Health

Dental program helps veterans smile again

November 30, 2016 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

The Pasco-Hernando State College dental program participated in the ‘Stars, Stripes and Smiles 2016 Dental Care for Veterans’ event at its West Campus dental clinic in New Port Richey. Eight PHSC dental assisting students and 24 dental hygiene students, along with program faculty and staff, provided more than $65,000 of free dentistry to more than 70 local veterans. From left: veteran and Rep. Fred Costello; Ashley Moore, PHSC dental assisting student; and, veteran Sandy Lydick, dental assistant.

Health News 11/23/2016

November 23, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Remembering those lost to addiction
The Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention and the Next Level Church hosted a NOPE Candlelight Vigil, to remember those who were lost to or suffer from substance abuse. The event included exhibits of local resources, a wall of pictures to memorialize those lost, a performance of the National Anthem and guest speakers. More than 200 people attended to grieve and show support for one another, and community members of all ages lit candles to remember those lost to drug overdose. ASAP is a community coalition dedicated to reducing rates of substance used disorders by creating and implementing community-wide strategies. For information, visit PascoASAP.com.

Gus Bilirakis is Legislator of the Year
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Pasco County honored U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis for his work in Congress to help reform the nation’s mental health system and improve access to care for those suffering from mental illness.

Bilirakis was presented with the group’s “Legislator of the Year” award.

For more information, visit Bilirakis.house.gov, and click on the Media link.

Support cancer research
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office will feature the Moffitt Cancer Center as its nonprofit charity for the month of November.

Customers with registration renewals may choose to trade their regular license plate for the Moffitt Cancer Center specialty tag, or customer may purchase the tag for newly registered vehicles or buy tag vouchers to give as gifts.

The proceeds from the tag promotion will go to Moffitt to support research and clinical trials.

The tax offices also will accept cash donations.

For office locations, visit PascoTaxes.com.

Health insurance assistance
Bayfront Health Dade City is once again offering free assistance during open enrollment, through Jan. 31, to help compare plans and fill out applications on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Appointments can be made with the hospital’s certified assistants by calling (352) 521-1552, or booked online at GetCoveredAmerica.org/connector.

Premier Clinic gets grant
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced more than $87 million in funding for 1,2310 health centers in every United States state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin.

Premier Community Healthcare Group, a community health center in Pasco County, will receive $78,014 in funding, part of more than $4 million the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded to 46 health centers in Florida.

The funding will help the health center improve interaction electronically with patients, specifically to upgrade its IT technology, which will enhance the ability to improve workflow.

Health News 11/16/2016

November 16, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Going above and beyond
The NAMI Pasco County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness hosted the 10th annual MIAW (Mental Illness Awareness Week) banquet and presented awards to those in the community that have gone above and beyond to help those with mental illness. From left: Kayla Kuni, NAMI Pasco; Congressman Gus Bilirakis, legislator of the year; Terry Thompson, provider of the year; Vickey Polanis, advocate of the year; Elizabeth Rhodes, Humanitarian HOPE Award; Grace Mascelli, president NAMI Pasco; and Lt. Toni Roach, CIT officer of the year.

Nursing director to serve on board
Daryle Wane, nursing program director for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Pasco-Hernando State College, is now a peer reviewer for the American Journal of Nursing.

The nursing profession’s premier journal promotes excellence in nursing and health care through the dissemination of evidence-based, peer-reviewed clinical information and original research.

Wane is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who developed the college’s BSN program, launched in 2014, and spearheaded the recent accreditation effort that resulted in a five-year full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Wane also was appointed to the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of Nursing Education and Practice.

Brendan Barrett joins New Tampa Foot & Ankle
New Tampa Foot & Ankle, 26827 Foggy Creek Road, Suite 104, in Wesley Chapel, has announced the addition of Dr. Brendan Barrett to its practice.

Barrett graduated from Youngstown State University in 2008 with a bachelor of science in biology, followed by podiatry school in 2009 at Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine, both in Ohio.

Barrett has experience in both forefoot and rear foot complexities and surgeries, and is accepting new patients. For information, call (813) 973-3535.

Employee of the month
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has recognized Nicole Konof as its most recent Employee of the Month. Konof is a critical care nurse in the surgical intensive care unit.

As Employee of the Month, Konof received a pin, a selected blanket gift, a reception with refreshments and colleagues, a front-row parking spot of her choosing for a month, a gift card, and a “You Make a Difference” starfish key chain personifying a well-known story of the young man and the starfish.

Appointments can be made with the hospital’s certified assistants by calling (352) 521-1552, or booked online at GetCoveredAmerica.org/connector.

Health News 11/02/2016

November 9, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Quilt raffle to help end polio
The Rotary Club of San Antonio has launched a local fundraiser to help end polio, in conjunction with Rotary International’s fourth annual World Polio Day event.

Two handmade quilts, sewn and donated by a local polio survivor, will be raffled off.

The drawings for the quilts will be on Dec. 13. Two entrants will be selected to win either a Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo quilt or a kaleidoscope quilt.

The tickets are $5 each, or $20 for five tickets.

All proceeds will go to PolioPlus at the Rotary Foundation.

To participate, call (352) 588-4444, or ask a club member.

CARES honors Don Andriuzzo
Don Andriuzzo, a volunteer at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, was recently honored at a CARES Celebrating Seniors ceremony.

Andriuzzo has volunteered at the hospital for ore than 22 years, accumulating 34,000 service hours and receiving the Five Star Award for exemplary service, as well as the 2008 Volunteer of the Year Award.

In 2010, Andriuzzo was the recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to volunteerism.

He has been the chairperson of the mailroom couriers for many years, and has volunteered for many special projects.

Since January 2012, Andriuzzo also has volunteered at HPH Hospice, accumulating more than 1,300 hours.

Health News 11/02/2016

November 2, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Health insurance assistance
Bayfront Health Dade City is once again offering free assistance during open enrollment, Nov. 1 through Jan. 31, to help compare plans and fill out applications on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Appointments can be made with the hospital’s certified assistants by calling (352) 521-1552, or booked online at GetCoveredAmerica.org/connector.

Woman’s club collects for abuse shelter
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club hosted its annual October fundraiser/luncheon/Bunco party, which raised funds and collected donations of personal and hygiene items to benefit two area domestic violence shelter residences for women and children.

The service club works year-round to raise awareness and assist victims of domestic violence through contributions to these shelters.

For information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

Health News 10/12/2016

October 12, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Nursing programs earn accreditation
Rasmussen College’s Practical Nursing Diploma program at the Land O’ Lakes/East Pasco campus, and the Professional Nursing Associate’s degree program at the New Port Richey/West Pasco campus, have earned programmatic accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

The accreditation signifies the nursing programs have met or exceeded standards and criteria for educational quality in nursing curriculum and preparation for nursing students to work successfully in the profession.

The college’s practical nursing program in Land O’ Lakes is now one of only four practical nursing programs in the state to earn ACEN programmatic accreditation.

Medicare benefits
The annual enrollment period for Medicare runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program has specially trained volunteers to help Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers understand the health care options.

To receive help from SHINE, individuals may schedule appointments at counseling sites, attend enrollment events in the local communities, or speak to a trained SHINE counselor at (800) 963-5337.

For a listing of SHINE counseling sites and events, visit FloridaShine.org.

Extended mammography hours
The Radiology Department at Bayfront Health Dade City, 13100 Fort King Road, will offer extended mammography hours for the month of October ($99 special).

Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, call (352) 521-1592.

Pregnancy care center names new director

October 5, 2016 By Mary Rathman

The Oasis Pregnancy Care Center has hired Anita Albert-Watson as the Land O’ Lakes facility director.

Albert-Watson has more than 10 years of experience in managing a variety of social service programs. She spent most of her career working with The Salvation Army, providing administrative and pastoral oversight for multiple programs, including homelessness prevention, shelter and transitional housing programs, and community capacity building programs.

Albert-Watson has a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She lives in Land O’ Lakes with her husband, Bob.

Oasis Pregnancy Care Center is located at 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in the Copperstone Executive Suites.

Medical marijuana may mean big money in Pasco

September 28, 2016 By Kathy Steele

The local debate on how to regulate medical marijuana in Pasco County remains unsettled.

But, two Tampa land use attorneys recently briefed county commissioners on the legal difficulties they face, and the vast sums of money at stake as the medical marijuana industry expands.

County commissioners also received a recommendation from the county’s legal staff on limiting medical marijuana in Pasco to industrial districts, with conditions.

Title The potential use of some industrial properties for medical marijuana dispensaries didn’t go over well with Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano.

“I don’t want to take any more industrial off the books,” he said.

Currently, a low level form of medical marijuana, known as Charlotte’s web, is legal in Florida for patients with seizure disorders. Terminally ill patients can qualify for stronger potencies of medical marijuana.

A Nov. 8 statewide referendum, if approved, would open the door to more dispensaries statewide, while also increasing the number of illnesses that can be treated with medical marijuana.

The law currently allows only five sites, geographically dispersed across the state.

There is money to be made in this budding industry.

A Miami-Dade County study recently estimated that each eligible patient would spend up to $3,600 a year on medical marijuana.

Data from the Florida Department of Health predicted that by 2017 there would be about 450,000 patients statewide. That would translate to about $1.3 billion in medical marijuana sales, according to attorney Gina Grimes of Hill Ward Henderson.

Pro-industry data suggests the number of patients could be as many as 700,000, Grimes added.

She and Morris Massey, of the same law firm, gave a presentation on medical marijuana to county commissioners on Sept. 20 at a public workshop in New Port Richey.

“We’re not here to advocate either in support of or against marijuana,” said Grimes.

The data laid out for county commissioners offered an overview of their zoning options in deciding how many dispensaries to permit, where to locate them and what conditions to apply, such as hours of operation and distance from schools, churches and day care centers.

Some restrictions — aimed at reducing loitering — prompted a query from Pasco County Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey.

“Are you saying people who are really sick go loitering outside these buildings?” she said. “Is this unfounded hysteria or based in factual experience?”

Grimes said there was a bit of both.

“People have a lot of concerns,” she said. “People have a fear of the unknown. Not knowing, they want to make sure none of these things occur. I think that’s where the regulations are coming from.”

On the financial side, the economic impact to state and local governments goes beyond a head count on patients. There will be permanent jobs in the industry, construction jobs to build cultivation facilities and dispensaries. Consultants, attorneys and accountants also will be hired.

There will be security jobs and businesses that supply cultivation sites with fertilizer, pots, containers and other materials. The county’s utility tax revenues could get a boost from facilities that use high levels of energy to grow cannabis.

And, as a tourist destination, Florida could benefit from accepting visitors’ out-of-state medical cards for medical marijuana purchases.

Grimes said Florida is predicted to rank second in the country for such sales, potentially reaping $2 billion to $3 billion annually by 2025.

“The economic impact of medical marijuana could grow exponentially when you consider our tourist industry,” she said.

Some cities and counties already have made choices in how to deal with medical marijuana.

The City of Cocoa Beach, for example, would allow dispensaries in general commercial zones with conditions, such as 1,000-foot distance from schools. Hillsborough County would allow them in all districts with retail uses, as long as they meet state regulations on operations.

A significant issue for county commissioners is whether to hold public hearings on each application or to process applications administratively.

With a favorable vote on Nov. 8, Grimes said Pasco could find as many as 100 applicants or more lining up for permits.

A Quinnipiac University poll in May found 80 percent of Florida’s voters support expanding medical marijuana uses.

County commissioners recently extended a moratorium on the growth, manufacturer and production of cannabis – from which medical marijuana is derived – until Dec. 31, to allow time to craft regulations in the event the referendum passes.

Because of the confusion of how the state will proceed, Grimes and Massey suggested that the county consider another, shorter extension of the moratorium.

It could take months for the state’s Department of Health to issue its regulations, if the referendum is approved. Legislators also could weigh-in during their 2017 session.

But, Grimes said, “At that point in time, I think you’ll be better able to adopt regulations that take into account facts you know exist.”

County commissioners praised the attorneys’ presentation, but expressed disappointment that the workshop was limited to a legal review.

“I’m frustrated right now,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells also said he expected greater participation. “I just think we all can be educated,” he said.

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker said staff would need more guidance on the matter, if commissioners wanted a workshop on the advantages and disadvantages.

“Pros and cons (of medical marijuana) are not what is in the purview of the board,” she said. Rather, the issue will be decided by the state’s voters.

Though public workshops don’t typically allow public comment, county commissioners waived the rule. They also said another workshop might be needed.

A handful of people spoke in favor of medical marijuana. No one spoke in opposition.

Garyn Angel, owner of a botanical extraction company known as Magical Butter, said plant-based medicine is healthier than manufactured pills.

“There should not be a stigma to getting medicine that works for you, especially from low-level THC. This will not get you high. Let’s make people healthy naturally.”

Published September 28, 2016

Alzheimer’s organization benefits from promotion

September 28, 2016 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector)

The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office raised $3,386.72 for the Alzheimer’s Family Organization through its charitable giving promotion. The AFO provides educational programs, support services and assistance to caregivers, families and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. From left are Mike Fasano, Pasco County tax collector; Kathleen Mengele, AFO board member; Kathleen Winters, AFO executive director; Michelle Vancuren, manager of the tax collector’s Dade City office; T.C. Daerda, Pasco County tax collector’s director of human resources; and, Vickie Johnson, customer service representative of the tax collector’s New Port Richey office.

Resident of the Year

September 21, 2016 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Dr. James Sheppard (center) receives his recognition plaque from Dr. Joseph Pino, left, and Dr. Michael Strobbe of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. Sheppard was honored as Resident of the Year during the hospital’s Graduate Medical Education Program’s first commencement ceremony. Also recognized was Dr. Joseph Sennabaum as Faculty Physician of the Year.