Health

Health News – 05/04/2016

May 4, 2016 By Mary Rathman

enjoy working with seniors and those with disabilities
plan to volunteer 20 hours a month
pass a background check (paid for by the program)
complete certification training
communicate well
attend a monthly meeting

Those interested in becoming an ombudsman, can visit Ombudsman.MyFlorida.com, or call (888) 831-0404.

Free neuropathy clinic
A free, volunteer-run clinic is open for the education and support of people who have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.
CARE TampaBay provides education and support in the following areas: coping with neuropathy, dealing with physical limitations, home safety, and symptom management. The clinic is available by appointment only, and is now taking appointments for May and June.
For more information and appointments, contact Cindy Tofthagen at (813) 396-9441 or .

Strength & balance class
The Grove Golf and Country Club, 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’ Lakes, will host the “Silver Sneakers Strength & Balance Class” on Wednesdays at 9 a.m., and Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
These are low-impact classes for men and women to help improve flexibility and balance, which may help prevent falls, broken hips and other injuries. Strength exercises may include lifting handheld weights, using tubing, and your own body resistance and core muscles.
The classes are free to Silver Sneakers members, and $5 per session ($30 per calendar month) for non-members.
For information, contact Tom Marbell at (352) 409-2984 or .

Center for veterans
The Pasco County Vet Center, 5139 Deer Park Drive in New Port Richey, provides counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, bereavement counseling, marriage and family counseling, and resources for benefits information and suicide prevention referrals.
The center is open Monday to Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Some Saturday appointments are available.
All services are confidential and provided at no cost to the veteran and family members.
To learn more, or to schedule a tour of the facility, call (727) 372-1854.
Information is also available at www.vetcenter.va.gov.

Lutz Nar-Anon family group
The Nar-Anon Family Groups are a worldwide fellowship for those affected by someone else’s addiction. The 12-step program offers shared experiences, strength and hope.
The Lutz Nar-Anon group meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m., in the sanctuary at Hope Church, 5107 Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.
For information on the program, visit NarAnonFl.org, or call the help line at (888) 947-8885.

Converting caps into love, through service project

April 27, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The culmination of donations over eight months was quite a sight at Saint Leo University recently.

Dozens of students, faculty and staff gathered on April 18 at the university’s northeast campus parking lot to witness 14 pallets — containing 8,000 pounds of plastic bottle caps — being loaded onto a 53-foot trailer, and sent to Bluegrass Recycling in Kentucky.

This school year, the university collaborated with Caps of Love, a Florida-based, nonprofit organization that recycles three grades of plastic caps and lids that are sold to the Kentucky-based recycling company.

All proceeds from the recycling are used to purchase new and refurbished wheelchairs that are donated to children in the United States with mobility disabilities.

(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo) Students gather to see pallets full of bottle caps loaded onto a 53-foot truck that will send them to a recycling center in Kentucky. They have been collecting caps since August. — Students gather to see pallets full of bottle caps loaded onto a 53-foot truck that will send them to a recycling center in Kentucky. They have been collecting caps since August. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

Since 2014, Caps of Love has provided 32 wheelchairs to people under the age of 21, that are in need.

The charitable organization was founded over nine years ago by Valerie Mathieu of West Palm Beach, and it received its 501 (c) (3) status about four years ago.

After learning about a similar charity overseas, Mathieu figured she’d bring the program to the U.S. She was impressed by both its environmental and humanitarian components.

“It’s primarily an environmental charity and educating children on how to recycle properly—how to identify what is recyclable,” Mathieu said. “Our country is not really good at recycling, so this is an easy way to learn how to recycle and identify the different grades of plastic. …At the same time, we have the humanitarian side where we’re providing wheelchairs for handicapped children in the U.S.”

With many wheelchairs ranging from $5,000 to well over $22,000, the expense is often a financial burden for families with special needs children, Mathieu said.

“Insurance gives them a basic wheelchair, and they only receive wheelchairs every couple of years, so they outgrow it, and it’s up to the parents to just purchase a new one,” Mathieu said, noting her organization will soon give out 70 more wheelchairs. ”We also have a lot of families in this country that do not have insurance, and their children do not get wheelchairs, so that’s where we come in,” Mathieu said.

The program’s simplicity and purpose made it an ideal fit for the university to participate in the philanthropy project, satisfying its ‘community’ core value, said Heidi D’ Ambrosio, senior coordinator for Residence Life.

“We’d have competitions at the (residence) halls of who could collect the most caps,” D’ Ambrosio said. “We’d have sorting events, and we’d spend hours sorting them, because they have to be in three different grades.”

The three grades of plastic caps they recycled were polypropylene No. 5, and polyethylene No. 2 and No. 4 plastic caps, which are valuable in bulk.

“The most important thing is getting the three different grades collected correctly,” Mathieu said. “All three grades have about the same value and are sold by the pound, but when they’re mixed together, they have no value.”

With over 14 collection sites throughout the Saint Leo campus, the program quickly spread through word of mouth, as Greek Life organizations and student affairs staff members got involved.

“It (became) a constant thing that when you have a bottle cap, you put it in the basket,” said Ashley Montas, a freshman criminal justice major. “It’s pretty easy.”

Ryliegh D’ Ambrosio, a freshman psychology major, said the program helped unite the university.

“I feel that it brought sororities and (other) departments all together on campus for a good cause,” she said. “I didn’t realize how many (caps) it was until we finished.”

Community service hours were calculated based on the number of caps brought in. For example, if a student brought in 100 caps, they were rewarded with one service hour, and if they brought in 200 caps, they received two service hours.

“We’d like to continue this because we have so many people now that want to get involved with it,” D’ Ambrosio said.

For more information about Caps of Love, visit CapsOfLove.com.

Published April 27, 2016

Celebrating health care services in Lacoochee

April 27, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The Lacoochee Family Health Center, a Premier Community Healthcare Group satellite location, hosted an open house on April 20 to celebrate the location’s first anniversary.

The event was at the Stanley Park Lacoochee Community Center in Dade City.

The center served nearly 400 patients during 2015, according to a news release.

The Lacoochee health center opened in response to a need expressed by the community, said Cheryl Pollock, director of business development for Premier.

Cheryl Pollock is director of business development for Premier Community Healthcare Group, which provides quality, accessible medical care to underserved communities in Pasco County. (Courtesy of Cheryl Pollock)

Premier is dedicated to providing high quality, affordable, accessible medical care to Medicaid/Medicare recipients, uninsured and underserved communities of Pasco County.

Premier provides a full range of comprehensive primary care medical services that include family medicine, pediatrics, dental, behavioral health, obstetrics and gynecology.

The center in Lacoochee was opened in response to the community’s request for more accessible health care, Pollock said. Most of its patients walk to the clinic.

It provides a wide range of services, and it can provide bus passes to help people who need to go to other locations for services it doesn’t provide, Pollock said.

The center in Lacoochee is not funded with grant money, so its operations must be paid for through fundraising efforts, she added.

Statistics for the first year of operations show that 47 percent of patients were on Medicaid, 31 percent were uninsured or opted to self-pay, 12 percent were classified with private insurance, 6 percent were on Medicare, and 4 percent were classified as “other.”

Of those served, 24 percent were under age 17, and the rest were adults.

Also, 37 percent of all patients received services through same-day appointments.

The 600-square-foot clinic is staffed by a nurse, a provider and a clerical worker, Pollock said.

The equipment and furnishings were provided by the Florida Medical Clinic Foundation. The clinic space is also provided for free, through a coalition of community organizations.

The anniversary celebration was held to help draw attention to the center and to encourage more people to take advantage of the availability of primary health care services in the area.

Those attending had a chance to pick up information about health care services and enjoy some refreshments.

Premier Community Healthcare has eight offices throughout Pasco County.

Published April 27, 2016

Health News 04/27/2016

April 27, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Handmade with care
Women from the Silver Sneakers program at James P. Gills YMCA delivered handmade blankets and shawls to the patients at the Gulfside Center for Hospice Care at Heather Hill. There were pink crocheted blankets and shawls for the women, and brown blankets for the men. The group left extra blankets for incoming patients, as well as bags of toiletry supplies. From left, Nancy Frazier, Lori Fridy, Glenda Hunter, Arline Kovacs and Gulfside representative Jennifer Chianella.

Campbell is employee of the year
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has recognized Corey Campbell, registered nurse, neuro spine, as its ninth annual Employee of the Year. Campbell exemplifies employee excellence and was recommended by the Employee Advisory Group. The employee is chosen from each of the hospital’s employees of the month.
Campbell received a $250 cash gift award, a front-row parking space for a year, and a plaque in his honor.
The employees of the month for 2015 were: Teresa Beck, Corey Campbell, Keith Cotter, Diana Henry, Gregory Howard, Michael Madden, Michael Wayne McDaniel, Charles Parker, Susan Schillace, Gina Tannenbaum and Anna Van Zyl.

Crisis center adds board members
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay’s Board of Directors has elected four new members.
• Roger Boothroyd, professor at the University of South Florida’s Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, College of Behavioral Community Sciences
• Nancy Sternitzky, vice president Technology Solutions & Program Management at GTE Financial
• Timothy J. Sweeney, of Sweeney Interventions
• Dr. Kaley Tash, USF Health Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine
For information on the nonprofit center, visit CrisisCenter.com.

Ombudsman advocates needed
Florida’s Long-term Care Ombudsman Program has advocate positions available in Hillsborough County. Volunteers visit with residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes to ensure they 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 need to: enjoy working with seniors and those with disabilities; volunteer 20 hours a month; pass a background check (paid for by the program); complete certification training; communicate well; attend a monthly meeting.
Those interested in becoming an ombudsman, can visit Ombudsman.MyFlorida.com, or call (888) 831-0404.

National Donate Life Month
April is the federally sanctioned Donate Life Month. Throughout the month, LifeLink of Florida honors the spirit of those individuals who make transplants possible – organ, tissue and eye donors.
One organ donor can potentially save the lives of eight people, and improve the lives of dozens more through tissue donation. Donation places no financial burden on the donor’s family. People of all ages can choose to donate. Donation is supported by all major religions as a personal choice and act of generosity.
For more information on organ and tissue donation, call (800) 262-5775, or visit LifeLinkFoundation.org.

Sharing strategies to prevent substance abuse

April 20, 2016 By B.C. Manion

While there are no easy ways to stop substance abuse, there are steps that can be taken to reduce it.

Those strategies will be the focus of discussion during the fifth annual Substance Abuse Prevention Conference planned for April 29 at Saddlebrook Resort.

The event is being presented by BayCare Behavioral Health and Pasco ASAP. The conference is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel.

Lt. Commander Michael Muni, who served on President Obama’s Task Force on Heroin, will address the need for local heroes to help reduce substance abuse. (Photos courtesy of PascoAsap.com) — Lt. Commander Michael Muni, who served on President Obama’s Task Force on Heroin, will address the need for local heroes to help reduce substance abuse.
(Photos courtesy of PascoAsap.com)

“It’s a community conference, so it’s really our opportunity to get new people to take a stake in the coalition and the work of the coalition,” said Monica Rousseau, Pasco County ASAP Coordinator and conference co-chair.

The conference theme is “Strengthening Our Community: Creating Healthy Solutions.”

Throughout the day, speakers and presenters will share their expertise, solutions and tools. There also will be more than 20 vendors representing behavioral health providers and businesses. There will be panel discussions and breakout sessions, as well as keynote speakers.

“From my perspective, the main goal is to get people pumped about tackling substance abuse disorders and substance misuse in Pasco County, and getting people to realize that everybody has a stake in this, and everybody can do something,” Rousseau said.

Substance abuse is a problem that has wide-ranging impacts and can’t simply be left to “others” to resolve, she said.

“These are not just issues that need to be solved by politicians. They’re not just issues that need to be solved by community leaders. Regular, everyday, community members — parents, teachers, people without kids. Everybody has a role,” Rousseau said.

“It’s not just people that are abusing or misusing drugs that are affected. Everybody is affected,” she added.

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano, a former Florida lawmaker who spearheaded the state’s prescription drug monitoring program, will open the conference.

BayCare Health System’s CEO Stephen R. Mason will talk about wellness and health care integration at the conference.

Other speakers include BayCare Healthcare System’s CEO Stephen R. Mason, who will talk about wellness and health care integration and Lt. Commander Michael Muni, who served on President Obama’s Task Force on Heroin.

“The real takeaway from this conference is that people will learn strategies,” Rousseau said.

“You will come and be inspired to take home solutions to apply to where you live, work and play,” she added.

One panel will feature Kurt Browning, superintendent, Pasco County Schools; Doug Leonardo, executive director, BayCare Behavioral Health; Kelly Mothershead, owner, A Focus on Fitness Transformation Studio and Salon; Michael J. Napier, administrator, Florida Department of Health Pasco County; Chris Nocco, Pasco County Sheriff, and Kathryn Starkey, Pasco County Commissioner. Panelists will address the community’s response to substance abuse in Pasco County.

“Each of them are tackling substance abuse, in one way or another,” Rousseau said.

Young people will be moderating the Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s panel, and will be raising questions on a number of issues, Rousseau said.

The conference also will address an effort that’s underway to respond to substance abuse differently than in the past, she said.

Previously, she said, “substance abuse has been treated as a separate entity. We’re really trying to move toward integrating it into general health and wellness conversations.

“By treating it as something separate, we’re only facilitating that stigma,” she said.

Rousseau said the community also needs to change its mindset about the issue.

“When I moved here, people asked me: ‘Why would you move here? This is the pill capital of the world, and it’s never going to change.’ And, I would look at them and go, ‘No, I’m here to change that.’’’

People need to realize: “You’re making it worse by saying that,” Rousseau said.

She hopes the conference will help inspire more people to get involved in her coalition, which is made up of volunteers.

“We know anecdotally that teachers really need help. They don’t know how to de-escalate the situation. They don’t know what to do with students who are presenting with behavioral problems. And, it’s burning them out.

“We need to teach them (teachers) strategies. We need to teach parents strategies.

“In order to do that and have a big impact, we need community members who are interested enough and passionate enough to learn this information, and share it,” Rousseau said.

Fifth annual Substance Abuse Conference
Speakers will talk about strategies to reduce substance abuse
When: April 29, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Saddlebrook Resort, 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel
Cost: $15 until April 20; $25 after that. Lunch is included.
To learn more about the conference and to register, visit PascoAsap.com.

Published April 20, 2016

Kimberly Cicanese receives DAISY award

April 13, 2016 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills)

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills presented registered nurse Kimberly Cicanese with the most recent DAISY Award for excellence in nursing. Cicanese joined the hospital in 2012 and works in surgical services, and was nominated by a patient. Cicanese received a certificate and a sculpture called ‘A Healer’s Touch,’ the design of which originates from the Shona Tribe in Africa.

Pasco County health rankings improve from last year

March 30, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

On average, Pasco County residents are slightly healthier than they were last year.

Out of Florida’s 67 counties, Pasco ranks 37th in health outcomes, according to the University of Wisconsin’s 2016 County Heath Rankings & Roadmaps tool.

That’s four spots better than the county’s ranking last year, when it came in at 41st in the state.

Pasco County ranked 37th out of Florida’s 67 counties for health outcomes in 2016. The county ranked 41st in 2015. (Photos courtesy of Pasco County Health Department) — Pasco County ranked 37th out of Florida’s 67 counties for health outcomes in 2016. The county ranked 41st in 2015.
(Photos courtesy of Pasco County Health Department)

The rankings are a broad measure summarizing county residents’ health status and quality of life.

Comparatively, Hillsborough County ranked 28th in health outcomes in the last two years.

The main reason for the rankings jump can be linked to improvements in the “quality of life” indicator, said Mike Napier, Pasco County’s health officer.

The county leaped from 45th to 24th in the “quality of life” category, which consists of four elements — percentage of residents in poor or fair health, number of poor physical health days per resident, number of poor mental health days per resident and low birth weight percentage.

Napier noted county residents have reported “feeling better than in the past.”

“Part of good health is people feel good,” the health officer said. “That may not mean they’re as healthy when you look at their blood work or all the things they should be, but if you feel healthy, that’s definitely a good sign.”

Napier hopes the county can rise into the “20s” or the top third of the health outcomes ranking by 2020.

To reach that goal, Napier said the department is focusing on creating better access to care—like a mobile dental bus — and decreasing the prevalence of chronic diseases, such as smoking and obesity.

“The big overarching issues are access to care and chronic disease,” he said. “Then you drill down into that a little bit—smoking continues to be a concern that we have people working on, on a daily basis. Obesity continues to be a problem for Pasco, as well as the nation. Obesity is just a symptom. There are a lot of factors that go into obesity, like getting people to eat healthier, and get physical activity.”

Pasco County health officer Mike Napier said he’d like to see Pasco County rise into the top third of the health outcomes ranking of all Florida counties by 2020.

According to the rankings, the percentage of adult smokers in Pasco decreased from 26 percent in 2015 to 17 percent this year. However, adult obesity (Body Mass Index of 30 or more) increased slightly, from 29 percent to 30 percent.

In an effort to make the county’s roughly 485,000 residents “healthier,” Napier’s department is working to create collaborative efforts with “nontraditional” partners, such as local chambers of commerce, rotary clubs and private businesses.

Napier hopes these partnerships will have a greater “collective impact” on the community in raising awareness about the negative effects of smoking, promoting better health through healthier eating and perhaps by instituting more exercise options, such as building more bike paths.

“A lot of us are working on the same things, but we don’t always talk to each other about those same things, so we’re trying to bring groups together that are working on common problems,” Napier said. “It’s organized a little better, so we’re all going in the same direction.”

The Pasco County Department of Health has also aligned with organizations like United Way, Alliance for Substance Abuse of Pasco (ASAP) and Premier Health, a fully qualified health center, to help facilitate and fund additional activities for the community.

“We’ve got a lot of great services in our community. We just don’t have a lot of great organization to have that all in a way, where you…combine resources and you get more done with two people doing the same thing,” Napier said.

While the health department is trying to do its part to raise the wellness profile of Pasco residents, Napier pointed out that it will take collaboration and buy-in to achieve the desired results.

“If we get into the 20s ranking, it will be because the community came around the idea, and we collectively made that happen,” Napier said.

The 2016 health outcome ranking for Florida’s 67 counties was recently released. The measure focuses on a county resident’s average length of life and quality of life.

Top five counties for health outcomes:
St. Johns, Collier, Sarasota, Martin, Seminole

Bottom five counties for health outcomes:
Hamilton, Madison, Putnam, Union, Gadsden

Published March 30, 2016

New leadership for CARES

March 30, 2016 By Mary Rathman

CARES (Community Aging & Retirement Services) Board of Directors announced Jemith Rosa, of Ocala, accepted the position of president/CEO. Rosa succeeds Bill Aycrigg, who retired after 28 years of service to CARES.

For 20 years, Rosa was employed as associate director with Marion County Senior Services, where she managed multiple state and federally funded programs, and provided leadership in directing, marketing, administering and government affairs to the nonprofit organization.

She and her husband have relocated to Pasco County in the community of Beacon Woods.

Health News 03/23/2016

March 23, 2016 By Mary Rathman

Doctor’s Day is March 30
Throughout the year, physicians impact the lives of many of our friends and families, and yet a single day of thanks doesn’t seem enough to do their work justice. For all they have done, Bayfront Health Dade City encourages everyone to thank a physician on Doctor’s Day, March 30, for the lives they’ve improved, the fears they’ve alleviated, the pain they’ve eased, and the care they’ve offered.

Dr. Kiran Musunuru, left, with his father, Dr. Rao Musunuru, have received many national awards and recognitions over the years. (Courtesy of Kurt Conover) — Dr. Kiran Musunuru, left, with his father, Dr. Rao Musunuru, have received many national awards and recognitions over the years.
(Courtesy of Kurt Conover)

Kiran Musunuru receives presidential award
Dr. Kiran Musunuru, board-certified cardiologist, has been chosen to receive the “Presidential Early Career Award” for scientists and engineers. This is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent careers. He was also selected to receive a different prestigious national award for his scientific and volunteer work from the American Heart Association last summer.

Kiran is the son of well-known Dr. Rao Musunuru, who has been practicing cardiology, serving residents of Pasco and Hernando counties since 1981, and has been instrumental in establishing the Heart Institute at the Regional Medical Center in Hudson.

Kiran was raised by his parents in Pasco County. He received his medical degree from Cornell University, his doctor of philosophy from Rockefeller University, and his master of public health from Johns Hopkins.

He is pursuing genomic research to find a “cure” for heart disease, and is presently working to develop a once-in-a-lifetime vaccine for the prevention of coronary heart disease.

The center is open Monday to Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Some Saturday appointments are available.

All services are confidential and provided at no cost to the veteran and family members.

To learn more, or to schedule a tour of the facility, call (727) 372-1854.

Information is also available at www.vetcenter.va.gov.

Lutz senior facility honored
Magnolia Manor Assisted Living in Lutz has earned a Best of Senior Living Award from SeniorAdvisor.com.

The award is basing on ratings of actual residents and their loved ones. The website has more than 100,000 reviews and ratings for senior care options across the country, all provided by seniors and their loved ones.

SeniorAdvisor.com narrows the list of more than 100,000 senior care providers included on the website to those that have earned at least a 4.5-star rating (out of 5) from reviewers. Only about 1 percent of the nation’s senior living facilities make the cut.

If your top priority in choosing a facility is to keep your loved ones close, or to find a home that offers memory care, or to stick to a specific price range, visit SeniorAdvisor.com.

Hospital shows off its new cath lab

March 16, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel had an open house to show off its new cardiac catheterization lab on March 13, unveiling the first completed project in the hospital’s $78 million expansion.

About 100 people registered to take the guided tour through the new lab and to learn about the technology that will be used to help treat patients at the hospital.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is in the midst of a $78 million expansion that will add 111,993 square feet of new construction and 10,834 square feet of renovation. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is in the midst of a $78 million expansion that will add 111,993 square feet of new construction and 10,834 square feet of renovation.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

After seeing the equipment and hearing about its capabilities, James R. Carner was impressed.

“You guys have got a great lab,” said Carner, who is an account executive for Central Payment Corporation.

“I love technology,” he said. “I’ve got no problem with coming in and letting them take care of me – with all of this.

“At least I could rest easy knowing I’d be taken care of, if anything did ever happen to me. That’s awesome,” said Carner, who is also an ambassador for The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

Providing high-quality care within the community is the hospital’s aim, said Denyse Bales-Chubb, president and CEO of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

“I think it’s wonderful to be able to provide the state-of-the-art technology here in Wesley Chapel, for our community and for the people who live here,” she said.

Michael Baird, from Medtronic, is holding a cryoballoon, used for freezing during an AFib ablation.

“No one wants to have to travel to get care. They want it right in their backyards.

“You can just have that comfort that you can come here and get taken care of; you don’t have to travel clear downtown,” Bales-Chubb said.

The opening of the new cath lab signals just the beginning of the hospital’s new facilities.

The expansion will be opening in stages, Bales-Chubb said. As a wing or a suite is finished, the state inspectors will be coming in to inspect, so that portion of the expansion can be opened.

“We’re very excited about that. Everything is still on schedule to have everything completed by December 2016,” the hospital executive said.

The expansion includes 62 additional inpatient beds, 17 additional emergency room beds and 18 observation beds.

The expansion involves adding three floors to the hospital’s center wing, and constructing an additional three-story wing that connects the south and center wings.

The expansion involves 111,993 square feet of new construction and 10,834 square feet of renovation.

Besides the additional rooms, the hospital is adding more emergency rooms, surgical suites and shelled space for future growth.

Kevin Webb, of Saint Jude Medical, is running an Ensite Velocity machine, which is Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel’s 3-D mapping machine. In essence, it allows a second set of eyes to watch what is going on during a procedure, Webb says.

When fully completed, the expansion will yield about 200 more full-time equivalent jobs, Bales-Chubb said.

Besides the tour, there was also a ribbon cutting ceremony with representatives from The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the Trinity Odessa Chamber of Commerce.

The hospital also hosted the MEGA Heart Exhibit, giving the community a chance to learn more about heart health in a portable walkthrough heart exhibit.

Those stepping inside the exhibit, could learn about cardiovascular functions, observe examples of various types of heart disease, and see information about some of the latest medical treatments for heart problems.

Published March 16, 2016