The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Health 10-01-14

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Celiac support group
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, hosts a monthly meeting of the West Pasco Celiac Support Group on the first Saturday of every month at 10 a.m.

The next meeting is Oct. 4 and includes recipe demonstrations of a gluten-free diet.

For information or to RSVP, call (727) 862-4815.

Hospice memorial service
Gulfside Hospice’s bereavement center will have a memorial service on Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. to honor and remember those who have passed away in the last year. The event will at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 8320 Old County Road 54 in New Port Richey.

Refreshments will be served. For information, call (727) 844-3946.

Lunch to discuss rheumatoid arthritis
CARES and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point will host “Lunch with a Doctor” at CARES Rao Musunuru M.D. Enrichment Center, 12417 Clock Tower Parkway in Hudson, Oct. 8 at noon.

The guest speaker is Dr. Adam Grunbaum, rheumatologist.

Admission is free, but registration is required.

For information or to RSVP, call (727) 863-6868.

Autism support group
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, hosts the Helping HANDS autism support group on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

The next meeting is Oct. 8.

The group is for parents, family  members and friends impacted by autism and related neurological disorders.

For information, call Jonica Chittum at (813) 402-9442, or email ">.

NAMI hosts comedian
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Pasco will host an education and awards banquet Oct. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., in New Port Richey.

Dress is business casual. Dinner is at 7 p.m.

The keynote speaker is comedian Juanita Lolita, a finalist in Florida’s Funniest Comedian contest.

For tickets and sponsorships, call (727) 992-9653, or download forms at NamiPasco.org.

For information or to RSVP, call Nancy Whitener at (727) 375-5337.

Oak Hill offers mammograms for uninsured
Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville, is offering digital mammography screenings for $60 to patients without health insurance.

The screening includes the imaging and the radiologist’s reading.

Patients do not need a script from a physician to schedule a screening.

For information, or to schedule an appointment, call (800) 921-7158.

Caregiver’s support group
The Caregiver’s Support Group meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, to help those caring for loved ones afflicted with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

This free group meets at 11 a.m.

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

(Courtesy of Kirsty Churchill)
(Courtesy of Kirsty Churchill)

Gulfside Hospice unveils fountain to honor Lorraine Hadley
Gulfside Center for Hospice Care in Zephyrhills unveiled the Gulfside Ascending Doves Fountain in honor of Lorraine Hadley on her 89th birthday. Hadley started volunteering at Gulfside in 2006, after her husband became a hospice patient. She recently donated $100,000 to help Gulfside continue its mission. Hadley (seated) is shown with her own piece of the fountain, along with Gus PePietto. In the back row are sculptor Michael Hall, Rosemary Hall, fundraising manager Carla Armstrong, Gulfside president and CEO Linda Ward, and Dr. Daniel Heinig.

Sister Stroll 2.0
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills will kick off the Pink Army breast cancer awareness campaign Oct. 2, on its front lawn.

Registration is at 5 p.m. The stroll begins at 5:30 p.m., with a ceremony to follow.

Participants can stroll along the walking trail and enjoy food and fun along the way.

Registered participants will receive a swag bag filled with pink goodies.

There will also be a car show, entertainment and door prizes.

Advance registration is $15 per person, or $20 at the event.

All proceeds benefit the Simpson Breast Health Center at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

To register, call (877) 534-3108, or visit FHZeph.org.

Family bereavement night
Gulfside Hospice will host a family bereavement night Oct. 2 at 6 p.m., at Gulfside’s East Clinical Office, 37826 Sky Ridge Circle in Dade City.

Children will work on decorating a memory graffiti wall, while bereavement counselors work with parents to give them information on children’s grief and coping techniques.

After the adult session, the families will get back together to work on a family tree.

For information, call (727) 844-3946.

Flu shots at Humana center
The Humana Guidance Center, 7920 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills, will offer flu shots Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Flu shots are free with proof of insurance. All insurance is accepted.

No pre-registration required. Walk-ins welcome.

For information, call (813) 870-7300.

Grief’s Journey bereavement group
HPH Hospice is offering an eight-week Grief’s Journey bereavement group on Tuesdays, Oct. 7-Nov. 25, at 2 p.m., for adults who have experienced the death of a loved one over the past six months.

The group will meet at the HPH Resource Center, 37441 Clinton Ave., in Dade City.

Admission is free. Registration is required by calling (800) 486-8784.

Women’s health seminar
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ Women’s Health Center, 7050 Gall Blvd., will have a “Her Health” seminar Oct. 9 at 5 p.m.

This women’s health event will include physician and expert talks, dinner and door prizes.

Admission is free; registration is required.

For information, call (877) 534-3108, or visit FHZeph.org.

Pregnancy Care Center ‘Run For Life’
“Run For Life” to benefit the Zephyrhills Pregnancy Care Center is scheduled for Nov. 22.

The event includes a 5-kilometer run, a 1-mile fun run, face painting, live music and a farmer’s market.

Runners, walkers and virtual runners who register by Oct. 10 will receive an event T-shirt.

Registration forms can be picked up at the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, YMCA or Florida Hospital Wellness Center, by calling (813) 453-9042, by emailing , or online at PCCZephyrhills.org or Active.com.

Business sponsorships are also available until Oct. 10.

Federal grant allows improved access to care

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A federal grant will expand opportunities for Pasco County residents to access health care services offered through Premier Community HealthCare Group Inc, which has offices across the county.

Premier was the only Pasco health care group in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to receive one of the 48 federal grants awarded across Florida.

The health care provider received a $258,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The money will be spent to hire a new pediatrician at Premier’s New Port Richey Family Heath Center in Trinity, and a full-time dental director at its Dade City Dental Center, 37944 Pasco Ave., Suite B, in Dade City.

Premier has more than 2,500 patients in the Central Pasco area, accessing care at its locations in Dade City, Zephyrhills and West Pasco, said Cheryl Pollack, business development director for the health care provider.

Premier is helping to implement the federal Affordable Care Act by providing care and linking individuals to coverage through outreach and enrollment in the health insurance marketplace.

The health care group provides primary care, behavioral health and dental care at locations throughout Pasco County. It offers services for children and adults.

Premier accepts Medicaid, Medicare, Kidcare and various insurance plans. It also serves people who are not insured, Pollack said. Their payment is determined on a sliding scale, based on income.

“We are designed to meet the needs of the population that may not have health care coverage,” Pollack said.

Published October 1, 2014

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Take steps to protect yourself against West Nile virus

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A human case of the West Nile virus has been confirmed in Pasco County, and officials are advising residents to take precautions to avoid becoming ill.

It is important for people to “cover and drain” — meaning they should wear clothing or use repellent to avoid mosquito bites and should drain standing water on their property, said Deanna Krautner, public information officer for the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County.

A human case of the West Nile virus has been confirmed in Pasco County, prompting officials to issue an advisory outlining precautions that residents can take to reduce their chances of being bitten by a mosquito that could make them ill. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Health in Pasco County)
A human case of the West Nile virus has been confirmed in Pasco County, prompting officials to issue an advisory outlining precautions that residents can take to reduce their chances of being bitten by a mosquito that could make them ill.
(Courtesy of Florida Department of Health in Pasco County)

West Nile virus is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms, but about one-in-five people infected will develop a fever with other symptoms, the CDC said. Less than 1 percent of those infected will develop a serious and sometimes fatal neurological illness.

The cool weather is drawing more people outdoors, Krautner said, and recent rains have left puddles of standing water on many properties. That can spell greater opportunity for mosquito bites and the illnesses that can accompany them.

To help avoid potential illness, the health department recommends a number of precautions.

To reduce exposure to mosquitoes, residents should:

• Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.

• Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.

• Empty and clean birdbaths and pet water bowls at least once or twice a week.

• Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.

• Maintain swimming pools in good condition, and appropriately chlorinate them. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

• Cover skin with clothing or repellent. Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.

• Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing, and use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months.

When it comes to using repellents, members of the Pasco County division of the health department suggests people read label directions carefully, since some repellents are not suitable for children.

Products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET are generally recommended. Other approved repellents from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency including Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535.

Repellent should be applied to exposed skin or onto clothing, but not under clothing.

Published October 1, 2014

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Health 09-24-14

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Regional Medical honors teens
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point recently honored its teen volunteers at a Teen Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and Awards Ceremony.

During the summer, 110 teens ages 14-18 volunteered in various service areas.

The Volunteer Association awarded four $2,000 scholarships to teens who volunteered at least 100 hours and had a 3.7 GPA or better.

The six Five-Star Volunteers of the Year were Steffany Contreras, Albi Hoxhallari, Meghan Hurley, Julia Melucci, Aakash Pajaby and Ivan Trotter.

Knee replacement lecture
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, is hosting a lecture on “Advances in Knee Replacement – the Uni” Sept. 25 at 3 p.m.

The guest speaker is Dr. Jared Salinsky.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Seating is limited. For reservations, call (727) 869-5498.

Hike for Hospice kickoff party
Gulfside Hospice will host a Hike for Hospice kickoff party Sept. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Rasmussen College, 18600 Fernview St., in Land O’ Lakes.

There will be door prizes, drawings and refreshments.

To RSVP, call Erin Labbe at (727) 845-5707, or email .

Surviving cancer seminar
Dr. Roberto Diaz from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute will speak about surviving cancer Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., at Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz.

The program is free, and will cover new treatments for cancer, and allow for a question-and-answer period.

For information, call Walt Bockmiller, chair of the Keystone Cancer Support Group, at (813) 527-8211. Or call Keystone Community Church at (813) 948-4522.

Knee pain seminar
The Medical Center of Trinity is offering a seminar called “An Orthopedic Approach to Knee Pain” Sept. 26 at noon, at Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd., in New Port Richey.

Guest speaker is Dr. Jennifer Cook on the topics of conservative and surgical care, and joint replacement surgery.

Admission is free. A complimentary lunch will be served.

Seating is limited. For reservations, call (727) 834-5630.

‘Brain Wave Cap’ presentation
Dr. Emanuel Donchin will make a presentation called “Brain Computer Interfaces” Sept. 29 at 8 p.m., at Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road in Tampa.

The event is to honor Dr. Scott Mackler, who died from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2013. Mackler worked as a professor at the University of Pennsylvania using Brain Computer Interface, or a “Brain Wave Cap.”

Reservations are required by emailing Alissa Gutierrez at .

Learn more about Medicare
The Groves Golf and Country Club, 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’ Lakes, will host a free Medicare presentation Sept. 30 at 4 p.m.

Guest speaker will be Mike Lewis, a volunteer for the SHINE program in Pasco County.

The presentation will include a review on Medicare basics, and guests can get guidance from volunteer Medicare counselors.

Women’s cancer conference
Cypress Point Community Church, 15820 Morris Bridge Road in Tampa, is hosting a free women’s conference “Slaying Your Dragons: Christian Cancer Survivors’ Testimonies of Faith and Strength,” Sept. 27 from 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The event will include lunch and a chance to win tickets for the Women of Faith Conference Oct. 10-11.

To register online for attendance and food, visit CPCConline.com.

Chronic arthritis seminar
The Health & Wellness Center at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2700 Healing Way, is offering a “Nutrition and Exercise Interventions for Arthritis” seminar Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Topics include how to include anti-inflammatory foods in your diet, foods to limit that trigger joint pain, and how to keep joints strong through daily exercise.

The lecture is free for health center members, and $5 for non-members.

Space is limited and reservations are required.

For information, call (813) 929-5432.

Hand, arm pain discussion
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is having a seminar called “Hand and Arm Pain, Weakness and Numbness” Oct. 1 at noon.

Guest speaker is Dr. James Donovan, orthopedic surgeon.

Topics include signs, symptoms and current treatment options for hand arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other arm conditions.

Admission is free and a free lunch will be served.

Seating is limited and reservations are required.

For information or to RSVP, call (727) 834-5630.

Cancer support group
Florida Cancer Affiliates hosts a general cancer support group meeting every other Wednesday at the New Port Richey center, 5500 Little Road.

The next meeting is Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.

For information, call (727) 808-4818.

Cancer journey chronicled through ceramic busts

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People facing a life-threatening disease have different ways of coping.

Some join prayer groups. Others keep journals. Some write blogs.

Land O’ Lakes resident Jan Tucker decided she wanted to keep a physical record of what her breasts looked like before she began cancer treatment.

These three ceramic busts, created by artist Paul Phillips, chronicle Jan Tucker’s journey through cancer. The bust on the left shows Tucker’s upper torso before she began cancer treatment. The one in the middle shows her at her lowest point in the battle. The bust on the right shows her upper torso after breast reconstruction. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
These three ceramic busts, created by artist Paul Phillips, chronicle Jan Tucker’s journey through cancer. The bust on the left shows Tucker’s upper torso before she began cancer treatment. The one in the middle shows her at her lowest point in the battle. The bust on the right shows her upper torso after breast reconstruction.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She knew that her brother, Paul Phillips — who does ceramics and other kinds of art — could make the ceramic bust because he’d done body castings for women who were pregnant.

She also knew that her brother might feel strange about applying the material to make the mold to her body, so she asked him to teach her husband Ben how to do the first layer, to avoid potential embarrassment.

Tucker initially just wanted a physical reminder of what she looked like before she was diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma — an aggressive, fast-growing cancer.

Being a private person, she didn’t expect others to see it. But those plans changed, and now three ceramic busts — chronicling her journey through cancer — will be on display at an art exhibit and sale to help raise money for the American Cancer Society and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute.

One bust shows her upper torso before treatment began. The second records her at her lowest point in her cancer battle. The third shows her torso after reconstructive surgery.

The story of Tucker’s fight for her life began like many other stories about breast cancer: She found a lump in her right breast during a routine monthly self-exam.

Ironically, it appeared at a time in her life when she’d never felt healthier. She was 46, and she and Ben routinely worked out.

When she found the lump, Tucker made an appointment with her doctor to check it out as part of an annual exam. That exam, as well as a mammogram, showed it was a cyst, which didn’t surprise Tucker because she’d had cysts before.

So, Tucker went about her daily life, working as an online business professor and developing online courses.

As time went on, though, the lump grew. It was right at her bra line and was becoming uncomfortable. She also felt two smaller lumps.

Still, she had no plans to go back to the doctor before her annual check.

“My husband kept nagging me,” Tucker said. “‘You need to go get this checked.’”

But she didn’t until he hurt his foot, and now it was Tucker urging him to see a doctor. They made a deal: He would go for his foot, if she went for her breast.

On the return visit, the doctor said the lump was larger, but was still a cyst. But after Tucker told the doctor it was bothering her, the doctor referred her to a breast surgeon to get the lump drained.

The breast surgeon – Dr. Kimberly Apple – wanted an ultrasound. That led to additional diagnostics, a core biopsy, and a needle biopsy on six cancer tumors.

The doctor told Tucker she would call her with the results, either way. That call came on a Friday morning, April 26, 2013.

“When I picked up the phone, I hear her say, ‘I’m sorry.’ I hear her voice crack,” Tucker said. Then she starts with the doctor jargon.”

She heard the doctor talking, but couldn’t process what she was saying.

“Everything kind of stops in your world,” Tucker said. “It was so surreal.”

The doctor asked Tucker if she had any questions. Tucker had one: “Is it treatable?”

Yes, but it would require extensive treatment.

Tucker’s cancer was so advanced that she had to undergo chemotherapy before surgery. That’s when she decided to have her brother do the ceramic bust.

“I called him and I said, ‘I want to remember how I am today,’” she said.

A week later, she was undergoing chemotherapy.

“It’s awful. There’s no way to sugarcoat it,” Tucker said, noting she went through five rounds of chemo in six months.

Next, she had a nipple-sparing bilateral mastectomy.

She planned to do reconstruction, but lost so much blood she had to have a transfusion, which led to an infection.

“I was down to 95 pounds,” Tucker said. “I’m bald at this point. I have no eyebrows, no eyelashes. My skin is sagging, and I was extremely depressed. I was in a really, really dark place.

“I called Paul and said, ‘I want to do another casting.’

“He’s like, ‘Really?’”

She said she wanted to remember this stage of the battle, too. That casting was done on Feb. 26.

When she got over the infection, she pursued reconstruction again. After that was done, Tucker did another body casting to show her upper torso after reconstruction. That casting was done on Aug. 16.

“It just kind of brought the whole thing together,” Tucker said.

She still had no intention of making the ceramic busts public. But that changed after her brother, who had exhibited some of his art works at Alchemy Art Lounge in Tarpon Springs, told the owner about the castings he’d done for his sister.

“The owner got real quiet and said, ‘My mother has breast cancer,’” Tucker said.

Then the owner suggested having a Pink Party in October, and to donate the proceeds to the American Cancer Society and Moffitt. Tucker agreed to have her ceramic busts on display because they help convey the stages she has been through.

“There really is no better way to illustrate the story than that,” said Tucker, who is now 48.

She and her husband have two sons, Van — who just graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in chemical engineering — and Adam, a sophomore at USF, who is pursuing the same degree.

Tucker said she never would have chosen to walk the path, yet she knows it has yielded new insights.

“I am a different person today because of this,” Tucker said. “I am much more focused on what’s important in life, and it’s not chasing a promotion.”

If you go …
WHAT: Alchemy Art Lounge and Hard Bodies Yo present a Pink Party, featuring an art show and sale, a silent auction and a chance drawing for prizes.
WHERE: 25 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs
WHEN: Oct. 9, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
DETAILS: Proceeds will benefit cancer charities
INFO: Paul Phillips at (386) 334-5943

Published September 24, 2014

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Health 09-17-14

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Lecture on sugar hazards
Access Health Care, 5350 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill, will have a lecture called “Sugar is a Huge Health Hazard: Know the Facts and Save Your Life” Sept. 18 at 5:15 p.m. Dr. Maria Scunziano-Singh will make the presentation.

For information or to register, call (352) 688-8116.

Huntington’s disease
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a monthly support group for anyone whose life is affected by Huntington’s disease, the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

The next meeting is Sept. 18.

For information, call Nina Qualters at (727) 236-3578, or email .

Tools to Quit tobacco
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, will offer the free Tools to Quit class Sept. 19 at noon.

The class includes free nicotine replacement patches, gum or lozenges, while supplies last.

Registration is required.

For information, call (813) 929-1000, Ext. 213, or email .

Infant CPR course
The obstetrics program at Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a pediatric/infant CPR class Sept. 20 at 9 a.m.

Participants will learn the skills of the American Heart Association course.

Cost is $15 per person, or $25 for two.

Reservations are required. For information, call (727) 834-5630.

Atrial fibrillation seminar
The Heart Institute at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, will host Dr. Darshan Patel and Dr. N.S. Rattehalli Sept. 24 at 3 p.m., for a presentation on “Atrial Fibrillation: Treatment for Irregular Heart Rhythm.”

Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.

Seating is limited. Reservations are required. For information, call (727) 869-5498.

Surviving cancer seminar
Dr. Roberto Diaz from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute will speak about surviving cancer Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., at Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz.

The program is free, and will cover new treatments for cancer, and allow for a question-and-answer period.

For information, call Walt Bockmiller, chair of the Keystone Cancer Support Group, at (813) 527-8211. Or call Keystone Community Church at (813) 948-4522.

Free pregnancy care
LifeChoices Women’s Care, 1527 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 101 in Lutz, offers free pregnancy testing and limited obstetrical ultrasounds to teens, women and couples facing an unplanned pregnancy.

The center is open Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments are recommended.

Donations of new or gently used baby or maternity clothes, or baby items, for the center are being accepted at Lutz Ace Hardware and ELLA Boutique, 18469 U.S. 41, Oct. 1-15. Those donating will receive 10 percent off a purchase up to $100.

For information, call (813) 948-7734.

Sertoma receives $8,000 from Wells Fargo
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida recently received $8,000 from Wells Fargo. The funding will be used to sponsor Sertoma’s school screening program in Pasco County.

Sertoma volunteers perform state education department mandated hearing screens for all Headstart, pre-K, kindergarten and first-grade students, as well as sixth-grade students at local middle schools.

(Courtesy of Jean Nathe)
(Courtesy of Jean Nathe)

Rotary club welcomes Shane Sanborn
Shane Sanborn, lead physical therapist with Bayfront Health Dade City, recently spoke to the Sunrise Rotary Club about the growth of the rehab program at the hospital. Community Health System, the hospital’s parent company, is planning on spending about $2 million for a new orthopedic and operating room to service the community. With Sanborn, left, is Francis Crociatta and Candy Linville.

Women’s health center opening
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is hosting a grand opening for its newly remodeled Women’s Health Center Sept. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m. There will be a tour of the center, food and refreshments, and information about personalized care for women in the community.

For information, call (877) 534-3108, or visit FHZeph.org.

Community baby shower
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., will host a community baby shower Sept. 28 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Guests can take a tour of the newly renovated maternity suites, meet the staff and physicians, and have questions answered.

All registered attendees will receive a free gift and be entered to win door prizes. Other activities include a children’s zone, fire truck tours, and car seat safety checks.

Admission is free, but registration is required.

For information, call (877) 534-3108, or visit FHZeph.org.

Gulfside memorial service
Gulfside Hospice will host a memorial service Sept. 29 at 3 p.m., at East Pasco Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7333 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

The service is for anyone who wishes to remember loved ones who have passed away in the last year.

Guests can submit a photo of their loved one to be included during the service by emailing .

For information, call (727) 844-3946.

Sister Stroll 2.0
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills will kick off the Pink Army breast cancer awareness campaign Oct. 2, on its front lawn.

Registration is at 5 p.m. The stroll begins at 5:30 p.m., with a ceremony to follow.

Participants can stroll along the walking trail and enjoy food and fun along the way.

Registered participants will receive a swag bag filled with pink goodies.

There will be a car show, entertainment, door prizes, as well as food and drink.

Advance registration is $15 per person, or $20 at the event.

All proceeds benefit the Simpson Breast Health Center at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

To register, call (877) 534-3108, or visit FHZeph.org.

 

Raising awareness to fight colon cancer

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Wesley Chapel resident Michelle Giacomino understands the pain that colon cancer can cause.

“Two-and-a-half-years ago my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer just before her 50th birthday,” Giacomino said. “She was the epitome of health otherwise.”

Susan Middleton had many family members and friends turn out to a walk in Fort Myers to raise awareness about colon cancer. She died in 2013, but her daughter, Michelle Giacomino, is bringing Get Your Rear in Gear to Tampa for the first time on Sept. 20. (Courtesy of Michelle Giacomino)
Susan Middleton had many family members and friends turn out to a walk in Fort Myers to raise awareness about colon cancer. She died in 2013, but her daughter, Michelle Giacomino, is bringing Get Your Rear in Gear to Tampa for the first time on Sept. 20.
(Courtesy of Michelle Giacomino)

After a 15-month battle, Giacomino’s mother, Susan Middleton, lost her fight with colon cancer.

Before she died, Middleton joined the family in a Get Your Rear in Gear event in Fort Myers. Her team of family members raised the most money at that event to help fight colon cancer.

To honor her mother, Giacomino decided to spearhead the effort to bring the Get Your Rear in Gear event to Tampa. This year, the 5-kilometer walk and run will be on the morning of Sept. 20 at Al Lopez Park in Tampa.

Giacomino, 33, said she wants to help prevent colon cancer by raising awareness about early detection. She also wants to support people who are coping with the disease and those who, like herself, have lost a loved one.

Giacomino and her husband Justin moved from Pittsburgh five years ago to live closer to her parents. Then her mom, a seemingly healthy woman, started experiencing abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with colon cancer shortly before she turned 50, the recommended age for colon screenings.

The death of her mother was not only a tremendous blow to Giacomino, but also to her three boys — Giovanni, 6; Luca, 3; and Dominic, 2 — who lost a tremendous grandmother.

As of last week, about 100 people had registered for her version of Get Your Rear in Gear, but she expects the number to climb in the days leading up to the event.

Get Your Rear in Gear Tampa is one of 40 scheduled across the nation planned by local volunteers, with help from the Colon Cancer Coalition. It increases awareness of the nation’s No. 2 cancer killer, and raises funds to prevent colon cancer.

Besides the walk and run, the event also features a celebration for survivors, support for caregivers, and a remembrance of those who have died.

Funds raised in Tampa will stay in the area to help with prevention, early detection and treatment, as well as projects to support healthy living.

Florida Cancer Specialists and Tampa General Hospital are among the local sponsors.

If you go …
WHAT: Get Your Rear in Gear Tampa 5-kilometer walk/run to prevent colon cancer
WHERE: Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave., Tampa
WHEN: Sept. 20, with registration at 7 a.m., and runs beginning at 8 a.m.
COST:
5K Run/Walk Adult: $25 until Sept. 18, $35 on race day
5K Run/Walk Youth: 12 and younger, $15 until Sept. 18, $20 on race day
Kids Fun Run: 10 and younger, $15 until Sept. 18, $20 on race day
INFO: ColonCancerCoalition.org

Some facts about colorectal cancer
• Is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer death.
• Affects men and women equally, and people of all races and nationalities. Anyone can get colorectal cancer.
• Affects about 1-in-19 people during their lifetime.
• Usually develops slowly over a period of 10 to 15 years.
• Has a 90 percent five-year survival rate for those diagnosed in first two stages, but just a 12 percent five-year survival rate for those diagnosed in fourth stage.

Published September 17, 2014

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Health 09-10-14

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Bayfront Health receives A-fib certification
Bayfront Health Dade City has received full Atrial Fibrillation Certification from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and has been recognized as a health concern that in some cases can lead to stroke and possible death.
Atrial fibrillation patients use more health care services and have much higher health care costs than those without the disease.
Bayfront Health Dade City has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and undergoing a comprehensive review by an accreditation review specialist from the SCPC.

(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)
(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Kramer named Employee of the Month
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has honored Keith Kramer, an environmental services assistant, with the August Employee of the Month award. He received multiple nominations from visitors, family members and colleagues. Kramer (with certificate) is seated with members of the Environmental Services team, at a reception in his honor.

Breast cancer support
Florida Cancer Affiliates will host a breast cancer support group Sept. 11 at 6 p.m., at its New Port Richey center, 5500 Little Road.

For information, call (727) 505-6379.

Hearing aid battery giveaway
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida is having a battery giveaway Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon, at 4443 Rowan Road in New Port Richey.

The foundation is offering free hearing aid batteries in the most common sizes of 10, 13, 312 and 675, while supplies last.

The Sertoma Hearing Aid Recycling Program will collect old hearing aids at the giveaway, and containers can also be found in area Publix stores.

For information, call (727) 834-5479 or (866) 999-2443.

Electrophysiology lab tour
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, will have free tours of its Electrophysiology Lab Sept. 15 at 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.

The tour will include the procedural suite, and a meeting with the lab team.

Space is limited. Reservations are required.

For information, call (727) 869-5498.

Learn about functional foods
The Health & Wellness Center at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2700 Healing Way, will host a Functional Foods seminar Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m.

Learn which functional foods can offer additional benefits to reduce the risk of disease and promote overall wellness.

The seminar is free for members of the Center, and $5 for non-members.

Space is limited. Reservations are required.

For information, call (813) 929-5432.

Wound care seminar
Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is hosting a seminar entitled “Wounds Big or Small, We Heal Them All” Sept. 17 at noon.

Guest speaker will be Sharon Owen, director of Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine.

A first-aid kit will be available to all who attend.

Admission is free. A complimentary lunch will be served.

Seating is limited. Reservations are required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

FHWC hosts women’s event
Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is hosting a free, multi-generational women’s health and wellness event at Saddlebrook Resort, 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel, Sept. 20 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event will include health and wellness presentations from area experts, and a healthy cooking demonstration.

There will be free health screenings, pampering and giveaways. A continental breakfast and full lunch are included.

The keynote speaker will be ABC Action News anchor Deiah Riley.

Admission is free, but registration is required.

Women can register by calling (813) 929-5432, or visiting tinyurl.com/WCWomensEvent.

Medical grants available for children
The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is seeking grant applications from families in need of financial assistance to help pay for their child’s health care treatments, services or equipment not covered — or not fully covered — by their commercial health insurance plan.

Qualifying families can receive up to $5,000 per grant, with a lifetime maximum of $10,000 per child to help pay for medical services and equipment such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, counseling services, surgeries, prescriptions, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses and hearing aids.

Children must be younger than 17, and families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States, and have a commercial health insurance plan.

Grants are available for medical expenses families have incurred 60 days prior to the date of application, as well as for ongoing and future medical needs.

Parents or legal guardians can apply for grants at UHCCF.org. There is no application deadline.

New MinuteClinic in Lutz
MinuteClinic has opened a new walk-in clinic inside the CVS store at 2322 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz.

The clinic is part of the company’s plan to add 150 new clinics nationwide in 2014.

No appointments are required. Most health insurance is accepted.

The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

For information, visit MinuteClinic.com.

Moffitt recruiting patients for research
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute is recruiting male patients and their caregivers for a research study that takes a closer look at the uptake of prostate cancer information and health service.

Participants should be between the ages of 40 and 75, and newly diagnosed in the past three months. Patients also must have a caregiver who is willing to participate.

For information, call Shani Davis at (813) 745-6806, or email .

Medical center gets advanced certification
The Joint Commission, in conjunction with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recently recognized the Medical Center of Trinity with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers.

The certification signifies an organization’s dedication to fostering better outcomes for patients. The center also has demonstrated that its program meets critical elements of performance to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients.

Surviving cancer seminar
Dr. Roberto Diaz from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute will speak about surviving cancer Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., at Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz.

The program is free, and will cover new treatments for cancer, and allow for a question-and-answer period.

For information, call Walt Bockmiller, chair of the Keystone Cancer Support Group, at (813) 527-8211. Or call Keystone Community Church at (813) 948-4522.

Free pregnancy care
LifeChoices Women’s Care, 1527 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 101 in Lutz, offers free pregnancy testing and limited obstetrical ultrasounds to teens, women and couples facing an unplanned pregnancy.

The center is open Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments are recommended.

For information, call (813) 948-7734.

 

Veterans lobbying for where in Pasco new VA clinic should go

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The men and women who have served our country during times of war, or in case of war, have been fighting a new conflict to ensure they have access to the federally provided health care they were promised.

But now part of that battle might turn into a turf war between the west and east sides of Pasco County.

Kathleen Fogarty, chief of the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, shares some of the issues her facility has faced in recent months during a packed town hall meeting of veterans hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, right. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Kathleen Fogarty, chief of the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, shares some of the issues her facility has faced in recent months during a packed town hall meeting of veterans hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, right.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Veterans gathered at the West Pasco Government Center last week to tell U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis where they want to build a new consolidated center made possible thanks to a Veterans Affairs bill signed by President Barack Obama last month.

The bill has set aside $1.3 billion to create or expand 27 VA clinics around the country, including Florida’s only new one — a planned 114,000-square-foot facility that would consolidate five existing locations on the west side of the county.

Many veterans have come to depend on having those centers in New Port Richey and Port Richey, and some are balking at the idea of moving the new consolidated center into Land O’ Lakes, or even into Zephyrhills or Dade City.

No plans have been finalized, or even proposed, on where this new facility would take place. But a majority of those speaking up last week were pushing for the government to take over the former Community Hospital campus in New Port Richey. That hospital shut down in 2012 after its owner, HCA Healthcare, opened the new Medical Center at Trinity on State Road 54 just east of Little Road.

But bringing that building up to the standards needed for a new VA clinic could be costly.

“We tried to get Community Hospital about seven years ago,” said one veteran, Paul Rizzo. “We met with the VA, and they turned us down, because they said the building was unsafe. It was only built for one floor, but it’s three floors.”

Despite that, Rizzo wants to have the new clinic there.

“I still say that Community Hospital is one of the best places that we could use,” he said. “It’s been standing there for 50 years now, so how is that unsafe? They say we need a complete overhaul of the building there, but what we really need is a complete overhaul of the VA.”

The Land O’ Lakes area has also been shared as a possible location for a new VA clinic, since it’s in central Pasco. However, east Pasco also remains on the radar simply because of the available land out there in case VA officials decide to build something new.

But getting out that way might create as many problems as simply going to the James Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, some say. Plus, a clinic already exists near Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. That facility will not be a part of the consolidation, officials said.

“Most people, especially disabled veterans, have financial problems, and transportation is a huge factor in their lives,” said Lauren Price, an Iraqi war veteran who is one of the founders of the VeteranWarriors advocacy group. “We have some limited mass transit here in West Pasco, and there is much more minimal mass transit that gets out to Trinity. And before someone offers all that real estate out in Dade City or Zephyrhills, I will remind them that the only mass transit out there are the mud swamp runs.”

Despite hosting the town hall, Bilirakis will have minimal input on where the new facility will be located, he said. That decision, instead, will rely on the VA department itself, which also will receive an additional $10 billion to outsource some of the care to private doctors when VA officials get behind. It also gives Robert McDonald, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs secretary, the power to remove senior executives not meeting expectations more easily than before.

Congress put the legislation in motion this past summer after a series of reports highlighting backlogs in service and other problems at VA hospitals around the country. A government investigation found some of those hospitals were guilty of flubbing appointment lists while supervisors turned a blind eye.

The report, however, said there was nothing connecting the delays created by that activity with preventable deaths.

But some of the veterans in New Port Richey still feel like they’ve been treated improperly by the system. However, James Haley VA Medical Center chief Kathleen Fogarty said many of the delays and problems experienced locally are from the sheer volume facilities like hers have taken on.

“I am very pleased to tell you that all of our clinics were audited, and we did not have any discrepancies in the scheduling,” Fogarty said. “But will I tell you that we don’t have any waiting lists? Absolutely not.”

That’s because her system handles 89,000 unique patients every year, she said. Haley has 4,000 patients a day, and conducts 42,000 consultations a month.

“I am very blessed to have the University of South Florida a bridge away from me,” Fogarty said. “They don’t have a hospital they use to train all of their doctors. We are the primary facility they use, which is a great thing for us because I think we get the best doctors out there.”

Besides where the new consolidated clinic should be located, the more than 100 veterans who attended also shared some of the services they’d like to see there. That includes urgent care, physical therapy, radiology, women’s care and greater access to dental, Bilirakis spokeswoman Summer Robertson said.

If any other veterans wants to express their preferences on where the clinic should go and what should be there, they can call Bilirakis’ office at (813) 501-4942, or send an email to the congressman through his website at Bilirakis.house.gov.

Published September 3, 2014

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Health 09-03-14

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NAMI Peer-to-Peer
The National Alliance on Mental Illness will host a free Peer-to-Peer recovery focused education program for adults living with mental illness from Sept. 5 to Nov. 7.

The program is 10 two-hour sessions for individuals at least 18 years old. It incorporates presentations, discussions and exercises, and provides a toolkit of information on up-to-date research, symptoms, relapse prevention, and skills for making decisions and reducing stress.

Classes are from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at BayCare Behavioral Health Veterans Resource Center, 6819 Massachusetts Ave., in New Port Richey.

To register, call (727) 992-9653.

MS support group
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will host a monthly multiple sclerosis support group on the second Tuesday of the month.

The next meeting is Sept. 9 at noon.

Caregivers and family members are invited.

For information, call (727) 372-1568.

Understanding Medicare
Charlotte Kocian will present a seminar on understanding Medicare Sept. 10 at 11 a.m., at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa.

Topics will include who is eligible, what options are available, and the various plans and parameters.

Admission is free.

Obstetrics tour at Trinity
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is offering tours through its obstetrics program.

The next tour is Sept. 10 at noon.

Guests will visit the mother-baby and birthing suites, and observe the Infant Safety and Security Program.

Space is limited, and reservations are required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

Surviving cancer seminar
Dr. Roberto Diaz from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute will speak about surviving cancer Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., at Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz.

The program is free, and will cover new treatments for cancer, and allow for a question-and-answer period.

For information, call Walt Bockmiller, chair of the Keystone Cancer Support Group, at (813) 527-8211. Or call Keystone Community Church at (813) 948-4522.

Moffitt recruiting patients for research
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute is recruiting male patients and their caregivers for a research study that takes a closer look at the uptake of prostate cancer information and health services.

Participants should be between the ages of 40 and 75, and newly diagnosed in the past three months. Patients also must have a caregiver who is willing to participate.

For information, call Shani Davis at (813) 745-6806, or email ">.

FHWC hosts women’s event
Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is hosting a free, multi-generational women’s health and wellness event at Saddlebrook Resort, 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel, Sept. 20 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event will include health and wellness presentations from area experts, and a healthy cooking demonstration.

There will be free health screenings, pampering and giveaways. A continental breakfast and full lunch are included.

The keynote speaker will be ABC Action News anchor Deiah Riley.

Admission is free, but registration is required.

Women can register by calling (813) 929- 5432, or visiting tinyurl.com/WCWomensEvent.

Atrial fibrillation seminar
The Health & Wellness Center at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2700 Healing Way, is having a seminar on “Atrial Fibrillation: Treatment of Irregular Heart Rhythm” Sept. 9 at noon.

Guest speaker Dr. Binu Jacob will discuss the causes and symptoms, and the minimally invasive treatment options available.

Lunch will be provided.

Space is limited, and reservations are required.

For information, call (813) 929-5432.

Understanding Medicare
Charlotte Kocian will present an educational seminar on understanding Medicare Sept. 10 at 11 a.m., at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa.

Topics will include who is eligible, what options are available, and the various plans and parameters.

Admission is free.

Gulfside Hospice orientation

Gulfside Hospice is hosting a volunteer orientation Sept. 18-19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Gulfside’s Center for Hospice Care, 5760 Dean Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

The orientation is for all new volunteers in East Pasco County.

Volunteers must be at least 15 years old. Reservations are required.

For information, call Jennifer Ball or Tracey Thompson at (813) 780-1235.

Women’s health center opening
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is hosting a grand opening for its newly remodeled Women’s Health Center Sept. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m.

There will be a tour of the center, food and refreshments, and information about personalized care for women in the community.

For information, call (877) 534-3108, or visit FHZeph.org.

Community baby shower
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., will host a community baby shower Sept. 28 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Guests can take a tour of the newly renovated maternity suites, meet the staff and physicians, and have questions answered.

All registered attendees will receive a free gift and be entered to win door prizes. Other activities include a children’s zone, fire truck tours, and car seat safety checks.

Admission is free, but registration is required.

For information, call (877) 534-3108, or visit FHZeph.org.