Health

Zephyrhills company offers EpiPen at no upcharge

September 7, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

In lieu of the soaring costs for an EpiPen, one local pharmacy chain is offering the life saving, anti-allergic reaction device at no upcharge.

The Canadian Medstore, based out of Zephyrhills, says their cost for an EpiPen Twin Pack is $180, compared to the over $700 being retailed at traditional area pharmacies.

Mylan, the makers of the EpiPen, recently announced it would produce a generic version that it would sell for $300 a two-pack. That move came after intense criticism following the company’s announcement that it was increasing the price of the product by nearly 400 percent. The device, which was sold at a wholesale price of just under $60 in 2007, has risen to $600 for a two-pack in 2016. It marks the product’s 15th price hike over the past seven years. (Courtesy of Mylan) — Mylan, the makers of the EpiPen, recently announced it would produce a generic version that it would sell for $300 a two-pack. That move came after intense criticism following the company’s announcement that it was increasing the price of the product by nearly 400 percent. The device, which was sold at a wholesale price of just under $60 in 2007, has risen to $600 for a two-pack in 2016. It marks the product’s 15th price hike over the past seven years.
(Courtesy of Mylan)

Mylan, the makers of the EpiPen, recently announced it would offer a generic version that would sell for $300 a two-pack. That move came after the company drew intense criticism for increasing its product price by nearly 400 percent.

The device, which was sold at a wholesale price of just under $60 in 2007, has risen to $600 for a two-pack in 2016. It marks the product’s 15th price hike over the past seven years.

The Canadian Medstore, which opened in 2003, has international contracts with pharmacies based in Australia, Canada, England and New Zealand.

In those countries, medications are often 60 percent to 70 percent less expensive than in the United States.

Bill Hepscher, director and founder of the Canadian Medstore, said the company typically “averaged one or two orders in a month” for the EpiPen, but is now seeing a surge in calls from more families requesting the anti-anaphylaxis device.

“We’re literally getting five or 10 calls a day now,” Hepscher said, noting that most of his clientele are seniors on fixed incomes, and families that are uninsured or have high deductible health plans.

Hepscher often witnesses the costs of prescriptions “being a huge issue for families.” But, the EpiPen is a unique situation, he said, because it can mean “life or death for a child.”

“It’s literally the definition of holding a gun to the head because there’s not another option,” he said. “I think that’s why there’s so much outrage.”

Nut and bee allergies are oftentimes hereditary, leading to multiple children or parents needing the product, Hepscher explained.

“Sometimes it’s two or three kids that have the same allergies, and the parent is not only going in and paying $600, but $1,800,” he said. “It’s pretty crazy when you think about a family having to spend that kind of money on a prescription.”

The Canadian Medstore, based out of Zephyrhills, says their cost for an EpiPen Twin Pack is $180, compared to the over $700 being retailed at traditional area pharmacies. (Courtesy of Bill Hepscher) — The Canadian Medstore, based out of Zephyrhills, says their cost for an EpiPen Twin Pack is $180, compared to the over $700 being retailed at traditional area pharmacies.
(Courtesy of Bill Hepscher)

The Medstore, which has six locations throughout central Florida, doesn’t hold any medications on its shelves. Instead, via its customer service center, the company sends prescriptions — which must be filled by an American doctor — to licensed pharmacies in one of those aforementioned four countries. Medications are then mailed directly to patients.

According to a recent report by Bloomberg Businessweek, an EpiPen costs “just several dollars to make,” and contains about “$1 or so worth of epinephrine.”

Hepscher believes the pricing should be in “a more reasonable range,” but also understands the pricing structures of some pharmaceutical giants.

“Of course the argument could be made that it costs so much money to come up with these products,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of family members that if it wasn’t for modern pharmacology, we probably wouldn’t be here anymore. I think the pharmacy industry, in general…is a super innovative industry, and I really believe that there’s a lot of really good, smart people working hard…to make our lives better.

“All I do know is that we can get the same exact medication in Canada or England for a third of the price, so I think that speaks volumes.”

The Canadian Medstore is located at 38176 Medical Center Ave. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit its website at DrugstoreUnlimited.com.

Published September 7, 2016

Health News 09/07/2016

September 7, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Local company to provide EpiPen at cost
The Canadian Medstore, which operates six offices throughout Central Florida, has announced that its pharmacy fulfillment partners will suspend all markups and will offer EpiPen at cost. Families can source an EpiPen Twin Pack for $180, rather than over $700 at traditional pharmacies.

The Canadian Medstore opened its first storefront location in Zephyrhills in 2003.

For more information, contact Bill Hepscher at (813) 788-2007 or .

Physician of the Year
The Medical Center of Trinity has honored Dr. Stephen Hanff, board certified orthopedic surgeon, as its Physician of the Year. Hanff was chosen among 35 nominees for the award.

Hanff received his undergraduate degree at the University of Miami and his medical degree from the Miller School of Medicine, where he was elected to membership in Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

He graduated medical school with honors in 2004 and completed his internship and orthopedic residency at the University of Florida.

Concerns about Zika on the rise, poll says

August 31, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The level of unease about the Zika virus is on the rise in Florida, according to a new poll conducted by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute.

The online poll, which was conducted Aug. 14 to Aug. 18, surveyed 1,500 adults in Florida, according to a news release from Saint Leo University.

The Zika virus is spread through bites of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is the same mosquito that spreads the dengua and chikunguna viruses. (File Photo) — The Zika virus is spread through bites of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is the same mosquito that spreads the dengua and chikunguna viruses.
(File Photo)

Polling ended a day before Gov. Rick Scott announced that mosquitos are spreading the virus in the Miami area and five days before the governor announced a non-travel related case of Zika was found in Pinellas County, the release says.

The university’s August poll found that 79.3 percent of respondents say they are “very” or “somewhat” concerned about the virus. Of those remaining, 1.1 percent say they are “somewhat unconcerned,” 7.5 percent indicate they are “not at all concerned,” and 2.1 percent say they are unsure or do not know enough to answer.

The poll had a plus or minus margin of error of 3.0 percent.

The polling institute’s June survey of 500 adults in Florida showed 71.2 percent of respondents expressing concern.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control describes the ailment as being caused by the Zika virus, which is spread mainly through the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus).

The virus can be passed from an infected pregnant woman to her fetus. The CDC also confirmed that the virus is responsible for severe defects, including microcephaly, in unborn children. When delivered, such babies have abnormally small heads and often, brain defects.

The disease also can be spread through sexual contact, according to the CDC.

Many of those infected with the virus have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, according to the CDC. The symptoms can include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). There is no specific medication for the virus.

In general, people who are healthy and are not thinking of having children anytime soon have little to nothing to worry about from Zika, Dr. Cheryl Clauson, Saint Leo University assistant professor of biology said, in the release.

“There may be an association between Zika and Guillain-Barré syndrome, however, this only occurs in a very small number of people who contract Zika,” Clauson said.

But, she continued, “pregnant women need to be very careful about traveling to the affected areas of Miami. Pregnant women should avoid the area altogether if possible, postponing non-essential travel as needed. If a woman who is currently pregnant lives in these areas of Miami, she should talk to her health care provider about getting tested for Zika during her pregnancy. Her partner would need to use condoms throughout the pregnancy to prevent possibly passing Zika to her.”

The Saint Leo biologist advised couples who are considering having children to wait at least eight weeks after returning from a Zika-affected area before trying to get pregnant, even if the woman does not have a confirmed case. “Men who did not have a confirmed Zika infection should also wait eight weeks. However, if he had a confirmed Zika infection, he should wait six months before trying to get pregnant with his female partner,” Clauson said.

Florida’s counties are taking steps to get rid of mosquito breeding grounds and prevent the spread of the Zika virus. The Aedes species are “aggressive daytime biters,” according to the CDC, but also can bite at night.

Clauson recommends using insect repellants with particular active ingredients: DEET, IR3535, oil of eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or picaridin. “Because many people who use repellant may also use sunscreen, the repellant should be applied after sunscreen is applied,” she said.

Floridians also should empty anything outside their houses that could hold standing water—planters, small boats, pet bowls—to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in those containers.

Protect yourself from the Zika virus
To help protect yourself, the CDC recommends people:

Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants
Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out
Sleep under a mosquito net if you are outdoors or unable to keep mosquitoes out
Use repellents registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Follow product label instructions
Reapply as directed

The CDC also offers these additional tips: Do not spray repellent on skin under clothing, apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent and do not apply insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months.

To protect your child, dress him or her in clothing that covers the arms and legs. Also, do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, or cut or irritated skin.

Published August 31, 2016

Health News 08/31/2016

August 31, 2016 By Mary Rathman

June Cunningham is nurse of the year
The Medical Center of Trinity has recognized registered nurse June Cunningham as Nurse of the Year and the Frist Employee Humanitarian Award winner. Cunningham, of the hospital’s Wound Care In-Patient Unit, was chosen from 106 members of the nursing team who were nominated, for Nurse of the Year; and, she was nominated by staff and physicians for the humanitarian award. Cunningham also was named the 2016 Good Samaritan Health Clinic Nurse of the Year. She attended nursing school at North Hampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

MOSI partners for autism
The Museum of Science & Industry and Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay have formed a partnership in order to make learning more fun and more open to all families in Tampa Bay.

The partners will work under the motto “partnering toward a more autism accessible experience,” which will hopefully lead to more vital science and math education for a wider range of students, a richer and more fulfilling time for families that include children with autism spectrum disorder, and guidelines for other museums and businesses looking to create a more inclusive experience.

An assessment has been done at the science center, and some potential changes identified include revising maps and signs to clearly show families what kinds of sensory information to expect in certain areas, and rearranging some exhibits to allow families to bypass sections that could be overwhelming.

MOSI’s new website, set to launch in September, will incorporate new features to improve autism accessibility.

Dr. Caselnova back in Zephyrhills
Bayfront Health Dade City has welcomed Dr. Michael Caselnova, a family practice physician at Bayfront Health Medical Group, back to his previous clinic location at 7209 Green Slope Drive in Zephyrhills.

Caselnova’s services include chronic illness treatment, immunizations, preventive health care, and sports and school physicals.

For information, call (813) 602-8841.

Working with seniors
Florida’s Long-term Care Ombudsman Program has advocate positions available in Hillsborough County, for those interested in volunteering. Volunteers visit with residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult-family care homes to ensure residents are treated with dignity and respect.

Training and certification are provided and volunteers participate in council meetings, administrative assessments and complaint resolution in facilities.

Candidates should enjoy working with seniors and those with disabilities, plan to volunteer 20 hours a month, pass a background check, complete certification training, communicate well, and attend a monthly meeting.

For information, call (888) 831-0404, or visit Ombudsman.MyFlorida.com.

Hospital gets Gold Plus Award
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills received the Get with the Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures as outlined by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.

Hospitals that receive the gold plus award have reached a goal of treating heart failure or stroke patients with an 85 percent or higher compliance to core standard levels for 24 consecutive months, as established by the AHA and American Stroke Association.

The hospital’s heart institute also has received recognition for treating coronary intervention, heart failure, chest pain, open heart surgery and electrophysiology.

Oak Hill promotes Tim Krusko
Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville has promoted Tim Krusko, executive chef, to director of food and nutritional services.

Krusko has served as executive chef for the past year, and has been an integral part of the food and nutrition services leadership team.

With more than 20 years in the food service industry, Krusko has extensive culinary and management experience. He studied culinary arts at the Florida Culinary Institute in West Palm Beach.

Looking for tools to help patients help themselves

August 24, 2016 By B.C. Manion

When it comes to treating patients with behavioral health issues, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Dr. Laura Bajor is always on the lookout for new tools that could help.

She sees the potential of emerging technology.

But Bajor, who is medical director for the CORE program at North Tampa Behavioral Health, 29910 State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel, isn’t into technology for technology’s sake.

Organizations that engage in that approach, she said, “tend to create a ‘flavor of the month’ atmosphere.’”

Dr. Laura Bajor, medical director of the CORE program at North Tampa Behavioral Health, is always looking for new tools to help her patients help themselves. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Dr. Laura Bajor, medical director of the CORE program at North Tampa Behavioral Health, is always looking for new tools to help her patients help themselves.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Ultimately, that’s counterproductive, Bajor said, because “that actually ends up alienating folks from trying new things, because they’ve lost faith in the actual benefit of new technology.”

Instead, Bajor believes that “technology and research are most useful when they improve a patient’s investment in their own health, and their quality of life.”

She’s constantly on the lookout for new tools, or collaborations, to help her find the best ways to help the patients she’s treating.

“In my opinion, one of the absolute worst conversations to have with a patient is to have to sit across a desk from them and say ‘We’ve run out of treatment options for you, and we’re not working on anything new. Good luck.’

“The real aim of health care is not that they remain our patients, it’s that they function well on their own without us. So, we can move them toward that,” Bajor said.

Along those lines, “we’re using technology to assess sleep, activity level, change in heart rate throughout the course of the day, and a few other parameters,” she said.

This permits a more focused approach to prescribing medication and planning treatment, she said.

The idea is to be able to show patients evidence regarding their progress or lack of it, which helps save time and reduces frustration, she said.

Technology also is used to help patients learn how to control their own stress and anxiety levels, which helps them regain a sense of control and self-confidence, she said.

Bajor said she began using emerging technology about four years ago, with a series of small innovation grants in a clinic at the VA in Boston.

She was able to pilot the use of different kinds of fitness, sleep, and stress trackers with her staff and patients. That eventually spread into a partnership with the Basis division of Intel, who worked to equip patients from about 15 different clinics and programs with their gear.

She believes part of the reason she was recruited to become the medical director of the CORE program at North Tampa Behavioral was because of those experiences and skills.

Sleep plays a significant role in a patient’s health, Bajor said.

“The first paper I ever published was about tracking sleep first rather than hitting people with very high-caliber meds,” Bajor said.

This monitor tracks activity levels and can help determine if a patient is having problems with sleep. The quality of one’s sleep can have significant impacts on health, according to Dr. Laura Bajor, medical director of the CORE program at North Tampa Behavioral Health in Wesley Chapel.

When someone comes into the clinic and sleep is part of their problem, they are put on a tracking system for a couple of days before any medication is prescribed, she said.

“Is the problem that they’re not going to bed until 3 in the morning? Is the problem that they can’t fall asleep? Or, is it that they’re waking up 10 times?

“We would actually use different treatment approaches, depending on which or all of those problems they have,” she said.

“A person, once they’ve been sleeping, you can probably use much less medicine,” she said. That helps to avoid prescribing medication that can affect their functioning during the day, and reduces potential for side effects.

“All of these things have side effects,” she added.

While in Boston, Bajor said she worked with top-notch researchers and clinicians from the Harvard and Boston University systems, she said.

“I worked mainly in Ann Rasmusson’s lab at the National Center for PTSD, where there is a major focus on using exercise, cognitive therapy, and other novel approaches to calm down the neuroendocrine system, get folks’ frontal lobes back on line, and in doing all that, help PTSD patients get back in control of their anxiety,” she said.

“Ann and her crew have continued to be generous in providing advice about how to translate these ideas into our CORE program,” she said, where exercise, yoga, diet and other approaches are being used to treat veterans.

“There’s an emerging parameter called heart rate variability,” Bajor said. “It’s kind of the newest thing in physiologic tracking. It’s the rate at which a heart rate changes.

“We’re watching that with guys who are doing PTSD therapy,” she said.

“We can tell: Should we back off a little, or should we try harder?

“There’s actually NFL coaches and Olympic coaches that are using the same HRV (heart rate variability). They’ll say, ‘Well this guy should take a day off from weightlifting.’ Or, ‘We should push this guy harder, he’s not going hard enough.’’’

“We can kind of do the same thing,” she said.

Bajor also noted she’s received help from a number of other experts in the areas of research methods, dissemination of innovation and day-to-day management of new ideas in a clinical setting.

“The trajectory of my medical career has been a little unorthodox,” Bajor said.

She went from being a student at the Naval Academy, to becoming a search and rescue pilot, to being a Department of Defense engineer. She left that job to attend medical school.

In addition to her current work, she also belongs to “Tampa Hackerspace,” a group she describes as an eclectic group of brilliant folks who have pooled their resources into a space where members have access to things like 3-D printers, laser cutters, full metal and wood shops, and the expertise of leaders in their various fields.

She just joined the group in the summer and already has ideas that will be used in her clinic, she said.

“Making those connections and sharing knowledge. There’s no way to measure that. It’s just invaluable,” said Bajor.

She welcomes opportunities for collaborations that will lead to better care for patients.

Published August 24, 2016

Health News 08/24/2016

August 24, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Vipond to cover Medicare at conference
Betsy Vipond will be a guest speaker at the HR Florida Annual Conference on Aug. 31 at Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando. Vipond has 40 years of insurance experience working with group health insurance and Medicare. The topic of ‘Medicare in 60 Minutes’ will give a look at how Medicare interacts with group insurance, and advice on how to handle various scenarios where group health and Medicare converge. For information, visit HRFlorida.org/2016 Conference, or call Vipond at (800) 603-0901.

Hospital launches ER pledge
Bayfront Health Dade City has launched a 30-Minutes-or-Less ER Service Pledge, to assure patients it is dedicated to offering quality care, and providing that care efficiently and quickly.

When a patient enters the emergency room, the arrival time is noted. The pledge begins the minute a patient checks into the ER desk — that a medical professional will work diligently to see the patient within 30 minutes or less of their arrival time to begin evaluation and treatment.

The hospital records and monitors many ER indicators as part of its ongoing quality improvement efforts.

Frist Humanitarian award winner
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has honored Dr. Christine Behan with this year’s Physician Frist Humanitarian Award.

Behan has served in the community as a primary care physician for more than 20 years.

As chief of staff, Behan has addressed physician health issues, and through her efforts, the medical staff has policies in place to deal with issues such as burnout and depression.

Behan also has served as president of the Pasco County Medical Society, and is committed to the Good Samaritan Clinic that serves the medically needy in the county.

Hospital delivers 100th baby
The Maternity Suites at Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville, delivered its 100th baby on Aug. 10 at 1:48 p.m. The Maternity Suites announced its opening at the third floor North Tower on June 7, and has now delivered 100 babies in its first 64 days.

For information on the hospital, visit OakHillHospital.com.

Lutz man receives state recognition
Ronald Thiltgen, of Lutz, received the West Central Council Ombudsman of the Year Award form the State’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Thiltgen was recognized for his advocacy of long-term care residents in surrounding counties.

He became a state-certified volunteer in July 2013. Fellow ombudsmen describe Thiltgen as an excellent advocate who is “extremely patient, caring, and puts in extra effort to help residents,” according to a release. Thiltgen also takes on additional work, including helping others complete assignments or volunteering to mentor trainees.

For information on the Florida Ombudsman Program, call (888) 831-0404, or visit Ombudsman.MyFlorida.com.

New CFO joins hospital
Ryan Willis has joined Florida Hospital Zephyrhills as its chief financial officer, bringing with him years of progressively responsible experience within the Adventist Health System. Willis has been the assistant vice president of finance for Florida Hospital Tampa and Florida Hospital Connerton in Land O’ Lakes since 2014. He also has served as controller for the Florida Hospital Heartland Division in Sebring and decision support analyst manager/director for AHS’s Heartland Division. Willis started his career at FHZ in 2004 as a staff accountant with the Heartland Division.

Medical marijuana is a need, some residents say

August 17, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Denise Houston is a cancer survivor who used cannabis to get through her debilitating radiation treatments.

She shared her story during an Aug. 9 Pasco County Commission meeting because she wanted commissioners to consider it, as they decide the future of medical marijuana within the county.

She was one of several speakers at the public hearing on a proposal to extend a ban on the growth, processing and dispensing of cannabis through the end of the year.

An existing ban is set to expire Sept. 2.

Cannabis is the basis for medical marijuana, which is legal in Florida in a low-level, non-euphoric form known as Charlotte’s web.

“It’s a life saver for some people,” Houston told commissioners. “I am one of those folks. I am a caregiver for one of those folks.”

Houston urged the board to not extend the ban and to instead open the door to medical marijuana in Pasco.

County commissioners won’t vote on the matter until a second public hearing scheduled Aug. 23 at 1:30 p.m., in New Port Richey.

County officials say the extended ban will allow more time to craft land use and zoning regulations.

One option would be to ban dispensaries. However, as a backup, commissioners also requested staff to write regulations restricting activities to industrial districts.

Complicating the matter is a Nov. 8 referendum when voters statewide will decide whether to allow stronger strains of medical marijuana and to expand the list of illnesses that can be treated with medical marijuana. Current law allows its use for cancer and seizure disorders.

Florida’s health department recently approved the first of six dispensaries qualified for permits. The first delivery of medical marijuana went to a man living in Hudson.

However, law enforcement and substance abuse counselors are wary of the expansion of medical marijuana.

Pasco County sheriff’s office has provided county commissioners with data on crime spikes in states, such as Colorado and California, which have approved either medical marijuana or its recreational use.

At the recent public hearing, representatives in the substance abuse prevention and treatment field spoke in favor of the moratorium.

Kent Runyon told commissioners of a visit to Seattle where he saw a billboard advertising a local marijuana farm. “It sounded like you’re going to a pumpkin farm picking pumpkins,” said Runyon, who is chief strategist and compliance officer at Novus Medical Detox Center in New Port Richey. “Is this the message we want for our youth and our children (that) it is something good, something embracing, something harmless?”

Still, the majority of speakers at the hearing urged commissioners to support medical marijuana as a health benefit and a potential source of tax revenue for the county.

Some farms in Pasco that are struggling could make money from growing cannabis, said Travis Moorehead. He also told commissioners he knew of people with prescription pill addictions, but marijuana “probably is one of the least dangerous things you could allow.”

Garyn Angel, chief executive officer of Angel Enterprises, described himself as a “world leader in the cannabis industry.” He invented a machine to extract nutrients from botanicals as a way to help a friend with Crohn’s disease, and now owns Magical Butter, a company that sells his invention.

Angel said he has partnered with university researchers to learn about cannabis and its health benefits. “It is one of the greatest anti-inflammatories we have,” he said. “Inflammation is at the root of most diseases, especially in the gut.”

He suggested to commissioners that Pasco could become a hub for the medical marijuana industry, benefiting patients and boosting the county’s economy.

“The dollars are coming,” he said. “It’s going to happen. Let’s embrace it …let’s be a flagship.”

But, money wasn’t the issue foremost for Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells.

“This is personal to me. I have a friend now with stage three cancer,” he said. “The only thing that can help him is to smoke marijuana. The law says he can’t do that.”

Wells and Pasco County Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey requested a workshop so that they could learn more information from all sides of the issue.

“It’s just a subject I don’t know a lot about,” she said. “I’ve heard a lot of different compelling stories from both ends. It’s incumbent upon us to get more educated.”

A workshop likely will be scheduled in September.

Published August 17, 2016

Healthy lunch options, for children and adults

August 17, 2016 By Betsy Crisp

It’s that time of year when parents are asking: How can I pack a healthier lunch for my children?

Well, here are some ideas that will help parents pack healthy lunches for their children, and for themselves, too.

Sandwiches are a popular option, but can be made healthier when following these pointers:

Use 100 percent whole wheat or multi-grain bread; 100 percent whole wheat pita pockets; or, 100 percent whole wheat tortilla wraps. Be sure to read the labels to find the ones that are lowest in saturated fat/trans fats.
Skip the chips. Instead, pack popcorn, pretzels or whole grain cereal trail mix (see recipe).
Add an apple, orange, tangerine, natural applesauce, fruit cup or dried fruits.
Include veggies: Lettuce, shredded carrots, avocado slices (avocado is great with turkey or lean roast beef).
Cheese: Buy store brand blocks of low-fat, low-sodium cheeses. Slice it yourself to save money, or use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes.
Instead of lunchmeat, enjoy some leftover grilled chicken, lean pork or an egg white salad sandwich.

Be sure to keep your sandwiches fresh and safe by packing them with an icepack or frozen water/100% juice pack that can thaw by lunchtime.

lunchboxgraphic rgb — (Courtesy of Betsy Crisp)

Also, remember that size matters. Children need smaller portions depending on their size, age and activity level. so you measure in tablespoons, quarter-cups, half a sandwich, etc. For example, toddlers need tablespoons, not cups. Cutting sandwiches into quarters makes lunch more interesting, and kid-size.

Instead of sandwiches, leftovers are another quick, easy and inexpensive lunch option.

You can use a thermos to keep your foods safe, as well as hot or cold. Some good options include low-sodium soups such as tomato, vegetable or bean; chili made with lean ground beef or turkey; whole wheat spaghetti with low-sodium tomato sauce; or low-sodium baked beans, bean casserole, or beans and rice mix.

Of course, most people enjoy a snack. Here are some ideas for for healthy afterschool snacks:

Apple or pear slices to dip into low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt or peanut butter
Carrots, celery, or colorful sweet bell peppers cut into fun shapes or strips to dip into hummus or salsa
Whole grain crackers (Be sure to read the labels to find those lower in sodium, saturated and trans fats)
Slices of grilled low sodium tofu (a soybean product) to dunk into low sodium vegetable or tomato soup
Unsalted sunflower seeds

Here’s another thought. Get your kids involved in making their own lunches.

When children help pack their own lunch, they are much more likely to eat that lunch and not to trade it or throw it away.

You can help your children plan their lunches for the week, and then you can build a new list for the next week, and them combine lists for future weeks, and so on.

You can teach your children about good nutrition and give them healthy choices, as well. Take them to the store as you shop and let them pick items to add to their lunch.

Have them help you make lunches the night before school, to save time in the morning.

You can store lunches in the fridge, so it is just grab-n-go during the morning rush to get out the door.

You can help your children develop good habits that will last them a lifetime.

For more guidance, visit MyPlate.Gov.

This column was adapted from the following two sources: The American Heart Association – How to Pack a Healthy School Lunch and FDA – 4 Tips for a Healthy and Stress-Free Lunchbox.

Betsy Crisp is an Extension Family & Consumer Sciences agent and a licensed dietitian for the University of Florida/IFAS. She is based in Pasco County and can be reached at .

Healthy Homemade Trail Mix
Ingredients
¼ cup raisins
¼ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup sunflower seeds
1 cup mini-pretzels (1 cup)
1 cup whole grain toasted oat cereal Os
1 cup (or more) toasted corn, rice, wheat, multi-bran or combination cereal
1 cup low-fat granola

Directions
Measure ingredients into large bowl. Stir to mix.
Portion into snack bags to add to lunchbox or grab a bag after school for a pre-portioned snack.

Published August 17, 2016

Health News 08/17/2016

August 17, 2016 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Hospital recognizes innovators
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point awarded two employees with the HCA Innovators Award, which is designed to further connect employees to the HCA organization and reward them for innovative ideas that contribute to improvement at all levels.

Awards are given in three categories at local facilities, the division level and the corporate levels. Facility-level winners receive $1,000, a plaque, a front-row parking spot or pass in the physicians’ parking lot for a full year, a large dish garden, a copy of the book “The Life & Legacy of Dr. Thomas F. Frist Sr.,” and a personal letter signed by Frist. RMCBP recognized pharmacists Nicholas Rigopoulos and UJ Patel, for an IV sterile compounding monitoring tracker. From left: UJ Patel; Shayne George, the hospital’s CEO; and, Nicholas Rigopoulos.

Oak Hill Hospital earns distinction
Florida Blue has selected Oak Hill Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center+ for knee and hip replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.

Hospitals designated for knee and hip replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. Designated hospitals must also maintain national accreditation.

Hospital’s heart care is ‘golden’
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills was awarded the Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures as outlined by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.

Hospitals that receive the gold plus award have reached an aggressive goal of treating heart failure or stroke patients with an 85 percent or higher compliance to core standard levels for 24 consecutive months.

The hospital’s Heart Institute celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

For information on the Heart Institute and program, visit HeartExpertsPasco.com.

Academy students the ‘best’
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills hosted the B.E.S.T. Summer Academy for high school students interested in pursuing a career as a physician, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, dentist or other health professional.

The academy was founded by Dr. Dexter Frederick, internist/pediatrician, who still has an active role in the program.

Participating students from Pasco and Hillsborough counties had to complete an application, have a GPA of at least 3.0, and participate in an interview before being accepted.

The students accepted at FHZ rotated through different departments, including surgery, and shadowed health care professionals. Students also took classes that included anatomy, vital signs, diabetes management and prevention, and emergency care for minor injuries.

For information on the academy and how to apply, visit TampaBestAcademy.com.

We’re all summoned to battle Zika’s threat

August 10, 2016 By Tom Jackson

As promised — no, as feared — Zika has come ashore, invading Florida, most likely from Latin America, replicating the first wave of a map from a science fiction movie. Soon, because we are mobile and restless, it could be everywhere.

What emerged out of a Ugandan rainforest, a virus that sickens some adults with aches and rashes but is linked to horrific deformities to babies in the womb, has come to America the modern way: not through the vampiric work of infected flying insects, but probably on the wings of Boeing jets, or aboard a luxury cruise ship.

Dennis Moore, Pasco County’s mosquito control director, holds a container with Aedes aegypti young adults — some are still in the larval stage. (Tom Jackson/Photo) — Dennis Moore, Pasco County’s mosquito control director, holds a container with Aedes aegypti young adults — some are still in the larval stage.
(Tom Jackson/Photo)

Somebody visited someplace where Zika is rampant, picked it up and came home, possibly — because the symptoms in adults often are too subtle to notice — without knowing he was sick.

But now that it’s here, it’s most likely mosquitos — specifically the aggressive, daylight-active Aedes (from the Greek for “odious”) aegypti — that will enable its spread.

The good news, to the extent that anything regarding Zika can be regarded as good, is that as of late last week, reports of the virus being spread by mosquitos remained contained to Miami. Otherwise, Zika cases across the state, including about a half-dozen in Pasco County and 10 in Hillsborough County, are evidently travel-related.

That, of course, could change overnight. An infected person back from vacation goes out for the night, suffers a bite, and what started as an exotic respite in Belize or St. Martin triggers an outbreak back home.

Which is why, more than ever, we need to know what’s going on at the Pasco County Mosquito Control District. To be sure, we remain on the front line of beating back the menace of the opportunistic Aedes aegypti, which uses our bad — or at least risky — habits to its reproductive advantage.

Mosquitos rely on collections of still water for egg-laying and early stage development. While its cousins prefer natural collection points, such as water lettuce, water hyacinths, ditches and tidal puddles, Aedes aegypti seeks out human-caused pools, everything from discarded tires to bird baths to mop buckets to the kids’ beach toys.

If it’s outside and it’ll hold water, it’s even money the female Aedes aegypti considers it a nursery.

Everybody who’s spent time in the South, especially Florida, already knows — or ought to know — this. Oddly, though, it’s usually not until reports of some alarming public health menace makes the news that most of us take a mental inventory of the possible collection sites under our jurisdiction.

Well, that and you’re under the icy, cobalt gaze of entomologist Dennis Moore, Pasco’s mosquito control director, who has three words for us: “Drain and cover.”

I might have gone with “Dump and cover,” because it sounds more like “duck and cover,” but the message is the same. We should deny Zika’s “vector” mosquito breeding space wherever we can, but because we can’t count on our neighbors, we should cover ourselves (with clothes and effective insect repellant) and our residences (with screens in good repair).

Moore says this even as the part of the district’s program with which we are most familiar — the distinctly orange spray trucks — prepare for another night of going to war with mosquitos out for a “blood meal.”

What we might not know, but find reassuring, is the district also employs airborne tactics — a pair of low-flying Aztec airplanes and a couple of helicopters — to attack mosquitos in rural and coastal areas in their larval stage; airboats to kill off lake and pond vegetation that collects water; amphibious vehicles to go where airboats cannot go; and, where vehicular intervention or mass attacks are impractical, handheld foggers for that personal touch.

What we also might not know, but find fascinating, is that craftsmen, welders and mechanics working for the district fabricate much of what Pasco’s mosquito hunters use. This is not due to a lack of off-the-shelf stuff, Moore says, but because his people can take the elemental parts — a Briggs & Stratton engine and a sprayer, for instance — and create the blower linkage that makes a better, cheaper mosquito killer.

“And, when it breaks,” Moore says, “we know how to fix it, because we built it.”

For instance, those pesticide-holding tanks on the bottoms of the Aztecs? They’re fiberglass sprung from molds fashioned by the machine shop. You can buy them off the rack for about $30,000, Moore explains, but the district’s do-it-themselves tanks cost about one-sixth as much.

Meanwhile, back in the lab, researchers are growing mosquitos, which become tiny wriggling and buzzing lab rats for the testing of various types and combinations of mosquito-specific pesticides and growth-inhibitors.

And, they know where to spray because of a full-time trapping program.

Why the fussiness? Because the Pasco Mosquito Control District is an agency unto itself, with a board (two of whom face re-election challengers in November) and a $6 million budget that corresponds with a line item on Pasco property owners’ tax bills.

Being responsible for itself means being able to pivot more quickly when conditions change. Nobody has to go to the county commission for an emergency budget adjustment.

On that front, nothing changes until it does, Moore says, “and then, it’ll change fast and a lot.”

To meet the challenge, the agency would add staff and ramp up training, both of which could challenge the district’s bottom line. If that happens, the three-member board will have some choices to make. But they will be their choices, not the choices of a county commission with layers of concerns.

For now, the capable folks at the district will do what they can to make our next barbecue, sidewalk cafe visit, after-work golf getaway or trip to the park as nuisance-free as science can make it.

But, like the man said, they can’t do it alone, and Zika is out there. Drain and cover, y’all. Drain and cover.

Tom Jackson, a resident of New Tampa, is interested in your ideas. To reach him, email .

Published August 10, 2016