The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

$75 million hospital expansion expected to open in 2020

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Motorists driving near St. Joseph’s Hospital-North may wonder why there’s a massive crane towering over the medical center.

The answer’s simple: The hospital is undergoing a $75 million expansion that will double its capacity and will support additional services.

An aerial view of the $75 million construction expansion underway at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. This photograph was captured by a drone. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Construction crews already have built four additional operating suites in shelled spaces that were included during the original construction, and the work continues on a two-floor expansion.

“We recently celebrated our topping out, which is tradition in the construction world when that final beam of steel goes up,” said Sara Dodds, operations director at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.

Each of the new floors in the hospital will have 54 patient rooms, Dodds said.

The expansion is expected to be finished and ready for use in early 2020, roughly a decade after the hospital opened , at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz.

Enlarging the facility was always part of the long-term plan, but area growth prompted the work to be done sooner than originally expected, Dodds said.

And, population growth continues within the hospital’s primary service area, which is within a 5-mile radius.

Between 2018 and 2023, the expected growth within that area is about 7.5 percent, which is more than double the 3.5 expected growth rate of the United States during that period.

Sara Dodds, the operations director at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, is overseeing an expansion that aims to address needs in an area that’s growing at twice the pace of the rest of the United States. (B.C. Manion)

Plus, more than 25 percent of that growth is expected to be people who are 65 and older, and 11.4 percent is ages 55 to 64, age groups which tend to have a greater need for health care services, Dodds said.

The expansion aims to respond to those growing needs.

“We’re doubling our inpatient bed capacity. So, currently we have 108 beds, and we’ll be going to 216 beds,” she said.

Other elements of the expansion include adding to the hospital’s intensive care unit, its progressive care units, and its area for physical and respiratory therapy.

The hospital also will have a dedicated hemodialysis unit, enabling it to expand its outpatient infusions.

When the expansion is completed and the patient rooms are full, the hospital expects to add around 200 positions, including clinical staff and support services.

Unless there are unforeseen circumstances, the competition of the project will roughly coincide with the hospital’s 10-year anniversary.

At the time of its opening, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was the first new hospital that had been built in Hillsborough County for 30 years. Before that, area residents had to drive for miles to get to the nearest hospital.

In another change, the hospital installed metal detectors in November.

“I often get the question: Did something happen? The answer is no. It’s just our organization’s commitment to add another layer of safety for our patients, our team, our physicians, our visitors,” Dodds said.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North
By the numbers – 2018
Discharges: 8081 (Inpatient only); 16,498 (discharges with observation patients)
Births: 429
Total Surgeries: 3,953
Total Endoscopies: 3,345
Total Cardiac Catheterizations: 790
Emergency Department Visits: 41,316
Team Members: 809

Published February 06, 2019

Lutz teen and her service dog are off to college

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Leigh Dittman knew she’d need some help when she got to college.

After all, the Lutz resident lives life from her wheelchair.

She was born with a rare genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease.

The disease prevents her body from absorbing needed calcium levels due to a collagen deficiency.

Lutz resident and University of Tampa freshman student Leigh Dittman with her service dog, Nerf. Dittman suffers from a rare genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, which makes her bones weaker than normal and more prone to fractures. Nerf responds to more than 40 commands, including retrieving dropped items for Leigh, pulling her wheelchair, carrying her backpack, and other tasks that enable her to lead a more independent life. (Courtesy of Canine Companions)

Simply put, the condition makes her bones weaker than normal and more prone to fractures.

“It’s like a sponge,” Leigh said. “It doesn’t matter how much milk I drink; my body can only handle so much.”

The number of people affected with osteogenesis imperfecta in the United States is unknown.

Estimates range from as few as 20,000 and as many as 50,000, according to the Osteogenesis Foundation.

Throughout her school years leading to college, Leigh had a one-on-one aide who would help get her to and from class.

As she geared up for her freshman year at the University of Tampa, though, she wanted more independence.

Leigh put it this way: “With college, I’m training to be an adult, and I can’t be a successful adult if I’m relying on another adult.”

That’s where Nerf enters the picture.

The 3-year-old, black Labrador/golden retriever mix is a highly-trained service dog that responds to more than 40 commands.

He retrieves dropped items like pencils and water bottles for Leigh. He pulls her wheelchair around campus. He carries her backpack. He can even close doors, and turn light switches on and off.

In certain cases, Nerf doesn’t even need to be told what to do.

“He reads what I need,” said the freshman nursing student.

“At home, I’m notorious for dropping my socks when I put my clothes away, so at this point, I don’t even tell him to pick it up. He just sees it and he’s like, ‘I know what you need.’”

The bond between owner and dog goes beyond helping with everyday tasks.

Nerf is always there, at her side
Besides providing practical support, Nerf adds emotional support and companionship, too, when times are stressful, and when Leigh is feeling overwhelmed from her class load and final exams.

“He’ll curl up right next to me, and he’ll just stay there while I get work done; it’s just nice to reach over and have him sitting there,” she said.

Nerf came to Leigh by way of Canine Companions, a nonprofit organization that breeds, trains, and places assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

The organization provides dogs and related services free of charge.

It presently has more than 2,300 active graduate teams nationwide.

Fourteen of those teams — including Nerf and Leigh— are based in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

Leigh came across Canine Companions a few years ago and decided to apply to the organization’s wait list.

Her family had never had a dog, let alone a pet of any kind.

Naturally, it took a bit of persuading to get the go-ahead from her parents for her to apply for the program. But, they eventually relented.

“I was like, ‘It’s a pet, but it’s a helpful pet,’” Leigh joked.

Since they were matched last summer, the two have been inseparable.

Leigh had to wait about three years after applying to be selected for a service dog.

Nerf and Leigh paired following a rigorous two-week training session at Canine Companions Southeast Regional Center in Orlando.

During training, Leigh learned all of Nerf’s commands and how to properly care for him.

She worked with several other dogs during the training stay, but Nerf proved to be the best to meet her unique needs.

Leigh recalls Nerf being goofy and energetic when they first met. At the same time, he was gentle and sweet, she said.

“I loved him from the beginning; he just fit,” Leigh said.

From the outset, even before training began, Canine Companions trainers had an inkling Nerf would be Leigh’s choice, said Jen Hanes, participant program manager at the Canine Companions Southeast Regional Center.

Hanes said Nerf had the ideal temperament and skills for someone with Leigh’s disability.

Nerf is calm, responsive and loves to work, yet isn’t so high energy that he requires more management on Leigh’s part, Hanes explained.

“There’s more than one dog that could work with Leigh, but we felt like Nerf was just the perfect match for her,” Hanes said.

The match has been life changing, Leigh said, noting it’s now impossible to imagine not having Nerf at her side.

Sometimes, the college student will leave Nerf at home to go to a concert or friend’s house. When she’s without him, she feels “very untethered” and “like part of me is missing.”

“It’s weird if don’t have him,” Leigh said. “I mean, it’s like as if I didn’t have my wheelchair; I don’t leave if I don’t have it.”

The bond they share goes both ways
Leigh depends on Nerf and Nerf depends on Leigh.

“He’s so well-trained and he can do so many things, but at the same time he is a pet. He does need to be cared for and loved, and made sure that he is healthy and things like that,” Leigh explained.

Nerf is a magnet for attention when the two are out and about.

People come up “all the time” to try to pet Nerf, as the two of them the University of Tampa campus, she said.

“I definitely had quite a few people in my classes last semester asking me questions,” Leigh said. “It can be a good conversation because it can be a good education for people that don’t have service animals.”

Meanwhile, Leigh doesn’t ask for special treatment from others.

“I never expect people to make accommodations or to treat me differently,” Leigh said. “I just may need to take the ramp instead of the stairs.”

She prides herself on being an achiever; poised to accomplish many of the same goals of able-bodied people.

At Gaither High School, Leigh graduated at the top of her senior class.

She played in the school’s Chamber Orchestra.

She was president of the American Sign Language Club.

She went to football games and enjoyed hanging out with friends.

“I was very active,”  Leigh said. “I had that drive and the attitude of, ‘I’m going to do well, therefore I will do well.’”

She’s taken that same approach with her to college, with a goal of becoming a neonatal intensive care unit nurse.

With Nerf at her side, of course.

Published February 06, 2019

Health News 02/06/2019

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BayCare welcomes Stephanie Fenlon
Dr. Stephanie Fenlon has joined BayCare Medical Group and will practice at 4211 Van Dyke Road, Suite 101A, in Lutz, for patients age 18 and older.

Dr. Fenlon is board certified in internal medicine. She is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic Internists and the American Association for Physician Leadership.

Fenlon received a master’s degree in medical management after earning a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

For information, visit BayCareMedicalGroup.org.

Robotic-assisted knee replacement
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is now offering an advanced robotic-assisted treatment option for knee replacement. This option is designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis.

The procedure utilizes advanced software and instrumentation to tailor each procedure to the patient’s anatomy, in order to optimize implant fit and alignment.

The hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Total Hips and Total Knees Certification.

High-performing hospital
AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has been named a 2018-2019 High Performing Hospital for hip replacements by U.S. News and World Report.

The analysis of hospitals includes data from nearly 5,000 centers across multiple medical specialties, procedures and medical conditions.

Scores are based on a variety of patient outcome and care-related factors, such as patient safety and nurse staffing.

To be nationally ranked in a specialty, a hospital must excel in caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients.

Health challenges don’t dim this boy’s optimism

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Eric Piburn’s cheerful demeanor and active nature are not what one would typically expect from someone who has lived the bulk of his life — in and out of hospitals.

Though he’s a lively 12-year-old who enjoys running, jumping and playing with toys — he was born with two congenital heart defects.

Physicians did not expect him to live beyond infancy.

Eric spent his first three years living at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg,  unable to walk or talk.

Eric Piburn loves to show off his race car track, one of his many toy collections. Despite health complications, the 12-year-old enjoys keeping active and having fun. (Brian Fernandes)

“When we first brought Eric home, my husband and I were terrified,” his mother, Randi Piburn, recalled.

Randi and her husband, Dave, already were caring for Eric’s older sister Alex — who also had congenital heart defects, although Eric’s were more severe.

He lived longer than expected, and his health complications have increased, over time.

His body could not properly break down sugars and starches, and he began to suffer from acute renal failure.

He has breathing difficulties, too, requiring the use of an oxygen mask and tank at all times.

He has survived four open heart surgeries.

His mother prepares his daily medication involving fluid and syringes. They both know the drill.

“This is his norm,” Randi said.

“Wearing oxygen is not an issue for him. Being on breathing treatments is not an issue for him,” she added.

Eric also must wear a backpack that pumps his medication into his chest through a tube, and his nutrition follows a daily regimen, too.

He drinks most of his water in the morning. He eats pureed food in the afternoon and evening.

He samples solid food, on rare occasions, but when he does, the portion is only about half the size of a grain of rice, Randi said.

Still, it’s  a long way from the days of a liquid-only diet passed through a feeding tube into Eric’s intestines.

Years of medical treatment have inspired Eric to desire a career as a cardiologist – like the one who looks after him.

“When I grow up, I want to be just like him so I can work on surgeries, do appointments and check-ups,” he said.

He has spent much of his life being treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, which has led to developing friendships with the hospital’s staff.

Birthday party will raise money for expenses
Randi, a former respiratory therapist, gave up her job to care for Alex.

Dave is a full-time nurse.

Finances are challenging for the Wesley Chapel family.

“When you don’t know if you can pay your bill, it’s really scary,” Randi said.

“It’s hard to just buy groceries half the time.”

On top of that are the costs of medications, medical equipment and medical supplies.

An oxygen tank, for example, lasts only a week.

Plus, Eric has been denied for certain health benefits and doesn’t qualify for government assistance.

Dave’s employer covers some expenses, but not others.

Throughout the trials, though, Randi said she’s learned valuable lessons.

“I am giving the best world I can to him (Eric). He is then, in turn, giving back to me love, joy, [and] compassion that he shows people,” she said.

For instance, Eric’s party on Feb. 3 exemplifies his caring spirit, she said.

His birthday was in December, but he wants to have a party so the community can join in.

Eric said the party is for other kids, as much as it is for him.

He empathizes with the challenges that other kids face with health issues.

Going to the hospital can be scary, he said, but he reassures other kids that the staff is there to help them get well.

“As soon as you feel better, the sooner you can go outside, run, play, swing, have fun and be a kid,” Eric said.

And, despite continuing challenges, Eric remains optimistic: “It’s a tough nut to crack, but I’m sure I can crack it in a snap.”

The party will help pay for his medical expenses, but the home-schooled boy sees other benefits, too.

“First of all, I want to be kind to the world and, second, I like presents,” he said.

Eric’s Birthday Party
Where: Old McMicky’s Farm, 9612 Crescent Drive in Odessa
When: Feb. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: $10 per ticket for those ages 2 and up
Details: Eric Piburn is inviting the community to celebrate his most recent birthday. There will be pizza, drinks, activities and a visit from superhero characters.
Info: Email . Tickets can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/yarpcmna.

Published January 30, 2019

Health News 01/30/2019

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First-place winner Arina Mubarakshina’s ‘Unsuspecting Victim’ poster (Courtesy of FloridaHealth.gov)

Bringing awareness to radon dangers
The Florida Department of Health highlighted National Radon Action Month in January with the announcement of the winners of the 2019 Florida Radon Poster Contest.

First place was awarded to Arina Mubarakshina, “Unsuspecting Victim.”

Second place went to Emma Ortiz’s “Radon Has No Upside.”

Ava Nash, “Safe Home, Safe Life” won third place; and honorable mention was for Lily Shahid’s “Radon Possesses Your Lungs.”

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that cannot be seen, smelled or touched.

Radon in indoor air causes an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year, and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking.

For information on how to test your home for radon, visit Radon.FloridaHealth.gov.

New dental chair
The Department of Health Pasco Dental Program received a new dental operatory chair at the Cox Dental Clinic in Dade City.

The chair replaced a 20-year-old chair that was previously at the dental clinic, which was located at Cox Elementary School, and will aid in providing dental treatment for students at the Title 1 elementary school, and surrounding schools.

The new chair was purchased using Pasco County Special Project Funding, and cost $11,676.

AdventHealth Dade City is getting a major makeover

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A hospital that has served Dade City for decades is undergoing a substantial renovation — which will give it a new look and allow it to expand the services that the health care facility offers.

The project carries a $22.2 million price tag, including $20 million provided by AdventHealth Dade City’s parent company and $2.2 million raised locally, according to Jason Newmyer, administrator/vice president for AdventHealth Dade City.

Jason Newmyer stands in the old lobby of AdventHealth Dade City. The hospital is getting a massive makeover, which will give it a fresh look and will enable it to expand its services. (B.C. Manion)

The hospital is at 13100 Fort King Road in Dade City.

The work, being done in four phases and expected to be completed by the end of this year, “is truly going to holistically change every aspect of this hospital,” the hospital administrator said.

The work ranges from new paint and flooring throughout the 100,000-square-foot facility, to new diagnostic equipment, to reopening two units in the hospital that were not operating when AdventHealth Dade City acquired it last April.

The new equipment includes a 128-slice CT scanner and a da Vinci surgical system.

The CT scanner will “do head and heart studies faster and more effective than anything we’ve ever had here at this hospital. And, as effective as anything that’s in the Tampa market,” Newmyer said.

“Strokes and heart attacks can be diagnosed here as fast and as accurate as any other facility — if not better,” he said.

The da Vinci surgical system allows physicians to perform minimally invasive surgeries robotically.

The hospital also plans to bring MRI equipment indoors, instead of having it outdoors in a truck, which is where it was when they acquired the hospital last year.

The changes are all in keeping with AdventHeath Dade City’s mission to be caretakers of health care in the community, Newmyer said.

The hospital’s staff realizes that patients want to feel cared for, want to feel safe, want to have their privacy protected and want to be able to trust that they are receiving a high quality of care, Newmyer said.

Comfort is important, too, he said.

“People now care about aesthetics and experience. We are very intentional about how we
redesign and build this space,” the hospital administrator said.

This is what the new interior of the lobby at AdventHealth Dade City will look like, once the renovation is completed. This view shows the interior, looking from the new chapel’s entry. (Courtesy of AdventHealth Dade City)

The upgrade involves taking advantage of the hospital’s existing capacity, Newmyer explained.

“When we purchased this hospital, two of the four units were dark — not being used,” he said.

One of those areas is being converted into a transitional care unit and the other will be used as a surgical unit.

The transitional care unit will enable the hospital to “take care of patients that are sicker and patients that have more physical needs, that need to be addressed from that post-acute care perspective in a way that this hospital and this community hasn’t been able to in the past,” Newmyer said.

The surgical unit will offer “a brand-new surgical experience for patients that come in here,” Newmyer added.

The pre-op unit will be vastly different, too. In the past, the area consisted of bays, separated by curtains. The new space will have individual rooms, which are larger than the previous bays — allowing privacy and the patient to have family wait there with them.

Other changes will be a new lobby, including a chapel, which will have a sliding door that resembles barn doors. That’s in keeping with Dade City’s agricultural roots, Newmyer said.

The cafeteria also is being overhauled. It will be larger, with indoor and outdoor seating, and will have a large table where families can sit together.

Besides having a fresh look and new equipment, the hospital expects to hire about three dozen new employees, Newmyer said, boosting its current staff of 300 by nearly 10 percent.

The hospital also is looking to bring on six more physicians this year, and is continuing to partner with local independent physicians, as well as large physician groups, he said.

The hospital is approved for 120 beds, but because two units have been turned off, it has only been using 60 beds.

Work is obviously underway at the hospital, with about half of its parking lot closed off.

Hospital operations continue, though, with people using different ways to get around the facility’s campus.

Efforts also are underway to secure the local contributions, Newmyer said, noting there will be naming opportunities for the operating room services, the chapel and the cafeteria.

The hospital welcomes community involvement — whether it be philanthropic support to friendship,” Newmyer said.

The hospital administrator invites anyone who would like to help, or even if they’d just like more information about the hospital’s renovation, to reach out to him.

Or, he said, you can just let him know that you’d like to visit for a cup of coffee and a tour.

He’s already given dozens.

Newmyer can be reached at

Published January 23, 2019

Plenty on tap for Pasco ASAP in 2019

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As it continues its mission to reduce the overuse and misuse of illicit drugs and alcohol, the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention has witnessed progress during several areas during the past year.

During 2018, Pasco County:

  • Saw its drug poisoning death rate, or overdoses, register a slight decrease — for the first time since 2014
  • Reported lower figures of illicitly used prescription pain relievers among its high school student population
  • Saw a decline in alcohol usage among youth in the county
  • Registered dips in other alcohol-use indicators, such as underaged drinking and impaired driving

Chrissie Parris, interim director for the alliance, which is also known as ASAP, characterized those reports as “big wins” and “good signs” for the county during a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) interim coordinator Chrissie Parris (Courtesy of Chrissie Parris)

“The message seems to be getting out there,” Parris said, regarding the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

But, there continues to be much work to be done by ASAP — a coalition which seeks to address the underlying issues of addiction, and ways to address and prevent it in among youths and adults.

The opioid crisis will continue to be a priority area for ASAP in 2019, Parris said.

Reducing alcohol abuse will be a key issue, too.

Parris said ASAP has seen an increase in total deaths in related to alcohol overconsumption —despite the decline in alcohol usage in the youth population countywide.

Chronic liver disease also remains one of the top 10 causes of death in Pasco, she said.

“Alcohol is never off of the table,” Parris said. “It’s still the most prevalent drug that we see.”

Meanwhile, she said the organization will seek to address a drug that has popped up on its radar of late: methamphetamine.

More drug users have turned to meth as law enforcement and health organizations crack down on other substances, she added.

“A lot of it has to do with availability and accessibility,” Parris said, also noting that meth “creates a strong psychological dependence very quickly.”

Parris said ASAP is trying to find ways to interface with meth users in the county.

Parris put it this way: “We have a hard time finding out, ‘What’s the underlying cause there?’ and ‘Why are we still turning to meth?’ It seems to be more of a cultural thing in certain pockets of the county.”

Another “big priority” for ASAP this year is reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues, Parris said.

Part of that involves increasing awareness regarding the need to recognize early signs and symptoms of possible mental illness, and helping those who are struggling to gain access to assistance.

The coalition also is working on several programming tracks with health care professionals, recovery community organizations and the faith-based community, to provide more awareness on available resources for substance abuse prevention and recovery.

There will also be several workshops and other general meetings throughout the year to engage youth, parents and other community members, Parris said.

“We’re trying to help everybody work better together, to fill in those gaps in services or pockets of need in our community.

“We’ll continue to build our action plans around drugs that we see trends with in Pasco County,” Parris said.

The alliance also plans to have its annual conference, “Strengthening Our Communities on Mental Health and Drug Prevention,” on May 14 at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel.

The event’s keynote speaker is Austin Eubanks, a Columbine survivor, who will discuss how he treated a lot of his emotional pain with opioids he was prescribed after being shot in the school shooting, and what communities can do for prevention, treatment, recovery and relapse prevention for substance abuse.

“It’s pretty powerful,” Parris said of Eubanks’ talk. “We’re really excited to have him on board.”

For more information on ASAP, visit PascoASAP.com, or call (727) 315-8658.

Published January 23, 2019

It’s not too late to protect yourself from the flu

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Ideally, the best time to get a flu shot is before flu season begins in October.

But, it’s still not too late to protect yourself before flu season hits its  peak, which is typically closer to February, said Dr. Melissa Wahba, an emergency room physician at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, in Lutz.

Some people believe that getting a flu shot can cause them to get the flu, but that’s a misconception, said Dr. Melissa Wahba, an emergency department physician at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, in Lutz. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

The most vulnerable populations are children under age 5, but especially under age 2; people over age 65; and, those with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and pregnant women, Wahba said.

Protection is important, to avoid potentially tragic consequences of being infected by the virus, she said.

“Influenza can certainly be a deadly virus and even if it is not life-threatening to yourself, contracting it likely means you’re going to pass it on to someone else, and it could be someone who falls into one of those high-risk categories,” she said.

She continued: “So, making a choice of whether or not to be vaccinated is not really just reflective of impact on yourself. It will impact those around you.

“That’s especially true if you are taking care of any of the patients in those high-risk populations.”

Plus, she added: “Health care personnel, day care workers, people who are working in dialysis units — anyone who is working with those more vulnerable populations — they have an even greater responsibility to make sure that they’re being vaccinated.”

There’s a common misconception that someone can get the flu by getting a flu shot.

“That is not true,” the emergency department doctor said. “Patients can have side effects from the flu vaccine, but they’re extremely mild. Most commonly, they might have redness, soreness, tenderness or some swelling at the site of the injection. Fewer might actually get a low-grade fever, a headache, or feel a little bit achy.”

Dr. Melissa Wahba, an emergency department physician at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, in Lutz, said it’s not too late to benefit from getting a flu shot. The peak of the season generally begins around February.

It’s also important to know that it takes two weeks from the time you get the shot for it to take its full effect.

“This year’s vaccine includes protection against Influenza A H1NI, Influenza A H3N2, and Influenza B, and certainly, we are by far seeing the most cases of H1NI,” the doctor said.

“The vaccine is targeted directly against that particular subtype of Influenza  A. The vaccine itself seems to be right on par with what we’re seeing clinically,” Wahba said.

People sometimes say they have the flu, when they actually have a cold or a stomach virus, she said.

“Influenza is generally quite a bit worse than just a cold,” she said.

If you think you have the flu, it’s important to keep away from other people, she said.

In its early stages, a patient can go to urgent care, or use an App, to get medical attention.

When caught early enough, a doctor may be able to prescribe antiviral medication to help reduce the effects.

There are times, though, when patients need to go to the emergency department, the doctor said.

Adults should receive emergency care when:

  • The patient is having difficulty breathing, or experiencing rapid, shallow breathing
  • The patient isn’t able to drink
  • The patient is experiencing chest pain, abdominal pain, or confusion

Babies and small children should receive emergency care when:

  • A child cannot drink fluids; a baby cannot drink his or her bottle
  • There’s a decrease in a child’s wet diapers
  • There’s a decrease in tear production when a child is crying

She advises that patients pay close attention to their symptoms.

“Sometimes in the course of influenza, patients will have an improvement in their symptoms, and then they will actually get worsening of symptoms with fever and increased cough. Those patients should definitely come to the hospital. They could be developing one of the complications that we see with influenza,” Wahba said.

Even when the flu is not life-threatening, it still disrupts daily life, so the doctor recommends getting a flu shot to reduce the risk of becoming ill.

“Truthfully, as long as the virus is circulating, there is benefit to being immunized,” Wahba said.

“People who read this and go out and get vaccinated right away, will be protected before we hit peak season.”

Flu Symptoms
Influenza (also known as flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and, at times, can lead to death. Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

  • Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue (tiredness)

Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Reducing the impact
Antiviral treatment, prescribed by a doctor, works best when started soon after flu illness begins. When treatment is started within two days of becoming sick with flu symptoms, antiviral drugs can lessen fever and symptoms, and shorten the time you are sick. They also may reduce the risk of complications, such as ear infections in children, respiratory complications requiring antibiotics, and hospitalization in adults.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Help prevent the spread of flu

  • Get vaccinated
  • Wash your hands often, with soap and water (use an alcohol-based sanitizer if soap isn’t available)
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
  • If you get sick, stay home until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours (that is, your fever is gone for at least 24 hours without the assistance of a fever-reducing medication)

Source: The Florida Department of Health

Published January 23, 2019

Health News 01/23/2019

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Dr. Kiran Musunuru (right) is shown with his father, Dr. Rao Musunuru. (Courtesy of VInce Vanni and Associates)

Kiran Musunuru receives honor
The American Philosophical Society has honored Dr. Kiran Musunuru with the 2018 Judson Daland Prize, which included a prize honorarium of $50,000 for ‘achievement in patient oriented clinical research.’ Musunuru was recognized for discovering and characterizing novel genes involved in coronary artery disease, and also for pioneering the use of genome-editing tools to study these genes in human stem cells and to develop one-shot vaccinations against cardiovascular disease. He is currently an associate professor in cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania and current editor-in-chief for an international journal of the American Heart Association. The American Philosophical Society was founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin for the purpose of ‘promoting useful knowledge.’

Employees are ‘aces’ to Access Health Care
Access Health Care Physicians LLC honored its employees at its annual ACES event (Access Celebrates Excellent Service).

Xilefeny Sabatar, Human Resources specialist, winner of the ‘Ray Of Sunshine’ award, stands next to Maynard The HIPAA Hippo, the official Access mascot. (Courtesy of Vince Vanni and Associates)

The winners were nominated by fellow team members, and were awarded a certificate, a trophy and eight hours of paid time off.

Those receiving recognition were:

  • Best Attitude – Kwok Wong
  • Best Coworker – Diane Dearing
  • Best Skills – Keith Katherina
  • Dirty Job – Mark Leach
  • Most Dependable “The Rock” – Marcela Wells
  • Most Hospitable – Doreen Ruggiero
  • Most Humble – Paula Roberts
  • Most Tactful – Bret Harrop
  • Most Teachable – Ronda Mitchell
  • Participation – Carolyn Dean
  • Person of Integrity – Sherry Fyock
  • Ray of Sunshine – Xilefeny Sabatar
  • Team Player – Justine Wheeler
  • Unsung Hero – Joanna Gambina
  • HIPAA Hero – Natasha Foster

Opioids and Narcan
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing and Annenberg School of Communication have created a seven-minute virtual reality Narcan training session that a recent pilot study showed was as effective as in-person simulation training for health care providers.

Narcan, the FDA-approved nasal spray available without a prescription, can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in less than five minutes.

Most people don’t know about it or are unfamiliar with how to use it or what to do after it is administered.

With this new virtual reality tool, Penn researchers hope to change that.

For more information, visit PennToday.upenn.edu, and search “virtual reality.”

Medical staff officers
The Medical Center of Trinity has announced its current medical staff officers. These officers will hold the position for two years and include:

  • Medical Staff — Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, chief of staff; Dr. Usha Agarwal, vice chief of staff; and Dr. Peter Candelora, treasurer.
  • Department of Medicine — Dr. Jigneshkumar Patel, chief; and, Dr. Mahathi Reddy, vice chief.
  • Department of Surgery — Dr. Keith Chisholm, chief; and, Dr. Parveen Vahora, vice chief.

Zephyrhills class addresses cognitive disabilities

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Raising a child with developmental issues can be a complex situation for many parents.

Understanding a child’s physiology, as well as health needs, can help parents in making favorable accommodations.

Helping to increase that understanding was the mission set out by Dr. Christopher Schriver during a class last month at the Creation Health and Wellness Center in Zephyrhills.

Dr. Christopher Schriver, far right, explains the physiology of the brain and how it relates to attention-deficit disorder and autism, during a class at Creation Health and Wellness. (Brian Fernandes)

The course, open to the public, was geared toward helping the community to have a clearer understanding of attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and autism.

Both are neurological disorders, which can hinder a person’s cognitive skills beginning at infancy.

Schriver, a chiropractor at the Frank Clinic of Chiropractic in Zephyrhills, thoroughly explained these conditions to the audience.

He used slides to display areas of the brain affected by these disorders, such as the limbic region, cerebellum and prefrontal cortex.

Attention-deficit disorder affects someone’s ability to concentrate for long periods of time.

Autism involves a broad spectrum that may affect such issues as attention, language skills and social behavior to various degrees.

“I almost look at ADD as a very minor form of autism,” said Schriver.

He reasoned that both tend to affect the same areas of the brain, such as the frontal lobe.

When this lobe is suppressed, those with ADD are not able to focus properly, while those with autism may be disturbed by bright lights or loud sounds.

A person’s reflexes to touch can be delayed as well.

While it’s typical for children at 4 months old to 6 months old to respond by turning their head when gently stroked on the cheek, those afflicted by these conditions may not demonstrate any response.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5 percent of children in the United State have ADD.

One in every 59 children is diagnosed as autistic, and it is four times as prevalent among boys as it is among girls.

While Shriver was growing up, he played football and frequently sustained injuries, which led to trips to a local chiropractor.

His affinity for sports and an interest in aiding the body led him to a medical career.

“I started learning more about what chiropractic can do,” Schriver explained, noting he learned more about the holistic side of the career — not just treating back and neck pain.

He also became intrigued by neurological issues and how they can be addressed.

By reading the book, “Why Isn’t My Brain Working,” by Datis Kharrazian, the chiropractor said he began to understand that there was more than a nutritional component to a healthy mind.

This led him to start assisting underdeveloped kids with various exercises.

Schriver also talked about the importance of a balance in autoimmune cells in the body and how to increase them.

ADD and autism have no known cure, but they can be treated, Shriver said.

Diet plays an important role, he said.

He recommends avoiding products such as artificial food coloring, artificial sugar, MSG, soy and dairy.

Linda Schwartz, who was at the lecture, said the remarks about diet resonated with her.

Her 14-year-old grandson, Marcus, has autism and must stay away from foods that contain dairy, gluten and grains, she said.

“It is a very expensive diet – all organic,” she said, but added, “It’s helped immensely in everything.”

Marcus’ family didn’t pick up on the signs of his condition until he was about 5 years old.

“His is what they call social autism, which is like Asperger’s [syndrome],” explained Schwartz. “He will, for the rest of his life, be at 50 percent growth socially.”

Although she has attended multiple seminars on the issue, she said that she did learn new information during Schriver’s lecture – such as how different parts of the brain react.

She said Marcus has difficulty making friends because of his anger issues and his inability to filter what he says to others.

Schwartz said she worries about whether her grandson will remain committed to his diet when he becomes an adult.

Schriver said he understands these kind of sentiments, from his experiences of working one-on-one with underdeveloped children.

At times, he is there to help when parents need a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen as they vent their frustrations.

“Any parent with a child with a learning disability is just a saint,” Schriver said.

For information on upcoming classes, contact Schriver at .

Published January 9, 2019