposium is being organized by Recovery Epicenter Foundation, a newly licensed and accredited recovery community organization operating out of Trinity.

The symposium will seek to engage individuals, stakeholders and community leaders in an effort “to grow community-oriented initiatives, cultivate community allies, and develop recovery peer-based programs,” according to the event’s flyer.

Its keynote speaker is Dona Dmitrovic, executive director of Las Vegas-based Foundation for Recovery and former National Director of Consumer Affairs for Substance Use Disorders at Optum, United Health Group.

Other noted speakers include:

  • Tina Levene, motivational speaker and published author on abuse and addictions
  • Pasco Sheriff’s Office Lt. Toni Roach, who heads the agency’s Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and Mental Health and Threat Assessment (MHAT) teams
  • Sara Mollo, Sixth Judicial Circuit chief assistant public defender
  • Former Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Lynn Tepper
  • Sarah Cobelli, Baycare Behavioral Health program manager
  • Ginny LaRue, Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Foundation recovery project director

Additionally, the symposium will feature interactive café conversations about which recovery-related services are working in the community and what needs more support, along with a series of panel discussions from people in recovery and existing recovery community organizations throughout Florida.

Thoughts and input gathered from the symposium will be incorporated into the Recovery Epicenter Foundation’s visioning process in November to better define action steps for recovery-based programming, said Recovery Epicenter Foundation RCO director Rachel Starostin.

“The whole thing is we want to get the community together,” said Starostin, who expects anywhere from 200 to 300 attendees at the symposium. “The community benefits when we all collaborate together.”

Trinity-based Recovery Epicenter Foundation is hosting a symposium to help find ways to improve long-term substance abuse recovery efforts in Pasco County. The Recover Out Loud Pasco Symposium is set for Sept. 28. (Courtesy of Recovery Epicenter Foundation)

Starostin said the Recovery Epicenter Foundation’s “ultimate goal” is to build a peer-run, recovery-oriented community center to facilitate programs in the way of employment assistance, transportation, health and wellness, recreational opportunities, independent support groups and so on.

“We’re like building a shell out of something that needs to exist. We’re building something out of nothing,” she said.

“It’s kind of an abstract concept, when you don’t have a building and trying to plan out the future,” she said.

Starostin emphasized the need for such a recovery facility to help people “rebuild their lives” once they get out of addiction treatment. That assistance may initially include assisting them with “locatable, tangible resources,” such as basic medical care, living shelters, food stamps and more.

Starostin put it like this: “As a general rule, until you meet somebody’s basic needs, they’re not really receptive to listen. Like, how well do you focus when you’re hungry and you haven’t eaten in two days?”

Meanwhile, Starostin said the upstart recovery community organization is looking to mobilize more peer specialists to help with implementing various recovery programs. Peer specialists, or peer coaches, are people who have been successful in the recovery process who help others battling addiction through shared experience, understanding, respect and mutual empowerment.

Said Starostin, “There’s something magical when one peer who’s suffered from substance use works with another. You identify with them, you trust them, and it’s not like a 12-step program, you help somebody kind of come up with their own plan.”

Recovery Epicenter Foundation’s recovery community organization operates as an independent, nonprofit entity — led and governed by representatives of local communities of recovery.

Its mission is to support recovery through advocacy, education and peer-to-peer support services, to improve outcomes for persons seeking drugs and alcohol addictions.

Guidance and technical assistance on the Recovery Epicenter Foundation recovery community organization’s development process is coming from the Florida Recovery Project/Faces & Voices of Recovery, with collaboration from Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Foundation, Florida Department of Children and Families, and Peer Support Coalition of Florida.

An initial community listening session for the recovery community organization was held in February at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, followed by a symposium planning session.

The sessions have already brought together dozens of stakeholders, including persons in recovery and professionals in health care, criminal justice, faith-based organizations and others.

“When we started this process, there wasn’t a whole lot of momentum behind it, but we’re getting it; people are getting involved and they’re starting to understand,” Starostin said.

To register for the symposium, visit tinyurl.com/yygu9e3s.

For information, contact Rachel Starostin at or (727) 255-2036.

Published September 11, 2019

Health News 09/04/2019

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(Courtesy of Kirsty Churchill)

Charity night deals a good hand
The second annual Charity Casino Night raised net proceeds of $35,000 to support patient care for Gulfside Hospice. The fundraiser featured authentic casino-style gaming tables, a silent auction, a ‘giggle water’ station at the bar, dancing, and Restaurant Roulette and Prohibition Crate drawings.  A group of representatives from Maus Nissan, Queen sponsor of the event, showed off their flapper dresses and partied like it was the Roaring Twenties.

New epilepsy unit
AdventHealth Tampa has opened a new Epilepsy Monitoring Unit — the only one of its kind in Tampa Bay. It now has the only neuroscience unit with five beds dedicated specifically for treating and monitoring patients with seizures.

The unit also includes a control room where highly trained specialists can observe patients utilizing telemedicine capabilities that allow 24/7 monitoring of up to 24 patients, not only at AdventHealth Tampa, but at other facilities, including AdventHealth Connerton, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Carrollwood.

AdventHealth has partnered with Compumedics, a supplier of sleep, neurological monitoring and brain research systems, to bring the latest technology and software systems to AdventHealth Tampa.

Nurses and technicians who are specially trained in the treatment, diagnosis and monitoring of patients with seizure disorders will be present continuously on the unit.

AdventHealth Tampa is one of the largest epilepsy centers in Florida.

High-performing hospital
AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has been recognized as a High Performing Hospital for 2019-2020 by U.S. News & World Report, for hip and knee replacement, in recognition of care that was significantly better than the national average.

For the 2019-2020 ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in nine procedures and conditions.

Fewer than a third of all hospitals received any high-performing rating, and only 57 earned this rating in all nine procedures and conditions.

Know where to go
According to WellSpan Health, knowing whether to go to Urgent Care or to the Emergency Department can be broken down into these symptoms:

Urgent Care: stitches; back pain and strain; cold, flu and sinus; insect bites; allergies; constipation and diarrhea; cuts, burns and wounds; and, broken bones and sprains

Emergency Department: stroke; severe burns; shock; difficulty breathing; major trauma and injury; heart attack and chest pain; and uncontrollable bleeding

For more information, visit WellSpan.org.

Thoracic surgeon joins team
Dr. Mathew Ninan, an expert in the surgical treatment of lung cancer and other surgical procedures involving chest organs, has joined West Florida Thoracic Surgery, at 9332 State Road 54, Suite 405, in Trinity.

He specializes in surgery of the lungs, esophagus and other chest organs, including upper abdominal surgery of the esophagus, such as anti-reflux surgery, hiatal hernias and achalasia.

Ninan has been performing robotic, minimally invasive lung surgery since 2008.

He completed his surgical training in London and his cardiothoracic training at the University of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania.

Ninan has been named a U.S. News & World Report top doctor for several years.

Residents recognized
The Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point announced that three of its GME residents received high recognition in the HCA West Florida Graduate Medical Education Consortium Poster Exhibition.

“The event showcased the great research, scholarly activity, and quality initiatives being undertaken by residents and fellows across all GME programs in the HCA West Florida Division,” said Dr. Frederick M. Schiavone, vice president and designated institutional official of the West Florida division, in a release.

The three physicians recognized are:

  • Dr. Ken Baxa, rheumatology: first place Scientific Award, for “Assessment of Intravenous Micronutrient Therapy (Myer’s Cocktail) for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia”
  • Dr. Paul Hoffman, internal medicine: third place Scientific Award, for “Doxycycline Induced Acute Pancreatitis”
  • Dr. Huma Zuman, transitional year: first place Inter-Professional Award, for “Spectrum of Imaging Findings on CDT Perfusion of Brain for Acute Stroke”

Blood donations needed

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As all eyes are on Tropical Storm Dorian, OneBlood, the local nonprofit blood center serving Florida and the majority of the Southeast, says it must begin storm preparations now and is urging all eligible blood donors to donate before Dorian potentially impacts parts of its service area, according to a news release.

Ensuring a ready blood supply before, during and after the storm is crucial. While all blood types are needed, there is an increased need for O Negative and O Positive blood, as well as platelet donations.

Tropical systems can disrupt the blood supply for several days. The most critical time for blood donations is prior to any storm in order to sustain the blood supply during and immediately after the event.

Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood.

OneBlood encourages all eligible donors to make blood donation part of their storm preparations and visit a donor center or Big Red Bus as soon as possible.

For a list of OneBlood locations and to learn more about the importance of blood donations, visit OneBlood.org.

Offering convenient way to combat breast cancer

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Cheryl Hinton hits the road in the quest to prevent breast cancer.

Hinton, who is the marketing and promotions specialist for Tampa Bay Mobile Mammography, was the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group’s breakfast meeting on Aug. 13 at the IHOP in Dade City.

Lt. James Law of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, left, Cheryl Hinton, Nils Lenz, Rodney Rehrig Sr., and Bob Hatfield were several attendees at the East Pasco Networking Group meeting on Aug. 13 at a Dade City IHOP. Hinton was the event’s guest speaker and received a Standing Ovation Award for her community work. (Brian Fernandes)

She talked about the company’s mission to provide convenient breast cancer screenings. The independent organization began in New Port Richey. It now provides its services not only in Pasco, but in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties, too.

The staff works out of three tour-size buses, which are parked at various locations. Female employees can step away from their work at those places, to undergo a breast cancer screening.

“We actually go to schools and corporations,” Hinton explained. “We bring the bus to them, so that all they have to do is go outside, get on the bus, get their mammogram done, and go right back to work.”

Inside the bus, women take several minutes to be examined, using a digital three-dimensional imaging machine.

Patients also may be referred to a physician for further analysis.

Beyond her current role, Hinton also has a history in community advocacy, having worked in conjunction with organizations like Meals on Wheels and The Samaritan Project.

After she ended her career in newspaper advertising, she found a role where she could promote health.

She recalled: “I see on Facebook that this position is opening and I thought ‘Mobile mammography, what’s that? That sounds interesting.’”

The job also had a personal significance, as her sister-in-law had succumbed to a seven-year battle with breast cancer.

The Zephyrhills resident initially began overseeing operations in Hillsborough County and eventually added Polk County.

“Part of my job is I sit [at] home on my laptop, contact the schools and let them know that we’re coming,” Hinton noted.

She also travels to the companies and schools within her districts to answer questions from employers or employees.

Mobile Mammography tries to accommodate educators by paying substitute teachers to cover their classes while they are in the bus for screening.

The organization had its first summer screening program this year, sending out flyers and visiting 27 schools where summer classes were being held.

The response was phenomenal, she said.

Although the services target women in the school system and the corporate world, women of all backgrounds are encouraged to jump aboard the bus – and for good reason.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the most common type found in women, not counting skin cancers .

In 2016, there were over 245,000 new cases reported in the United States alone.

The screening may seem intimidating and does bring about slight discomfort, Hinton acknowledged. However, she added, it could help prevent or stop the progression of breast cancer.

Hinton also was quick to point out that while the disease is prevalent among women, men too, are susceptible to breast cancer.

While Mobile Mammography does not offer services to men, it strongly recommends that men get routine check-ups, Hinton noted.

Toward the end of the meeting, the East Pasco Networking Group presented Hinton with a Standing Ovation Award to recognize her for her community efforts.

Published August 28, 2019

These kits can help save lives

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A safety measure has been added to Pasco County high schools that’s aimed to help save lives during a mass casualty or active shooter situation.

The schools now have bleed control kits — designed to help prevent victims from bleeding out before emergency responders arrive.

Pasco County Schools and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office are participating in the ‘Stop the Bleed’ campaign, a national initiative that aims to train and empower civilians to act swiftly and effectively in trauma situations, such as active shooter incidents. As part of the campaign, the sheriff’s office and emergency personnel trained school nurses to use bleed control kits and other measures in initial trauma management. (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

The kits contain items such as tourniquets, blood-clotting dressings and casualty extraction litter, CPR mask, disposable gloves, trauma shears and a bleeding control instruction card. The kits are assembled using military grade components and based on the standards established by the American College of Surgeons.

The vacuum-sealed kits are stocked in a LIFE Station, or a surface-mounted storage cabinet strategically located throughout schools, similar to AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) and fire extinguisher cabinets.

Pasco County Schools, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Tax Collector’s Office and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point recently partnered on a fundraising drive to bring LIFE Stations and bleed kits to each public high school and technical school countywide.

Enough donations were raised for each school to receive one LIFE Station, which holds up to five kits, according to the sheriff’s office.

The initial cost for stations and kits was $250,000. Each kit costs approximately $600 to $700.

The school district and sheriff’s office are now requesting donations to purchase more kits for the county’s 83 middle and elementary schools. Efforts are also being made to bring them to places of worship and other public spaces.

Someone can die from bleeding out in 30 seconds to 45 seconds, so the effort is aimed at saving lives, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said, during an Aug. 13 media conference on the bleed kits initiative.

The bleed kits go beyond the scope of a shooting or other violent attack, the sheriff said.

Pasco County Schools’ high schools and technical schools have been stocked with bleed control kits to help stem the flow of blood in urgent situations. The kits are housed in a LIFE Station container, or a surface-mounted storage cabinet similar to AEDs and fire extinguishers. Shown here is a LIFE Station that sits inside the nurse’s office at Land O’ Lakes High School. (Courtesy of Pasco Schools)

“It’s not just about active shooters,” Nocco said. “It could be about a traffic crash. It could be somebody fell, and it hurt them and it cut them badly. Those are the types of things that we want to make sure we get out there, that this isn’t just because of that worst-case scenario, this could be about some injury that occurred any day.”

“Just having one (station) in each facility may not be enough, you may need multiple ones,” he said.

Before the school year began, the sheriff’s office and emergency personnel trained school nurses to use the kits and other life-saving measures in initial trauma management. The training was part of a broader “Stop the Bleed” national initiative, which aims to train and empower civilians to act swiftly and effectively in trauma situations, such as active shooter incidents.

Pasco School District nurses will be training other school employees how to use the kits, officials say.

Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office also is creating a bleed kit instruction video for students.

“It’s like teaching a child to call 911. Now, we’re going to teach them to stop the bleed,” Nocco said.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said the LIFE Stations and bleed kits create “another layer of protection in the horrible event of something going on in our schools.”

Browning emphasized the urgency in such situations: “It’s a matter of seconds before an individual could bleed out, and we want to make sure that we have the tools there to help prevent loss of life.”

Since the Parkland school shooting claimed the lives of 17 students and faculty members in February 2018, the Pasco school district has bolstered its safety protocols through hiring armed safety guards, requiring stricter identification protocols, and installing more secure door locks, among other procedures.

“We work hard in keeping all of our children safe in this district,” Browning said. “I will say, we have been in a leader in the state where other districts have looked at us and said, ‘We want to do it very similar to the way you’re doing it.’”

He added, “Parents are just naturally concerned about the safety of their kids when we put them on our buses in the morning and get them to our schools, and they expect them to be safe, and I expect our kids to be safe.”

For more information, visit PascoSheriffCharities.org/stop-the-bleeding-2/.

Published August 21, 2019

Local teen’s rare disease sparks legislation

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After more than three years of fighting for their medical coverage for their son’s rare disease, a Land O’ Lakes family has seen some progress in their quest.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Patient Saving Act on June 12, which includes language requiring the state insurance plan to provide enteral formula coverage, regardless of age, condition or intake method.

Stephanie Walls, whose son Remington suffers from Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), called the legislative victory “absolutely amazing.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Patient Saving Act in June. Included is language requiring the state insurance plan to provide enteral formula coverage, regardless of age, condition or intake method. Stephanie and Remington Walls stand on the far right. (Courtesy of Stephanie Walls)

The rare EoE disease, which is incurable, causes food to deteriorate in his esophagus.

Remington, who was diagnosed at age 4, has lived a life without regular food or drink.

His only source of nutrition since then has come via a hypoallergenic amino acid-based liquid formula, called Neocate EO28 Splash. He consumes roughly 18 to 22 of the eight-ounce juice boxes per day.

Through it all, 19-year-old Remington has never let his life-threatening food allergy disease block him from pursuing his goals.

He is a former varsity baseball standout at Land O’ Lakes High School.

He’s a published author, and he has earned a volunteer assistant/team manager position at Valdosta State University’s Division I baseball program.

In 2016, his family learned that its insurance no longer covered the liquid formula required for sustenance. Without the insurance, the formula costs about $26,000 per year, Stephanie said.

The alternative was a feeding tube. But, with Remington’s active lifestyle, that was never an option, the family says.

So, Remington and his mom have been pushing for state and federal legislation for enteral formula coverage for medical nutrition — sharing their story with lawmakers and anyone who would listen.

The new law only impacts state employees, but still it is a move in the right direction and will help families like theirs who are struggling, Stephanie says.

“This is just a baby step, to the bigger steps that are going to be taken,” added Stephanie, an eighth grade language arts teacher at Cypress Creek Middle High School in Wesley Chapel.

“We’re still trying to get federal legislation,” she said. “It has to be broader. It has to have a wider span.”

Remington agrees with his mom: “Our goal is to get federal legislation passed, but it’s just a work in progress. We just take it one day, one step at a time.”

He added, “Honestly, our whole goal going into this was, whether it benefits us or not, we want to make a difference. We just knew that if this is happening to us, then it’s happening to other families.”

Getting help and helping others
At the state level, the Walls’ cause was picked during the legislative process by Sen. Kelli Stargel, a Republican from Lakeland, and Rep. Ardian Zika, a Republican from Land O’ Lakes. They sponsored enteral formula legislation, which ultimately led to an amendment to the state health bill.

As it stands now, “it only covers state employees,” Zika said. “My goal is I hope to see federal legislation addressing this issue .. .so we have comprehensive coverage for such a condition.”

He went on, “For me, this was an opportunity to be a voice for the voiceless. When I reflect back on my public service, this is going to be one of the highlights for me.”

Zika learned of Walls’ story before his election in 2018 to represent District 37 in the Florida House of Representatives.

“It was really heartbreaking,” Zika said. “I said, ‘Wow, this is something that I would be very passionate about because it’s life-changing for individuals.’”

The freshman lawmaker added, “Remington has overcome so much adversity. No one should go through what they’ve (the Walls) gone through. I’m just happy to be at the intersection in their life and do my part, but there’s much more work to be done.”

Remington and Stephanie addressed several committees in Tallahassee along the way, including the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, House Market Reform Subcommittee and Government Oversight Committee.

Stephanie acknowledged the work was tiresome, but she said it also was empowering to be a voice for other families who are in the same boat.

“Our belief and our philosophy has always been that we need to help the people that come behind us,” she said. “Regular, everyday people can make a difference, but people have to understand that. It’s just about everybody making that difference.”

Seeing her son pick up the cause made the efforts all the more worthwhile, too.

Stephanie put it like this: “It is so rare to find an 18-year-old, at the time, meeting with legislators. He knew in his heart that this was the right thing that he needed to be doing. A lot of it he was kind of thrust into it, but he chose to continue.”

In November, Remington and Stephanie co-wrote “Homeplate: A True Story of Resilience,” a 118-page book that delves into a foodless life and insights on coping with a rare esophageal disease.

The project gained momentum to the point where Remington and Stephanie were called to speak at multiple events, including the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) Conference in Washington D.C. The Walls also presented to over 200 athletes at an Atlanta-based event organized by ACES Nation and All-In FC (Futbol Club) at Sugar Hill.

Meanwhile, Remington has big plans ahead. The college sophomore plans to try out for the Valdosta State baseball team this fall. He’s also studying communications as he considers a career in public speaking.

He hopes his story can inspire others facing similar challenges.

Determination is important, according to Remington.

“If you set your mind to it, you can do it. The only person that can stop you is you,” he said.

Published August 21, 2019

Health News 08/21/2019

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(Courtesy of Pasco Kids First)

Pasco Kids First receives grant
The Florida Medical Clinic Foundation of Caring selected Pasco Kids First as a grant recipient. The funds from the grant will be used to provide therapy and case management services for children who have experienced a traumatic event. The Foundation of Caring was founded in 2005 and has granted more than $2.5 million to 135 local nonprofits for community needs. From left: Layton Jennings, Ashley Jennings, Dana Selfridge, Angela Pottinger, Angelita Rodriguez and Becky Bennett. To learn more, visit FMCFoundationOfCaring.org.

Hands-on experience
AdventHealth hosted the eighth annual Brain Expansions Scholastic Training (B.E.S.T.) Academy, which provided hands-on health care experience to more than 80 teens across Tampa Bay.

Twenty-five students from across the Tampa Bay region took part in the Brain Expansions Scholastic Training Academy offered at AdventHealth Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of AdventHealth-West Florida Division)

This the fifth year AdventHealth Zephyrhills hosted the program.

The B.E.S.T. Academy encourages high school and middle school students to focus on careers within the health care sector.

Students participate in either a one-, two- or four-week program immersed in hands-on workshops, which include lab work, triage, suturing, splinting and shadowing hospital staff on the job.

The Academy also is offered in AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Tampa and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel.

 

New CEO announced
AdventHealth has named Erik Wangsness to the position of CEO for AdventHealth Wesley Chapel.

Wangsness will assume the leadership role on Sept. 1, replacing Denyse Bales-Chubb, who recently transitioned to a new role as CEO for AdventHealth Tampa.

Recently, Wangsness served as president for Washington Adventist Hospital in the Washington D.C. region.

Terry Shaw, president/CEO for AdventHealth, said in a release, “Over the years, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has grown to meet the increasing health care needs of this community, and with Erik’s guidance, I know it will continue to provide exceptional Christ-centered care and foster hope and wholeness.”

Staff achievements
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point honored its physicians and new residents at the hospital’s annual Nursing Gala.

The event recognizes the significant accomplishments of the hospital’s physicians and nurses.

Physicians are nominated for their dedication to providing high-quality, compassionate patient care.

Both physicians and new residents are nominated by the hospital’s nursing staff.

This year’s winners were Dr. Keshav Remireddy as Physician of the Year and Dr. Andrei Hetman as New Resident of the Year.

Humanitarian award
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point announced that Dr. Keshav Ramireddy has been recognized as this year’s Frist Physician Humanitarian Award winner.

The award was created in 1971 to honor individuals for their humanitarian and volunteer activities, named in honor of Dr. Thomas F. Frist Sr.

The nominee is judged in four categories: level of commitment to the facility and patient care; level of commitment to the community; having a positive effect on others; and, dependability, consistency and people-oriented.

Dr. Ramireddy will receive a donation of $500 to the charity of his choice, and a Frist lapel pin and a plaque.

Health and Wellness Fair focuses on the elderly

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A free community Health and Wellness Fair, held recently in Land O’ Lakes,  focused on services that are available to the elderly, as they face changes in mind and body.

The Aug. 1 event was hosted by Keystone Place at Terra Bella, 2200 Livingston Road, which offers residential options for independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Bryan D’Onofrio spoke at the event on behalf of the North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital. The Wesley Chapel facility serves people who are suffering from issues such as depression, anxiety or substance abuse, by providing in-patient and out-patient services – including a geriatrics unit.

Local organizations in the Tampa Bay area gathered at a Health and Wellness Fair held at Keystone Place at Terra Bella to inform the public about various services available to help the elderly. (Brian Fernandes)

Many of the elderly patients who are admitted are dealing with depression,  D’Onofrio noted.

“As we get older, things don’t work like they used to,” he said. “As those things hit us, we can suffer some depression.”

At the behavioral health hospital, patients engage with a psychiatrist, therapist, social workers and licensed mental-health counselors, to receive the right treatment.

Patients also partake in group therapy to keep social, and recreational therapy, such as board games, yoga and other exercises. They are encouraged to continue activities when released home, to help them stay positive, D’Onofrio said.

Bayada Home Health Care and Bluestone Physician Services also participated in the event.

These companies offer mobile services — providing medical care to residents in assisted living facilities, such as Keystone Place at Terra Bella in Land O’ Lakes.

Tyler Patrick, marketing manager at Bayada, said that the goal of this type of care is to help prevent the need for hospitalizations.

Patrick added that, “If you’ve got a resident that has a disease that’s becoming exacerbated, the doctor may want an RN (registered nurse) checking in on that resident two, three times a week to monitor [and] make sure the medications are working. Our nurses can come in and do that.”

Assisted living facilities also provide a safe and secure environment for those known to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

Amanda Wood, a program manager at the Alzheimer’s Association, shared information that help individuals, or their loved ones, identify the disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association, offers this list of 10 early warning signs:

  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life
  • Challenges in planning or solving problems
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks
  • Confusion with time or place
  • Trouble understanding visual images
  • Difficulty with speaking or writing
  • Misplacing things and difficulty retracing steps
  • Decreased or poor judgement
  • Withdrawal from work or social activities
  • Changes in mood or personality

“One of the best things to do for noticing these signs, is to talk about it,” Wood said. “Go talk to your primary care physician.”

She emphasized the importance of initiating the conversation, whether it’s the individual exhibiting the signs, or a loved one witnessing them.

That person’s doctor can then refer them to a neurologist for further analysis.

An ongoing consistency in these signs may be a red flag that can differentiate them from usual memory loss, Wood said.

When a current or potential Alzheimer’s patient is living at home, it is also important to plan ahead for emergencies.

Teresa Haver, of the Alzheimer’s Family Organization, gave a demonstration on how the Wanderer’s Reunification Program is set up. This personalized kit can be useful in helping locate an Alzheimer’s patient gone missing.

Teresa Haver stood at the Alzheimer’s Family Organization booth and showed visitors one preparation technique – the Wanderer’s Reunification Program.

This is a free kit made up of sterilized equipment used in helping locate a missing patient.

“What you do is take the sterile pad and rub it on your loved one to get their scent, put it in the jar [and] seal it up,” Haver explained.

The jar is then placed on top of the refrigerator and is good for seven years.

Should the person go missing, the local sheriff’s department has already been trained to look for the jar on the fridge. Deputies then use blood hounds to search for the scent on the pad.

Haver also said the caregiver should familiarize themselves with the patient’s dominant hand, because they tend to wander in the direction of that hand.

She also recommended that a caregiver place an identification bracelet on the patient’s wrist and to have door locks that are higher than the patient’s reach.

Wood said there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are lifestyle choices that may help the brain age well.

Those include exercise, staying socially active, challenging the brain and a proper diet.

“Every time our heart beats, 25 percent of that blood goes to our brain,” Wood explained. “If we’re getting exercise, we’re getting more nutrient and oxygen-rich blood up to our brain.”

Exercise can include such things as walking up stairs and dancing, she noted.

Social activities, such as playing strategic games like chess, can help preoccupy and strengthen the mind, she said.

Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets are good alternatives, Wood noted.

These heart-healthy choices consist of nuts and grains, as well as foods high in protein and low in sodium.

The Rev. Virginia Walsh, of Unity North Tampa Church, also shared her knowledge at the health and wellness fair.

Proper nutrition can help lead to effective meditation practice, Walsh said.

Before doing a meditation session, participants should drink plenty of water.

They also should eat foods rich in protein, and stay clear of foods high in carbohydrates, processed sugar, flour and starches.

Walsh conducted a meditation class during the fair, offering participants tips they could apply at home.

“Meditation can help us think more clearly, be able to focus, and also has shown to often improve memory,” the reverend said. “Being mindful helps us to cope better with what happens in life.”

This in turn, produces more peace and may lead to a healthier brain, she said.

Published August 14, 2019

Medical Center of Trinity marks a first in Tampa Bay area

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Medical Center of Trinity is the first medical institution in the Tampa Bay area to use the CorPath GRX system – a robotic-assisted device used in coronary care.

The hospital had a celebration on July 30 to unveil the device to the public.

Dr. Patrick Cambier, an interventional cardiologist at the medical center, has had the opportunity to operate using the new device.

Brandon Davis of Corindus Vascular Robotics Inc., demonstrated how the CorPath GRX system operates during a July 30 ribbon cutting ceremony at Medical Center of Trinity. The device is used to help treat blocked arteries. (Brian Fernandes)

“We’re very excited for the Medical Center of Trinity, that they decided to be the first hospital (in the Bay Area),” Cambier said. “It’s a completely new paradigm.”

The robotic arm handles medical tools that would otherwise be manually used by physicians – including a catheter and stents.

At a console station, the doctor maneuvers the arm using a set of joysticks. A large monitor shows where to guide the catheter, as its inserted into the patient’s artery.

The blockage can be pinpointed, through the use of an X-ray. A stent is inserted into the clogged artery with a balloon catheter. The balloon is inflated and the stent is locked into place, to keep the artery open.

Brandon Davis of Corindus Vascular Robotics Inc., explained the functions of the device, at the event, which took place in the hospital’s lobby.

“This robot can stretch out all the way across the patient and can go to any access point. It’s driving the wires and balloons through your artery, through your arm and all the way up to your heart,” he said.

In addition to being inserted through the forearm, it can also go through the femoral arteries in the thighs.

Although patients have limited exposure to radiation during a stent procedure, medical staff have higher safety risks that are two-fold, Davis added.

Despite wearing lead suits for precaution, staff are still exposed to radiation as they spend time around X-ray equipment.

The weight of the lead suit can also pose risks of spinal injury.

However, with the CorPath GRX, medical staff can work from their console station and keep a safe distance from the X-ray machine, while using the robot to operate.

Dr. Cambier said patients benefit because the machine reduces the chance of a medical error during the procedure.

“This allows us to raise the bar of existing equipment to a more precise fashion,” the cardiologist said. “It takes all of the variables of a human out, in terms of tremors [and] fatigue.”

While this is a new feature in the Bay Area, it has had considerable growth in the United States and abroad after being introduced in 2017.

There are more than 60 devices in use across the U.S., and the device is reaching such countries as Singapore, Japan, China and Brazil, Davis said.

The system also allows doctors to perform remote procedures.

“We’ve already done our first remote case in India where the physician was 20 miles away from the patient,” Davis explained. “That was done all wireless.”

Both Cambier and Davis pointed out that this technology is only advancing as efforts are underway to broaden its use into neurology. This would allow stroke victims to receive treatment from their operating physician, while in another region of the globe.

Last year, Cambier had to travel to Texas to train and acclimate himself to the new device. However, he welcomes other Bay Area physicians to train locally at Medical Center of Trinity and understand the robotic benefits.

“It starts making things much more uniform,” he said. “Uniformity leads to more consistent outcomes and [that’s] good for the patients of the Tampa Bay Area.”

Published August 07, 2019

Health News 08/07/2019

By

(Courtesy of Debra Ruyle)

Raising funds for breast cancer
Breast Friends Forever Inc., based in Caliente Resort and Spa, raised more than $34,435 for Moffitt Cancer Center, with the support of sponsors and the community during a derby fundraiser. The money is specifically earmarked for breast cancer treatment and research. Taking part in the presentation, from left: Debra Ruyle, Diane Wiley, Pam Gerbig, Judi Miller, Debbie Wright and Hilda Holt. Member Sharon LeVand is not pictured.

 

 

 

Critical need for blood donors
OneBlood, a local blood center, is urging people with O-positive blood to donate as soon as possible.

Summer is a challenging time for blood donations. School is out and people are on vacation, but the need for blood does not stop, according to a release by OneBlood.

Thirty-seven percent of the population has O-positive blood, making it the most common blood type, which makes it transfused more often.

Generally, healthy people age 16 and older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood.

For a list of OneBlood Donor Centers and Big Red Bus blood drives, visit OneBlood.org.

Hospital performs robotic procedure
The Medical Center of Trinity has announced the successful completion of the first robotic-assisted coronary/peripheral angioplasty in the Tampa Bay region.

According to a release, this is the first and only FDA-cleared and CE Marked medical device to bring robotic-assisted precision and control to coronary and peripheral interventional procedures.

Physicians use minimally invasive technology, which improves the precision of stent placements. Combined with the enhanced visualization of the X-ray images and robotic precision, procedures are transformed, ultimately improving patient care.

Nursing excellence
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point recognized registered nurse Aida Guardiani for Excellence in Nursing.

The Excellence in Nursing Awards were established to honor outstanding nurses who demonstrate excellence in professional mentoring and in providing compassionate care.

Melanie Wetmore, chief nursing officer, pointed out, in a release, that Aida goes out of her way daily to go above and beyond in the care and navigation of her patients; patients and families consistently rave about the care she provides; her compassion for others is evident in everything she does; and, she ensures every interaction with patients is positive, caring and nurturing.

Guardiani received a $500 check, a plaque, a special parking spot for a year, and an lapel pin.

New staff member
Access Health Care Physicians welcomes Dr. Melitza Lopez Valle to its medical staff.

Lopez Valle comes to Access Health from Puerto Rico, where she has practiced medicine since receiving her medical degree in 2007 at that Universidad Central Del Caribe, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

She completed her residency at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.

Lopez Valle is proficient in both Spanish and English.

Access Health’s main office is at 5350 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill.

Medicare information
Being uninformed of your Medicare benefits and options can result in delays in coverage, financial penalties and higher health care costs.

To learn more, speak to a local Medicare counselor that can be provided by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs’ SHINE Program.

The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program provides free, confidential and unbiased counseling.

For information, visit the Florida Elder Helpline at FloridaShine.org, and complete the “contact us” form.