The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Health News 07-22-15

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(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills)
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills)

Marie Stewart is employee of the year
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills has named Marie Stewart at Employee of the Year for 2014. Stewart works in environmental services for the hospital. She is responsible for the operating room and pre-op areas within the hospital, and was recognized for her reliability, quality of work, initiative and professionalism.

Gulfside Hospice receives award for spiritual care
Gulfside Hospice was recognized at the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association’s Awards of Excellence luncheon in Orlando with an award for its Spiritual Care Volunteer Program.

Gulfside received the Excellence in Program Innovation in Clinical Practice award, which recognizes services and programs provided by a hospice organization that demonstrate the power of creativity and ingenuity to impact clinical practice and the community.

Gulfside began the program in 2013 to help the chaplains spend more time with complex spiritual cases while developing different resources for patients with less acute spiritual needs.

In 2014, Gulfside added to the program with the introduction of volunteer spiritual care counselors to visit home patients. The volunteers and counselors collectively visited 279 patients, for a total of 1,765 visits and 1,303 hours.

For information about the Spiritual Care Volunteer Program or to become a volunteer with the program, call Aaron Lever at (727) 992-7969.

Penny Heinrich joins Florida Cancer Affiliates
Florida Cancer Affiliates announced the addition of Dr. Penny Heinrich at its Trinity location, 3611 Little Road.

Heinrich comes from the Lewis Hall Singletary Oncology Center, affiliated with Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville, Georgia.

Heinrich received a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of South Florida, where she completed post-baccalaureate studies in science. Her residency and internship in internal medicine was completed at Louisiana State University in New Orleans.

Health News 06-24-15

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Health department services relocating
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County, Environmental Health Services’ Office, located at 11611 Denton Ave., in Hudson, and 4135 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, will be relocating.

Both Environmental Health offices will be closed June 25 at 12:30 p.m., and reopen on June 29 at 8 a.m., at the new location at 5640 Main St., in New Port Richey.

Services will be available at the Dade City office, 13941 Fifth St., during the transition.

For information, call (727) 861-5661.

Students learn about medical careers
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills has chosen 20 students from various Pasco high schools to participate it its 2015 B.E.S.T. Academy Camp Program. The program gives students with high academic standing the opportunity to work side-by-side with experienced health care professionals.

The program also provides hands-on experience in real life situations to help students understand the function of each department. Activities include hospital rotations, workshops on health careers and health issues, guest speakers and more.

The two-week program began June 15 and will end with an award ceremony June 26.

Three hospitals earn an ‘A’ for patient safety
The Medical Center of Trinity, Oak Hill Hospital and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point have been recognized with an “A” safety score by The Leapfrog Group.

The hospital safety score was compiled based on preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

To see the hospitals’ scores compared nationally, visit HospitalSafetyScore.org.

Citrus Park ER ready for patients
The Medical Center of Trinity has opened the Citrus Park ER, a full-service, 24/7 freestanding emergency department at 12922 Sheldon Road in Tampa.

The ER offers private treatment rooms, board-certified emergency room physicians, on-site diagnostic services, telemedicine capabilities, paramedics and more.

The ER is able to care for asthma, respiratory disorders, bone fractures, concussions, digestive disorders, heart and vascular condition, urinary tract infections and more.

For information, call (813) 282-2850, or visit MedicalCenterTrinity.com.

Britten receives Lifetime Achievement Award
The Hillsborough County Dental Association has recognized Dr. Leonard L. Britten with its 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award, for his outstanding leadership, dedication and devoted service to the dental profession and the association.

Britten has served as president of HCDA, chaired its Peer Review Committee, and has spent 27 years as a Florida Dental Association delegate from Hillsborough County. He is also past president of the Hillsborough County Dental Research Clinic.

Britten holds active memberships in various professional organizations and currently serves as vice chair of the Florida Board of Dentistry, assistant dental exam supervisor for the Florida Department of Health, and team dentist for the University of South Florida Athletic Department.

He is a Tampa native, graduated from USF and received a degree from Emory University.

 

Florida Medical Clinic’s expansion story continues

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Florida Medical Clinic is continuing to expand at a brisk pace, with an 85,000-square-foot facility expected to open near Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel in March 2016, and a 15,000-square-foot expansion at its facility on State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes now under way.

The new projects are part of a story that dates back to 1993, when four practices in Zephyrhills decided to merge to gain advantages they could not secure independently, said Chris Alvarez, the health care provider’s chief financial officer.

Florida Medical Clinic’s new 85,000-square-foot location in Wesley Chapel will be a three-story building. It is expected to open in March 2016. (Courtesy of Florida Medical Clinic)
Florida Medical Clinic’s new 85,000-square-foot location in Wesley Chapel will be a three-story building. It is expected to open in March 2016.
(Courtesy of Florida Medical Clinic)

Since then, Florida Medical Clinic has grown to have 43 locations totaling 550,000 square feet, with 750,000 patient encounters each year. It has 235 providers, representing 33 medical specialties, Alvarez said.

It also has ambitious plans.,

The five-year vision is to have 70 locations, with 1.3 million patient visits a year, Alvarez told those gathered at an economic development briefing organized by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. Alvarez spoke at a luncheon meeting at Hoosiers Grille at the Heritage Isles Golf and Country Club on April 23.

Florida Medical Clinic will be building the new 85,000-square-foot structure in Wesley Chapel at 2352 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., north of State Road 56.

“Obviously, the location is perfect for us. It’s very close to the hospital,” Alvarez said. “It’s a great location from a visibility standpoint.”

There will be 60 physicians and 200 employees in that building, Alvarez said.

“Everything we’re going to do at Wiregrass is going to be practices that already exist in the Wiregrass area or new providers that we’re going to bring in, or have already brought in, in anticipation of that opening,” Alvarez said.

The new facility will provide a convenient one-stop shop for patients, as patients will be able to see their doctor and pick up prescriptions at the same location, he added.

In Land O’ Lakes, Florida Medical Clinic is building a 15,000-square-foot addition, at a location it opened in 2009.

There’s room for another building there, which the clinic may construct sometime relatively soon, Alvarez said. When that occurs, Florida Medical Clinic’s total presence at that site will be 75,000 square feet.

Just two years ago, Florida Medical Clinic expanded its main campus in Zephyrhills at Market Square to open a new urgent care facility. It also built a 12,000-square-foot office on Eiland Boulevard that it shares with DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc.

Deciding when and where to build and consolidate is an organic process for Florida Medical Clinic, usually based on the number of doctors and specialists the company has partnered with, and where they are located, according to Alvarez.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to grow,” Alvarez added.

“We don’t really grow through acquisition,” Alvarez said. Instead, it grows as medical practices approach them with an interest to join.

“We just kind of merge their practice in. If you bring a practice, you become a shareholder.

“In a perfect world, we build one large building, based on primary care. We have some some specialists that are based and fixed at that building, others that rotate through a couple of days, as necessary, to provide support. And then we have the ancillary services, diagnostic imaging, potentially pharmacy, things of that nature.”

Florida Medical Clinic’s model for growth seems to be effective, Alvarez said.

“It’s been, obviously, quite successful,” he said.

Published April 29, 2015

Hospital CEO details expansion plans

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It’s less than three years old, but Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is already experiencing growing pains.

Denyse Bales-Chubb, president/CEO of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel shared details of the hospital’s $78 million expansion plans at the April 7 breakfast of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is expanding to meet the needs of a growing community. This rendering shows what the hospital will look like, after expansion. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)
Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is expanding to meet the needs of a growing community. This rendering shows what the hospital will look like, after expansion.
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)

Wesley Chapel’s growth is fueling the need for the hospital’s expansion, Bales-Chubb told the gathering at the conference center at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. About 90 people were registered for the breakfast.

The hospital executive cited six new housing developments going in, totaling more than 5,000 houses.

“I’m hearing that Raymond James is going to be building here,” she added.

She continued ticking down the list.

“We had the Super Walmart that went in, since I’ve been here. The outlet mall is coming. The ice and sports complex — which we are a part of — the Mercedes Benz dealer, several hotels, some assisted living (facilities) that are coming in; there’s tremendous growth in the community.

“We need to make sure that we are growing and meeting the needs of this community,” Bales-Chubb added.

To prepare for increased demand, the hospital began last November to start developing plans for expansion.

The project that is set to begin construction in August will add 62 new private patient rooms, 17 emergency rooms, four surgical suites, 16 prep and observation rooms, and ancillary services to support patient care.

The hospital’s current three-story center wing will grow taller — becoming a six-floor building when the expansion work is done. A new three-story building will be constructed, to connect the hospital’s two existing wings.

When finished, the expansion will add nearly 112,000 square feet of new construction and nearly 11,000 square feet of renovated space to the hospital at 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

“We expect to have actual ground crews here in August, and we will be doing a groundbreaking Aug. 5,” Bales-Chubb said. “We hope to get their certificate of occupancy in November 2016, with a grand opening of December 2016,” she said.

The hospital also plans to add 160 parking spaces for employees and staff.

The larger hospital will need more staff, too. Bales-Chubb predicts the hospital will hire the equivalent of 300 full-time employees.

The larger quarters and increased staff will enable the hospital to handle the growing demand for hospital beds and increased emergency visits.

Even with the current demand, “if you came and tried to find a bed, you’re going to have a wait before that bed is available,” Bales-Chubb said.

“We really do have patients that are literally waiting in our ED (emergency department) to get into an inpatient bed, because not everybody checks out at 11 o’clock, like you do at a hotel. It is a constant moving of patients, in and out,” she said.

The hospital’s emergency room is busy, too.

The emergency room has 18 beds, and as of December, year to date, each of those beds had 1,880 visits.

“So, that’s busy,” Bales-Chubb said. “We have a lot of patients going through our ED.”

Stan Giannet, provost at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, said the college already enjoys a solid relationship with the hospital, and the expansion will likely provide even more opportunities for students at his campus.

The hospital donates to the college’s scholarship fund for students in health occupations, he said. It also provides opportunities for clinical placements.

“Clinical placements are incredibly important for our students to apply the theoretical classroom knowledge to the real world,” Giannet said. “Having clinical placements already at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel has been very fruitful for students, and we’re grateful for that.”

The hospital’s expansion bodes well for graduates from Porter Campus, Giannet added, because it creates more employment opportunities for students graduating from its nursing, surgical technology and pharmacy technician programs.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is part of the Adventist Health System, a nonprofit health network that has 23 hospitals throughout the state.

Published April 15, 2015

Wesley Chapel prepares to ‘March for Babies’

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It’s April, but the march goes on.

“March” as in March of Dimes, the nonprofit organization that provides funds for research and services to prevent premature birth, defects and infant mortality. And also March for Babies, an event on April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel. Teams and individuals will walk while raising money for research.

Jen Cofini's son, Dylan, was born after 32 weeks and weighed just 4 pounds. Now he is a happy and healthy 8-year-old. The Cofinis are the ambassador family for the March for Babies event April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass. (Courtey of Jen Cofini)
Jen Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born after 32 weeks and weighed just 4 pounds. Now he is a happy and healthy 8-year-old. The Cofinis are the ambassador family for the March for Babies event April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass.
(Courtey of Jen Cofini)

This is the first year the event will be at The Shops at Wiregrass after several years in West Pasco.

The shopping center is happy to be a part of it.

“It just was something that we felt passionate about,” said Debbie Detweiler, the regional shopping mall’s marketing director. “With all of the families in the Wesley Chapel area and families that shop at Wiregrass, it was something we could be a part of in creating that awareness for March of Dimes.”

The March of Dimes has set an ambitious goal of $240,000 after having to cancel last year’s event due to weather. More than 1,000 people are expected to take part.

Wesley Chapel resident Jen Cofini and her family have been selected to be the ambassador family for Pasco County March for Babies since they have firsthand experience in dealing with premature births.

Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born eight years ago after a 32-week pregnancy. He weighed just 4 pounds. He spent a month in the hospital, and there were many challenging moments.

“When you have a premature baby, you don’t know what to expect,” Cofini said. “The resources that the March of Dimes provide for the parents of premature babies are incredible.”

Cofini found comfort through the organization’s website, too. It put her in touch with other mothers who were going through the same issues. Families can share stories, ask questions and connect with others going through a similar situation.

Though Cofini had Dylan in New York, premature births are common in Florida. According to the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card for 2014, 13.6 percent of Florida births are premature. That’s good for just a “D” grade from the organization.

And while Dylan was born premature, he’s healthy today.

Many other children aren’t as lucky, and have significant defects and disabilities to deal with for years, or even a lifetime.

Those families especially benefit from the research and support from the March of Dimes, Cofini explained.

On April 25, Cofini will be there with her husband, Jeff, Dylan and his little sister, Madison.

And, as community relations manager of Parks Ford Wesley Chapel, she’s recruited support from work as well. They’re sponsoring the event and have a team raising money to walk.

While Cofini is accustomed to supporting the community at her job, the March for Babies is special to her and her family.

“When something touches you personally, it makes you more aware, and that’s why I’m such a huge supporter of the March of Dimes, because they do such great work,” Cofini said. “They support the parents, they’re doing the research and they’re raising the money to give every baby a fighting chance at being born healthy.”

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with the 3-mile walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. A Kids Zone will have face painting and other activities.

For more information, visit MarchForBabies.org/event/Suncoast, or contact Bethany Carlson at (813) 898-4954 or .

Published April 8, 2015

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North turns five

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When St. Joseph’s Hospital-North opened its doors five years ago, it was the first new hospital built in Hillsborough County in 30 years.

“Our goal was to provide a health care alternative in this community because there really weren’t many alternatives,” said Paula McGuiness, president of the hospital, at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz..

“It was an underdeveloped medical infrastructure, if you will. There weren’t many doctors out here. There certainly wasn’t a hospital,” McGuiness said.

A look at the main entrance to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, a hospital located in Lutz that is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a community event on April 11. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
A look at the main entrance to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, a hospital located in Lutz that is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a community event on April 11.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

People needing to go to a hospital had to drive 13 miles or more, she added. “That was why this was built.”

The hospital acquired the land in the 1980s, anticipating a future need, McGuiness said.

Since St. Joseph’s Hospital-North began operations on Feb. 15, 2010, both Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Medical Center of Trinity, in neighboring Pasco County, have opened their doors.

“You would think that it would have a big impact on the volume of patients that we see, but, in fact, there has not been much change, overall,” McGuiness said.

More than a half-million people visited a loved one at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North during the hospital’s first five years, and it treated nearly a quarter-million patients.

The hospital’s work force has grown, too.

It began with around 425 employees and now exceeds 575, McGuiness said. Many employees have been there since it opened.

“We have a lot of team members who previously had worked in places like St. Pete and Clearwater, so now, we have provided a close-to-home work environment,” she said.

There’s also a medical office building on the property, housing physicians from a wide array of specialty areas.

The hospital has an ambulance service and a helipad, enabling it to transport patients to other facilities when necessary.

In fact, when St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was planning to move into Lutz, one of the most controversial aspects was its intention to have a helipad.

“People were concerned we were going to be bringing in helicopters to be a port here. We’re not transporting in. What we do is we do transfer out,” McGuiness said.

The hospital was built with comfort in mind, for both patients and their families.

“The aesthetics don’t make the care, but they are a kind of backdrop for the kind of care that we provide,” McGuiness said. “If you can provide an ambience, an environment that is soothing and restful and doesn’t have that sterile, stereotypic hospital feel, then you can support the health and well-being of individuals that come here.”

Along those lines, the hospital’s common areas are spacious and inviting, and all patient rooms are private.

The patient rooms are designed with the notion that family members would be active participants in their loved one’s care, McGuiness said.

“Even with the ICU (intensive care unit), we allow the family to stay in the room with the patient during their stay, if that’s what they desire,” McGuiness said. “It’s not just the patient, it is the family that needs that type of support.”

In terms of construction, the hospital was built to accommodate future expansion.

It also was designed with the environment and energy conservation in mind.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was the first acute hospital in Florida to be LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design)-registered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The hospital has technology that is designed to support quality patient care, in a secure environment.

It was the first hospital in Baycare Health System to be almost entirely paperless.

The electronic medical records represent a significant technological move forward in the arena of patient care, McGuiness said. The records give doctors access to a patient’s medical history.

“No matter the event — whether you’re able to say what your history has been or not — we’re going to be able to access that (information) for you and take care of you,” McGuiness said.

The hospital surgical services include ear, nose and throat; gastrointestinal, gynecological, orthopedic, podiatry, urology and plastics, in case of reconstructions necessary from trauma.

Early on, it added a labor and delivery unit.

“When we first opened, we didn’t have a mom-baby and labor and delivery unit set up. We were still working with our physicians to bring them onboard.

“So, it was about nine months before we delivered the program,” McGuiness said. So far, more than 1,700 babies have been born there.

On another front, “we’ve added oncology infusion services, which is a big deal for us,” McGuiness said.

“Obviously, we have the cancer institute at the (St. Joseph’s Hospital) main campus (in Tampa), but this is a feeder.

“It’s not a great time when someone is going through chemo, and to be able to have the service so close to home, I think, makes a difference. At least, that’s what our patients say,” McGuiness said.

Besides providing medical care, the hospital also has become part of the community’s fabric in other ways, too, McGuiness said.

She’s especially pleased by that community partnership.

One way it connects is through its educational programs, she said.

“In the five years, we’ve provided over 500 educational classes,” she said. They can be as simple as CPR, childbirth classes or safe-sitter program.

But there’s also a whole lecture series, provided by physicians, to help people with medical issues.

“At different points of your life, you’re interested in different things: Your hip replacements, your knee replacements,” McGuiness said. “We have those kinds of sessions. Our doctors do that as a voluntary service for the community.”

The quality of food in the hospital’s café also made it an attractive place for people to meet and eat, she said.

It’s not unusual for people from nearby Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church to have meetings at the hospital, or to come by after Sunday services for brunch.

McGuiness welcomes those visitors.

“That just reinforces how much of a part of that fabric of the community that you are,” she said.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North 5th anniversary
When: April 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz
Who: All are welcome
What: Children’s activities; health and wellness demonstrations and speakers; baby play area; a reunion of babies born at the hospital with the doctors and nurses who cared for them; food trucks; wellness screenings; live entertainment; a teddy bear clinic (bring your own teddy bear patient); and, judging of a baby photo contest the hospital conducted on its Facebook page throughout March.
Pre-registration is not required, but is appreciated. Please call (813) 644-6772.

By the numbers
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North began treating patients on Feb. 15, 2010. Since then, more than a half-million people have visited the facility.

The hospital has:

  • Delivered more than 1,700 babies
  • Treated nearly 220,000 patients
  • Logged 15,284 volunteer service hours
  • Performed 13,783 surgeries
  • Completed 9,010 endoscopies

Published April 8, 2015

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel plans big expansion

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It’s not even three years old, and the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is already planning a significant expansion that will increase the number of patient rooms, operating rooms and emergency rooms.

Hospital officials announced the expansion in a news release on March 6.

The $78 million project, expected to begin construction this year, is responding to a demonstrated need.

This rendering shows what Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel will look like after its $78 million expansion is completed. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)
This rendering shows what Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel will look like after its $78 million expansion is completed.
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)

“Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel was originally designed with the ability to grow with the needs of the community,” Dr. Robert Rosequist, chief medical officer of the hospital, said in a release.

“Since opening less than three years ago, the hospital has experienced extremely high volumes of patients seeking care,” he added.

The 200,000-square-foot hospital opened on Oct. 1, 2012.

At that time, it had 83 patient rooms, 18 emergency rooms, a catheterization lab and five operating rooms. It cost $161 million to acquire the land, and build the hospital and adjacent medical office building, according to hospital officials.

Denyse Bales-Chubb, president and CEO of the hospital, said “the community has overwhelmingly shown us both the need for the hospital, and their confidence and appreciation for the high quality care our staff delivers every day.”

“We are so blessed by their faith in us,” she said. The hospital knows it needs to grow “to meet both the current demands and future growth of the community,” Bales-Chubb added, in a release.

The expansion calls for three additional floors to the hospital’s center wing and an additional three-story wing that will connect the south and center wings.

Altogether, it involves 111,993 square feet of new construction and 10,834 square feet of renovation.

The expansion includes added additional emergency rooms, inpatient rooms, surgical suites and related surgical services, Heart Catheterization Lab, and recovery/observation rooms as well as shelled space for future growth.

Construction is expected to begin this summer, with the expansion opening at the end of 2016. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 5 at 10 a.m.

Maintaining the care and comfort of its patients during the construction is the hospital’s top priority, Tracy Clouser, marketing director said, via email.

It expects to be able to do that because the hospital was built with expansion in mind, Clouser said, noting the patient care areas have a sound muffling system to help reduce disturbance from noise, and there are no air handlers on the roof, to make expansion easier and less intrusive.

Since opening, the hospital has continued to add new programs and services, Clouser added.

“The addition will allow us more opportunities to do that. One example of this is in surgery. With additional operating rooms, we will be able to add additional physicians and expand the types of surgery we can perform,” she said.

Additionally, “the renovation will include moving the caesarean section operating room to the third floor, expanding areas like pre-admission testing, waiting rooms and sterile supply. It will also include an expansion of our central energy plant to support the larger facility,” Clouser said.

Services at the hospital include an emergency department, cardiac care, vascular surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, women’s services and gynecology, obstetrics, urology and nephrology, outpatient imaging, outpatient physical and occupational therapy, The Center for Women’s Health and a freestanding Health & Wellness Center.

The hospital’s Wellness Plaza also houses offices for primary care and specialty physicians.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is part of the Adventist Health System, a leading nonprofit health network that has 23 hospitals throughout the state.

For more information, visit FHWesleyChapel.org.

Putting his best foot forward

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Stephen Levin is state podiatry president

When Stephen Levin was younger, he wanted to be an architect. He even studied it in college.

But then, his career path changed.

Dr. Stephen Levin has plenty of models, but the podiatrist enjoys treating his real-life patients at New Tampa Foot & Ankle on Foggy Creek Road in Wesley Chapel. He recently was selected to be president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Dr. Stephen Levin has plenty of models, but the podiatrist enjoys treating his real-life patients at New Tampa Foot & Ankle on Foggy Creek Road in Wesley Chapel. He recently was selected to be president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“I didn’t get into the architecture program,” Levin said. “I was studying architecture as an undergraduate, and it didn’t work out.”

Eventually, he found a way to study a different kind of arch. He went into medicine, and became a podiatrist.

The 44-year-old has been a podiatrist for 16 years.

In addition to having a successful practice, New Tampa Foot & Ankle, the Wesley Chapel resident has been elected the 2015 president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association.

“It feels good,” Levin said of being named as the organization’s leader.

“It’s definitely something I never thought I’d do, but its definitely nice to be here and to be involved in that part,” Levin said.

As president, Levin said he’d like to focus on increasing membership and adding younger members to the roster.

The FPMA has around 1,000 active podiatrists in its membership, as well as past members and others who have reasons to join.

But to those outside the organization, Levin would like to spread the word that a podiatrist can do more than the general public probably realizes.

“Some people don’t know the full scope of what we do. That’s probably the biggest thing we have to overcome.

“What does a podiatrist do?” he continued. “It’s not just going to get your corns taken care of,” he said.

Podiatrists handle problems and care issues related to the foot, ankle and other areas just below the knee.

They can help treat sports injuries, provide diabetic care, and address other forms of trauma, as well as routine foot care.

Different communities have different medical needs, Levin said.

A community that is overwhelmingly populated by seniors means a podiatrist serving that area will see the same types of patients and problems every day. That might get a bit boring day-in and day-out, but he doesn’t have that problem in Wesley Chapel. His patients run the spectrum from toddlers to seniors, and that means he sees a variety of podiatric problems.

“Wesley Chapel’s a great community because it’s more diverse. It’s not just the elderly. It’s families, it’s everybody, and this practice that I have is great because I see the whole realm of everything,” Levin said. “That’s why I love it. It really makes it very interesting.” Levin has a second office in south Tampa, but he works at his Wesley Chapel location.

While he’s reached a high point in the Florida FPMA, there are other opportunities at the national level. The next step would be to serve on the delegation that represents Florida at the national meeting. From there it’s a matter of following the path at that level. It’s something he would consider in the future, he said.

For now he’s happy keeping busy at his office. The office sees between 35 patients to 40 patients per day and schedules elective surgeries on a few days each month.

His wife, Diane, is a nurse and serves as practice administrator when she’s not teaching. And when Levin’s not on the job, he might be coaching his son, Sam, in soccer, or watching his daughter, Sarah, perform gymnastics. His stepson, David, also plays saxophone for Wharton High School.

While his original career plans shifted, Levin’s certainly not lamenting the switch that has brought him so much success over the years.

“I don’t know what I would do other than this, to be honest,” he said. “I wouldn’t do anything else.”

Good Foot Health
Dr. Stephen Levin, recently named president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association, has a few suggestions for keeping your feet in tip-top shape

  1. Always wear shoes. It might be tempting to go barefoot in Florida, but there are fire ants and snakes outside, and tile or concrete inside. That provides little support and can cause problems.

Also, choose better protection than regular flip flops. They simply don’t provide the kind of support that other types of shoes can. Running shoes and work shoes with thicker, rubber soles are better for your feet.

Be sure to use “more cushion, more shock absorption, more overall support for your foot,” Levin advises.

  1. Be careful with treadmills. They make you run at something other than your normal pace. Instead, consider other ways to walk or run.

“Asphalt’s probably the most forgiving of what we have,” Levin said. “Or a padded track inside, like at a gym.” Elliptical and rowing machines are also good exercise options.

  1. Don’t wait when you have a problem. Waiting to see if it goes away on its own can make healing and recovery a longer process. Deal with foot pain and other issues before they become harder to manage.

“The sooner you can catch it, chances are you can get rid of it faster,” Levin said.

Published march 4, 2015

 

Health 02-25-15

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Jose Peralta named dental director
Premier Community HealthCare Group Inc., has named Jose Peralta as the dental director at its center in Dade City.

Peralta has practiced dentistry for 20 years, earning his doctor of dentistry at the University of New York’s College of Dentistry.

Peralta is now accepting new patients and scheduling facility tours.

For information, call (352) 518-2000.

Heart Club meets every Tuesday
The Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Heart Club meets every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., in the Wellness Center conference room, 7050 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

The group features bingo, food demonstrations and guest speakers on heart topics.

For information, call (813) 779-6484.

Lecture on bone health
Access Health Care, 5350 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill, will present a lecture on the benefits of weight training and resistance exercises Feb. 26 at 5:15 p.m.

Guests should wear comfortable clothing to move around in for instruction on how to perform exercises.

For information, call (352) 688-8116.

Hip pain seminar
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will host a seminar on “Hip Pain: From Advil to Anterior Hip Replacement” at noon on Feb. 27.

Dr. Stephen Hanff will discuss common causes of hip pain, treatment options, and the history of hip replacement.

Admission is free. A complimentary light lunch will be served.

For reservations and information, call (727) 834-5630.

Family health fair
Tampa Bay Moms Group will present a Healthy Family Fair Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Glazer Children’s Museum, 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza in Tampa.

The fair will include guest speakers, workshops, face painting, arts and crafts, games, giveaways, samples, interactive displays, vendors and more.

In addition to the fair, guests can visit museum exhibits, including a special limited exhibit of The Wizard of Oz, all for 50 percent off regular museum admission.

The cost for adults is $7.50; military, teachers and seniors are $6.25; children ages 1-12 are $4.75; and museum members and children younger than 1 are free.

For information, visit HealthyFamilyFairTB.com.

Myotonic dystrophy support
The Myotonic Dystrophy Support Group will meet Feb. 28 at 1 p.m., at Temple Elijah, 21021 State Road 54 in Lutz.

The group is open to individuals, family and friends.

For information, call Elizabeth Melendez at (813) 748-7049, or email .

Tuesday Tutorials
The Heart Institute at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point will present a series of Tuesday Tutorials with complimentary lunch at the Rao Musunuru Conference Center, 14100 Yosemite Drive in Hudson.

All programs begin at noon. Upcoming tutorials are:

  • March 3: Nonsurgical treatment of vascular diseases
  • March 10: When do you need open heart surgery and what kind?
  • March 17: Life after heart attack, open heart surgery and stroke
  • March 24: What to do when ulcers and would don’t heal

For information and reservations, call (727) 869-5498.

Alzheimer’s educational series
The Alzheimer’s Family Organization will present a free educational series at Atria Baypoint Village, 7927 State Road 52 in Hudson.

All upcoming seminars begin at 10 a.m.

  • March 4: Alzheimer’s 101 with research updates
  • March 11: Activities for the patient and stress relief
  • March 18: Communication and behavior modification
  • March 25: Elder law issues

For information and to make reservations, call (727) 848-8888 or (888) 496-8004.

Facial paralysis support
Tampa General Hospital, 2106 S. Lois Ave., in Tampa, will host a facial paralysis support group March 4 at 4:30 p.m.

There will be an open discussion and planning for future meetings.

For information, call Ellen Eckelman at (813) 844-7706.

General cancer support
Florida Cancer Affiliates will host a general cancer support group meeting March 4 at 6 p.m., at the Trinity center, 3611 Little Road.

Participants are provided with educational material about cancer and cancer treatment.

For information, call (727) 808-4818.

Aging agency seeking nominations
The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Inc., is seeking nominations for the first Patricia J. Bell Achievements in Aging Award.

The award is in honor of the memory of Patricia J. Bell, a longtime advocate in the aging field.

Nominees should demonstrate significant contributions in the field of aging in Pasco and/or Pinellas counties.

Nominations will be accepted until March 9.

The winner will be recognized during a luncheon April 24 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

For information and nomination forms, visit AgingCareFL.org/patricia-j-bell-award, or call Helen King at (727) 570-9696, ext. 210.

New officers and chairmen named at Trinity
The medical staff at the Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, has appointed its medical staff officers and department chairmen for 2015-2016.

Those appointed were Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, chief of staff; Dr. Najam Javeed, vice chief of staff; Usha Agarwal, secretary/treasurer; Dr. Ramon Perez, chief, Department of Surgery; Dr. Jared Frattini, vice chief, Department of Surgery; Dr. Elbert Barnes, chief, Department of Medicine; Dr. Jayadeva Chowdappa, vice Chief, Department of Medicine; and Dr. Peter Candelora, immediate past chief of staff.

Strength, balance program
The Groves Golf and Country Club will host the Silver Sneakers Strength & Balance Program on Wednesdays at 9 a.m., and Fridays at 10:30 a.m., in the ballroom, 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’ Lakes.

The program is a low-impact class for men and women to help improve flexibility and balance. Strength exercises may include handheld weights and the use of tubing.

The program is free to Silver Sneakers members, $5 for non-members, and $30 per month of classes.

For information, contact Tom Marbell at (352) 409-2984 or .

MS support group
First Christian Church, 6040 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills, will host a multiple sclerosis support group the first Thursday of every month at 1 p.m., in Fellowship Hall.

Refreshments will be served.

The group also hosts a social event the third Thursday of every month.

For information and to RSVP, call (813) 782-9306 or (813) 788-9931.

Alzheimer’s caregiver support
The local Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group will meet the first Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway.

Admission is free.

For information, call Phyllis Bross at (813) 996-1361, or email .

Cancer network meeting
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church Family Cancer Network meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month in Rosary Hall, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, beginning at 7 p.m.

Cancer survivors and caregivers are invited to attend.

For information, call (813) 949-4565.

Celebrate Recovery from addictions
Victorious Life Church, 6224 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, offers a Celebrate Recovery group on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

The group is a recovery resource for healing from addictions. Participants will discuss hurts, hang-ups and habits.

For information, call (813) 973-2230.

Veteran hotline help
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has a toll-free help line to provide emotional support and resource referral to veterans in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Manatee counties.

Veterans staff the hotline.

Any veteran needing help or information can call (844) 693-5838 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

After-hours and weekend calls will be answered by crisis specialists in the Crisis Center’s 2-1-1 call center.

Physician directory available
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is offering a complimentary copy of the latest edition of its physician directory, which includes current primary care physicians, internal medicine physicians and specialists with privileges at Medical Center of Trinity.

Anyone who would like a copy can call (727) 834-5630, or email .

Peripheral neuropathy clinic opens
A free, volunteer-run clinic is now open in Tampa for the education and support of those diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.

The clinic provides education and support in coping with neuropathy, dealing with physical limitations, home safety, and symptom management.

Space is limited and available by appointment only.

For information, call Cindy Tofthagen at (813) 252-0475, or email .

Lodge offers TOPS program
J.F. Swartsel Lodge, 3309 Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz, offers the TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) program every Wednesday.

Weigh-in is at 9 a.m., followed by a meeting at 9:45 a.m.

For information, call Mary Clark at (813) 908-3587.

NAMI offers support
The Pasco County Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness offers the following support groups:

Family & Friends Support Meetings for family and friends of those with mental illness:

  • Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, first and third Tuesday of every month, at 7 p.m.
  • Medical Center of Trinity West Campus, 5637 Marine Parkway in New Port Richey, second and fourth Monday of every month, at 7:30 p.m.

NAMI Connections for those living with mental illness:

  • NAMI Pasco Office, 6480 Jallo Plaza, 6480 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, every Tuesday, at 7 p.m.
  • Medical Center of Trinity West Campus, 5637 Marine Parkway in New Port Richey, every Wednesday, at 7 p.m.

For information, call (727) 992-9653.

Preventing broken hearts through better heart health

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As the director of marketing for Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Kurt Conover is constantly spreading the word about ways to prevent heart disease and keeping people informed about the medical center’s health care services.

Members of the staff and volunteers at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point gathered for a group photo on National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7. Even “Lucky,” the hospital’s therapy dog, got into the act. (Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)
Members of the staff and volunteers at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point gathered for a group photo on National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7. Even “Lucky,” the hospital’s therapy dog, got into the act.
(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

But the Land O’ Lakes man knows that despite his efforts, not everyone gets the message — or, even if they do, they don’t always listen.

That’s even true for family members, said Conover, who lost his brother, Gerrit Conover, to a heart attack on Aug. 25, 2011.

Conover said he became aware that his brother — who was being seen by a cardiologist — wasn’t keeping his appointments or filling his prescriptions on a regular basis.

Conover decided to use a gentle approach to get his 59-year-old brother to get back on track. Instead of confronting him, he encouraged Gerrit to swing by to see him, next time he went in to see the doctor.

But that never happened.

Instead, Gerrit, a retired military officer, collapsed and died of a heart attack shortly after returning home from a motorcycle ride with a friend.

In retrospect, Conover said he thinks he should have been more insistent with his brother — should have demanded that he go to see his doctor.

While they were growing up, he and Gerrit always had each other’s back, Conover said.

“We were real tight. My sisters used to always tease because whenever there was a fight taking place, it would always be us two against whoever it was. We’d be like a tag team.”

But when it came to life’s biggest battle, Gerrit didn’t tell his brother about the symptoms he was experiencing.

As it turns out, Gerrit was logging his symptoms, but no one saw the log until after he had died.

Gerrit was a Vietnam veteran and a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. His survivors include daughters, Michelle and Kristen; brothers Wolf, Donald and Kurt; sisters, Mary Anne and Peggy; and other relatives.

He’s one of an estimated 460,000 who suffer a fatal heart attack each year, according to statistics reported by MedicineNet.com.

Most of the deaths from heart attacks are caused by ventricular fibrillation of the heart that occurs before the victim of the heart attack can reach an emergency room, the website adds.

The American Heart Association reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, one in every four deaths is caused by heart disease, according to the association’s statistics.

The numbers portray an even grimmer situation for women.

Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. And, fewer women than men survive their first heart attack, the association reports.

Part of the reason for the higher rate of fatalities among women is that the symptoms of heart attack can be different in women than men, and are often misunderstood even by physicians, the association adds.

That’s why it’s so important to become educated, Conover said.

Even though his brother died more than three years ago, the pain of his loss remains fresh, said Conover, who hopes he can transform his loss into something good.

Those who think either they or a loved one are experiencing a heart attack need to call 9-1-1, Conover said.

Time is of the essence, he said. When emergency personnel arrive they can begin communicating a patient’s vital signs to the hospital, and the hospital can begin to assemble its cardiac team, Conover said.

The faster the treatment, the better the chance for saving heart muscle and having better medical outcomes, he explained.

The American Heart Association helps to raise awareness about these important issues by declaring February as American Heart Month.

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has arranged a series of Tuesday Tutorials over the course of several Tuesdays, covering various heart health issues.

One recent tutorial, “Intimacy and the Heart,” attracted 115 people, Conover said.

The hospital also celebrated National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7, with scores of employees and volunteers observing the day.

Symptoms of heart attack in men
Chest feel pain feels like “an elephant is sitting on your chest; the squeezing sensation may come and go, or may be constant and intense

  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath, you feel like you can’t get enough air, even when you’re resting
  • Dizziness, or feeling like you’re going to pass out
  • Breaking out in a cold sweat
  • Stomach discomfort, like indigestion

Remember, each heart attack is different, so your symptoms may not fit the cookie-cutter description.

Source: American Heart Association

Symptoms of heart attack in women
In a multicenter study of 515 women who had a heart attack, published in the journal Circulation, the most frequently reported symptoms did not include chest pain. Instead, women reported unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances and anxiety, with nearly 80 percent reporting at least one symptom for more than a month before the heart attack. Other symptoms more common in women include:

  • Unusual fatigue for several days; or a sudden, severe fatigue
  • Anxiety and sleep disturbances
  • Lightheadedness and/or shortness of breath
  • Indigestion or gas-like pain
  • Upper back or shoulder pain; possibly throat pain
  • Jaw pain or pain that spreads up to the jaw
  • Pressure or pain in the center of the chest that may spread to the arm

Stroke Warning Signs
Spot a stroke F.A.S.T, by looking for these signs:

  • Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
  • Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “the sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
  • Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Source: The American Heart Association

Published February 25, 2015