The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Lutz pilot honored for his angel flights

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When Larry Marlewski flies his Mooney M201 out of Tampa Executive Airport, he’s often on a mission.

Patient Lance Toth with pilot Larry Marlewski at Vero Beach.
(Courtesy of Larry Marlewski)

He’s one of 650 volunteers who makes sure that Angel Flight Southeast passengers get the care they need. The pilots transport patients who have rare or complicated medical conditions and who have to travel hundreds of miles to and from their medical appointments.

Marlewski, like the other volunteers, donates his plane, fuel and time to transport those patients in need.

The Lutz man, along with Dr. Donna Shannon of St. Petersburg and Warren Cheatham of New Port Richey, are being recognized as “Pilot of the Year” Honorees for the Central Florida West Region.

Patient Rina Shlomo in Larry Marlewski’s Mooney M20J airplane in Ft. Lauderdale.

The recognitions will come on April 7 at the Dr. Franklin G. Norris Pilot Awards Gala, at the River Ranch Resort Airport in River Ranch.

“Pilot of the Year” is the highest honor awarded for Angel Flight Southeast pilots, according to a news release, announcing Marlewski’s selection.

Marlewski, who is retired, said providing the flights is his way of “paying back.”

“We, who have been blessed, are able to offer our service,” he said.

“Here in the Southeast, Angel Flight has flown thousands of passengers to and from medical facilities throughout the Southeast,” he said, noting the missions can be flown not only in Florida, but also in Georgia, Alabama and other states.

The organization has chapters nationwide, he added.

Patient Sacha Hunter Hobbs with her daughter, Tia Camp, and pilot Larry Marlewski and his Mooney M20J airplane at Ft. Pierce.

“We, here in Tampa, of course, are fortunate enough to have the Moffitt Cancer Center, so we get a fair amount of traffic going into and out of Moffitt,” Marlewski said.

Recently, he flew a cancer patient who needed a ride from Tampa back home to Panama City.

Marlewski learned to fly a long time ago, but set it aside for many years. After he took it back it up, he decided to get involved with Angel Flight.

The Angel Flight missions are close to his heart because he lost his first wife to cancer, and he also has friends who have suffered from the disease, he said.

Plus, he noted, making these flights is a good way to keep his Mooney up in the air.

“I enjoy flying,” Marlewski said.

Published April 5, 2017

Local nurse to speak at summit

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Kathleen B. Hill, of Land O’ Lakes, will be the National Nurse Educator Summit speaker at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort and Spa in Orlando April 2 to April 5.

Each year the top thinkers, lecturers and teachers in nursing education gather at the summit, hosted by ATI Nursing Education.

Hill will lead attendees in a conversation about “Preparing for NLN CNEA Accreditation.”

The presentation will provide an overview of the process of nursing education program accreditation through the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). It is designed to assist nursing education programs in beginning and understanding the process, and/or making the decision as to whether to pursue accreditation.

Hill has more than 40 years of experience in nursing, nursing education, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and the practice of law. She completed her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in nursing at Ohio State University, and received a Juris Doctor degree from The Capital University School of Law, both in Columbus, Ohio.

To read more about the 2017 National Nurse Educator Summit, visit NursingSummit.com.

Teen isn’t defined by rare disease

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Remington Walls is just like any other 17-year-old.

Except that he can’t eat food.

Walls, a junior at Land O’ Lakes High School, suffers from a rare disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE).

Essentially, all food deteriorates his esophagus — and there is no cure.

Remington Walls, right, is pictured with Cameron Douglas, a childhood friend. Walls is a switch-hitting, leftfielder on the Land O’ Lakes Gators varsity baseball team. He suffers from a rare disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), in which all food sources cause inflammation in his esophagus.
(Courtesy of Stephanie Walls)

His only source of nutrition comes via a hypoallergenic amino acid-based liquid formula, called Neocate EO28 Splash.

It’s specifically designed for patients who are allergic to proteins.

Walls drinks the “shake” 15 to 18 times per day, about every two hours.

Moreover, he’s been drinking the same flavor — orange-pineapple — every day since he was removed from all foods at age 4. It is his only flavor option.

The teen, however, doesn’t let the disorder define him.

“You try not to think about it,” he said.

It also hasn’t prevented him from pursuing his passions, including baseball.

He’s currently a switch-hitting, leftfielder on the Land O’ Lakes Gators varsity squad.

“The only thing I can’t do is eat,” he said. “That’s how I look at it.”

And, over the years, he’s learned to cope with the realization he can’t enjoy any of the foods his peers consume on a daily basis.

“I’ve been around it so long it doesn’t bother me at all. I drink my shake, they have their food,” he said.

But, in recent months, a new hurdle has emerged.

Every year, Walls’ formula was fully covered through insurance — until now.

His mother, Stephanie Walls, says coverage was coming through Verizon, her husband’s employer. However, when Frontier Communications bought out the company in 2016, the insurance coverage changed under a policy with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Shown here is a photo of the Walls family. From left: Stephanie Walls, Mike Walls, Dalton Walls and Remington Walls. They are pursuing legislation, calling for mandated coverage for those who suffer from Eosinophilic disorders.
(Courtesy of Stephanie Walls)

As of Jan 1, the insurance company has declined any coverage of the formula.

The family has made multiple appeals, but has been denied each time — even after Anthem’s board of doctors deemed that Walls’ formula was medically necessary for “sustenance of life.”

Stephanie’s insurance plan, likewise, doesn’t cover the elemental formula.

“For Rem, his nutrition is like insulin for diabetics,” she explained. “How do you deny this? It’s not like it just came up over night. We’ve had this disease now since (Remington was) the age of 4. We are absolutely stymied that they are allowed to do this.”

Remington, too, is aghast by the situation.

“I was shocked,” he said, “because I knew insurance always said they covered it, and then they said they didn’t cover it. I knew it was expensive, but I didn’t know how expensive until the price is actually shown.”
The formula, on average, costs about $2,000 a month.

Stephanie predicts the monthly formula payments will become even pricier as her son grows.

On top of that, the family has travel costs from the seasonal visits they must make to the Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders, in Ohio.

“It makes me nervous,” she said of the looming expenses.

Fortunately, Stephanie said a private source has stepped forward to fund formula payments for the rest of the year.

But, the family is still battling the insurance company, trying to serve as a “voice for the voiceless.”

Remington Walls’ only source of nutrition comes via a hypoallergenic amino acid-based liquid formula, called Neocate EO28 Splash. He drinks the ‘shake’ 15 to 18 times per day, about every two hours.
(Courtesy of Neocate)

“We’re going to stand up for the injustice that’s taken place,” Walls said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever make progress, but we’re determined to get out there and make a difference, somehow.”
The family is now pursuing legislation, calling for mandated coverage for those who suffer from Eosinophilic disorders and need the formula to survive.

Florida law currently has a mandate to cover formula for those with Phenylketonuria, but not Eosinophilic disorders.

Stephanie — an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Pine View Middle School — has already reached out to U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis and to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.

“We’re just trying to find the people we need to contact to get us in the right direction,” she said. “I have to do a ton of research and gather data before I can even move forward.”

She believes legislative efforts could take at least two years.

No matter how long it takes, she plans to keep fighting.

“It is imperative that we pass this legislation — something’s got to change,” she said. “What’s going to happen to all the kids and grownups that need this formula for later on in life?” she asked.

Between dealing with the insurance company and pursuing legislation, countless hours have been spent to help her son — and others like him.

“It’s absolutely mind-boggling the amount of time we’ve invested on this,” Stephanie said. “But, we felt forced to do it.”

Meanwhile, there has been a ground swell of community support for the Walls family.
A GoFundMe page was created on March 3 by Janeen Salzberger, a longtime family friend.

Word quickly spread after Land O’ Lakes High principal Ric Mellin passed along the information to the Pasco County School District.
As of March 27, $16, 617 has been raised. The goal is set at $40,000.
“It has humbled us greatly,” Stephanie said. “This is something we could not take on ourselves.”

To donate, visit GoFundMe.com/remington-walls.

Published March 29, 2017

She tends to much more than cuts and bruises

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When Margaret Polk became a school nurse more than a quarter-century ago, there were full-time nurses in all of Pasco County’s public high schools funded by a grant.

Those days and that funding are long gone.

Now, “most of us have at least two or three schools,” Polk said. She divides her time between Pasco High School and the James Ervin Education Center, and recently picked up a third school because the nurse there resigned.

Margaret Polk, a school nurse who works at Pasco High School and two other schools, was selected by the Florida Association of School Nurses as the 2017 School Nurse of the Year. The photos on the bulletin board behind her are just some of the students she’s interacted with over the years.
(B.C. Manion)

It’s a challenging job, with wide-ranging demands, but Polk — who was named the Florida Association of School Nurses’ 2017 School Nurse of the Year — loves it.

Although she’s picked up additional duties, Polk has always been at Pasco High, and that longevity in one place has its advantages, she said.

She not only knows the school’s current students, in many cases, she knows their parents from when they were students, too.

Polk is deeply familiar with help available through community organizations or government agencies that can provide assistance beyond the school’s resources.

Sometimes, for instance, a student screening will reveal a problem, but parents have no clue where to go from there. And, even when they know where to turn, money can be a problem, Polk said.

So, she turns to a network of community partnerships — including the West Pasco Dental Association, Kiwanis Club, and the Cattleman’s Association — to try to bridge the gap.

“My husband (Ray Polk) was born and raised here (in Dade City). He knows people from way back. I use those connections,” she said.

She also taps into resources available through other agencies and organizations.

She works closely with a nurse practitioner, provided through the Pasco Health Department, who gives onsite support at Pasco High.

Polk also is credited for spearheading an initiative for bringing mental health services directly to students at Pasco High.

“Most people, when they think of school nurse, they actually think of what our clinic assistants do,” Polk said.

But, school nurses handle more than kids with headaches, stomach aches, twisted ankles or symptoms of the flu.

“We are seeing more and more kids come in with chronic illnesses,” Polk said. “I’m seeing a lot more diabetes, a lot more asthma, severe allergies.

“We have so many kids with mental health issues,” she said.

There are students who have special needs and require care plans.

“We need to figure out what we need to do to keep them safe at school, to get them the services they need,” she said.

She also noted that sometimes a school nurse is the first to recognize what could turn out to be a serious health problem.

For instance, a student who has been losing a lot of weight may come into the clinic and require more help than the nurse can provide.

“You call the parent and they don’t have insurance, and they don’t know where to go,” Polk said.

“I can start with my nurse practitioner. We do an evaluation,” she said. If a student needs blood work, she has some funding she can use to pay for it.

“You do get to know the families, and you know what resources they have, or don’t have,” she said.

“Maybe you go out to do a home visit because you can’t get a hold of the parents. You just need to face-to-face talk sometimes,” Polk said.

Sometimes, during those visits, she’ll find that another child in the family has health problems. In some cases, she may end up helping an entire family.

Generally, people are receptive — but not always, she said.

She recalled an instance when a student had severe scoliosis.

The parent was not inclined to seek help. The parent reasoned: “This is what she was given.”

But, Polk reminded the parent there are also people who are given skills to treat the condition.

As for her own foray into nursing, Polk isn’t precisely sure when she made the decision to pursue that career.

But, she thinks the seed was likely planted early.

“My dad was a doctor. My mom was a nurse,” Polk said.

She belonged to the high school health education club and was a Candy Striper during high school, helping out at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, where she grew up.

“I used to go with my dad to the hospital.

He was at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Bay Pines Hospital in St. Petersburg.

“He was in nuclear medicine when it was first coming out. I got to watch them develop programs for it. It just fascinated me,” Polk said.

She also remembers gravitating toward medical topics, when she did science projects.

“I always ended up doing things on blood, and the heart, those types of things,” Polk said.

She wound up working at Pasco High School because her husband, Ray, grew up in the community. He’s now director of Academy at the Farm, a public charter school.

Over the years, as Polk has watched students she has served grow up and have families of their own, she and Ray’s children have done the same.

The couple now has three grown children who are married, and they have eight grandchildren.

Polk said she knew she was being nominated for the statewide honor, but didn’t expect to win.

So, when she received a call from the Florida Association of School Nurses informing her that she’d won the award, she was dumbfounded.

“I sat there, sort of stunned,” she said.

Even though the award was given in January, and Polk has been honored at gatherings in Orlando, and in Gainesville, she’s still somewhat in awe of the distinction.

So many school nurses do such good work, she said, it’s hard to imagine being singled out.

“I am amazed. It’s such an honor,” she said.

Published March 29, 2017

Health News 03/29/2017

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(Courtesy of Jeanne Shanin)

Volunteer Way receives $1,000 grant
The Jean Griswold Foundation, a private charity established in 2010n and created by Griswold Home Care, awarded more than $30,000 in grants to 28 organizations across the country. The foundation’s goal is to further the belief that care for the elderly and disabled should be available to all and not just a privileged few. The Volunteer Way of Pasco County was selected for a $1,000 grant. From left: Arthur Moseley, certified senior advisor and co-owner of Griswold Home Care; Martha O’ Brien, assistant CEO, The Volunteer Way; and, Frieda Moseley, co-owner of Griswold Home Care.

Volunteers needed
Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care is looking for enthusiastic, committed individuals to join its volunteer team. The hospital’s mission is to extend the healing ministry of Christ.

As a volunteer, there are opportunities to apply your skills and talents to create a positive experience for patients, visitors and staff.

For information, contact Anthony Cappellini at (813) 615-7286 or .

Girl Scouts to earn health patch
More than 30 local Girl Scouts, ages 11 to 18, will earn a Mental Health Awareness Patch through a hands-on initiative at the Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, March 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Girl Scouts will rotate through several stations to explore the science of mental health and tackle misconceptions; discover famous achievers who experienced mental illness; practice personal stress management techniques; learn how to identify a friend in need; and, create mandalas in an art therapy session.

The guest speaker will be Rachel Barcellona, Miss Florida International 2016, who will share her personal journey with autism in a speech, “The Ability Beyond Disabilities.”

Special sessions for parents will cover eating disorders, and the difference between typical teenage behavior and mental illness.

Fitness expert offers tips to get healthy, stay healthy

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Are you really healthy?

That was the main question posed by fitness professional Casio Jones, during a recent Community Awareness Series event, presented by Pasco-Hernando State College.

Jones is the wellness director for Florida Hospital Zephyrhills CREATION Health and Wellness Center, at 38233 Daughtery Road.

Speaking to dozens of students, faculty and community members at Pasco-Hernando State College’s East Campus in Dade City, Casio Jones offered nutritional and fitness tips. He warned that poor diet choices and lack of exercise can lead to major issues later in life.
(Kevin Weiss)

Jones held an educational and interactive discussion on March 14 at PHSC’s East campus in Dade City.

There, he spoke to a classroom filled with students, faculty and members of the community.

Upbeat and energetic, Jones offered up a “Cliff Notes” version for maintaining health, and presented several pillars for living life to its fullest.

Jones, who holds a master’s in health administration challenged the members of the audience to match their health efforts with their financial efforts.

He probed: “All that money in your bank account — how does that benefit you when you’re in a hospital bed, or just are not feeling good?”

Good or poor health, he said, all comes down to lifestyle choices.

“It’s simple. The choices that we make can affect our ability to exist with, or without, a chronic disease,” Jones explained.

The health and fitness professional cited a statistic by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), claiming 90 percent of the 10 leading causes of death are due to poor lifestyle choices.

He added his own blunt assessment: “I think that’s our biggest threat to our nation.”

Moreover, 1.4 million Americans die each year from a combination of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and stroke, according to the CDC.

For Jones, the staggering figures strike close to his heart.
Several relatives, including his mother and brother, suffer from Type 2 diabetes.

“I refuse to have diabetes,” Jones said. “I make different choices in my life, because I know there’s a (family) flaw.”

He warned poor choices — unhealthy food and drinks, lack of exercise, smoking — can contribute to “bad consequences” over time.

“We have to have a new mindset,” Jones said, “that what I’m doing today can affect tomorrow.”

He advised the crowd to refrain from refined sugar, alcohol and processed foods.

Those products, Jones said, “destroy your body.”

“Moderation can be deceiving,” he explained. “A little bit adds up.”

Jones, too, suggested keeping meat intake under 10 percent of all food consumption, surprising many in the audience.

He said animal products, especially those high in saturated fat, should instead be substituted with plant-based foods.
“Your body needs clean, whole nutrients,” he explained. “If you don’t have the energy to exercise, it has a lot to do with how you eat. Your body needs fuel — the right fuel.”

Besides offering several dietary parameters, Jones’ presentation also centered on exercise — and ways to get more of it.

Setting achievable goals is a good way to start, he said.

His suggestions include using the stairs more often, parking far away from various shopping destinations and taking daily evening strolls with a friend.

Small changes can equal big results.

Finding an enjoyable activity or sport is yet another simple way to be more physically active, Jones said.
“Find excuses to move,” he said. “Discover something you enjoy doing.”

Jones’ talk also included the need to maintain emotional and mental well-being.

Adequate rest, getting outdoors each day and an overall optimistic attitude goes a long way toward relieving tension and stress, he said.

“Focus on the good things,” he said, “and don’t pay attention to the small, negative things.”

Since 2011, Jones was instrumental in overseeing the development of the new Florida Hospital Zephyrhills CREATION Health Wellness Center, which opened last February.

The 13,000-square-foot, 24-hour fitness facility offers various group classes, healthy living seminars and a wellness spa.

Since the grand opening more than a year ago, the facility’s membership has grown from 465 members to over 2,050 members, Jones said.

“We are enjoying the impact we are making in our community,” he said. “It’s just a safe environment for people to come and learn.”

For information, visit FHZWellness.com.

Published March 22, 2017

Using the written word to help process grief

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While the journey through grief is a singular experience for those who have suffered a loss, there are tools that can help, said Tiffany Kring, a bereavement counselor at Gulfside Hospice.

One approach uses the power of the written word to work through the grieving process, said Kring, who will be leading a free workshop called “Journaling Through Grief.”

The session is scheduled for March 23 at 2 p.m., at the Gulfside Center for Hospice Care in Zephyrhills, at 5760 Dean Dairy Road.

It is open to the public, but the session is limited to 10 participants, so the seats will be given, based on the order of those signing up.

“Generally, it’s about a one- to two-hour workshop. It’s using some different writing and journaling techniques to help process thoughts, feelings and things associated with the grieving process,” Kring said.

“It’s especially helpful for people who have a hard time verbalizing, or sharing feelings,” said Kring, who has been a counselor for about 25 years and has used writing as one of her counseling tools throughout her career.

“I think it’s a very effective tool,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize how beneficial it really is.”

Some exercises involve free-flow writing, others are more structured, such as asking participants to do some writing based on a writing prompt, or writing about a specific topic, she explained.

There’s something about the writing process that frees thoughts and feelings, she said.

“Sometimes when they just sit down with pen and paper … they’ll find that it helps to release what’s going on,” she said.

“Even if they are in counseling for it (grief) or have friends, or someone, they’re talking to, it’s still a good way to get those things out, especially because it’s something people can use when they’re alone, or in those late-night hours when they get up,” Kring said.

Kring said if more than 10 people call in to sign up, she’ll keep a list of those she can’t accommodate, and she’ll reach out to them when she has her next “Journaling through Grief” workshop.

The deadline for signing up is March 17. Those interested should call Kring at (727) 247-7510.

Published March 15, 2017

Health News 03/15/17

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Oak Hill team recognized by cancer society

(Courtesy of Oak Hill Hospital)

Oak Hill Hospital’s associates were recognized by the American Cancer Society as a Pink Ribbon Sponsor of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The hospital’s team contributed more than $3,000 to the project, raising funds through associate-sponsored events and activities, such as its ‘Kiss the Pig’ contest. Cathy Edmisten, left, vice president of operations at Oak Hill, received the recognition award from Mary Ellen Woska, health systems manager of hospitals for the American Cancer Society.

Bayfront launches new system
Bayfront Health Dade City has launched a new web-based data network system to help improve heart attack patient outcomes.

The new technology offers emergency medical services and hospital teams the tools to work together to help improve clinical and operational efficiencies.

The hospital’s use of the system has the goal of reducing time to treatment, known as door-to-balloon time (D2B), for patients in east Pasco County that experience a dangerous type of heart attack known as STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction).

The data system is designed to connect EMS teams and hospital personnel with emergent patient data, and to help increase workflow so that a patient can receive treatment as quickly as possible.

The system enables paramedics in the field to alert hospital care teams and provide them with critical patient data so as to quickly identify STEMI patients, determine where to route them for care, and have staff prepared before the patient arrives.

Bayfront Health Dade City reported the first activation of the new system resulted in a 12-minute D2B.

Clerk honored by LifeLink
Hillsborough Clerk of the Circuit Court Pat Collier Frank was honored by LifeLink Foundation for her instrumental role in groundbreaking improvements to the organ and tissues donation system in Florida.

Frank’s efforts paved the way for the partnership between Florida organ and tissue recovery programs and the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, where a majority of people choose to register as donors today.

A plaque bearing Frank’s image is now on the “Wall of Inspiration” at LifeLink Foundation headquarters in Tampa, alongside other pioneers in organ transplantation.

Robotic arm assisted surgeries
Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel now offers Stryker’s Mako Robotic Arm assisted partial knee and total hip replacement procedures.

The robotic arm assisted surgery is a new approach to joint replacement that offers the potential for a higher level of patient-specific implant alignment and positioning.

The technology allows surgeons to create a patient-specific 3D plan and perform joint replacement surgery using a surgeon controlled robotic arm that helps the surgeon execute the procedure with a high degree of accuracy.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel received a Center of Excellence Certification for its Hip and Knee Replacement program from DNV GL Healthcare USA Inc., an international health care accreditation organization, in 2016. It was the first hospital in the country to receive this designation from DNV GL.

 

 

Health News 03/08/2017

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Tax collector spotlights therapy ranch
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office will focus on the Kiddy Up Horse Therapy Ranch as its charity for the month of March.

The therapy and learning academy includes therapeutic riding, therapeutic driving utilizing the respected Horse Boy Method, and related learning programs for children with disabilities and veterans with disabilities.

Funds raised will help provide for the medical and daily maintenance needs of the equine therapists.

For information on the ranch, visit KiddyUpRanch.org, or call Tammy Sliger at (727) 203-6595.

For information about donating, visit PascoTaxes.com.

New practice opens in North Tampa
A new primary care and diabetes practice has opened its doors in north Tampa.

The center, Your Best You P.A., is at 15511 N. Florida Ave., Suite 502, and is owned by Shani V. Davis, a nurse practitioner.

Clinic services include adult primary care, diabetes metabolic and chronic disease care, geriatric wellness care, urgent care and other services.

Davis received her bachelor and master degrees in advanced nursing practice from Florida A&M University, and she earned a Doctorate in Nursing Philosophy in Nursing from the University of South Florida in 2013.

Your Best You can be reached at (813) 936-2609, or visit YBYClinic.com.

Fourth-quarter volunteers
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has given its volunteer Star Awards for the fourth quarter of 2016. The awards were presented at a ceremony in January.

Volunteers receiving a Five Star Award included Wilma Comeau, Linda Donadoni and Virginia (Ginnie) Fournier.

Comeau started as a volunteer in 2010 and has accumulated nearly 1,900 hours of service in the last six years working in the cardiac post-recovery unit waiting room.

Donadoni began volunteering in 2011 at door A and door D, welcoming the public, and has accumulated more than 5,150 hours of service.

Fournier has been a volunteer since 2013 and has accumulated 8,000 hours working as a courier dispatcher, as well as in the gift shop.

BayCare launches patient app
BayCare Health System has launched a free mobile app, HealthNav, to help guide people with non-urgent conditions to convenient, quality medical services.

Users of HealthNav can more easily:

  • Find the closest BayCare emergency room
  • Make an appointment for an office visit
  • See a doctor through a virtual visit
  • Reserve a visit at a nearby BayCare Urgent Care Center
  • Receive directions and contact information for their desired location

The app combines several processes: symptom checking, mapping a location and scheduling, so that the user can get more information on a possible condition and make a decision about the next step.

HealthNav connects patients to BayCare services across Tampa Bay and Polk County, including 14 leading hospitals, emergency centers, urgent care centers and physicians.

The search can be filtered to look for specific criteria, such as location.

For information, visit BayCare.org/HealthNav.

Gulfside’s hidden works of art
Hidden gems of painted inspiration are waiting to be found at the Gulfside Centers for Hospice Care.

A group of artists, started by Carrie Bronson in memory of her sister who passed away nine years ago, leaves painted message on rocks around the community for unsuspecting passersby to find.

“Pasco Love Rocks for Hospice” strategically places painted rocks at the three Gulfside centers throughout Pasco County for patients and families to find. The patients and families can hold on to the rocks as a way to lift and encourage them.

For those willing to share their rock on social media, they can visit Facebook.com/PascoLoveRocks.

For information about the group, visit the Facebook page, or call (800) 561-4883.

Strong opinions continue to surface on health care reform

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It wasn’t an overflow crowd for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ third listening session, but there were plenty of people with strong opinions on the issue of health care reform.

There were also more people in this crowd who spoke in favor of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, than did at the previous session that Bilirakis had in New Port Richey.

Hundreds of people have been showing up to U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ listening sessions on healthcare reform. The sign shown here claims that in Bilirakis’ district alone, there are 43,000 people insured under the Affordable Care Act.
(File)

Opinions at the session, at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel High School, varied widely.

“I beg you to keep something, either the ACA or something like that for pre-existing conditions,” a woman from Land O’ Lakes said. “I will lose my husband, if you don’t keep something.”

But, another woman said Obamacare has not worked.

“I know several friends — they need insurance, and they can’t afford Obamacare. It’s not the Affordable Care Act, period,” she said.

A woman priest told Bilirakis that the current uncertainty about health care is frightening people.

“I have many parishioners, friends and family members, and I just want to tell you that I’ve never seen people so afraid,” she said. “This is real fear, this is not fake fear,” she added.

A Wesley Chapel man asked Bilirakis: “Are you going to keep your campaign promise, to repeal Obamacare?”

Bilirakis responded: “I will vote to repeal Obamacare,” which was greeted by both boos and applause from the crowd.

“I want a replacement,” Bilirakis said.

He also assured the audience that people will not be cut off from their insurance without another option.

“By the way, we will have a transition period … I’m arguing for three years. Some people are saying two years,” Bilirakis said.

A Pinellas County man said he’s with Bilirakis: “This was a change election. We stand behind you, to repeal and replace.”

Another man urged Bilirakis to find a way to make health care more affordable.

After being laid off, the man said he purchased Obamacare, but the premiums were expensive, and the deductible was $6,200.

He told Bilirakis that he stopped paying his premiums so he could afford to see his doctor, then he was billed by the federal government for his “shared responsibility” because he doesn’t have insurance.

Another speaker said the cost of Obamacare has caused a family member’s business to lay off employees and to close a location, reducing the company’s profits and costing employees their jobs.

“I’m in favor of repealing and replacing Obamacare,” the woman said.

One man asked Bilirakis point-blank: “Are you going to make it less expensive?”

Bilirakis responded with one word: “Yes.”

Still others want to see universal health care, so that no one is left out in the cold.

As one Vietnam war veteran put it: “If you can look into yourself and say, ‘Why not universal health care for all people?

“If we can spend $20 trillion to try to kill people, how about a few trillion dollars for wellness of the American people?” he said.

A woman from Quail Hollow assured Bilirakis that she wasn’t a paid activist, and like the vast majority of Americans, she wants to see members of Congress reach across the aisle to solve problems.

Many speakers praised Bilirakis for meeting with his constituents rather than ducking them, as other members of Congress have done.

“You are my constituents,” Bilirakis told the crowd. “I have an obligation to listen to you. The best ideas come from the people.”

One Wesley Chapel woman urged Bilirakis, when he goes back to Washington, to turn to a higher power for guidance on the health care issue.

“Get on your knees and ask God’s help to make the right decision,” she said.

Bilirakis issued a statement following his third listening session, noting that he will continue to seek common ground and constructive exchanges with people from his district.

“But, the Affordable Care Act in its current state is unsustainable, and it’s only going to get worse — costs are going up, while choices and flexibility are dwindling. We need a health care system that is truly patient-focused, and I will use the input from my recent meetings to shape my work on replacement legislation.”

Published March 1, 2017