The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Florida Medical Clinic preparing new facility for Wesley Chapel

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An area Pasco County planners hoped would become an expansive medical park has moved a big step in that direction as Florida Medical Clinic prepares to start construction on an 85,000-square-foot facility near Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

Florida Medical Clinic’s Wesley Chapel location will be a three-story building with 85,000 square feet, and will be the group’s third-largest facility behind Zephyrhills and Land O’ Lakes. It’s expected to open next summer. (Courtesy of Florida Medical Clinic)
Florida Medical Clinic’s Wesley Chapel location will be a three-story building with 85,000 square feet, and will be the group’s third-largest facility behind Zephyrhills and Land O’ Lakes. It’s expected to open next summer.
(Courtesy of Florida Medical Clinic)

The new three-story building will offer a variety of medical services, the kind of one-stop shopping Florida Medical Clinic is known for in other parts of Pasco and Hillsborough counties. But this particular facility will have an extra emphasis on orthopedic care.

“We don’t have an orthopedic presence in Wesley Chapel right now,” said Gus Taylor, Florida Medical Clinic’s chief administrative officer. “We have some in Zephyrhills and Tampa, and some in the Carrollwood area, but this will help us bring all this to Wesley Chapel.”

The Wesley Chapel location will be built at 2352 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., just north of State Road 56 and the Wesley Chapel hospital. Florida Medical Clinic bought a little more than 10 acres of land there last October for $4 million, according to Pasco County property records. It was part of land owned by the Wiregrass Ranch development group since 1987.

This is the third major location Florida Medical Clinic has built in the past five years, beginning with its second-largest facility on State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes opened in 2009, and its new Carrollwood facility in a building that once housed a Borders book store on North Dale Mabry Highway, that opened last year.

And 2013 was a busy year for Florida Medical Clinic as the company focused a bit on Zephyrhills. It expanded its main campus at Market Square to open a new urgent care facility, and built a 12,000-square-foot office on Eiland Boulevard it shares with DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc.

Putting doctors of various specialties under a single roof has been a successful formula for Florida Medical Clinic in Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes and Carrollwood, and Taylor says he expects more success with the new Wesley Chapel facility.

“We have a lot of physicians in the Seven Oaks area that are in independent buildings,” he said. “This helps us provide more services for our patients. It’s extremely convenient when you can go to one location and see all of your doctors and primary doctors.”

And its proximity to Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel will provide even more benefits, similar to what happens at its main campus, located just blocks from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

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. The Wesley Chapel facility might be the last one for a little while, at least.

“Currently, we don’t have that in any other locations in mind,” Taylor said. “But it wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t put another building out there somewhere in the near future to create the same presence in that area, as we’re getting in some of our current ones.”

Florida Medical Clinic is still working on permits for its Wesley Chapel location as well as design, but the goal is to have the facility open by Summer 2015.

“It’s a great location,” Taylor said. “We all know the Wesley Chapel area is growing, and there are a lot of new neighborhoods and a lot of new businesses coming up there. With the new hospital there, this has become a great location for our patients.”

Published March 12, 2014

Health 03-12-14

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21 graduate from NAMI crisis training
The Pasco County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has graduated its latest crisis intervention team of those in law enforcement as well as prison guards, nurses, chaplains and dispatchers, giving each deeper insight into mental illness.

They include Curtis Adams, Gloria Strother, Maryann Senderling and Larry Engle. First row, Robert Mocsary, Karen Miller, Amy Turner, Jeff Lissoy, Christopher Schaeffer, Jeffery Inman, Robert Bruno, Jeremy Othouse, Ben Crawford, Michael Habib and Travis Button. Middle row, Paul Leininger, Frank Pizzuto, Paul Fadeley, Seth Adams, Edward Barginere, Sean Powers and Caleb Steele. Back row, Victor Longo, Chris DeMarco, Jan-Michael Hargrett, Greg Colaluca and Patrick Marshello. 

CoDA group
The Co-Dependence Anonymous group at the Medical Center of Trinity meets every Thursday at 7 p.m., at the Center’s West Pasco Campus, 5637 Marine Parkway in New Port Richey. Upcoming meetings are March 13, March 20 and March 27.

For information, call (727) 816-8678, or (727) 858-3013.

Hearing aid battery giveaway
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida is offering free hearing aid batteries March 14 from 10 a.m. to noon at its offices, 4443 Rowan Road in New Port Richey.

The batteries are available in sizes 10, 13, 312 and 675, while supplies last.

For information, call (727) 834-5479.

Healthcare Marketplace enrollment
Open enrollment for the Healthcare Marketplace ends March 31. Premier Community HealthCare is hosting support sessions to provide guidance to anyone seeking health insurance coverage.

Certified application counselors will provide one-on-one assistance at these sites:

• Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway: March 14, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Regency Park Library, 9701 Little Road, New Port Richey: March 18, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For information, call (352) 518-2000, ext. 9228, 9227, or 9331.

Trinity obstetrics tour
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is offering a tour through its obstetrics program March 15 at noon.

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

Spaces are limited. To make a reservation, call (727) 834-5630.

Free seminars at Lighthouse
The Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind is offering free seminars on low vision, video magnification and CCTV devices that increase access to visual information.

The seminars are:

• March 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brooksville Lighthouse, 6492 California St.

• March 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Port Richey Lighthouse, 8610 Galen Wilson Blvd.

To RSVP, call Darlene at (727) 815-0303.

A Matter of Balance
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is offering the program A Matter of Balance to help people manage concerns about falls and increase physical activity.

Classes begin March 17 and are every Monday and Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., for four weeks. Classes end April 9.

The program incorporates group discussion, problem-solving strategies, videos and gentle physical exercise.

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

‘Look Good … Feel Better’
The American Cancer Society’s “Look Good … Feel Better” program is being offered March 19 at 2 p.m., at the Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54.

The program provides educational information as well as wigs, hats, turbans and prostheses for women cancer patients to help improve their appearance and self-image.

Each woman receives a free makeup kit to use during and after the workshop.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

Sibling classes
The obstetrics program at the Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, hosts monthly sibling classes. The next class is March 19 at 5 p.m., for children 7 and older.

The class features fun and interactive activities to help prepare your child for a new baby.

Cost is $10 per child. For information, call (727) 834-5630.

Paula O’Neil to speak
The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, 2700 Healing Way, will host guest speaker Paula O’Neil, Pasco County clerk of circuit court and comptroller, March 19 at 5 p.m., to talk about her fight with breast cancer.

Registration is required. For information, call (813) 929-5432.

Bayonet Point trauma center still fighting for life

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More than two years ago, Pasco County got its first trauma center when Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point expanded its emergency care operations. But how long it will stay is completely up to government officials from the courts, to the Legislature, and especially the Florida Department of Health.

The Bayonet Point hospital, owned by HCA’s West Florida Division, is fighting to keep its trauma center despite the objections of nearby facilities like Tampa General Hospital and BayCare Health System’s St. Joseph’s Hospital. Both already have trauma centers, and believe adding more will dilute a costly service to one that no longer can be sustained financially.

Dr. Scott Norwood, the trauma medical director at Bayonet Point, believes in the exact opposite. To him, it’s not that Florida has too many trauma centers. In fact, it doesn’t have enough — and dealing with traumatic injuries comes down to how quickly a victim can get to a hospital that can treat it.

“Trauma is a time-sensitive disease,” Norwood recently told members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. “It’s just like heart disease or a heart attack, the quicker you can get to a facility to deal with the problem, the more likely you are to survive. And that’s reflective of what’s happening in Florida right now.”

Before the trauma center opened at Bayonet Point, anyone hurt in a fall or accident would have to be transported south to Hillsborough or Pinellas counties, a distance that could exceed 100 miles and tick precious time off the clock.

“We call it the ‘golden hour of trauma,’ that if you can get into a trauma center or to a facility that can manage your problem within 60 minutes of your injury, your likelihood of survival goes way up,” Norwood said. “If you get in a wreck and are out in the middle of nowhere, your odds of surviving are not really good already.”

Since 2011, when Bayonet Point opened its trauma center, mortality rates have dropped across the state — especially in Pasco and Hernando counties, which saw rates plummet 21 percent and 15 percent respectively, Norwood said.

Yet, the more trauma centers there are in the state, the larger the strain on existing resources to serve those people, say representatives from other hospitals with older trauma centers. The more centers there are, the harder it will be to find the best doctors and medical teams trained in trauma.

At the same time, available money for these trauma centers would be spread out, making it difficult for any of them to stay open, opponents said. Although insurance carriers and patients themselves typically fund trauma centers, there are public pools of money available. They include $2 million from a vehicle registration tax, more than $12 million from red-light cameras, and $46 million in federal funds, according to a report last year by the American College of Surgeons.

Lawsuits have flown back and forth, and judges have sided against the new trauma centers like Bayonet Point’s, saying the Department of Health used an invalid rule to green light them, according to published reports. Since then, state health officials have been working around the clock to streamline department rules, and find common ground between the older trauma centers and the new ones.

State health officials started hearings in January and February to work out the trauma center issues, and have developed a plan that would allow at least one trauma center in each of the state’s 19 designated trauma areas, according to published reports. If the rule moves forward as planned, it would keep all of the new trauma centers, including Bayonet Point, in place.

This rule, however, would most likely end up in the courts as well. That’s been made clear by increased lobbying efforts by both sides, including bringing in the conservative-leaning 60 Plus Association to spend $250,000 on television advertising supporting the efforts of hospitals like Bayonet Point.

And now the Florida Legislature is looking to weigh in. State Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring — and a registered nurse — filed S.B. 1276 last week that, among other things, would limit the number of trauma centers in each of the 19 regions.

However, it’s a limit that would be in favor of hospitals like Bayonet Point, since Grimsley is asking that Pasco and Pinellas counties be limited to three centers, while Hillsborough would get only two. It also removes the ability for other hospitals to protest the addition of more trauma centers.

Including pediatrics at All Children’s Hospital, the Pasco and Pinellas region would have three trauma centers, Bayonet Point joining Bayfront Medical Center on the list.

Still, the entire trauma center system would be reviewed each year under the bill, with a final report heading to state officials at the beginning of February. It also sets expectations that trauma centers like Bayonet Point would be able to treat a minimum of up to 1,000 patients each year.

That’s something the hospital already is doing, Norwood said.

“When we started this thing, we thought we would probably get 800 patients each year,” Norwood said. “In my first year, we had 1,456 patients. In our second year, we got 1,685 patients.”

And 65 percent of those patients come right from Pasco County, he said, and nearly 90 percent come from Pasco or points north of Pasco.

“We are not stealing patients from anywhere,” Norwood said. “This is not happening.”

State health officials said they could move the department’s new rule forward later this spring.

By the Numbers
94.66 — Florida’s trauma center survival rate

95.56 — Survival rate of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s trauma center

27 — Number of trauma centers in Florida

715,500 — Average population each Florida trauma center serves

$2.2 million — Average local, state, federal funding for each trauma center

Published March 5, 2014

Health 03-05-14

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Cancer support network
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church Family Cancer Network meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month in Rosary Hall at the church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, beginning at 7 p.m. Cancer survivors and caregivers are welcome to attend.

For information, call (813) 949-4565.

Neuropathy clinic
Space is available in the April clinic for the education and support of those who have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy at a free, volunteer-run clinic at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

Those attending can learn how to cope with neuropathy, deal with physical limitations, home safety and symptom management.

For information, call Cindy Tofthagen at (813) 368-9862, or email .

Heart healthy nutrition
Two hospitals are offering the class “Heart Healthy Nutrition: Eating for a Healthy Lifestyle.”

The first is at the Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, on March 6 at 10 a.m. The second is at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, March 11 at 1 p.m.

Participants can learn dietary balance, good and bad fats, controlling sodium intake, calorie balance, and the importance of dietary fiber.

Seating is limited. Reservations are required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630, or (727) 869-5498.

Chatterboxes meet
The Medical Center of Trinity will host a Chatterboxes support group March 6 at 3 p.m.

The group assists individuals suffering from communication deficits as a result of a cerebral vascular accident or other neurological disorder.

Caregivers and spouses are invited.

For information, call (727) 834-4445.

Senior health expo
The Temple Terrace Senior Expo will be March 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Family Recreation Complex, 6610 Whiteway Drive in Temple Terrace.

The event features musical entertainment, door prizes, chair massages, bingo and freebies.

BayCare Health System will provide free blood pressure and glucose screenings.

A continental breakfast will begin at 8 a.m., on a first-come basis.

Seniors can bring old, unwanted medicines between 9 a.m. and noon for safe disposal.

Admission is free.

For information, call (813) 506-6630.

CoDA group
The Co-Dependence Anonymous group at the Medical Center of Trinity meets every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Center’s West Pasco Campus, 5637 Marine Parkway in New Port Richey. Upcoming meetings are March 6, March 13, March 20 and March 27.

For information, call (727) 816-8678, or (727) 858-3013.

Men’s health forum
Community organizations and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute will host its Men’s Health Forum March 8 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the University of South Florida’s Marshall Student Center.

The event offers free health screenings, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and skin cancer. There will be educational workshops, fitness demonstrations and services exhibitors.

Breakfast and lunch will be available while supplies last.

Admission and parking are free.

To register, visit MHFTampa.com, or call (888) 663-3488, and press 4.

Monthly MS support
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is offering a monthly support group for those affected by multiple sclerosis.

The next meeting is March 11 from noon to 2 p.m.

Caregivers and family members are encouraged to attend.

For information, call (727) 372-1568.

Hospice appoints medical director
HPH Hospice has appointed Dr. Clifford Colin as its medical director.

Colin has eight years hospice experience, including the role of an HPH physician from 2002 to 2004, and most recently as HPH’s assistant medical director.

Colin is a cardiologist for the Good Samaritan Clinic in New Port Richey, and a member of the Bioethics Committee for Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

Hearing aid battery giveaway
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida will offer free hearing aid batteries March 14 from 10 a.m. to noon at its offices, 4443 Rowan Road in New Port Richey.

The batteries are available in sizes 10, 13, 312 and 675, while supplies last.

For information, call (727) 834-5479.

Riding for hospice
The Pasco Sheriff’s Mounted Posse will have its sixth annual Ride for Hospice March 15-16 at Diamond B Ranch, 21309 Kettering Road in Dade City, to benefit Gulfside Hospice.

The trail ride begins at 10 a.m., March 16, and includes wagon rides, visits to the agriculture museum, a cowboy-shooting exhibition, and lunch. Camping options are available for March 15 for a fee, and include a bonfire and short trail ride.

To preregister, visit RideForHospice.net.

For information, call Erin Labbe at (800) 561-4883.

Hospice grief support
HPH Hospice is offering its free eight-week Grief’s Journey support group for adults who have experienced the recent death of a loved one.

The group meets Wednesdays at 2 p.m., through March 26, at the HPH Resource Center, 37441 Clinton Ave., in Dade City.

Registration is required.

For information, call (800) 486-8784.

 

Health Notes 02-26-14

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Neuropathy clinic
Space is available in the April clinic for the education and support of those who have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy at a free, volunteer-run clinic at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

Those attending can learn how to cope with neuropathy, deal with physical limitations, home safety and symptom management.

For information, call Cindy Tofthagen at (813) 368-9862, or email .

Hospice volunteers
Gulfside Hospice will host a volunteer orientation for new thrift shop volunteers Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lutz Thrift Shoppe, 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Reservations are required.

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

Wellness bus in NPR
BayCare Health System’s Wellness Bus will roll into Morton Plant North Bay Medical Arts Building, 6633 Forest Ave., in New Port Richey, March 1 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Participants can get free health screenings, including blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and body mass index.

Registration is required. For information, call (855) 546-6304.

Celiac support group
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, hosts monthly meetings of the West Pasco celiac support group. The next meeting is March 1 at 10 a.m., and includes recipe demonstrations of a gluten-free diet.

For information, visit RMCHealth.com.

HPH Hospice appoints medical director
HPH Hospice has named Clifford Colin as its new medical director.

Colin has eight years of hospice experience, including as an HPH physician from 2002 to 2004, and serving as assistant medical director for the past few months.

 Nutrition and diabetes
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer the class Nutrition & Diabetes March 4 at 10 a.m.

The class teaches the basic principles of nutrition, meal timing, and how carbohydrates, proteins and fat can affect blood sugar.

Reservations are required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

Alzheimer’s group meeting
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, will offer an Alzheimer’s support group meeting March 4 at 10 a.m.

The meeting is open to caregivers and those interested in discussing and exchanging ideas on the care of Alzheimer’s patients.

For information, call Laura Arnold at (727) 863-0176.

Heart healthy nutrition
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer the class Heart Healthy Nutrition: Eating for a Healthy Lifestyle March 6 at 10 a.m.

Participants can learn dietary balance, good and bad fats, controlling sodium intake, calorie balance, and the importance of dietary fiber.

Seating is limited. Reservations are required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

Health 02-19-14

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(Courtesy of Vince Vanni)
(Courtesy of Vince Vanni)

Volunteers’ stars shine for Regional Medical
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point announced the recipients of its fourth quarter Volunteer Five Star and One Star Awards. Joining volunteer services manager Donna Owen, left, and volunteer association president Elliott Lorenzi, right, are Five Star winners, from left, Norma Wing, Adrien Borel and Ann Donahue. The One Star recipients were Greg Vlaikos, Rose Santise and Sharon McTeer.

 

 

Colon health seminar
Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, 6600 Madison St., in New Port Richey, will present the seminar “You and Your Colon” Feb. 20 at noon.

Dr. Jared Frattini will speak on colon cancer, polyps, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, and surgical treatment options.

To preregister, call (727) 953-6877, or visit BayCareEvents.org.

Huntington’s disease
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will host a support group for anyone whose life is affected by Huntington’s disease Feb. 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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

Newborn care
Morton Plant Mease Outpatient Center, 2102 Trinity Oaks Blvd., in Trinity, will offer a newborn care class Feb. 22 at 9 a.m. Cost is $15.

For information, call (727) 953-6877, or visit BayCareEvents.org.

Health and fitness fair
The Rotary Club of New Tampa Evening and the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce will present the inaugural Wesley Chapel Health & Fitness Fair and 5k Walk Feb. 23 at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and The Shops at Wiregrass.

The 5-kilometer walk benefiting the American Diabetes Foundation begins at 11 a.m., at the hospital. There will be free tours of the hospital’s wellness center.

The main exhibition area opens at noon at The Shops, along with entertainment and vendors. There will be face painting, and Cub Scout and Zumba demonstrations.

Admission and parking are free. For information, visit GetFitFair.com.

Infant/child CPR
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz, will offer an infant/child CPR course, following the American Heart Association guidelines, Feb. 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Classroom A.

Cost is $35 per person, and a $10 fee if a completion card is required.

To register, call (855) 269-4777.

National Heart Month at Trinity
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will celebrate February as National Heart Month with the following events:

• Every Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to noon, free blood pressure screenings for the public in the main lobby.

• Every Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the dining room, a heart-healthy lunch with a recipe card. All meals come with a main item, side bowl of fruit, and water.

Cost is $5.

For information, call (727) 834-4000.

Group fitness class
The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, will host a group fitness class Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.

This is a 60-minute total body workout that incorporates aerobics, strength, toning and flexibility. All fitness levels are welcome.

For information, call (813) 996-7186, or email .

CoDA group
The Co-Dependence Anonymous group at the Medical Center of Trinity meets every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Center’s West Pasco Campus, 5637 Marine Parkway in New Port Richey.

For information, call (727) 816-8678, or (727) 858-3013.

Bereavement group
Gulfside Regional Hospice is offering its Newly Bereaved Group at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, Tuesdays at 1 p.m. It’s led by a trained grief counselor.

The support group is free for anyone who has experienced the grief of losing a loved one.

For information, call Kelly Cavagnetto at (813) 780-1235.

Food addicts program
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wesley Chapel, 33420 State Road 54, hosts Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous on Thursdays at 7 p.m. This is a 12-step program for men and women of all ages.

There is no fee and no weigh-ins.

For information, visit FoodAddicts.org.

New anxiety support group
The Tampa Bay Anxiety Association is a meet-up group set up so members can take an active part in making decisions about when and where to meet. The group meets throughout the Tampa Bay area. Panera Bread on Williet Way in Wesley Chapel is the newest venue to serve those in the North Tampa area. Meetings are usually in the evening. Membership is $5 a year.

For information, visit meetup.com and search for “Anxiety Association” under groups.

(Courtesy of Kristen Briscoe)
(Courtesy of Kristen Briscoe)

Soft landing for crafters
The Humana Charity Crafters, senior crafters from the Humana Guidance Center in Zephyrhills, donated more than 200 no-sew fleece pillows to patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children-Tampa. The handmade pillows, given to children prior to surgery, included customized get well cards made by the volunteers. In the back row, from left, are Jennifer Pidala, Humana Guidance Center activity coordinator; Jean Nichols and Dorothy Hein, crafters; and Alicia Argiz-Lyons, director of development and marketing at Shriners Hospitals. Sitting are, from left, Gloria DelGado, Roseanna Asztalos and Christina Sokol.

Senior health fair
Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is sponsoring a free senior health fair Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club, 10641 Old Tampa Bay Drive in San Antonio.

The event includes health screenings, including blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index, and grip strength. There will be information on drug interactions, stroke, Medicare and other health topics, and door prizes.

Registration is required. For information, call (813) 929-5432, or visit FHWesleyChapel.org/events.

Men’s health forum
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute is teaming up with community organizations to host its Men’s Health Forum on March 8, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the University of South Florida’s Marshall Student Center, USF Cedar Circle in Tampa.

The event will have free health screenings to medically underserved and uninsured men in the Tampa Bay area. There will be health education workshops, fitness demonstrations and support services exhibitors.

Breakfast and lunch will be available while supplies last. Admission and parking are free.

To register, visit MHFTampa.com, or call (888) 663-3488, and press 4.

Riding for hospice
The Pasco Sheriff’s Mounted Posse will have its sixth annual Ride for Hospice March 15-16, at Diamond B Ranch, 21309 Kettering Road in Dade City, to benefit Gulfside Hospice.

The trail ride begins at 10 a.m. on March 16, and includes wagon rides, visits to the agriculture museum, a cowboy-shooting exhibition, and lunch. Camping options are available for March 15 for a fee, and include a bonfire and short trail ride.

To preregister, visit RideForHospice.net.

For information, call Erin Labbe at (800) 561-4883.

Hospice grief support
HPH Hospice is offering its free eight-week Grief’s Journey support group for adults who have experienced the recent death of a loved one.

The group meets Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., through March 26, at the HPH Resource Center, 37441 Clinton Ave., in Dade City.

Registration is required.

For information, call (800) 486-8784.

 

Flu activity increasing in some Florida counties

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The flu is rampaging across the nation, causing epidemics in nearly every state. But so far most counties in Florida are reporting a mild level of activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Florida Department of Health.

However, the level of flu activity is increasing in 21 Florida counties, according to the state department of health.

Dr. Nelly Durr Chambers, an internist with Florida Hospital Physician Group, said she has noticed Florida residents tend to get the flu later than residents in some other states.

“What I’ve seen in years prior is that the flu will hit November, December up north, and it will hit us January, February, March down here,” Chambers said.

The CDC recommends a flu shot for anyone older than six months as the most effective way to prevent the flu. And Chambers agrees.

“I really do think that getting the vaccine is very important,” she said. “Everybody should consider getting the flu vaccine, but especially if you’re in those risk categories — whether you’re young or very old, or if you’re pregnant, or if you have conditions like asthma, emphysema, if you smoke, if you’re diabetic, if you’re a cancer patient.”

Those patients are at a much higher risk of complications, Chambers said.

“They get sick faster,” she said. “When they get sick, their immune system doesn’t allow them to respond as quickly or as effectively as ours.”

The state department of health is reporting an increased number of pregnant women reporting to emergency rooms for care.

Besides getting the vaccine, people also can reduce their risk of getting the flu by avoiding contact with those who are ill, Chambers said. It’s also a good idea to frequently wash hands to avoid getting sick.

“If you get the flu and you recognize the symptoms in the first 48 hours, going to a doctor is helpful,” Chambers added.

She advises people to be alert to the symptoms.

“A lot of times people have symptoms and they wait three or four days, and by then, the medication that we would use is too late to use,” Chambers said.

Within the first 48 hours, a physician can prescribe medication that would be helpful to shorten the duration of the illness and to reduce the severity of the symptoms, Chambers said. After that, the medication won’t be effective.

There are definite differences between the flu and a common cold, Chambers said.

“The flu comes on, kind of like a truck hits you,” she said. “It’s not mild symptoms that progress into becoming more. You’re fine one minute, and the next hour you’re so achy, you have a fever, you have a headache. You feel awful.”

But a common cold is different.

“You start with a tickle, you start feeling congested,” Chambers said. “Maybe a day or two later, you have more of a cough or a sneeze.”

Besides prescription drugs for the flu, there are over-the-counter medications that can be used for upper respiratory infections, fever and body aches, Chambers said. Some of those medications, however, are not recommended for people with a heart condition or high blood pressure.

Besides medication, it’s also important to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluid, Chambers added.

An average of 36,000 people across the country die each year from influenza, and about 114,000 have to be admitted to the hospital, according to the CDC.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention offers these tips to help reduce the spread of germs.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and when you’re ill, keep your distance from others to avoid spreading your germs.

• If possible, stay home when you’re ill. Do not go to work, school or run errands. This will help prevent others from picking up your illness.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

• Wash your hands often to help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. Germs often are spread when someone touches something that is contaminated, and then touches his or her nose, mouth or eyes.

• Clean and disinfect the surfaces at home, work or school that are frequently touched — especially when someone is ill.

Published Feb. 12, 2014

Health 02-12-14

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Wellness bus at St. Joseph’s
BayCare Health System’s wellness bus will roll through St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz, on Feb. 15 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The bus will offer free health screenings that include blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and body mass index.

Registration is required.

For information, call (855) 546-6304.

Education symposium
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, is offering an all-day community education symposium for National Heart Month on Feb. 15 at 9 a.m.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. A complimentary lunch will be served.

To preregister, call (888) 741-5119, or email .

Team 180 fitness
All fitness levels are invited to a free Team 180 fitness and nutrition class Feb. 15 and Feb. 22 at 9 a.m., at the Quail Hollow Country Club, 6225 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Participants should bring a towel and water. Space is limited.

To reserve a spot, call (813) 624-8960.

Parkinson’s support
The Tampa area Parkinson’s Support Group will meet Feb. 19 at 1 p.m., at the Church of the Nazarene, 5902 N. Himes Ave., in Tampa.

Guest speaker will be author Rohn Harmer. Light refreshments will be served.

For information, call Jane Lowry at (813) 932-6685, or Adele Ida Walter at (813) 932-6902.

Infant CPR course
The obstetrics program at Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is offering a pediatric/infant CPR course Feb. 15 at 9 a.m.

Participants will learn the skills of the American Heart Association course “CPR For Family and Friends.” Cost is $15 per person, or $25 for two.

For reservations, call (727) 834-5630.

Health 02-05-14

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CoDA group
The Co-Dependence Anonymous group at the Medical Center of Trinity meets every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Center’s West Pasco Campus, 5637 Marine Parkway in New Port Richey.

For information, call (727) 816-8678, or (727) 858-3013.

National Heart Month at Trinity
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will celebrate February as National Heart Month with the following events:

• Every Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to noon, free blood pressure screenings for the public in the main lobby.

• Every Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the dining room, The event will feature a different heart healthy lunch with a recipe card. All meals come with a main item, side bowl of fruit, and water.

Cost is $5.

For information, call (727) 834-4000.

Body Fair, yoga at Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market, 3802 Northdale Blvd., in Carrollwood, will host the following free events:

• Feb. 8, from noon to 2 p.m., Be Good to Your Whole Body Fair. Participants can receive a mini-massage, complimentary samples, and enter to win prizes. The first 50 guests will receive a gift bag.

• Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Intro to Yoga with Chi Yoga. Participants can stop by the side parking lot to learn and explore basic yoga poses and try green smoothies.

For information and to preregister, call (813) 264-3600, or visit tinyurl.com/WholeFoodsEvents.

Diabetic education
Access Health Care, 4270 Lake in the Woods Drive in Spring Hill, will offer the lecture “Diabetic Complications and Risk Management” Feb. 10 at 1 p.m.

The lecture is for anyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and their family.

Seating is limited and reservations are required.

For information, call (352) 597-7249.

Volunteer match at HPH
HPH Hospice is hosting a two-day “Get to Know You” orientation for prospective volunteers Feb. 11 and Feb. 14 at 6807 Rowan Road in New Port Richey.

The orientation will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., on both days.

Guests can speak with staff and volunteers from different areas of HPH. Lunch will be provided both days.

To register in advance, call Kathy Karamitsos at (727) 847-5647, or Fred Blind at (727) 819-5984.

Prepared childbirth class
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz, will offer a three-week prepared childbirth class starting Feb. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Classroom A.

The class covers the third trimester, labor, breathing, relaxation, delivery and postpartum concerns. It also includes a hospital tour.

The fee of $70 includes a prepared childbirth book and registration for two.

For information, call (855) 269-4777.

Group fitness class
The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, will host a group fitness class on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.

This is a 60-minute total body workout that incorporates aerobics, strength, toning and flexibility. All fitness levels are welcome.

For information, call (813) 996-7186, or email .

Riding for hospice
The Pasco Sheriff’s Mounted Posse will have its sixth annual Ride for Hospice March 15-16, at Diamond B Ranch, 21309 Kettering Road in Dade City, to benefit Gulfside Hospice.

The trail ride begins at 10 a.m. on March 16, and includes wagon rides, visits to the agriculture museum, a cowboy-shooting exhibition, and lunch. Camping options are available for March 15 for a fee, and include a bonfire and short trail ride.

To preregister, visit RideForHospice.net. For information, call Erin Labbe at (800) 561-4883.

Hospice grief support
HPH Hospice is offering its free eight-week Grief’s Journey support group for adults who have experienced the recent death of a loved one.

The group meets Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., through March 26, at the HPH Resource Center, 37441 Clinton Ave., in Dade City.

Registration is required.

For information, call (800) 486-8784.

Volunteer at Pasco Regional
Pasco Regional Medical Center, 13100 Fort King Road in Dade City, is looking for energetic men and women to join its volunteer team, including junior volunteers between the ages of 14 and 18.

Opportunities are available in both clinical and nonclinical areas of the hospital.

To learn more about the program, call Amy Fort at (352) 521-1195.

CARES programs
CARES Enrichment Center, 13906 Fifth St., in Dade City, offers these activities:

• Adult Day Care: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants receive breakfast, lunch and a snack, along with organized activities. The program provides social and health services to adults who need supervision in a safe place outside the home. Reservations are required, and veterans are accepted. For costs and available funding, call (352) 519-9300.

• Senior Moments Early Memory Loss Program: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For reservations or information, call (727) 862-9291, ext. 2002.

Hospital needs volunteers
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including transporting patients to and from tests, driving the shuttle, distributing mail, cafeteria, clerical/administrative, and more. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

There is a minimum requirement of four volunteer hours per week.

Volunteers receive a complimentary meal in the café on the days they work, and recognition at the annual volunteer banquet. Orientation sessions are twice a month.

If interested, applications are available online at FloridaHospital.com/Zephyrhills, or by calling (813) 779-6256.

Health 01-29-14

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NAMI family-to-family

The Pasco County Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness is offering a free educational course for family, caregivers and friends of individuals living with mental illness from Jan. 30 to April 17.

The course will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the NAMI Pasco office, 6480 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Registration is required.

For information, call (813) 918-3205.

 

Bereavement group

Gulfside Regional Hospice is offering a Newly Bereaved Group at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, on Tuesdays at 1 p.m., led by a trained grief counselor. The support group is free for anyone who has experienced the grief of losing a loved one.

For information, call Kelly Cavagnetto at (813) 780-1235.

 

Walking trail ribbon cutting

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., will host a walking trail ribbon cutting Jan. 30 beginning at noon. The trail has been repaved and now has distance markers.

Refreshments and a light lunch will be served.

A new walking club is scheduled to start Feb. 5 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

For information, call (813) 788-0411.

 

Diabetes self-management

The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will host a diabetes self-management workshop on Mondays at 9 a.m., from Feb. 3 through March 10.

This is a 2.5-hour class. Topics include healthy eating, appropriate exercise, use of medication, and techniques to deal with symptoms and emotional problems.

Seating is limited. Registration is required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

 

Alzheimer’s support

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s Alzheimer’s monthly support group will meet on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon at 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson.

The meeting is open to caregivers and those who want to discuss and exchange ideas for those involved in the care of Alzheimer’s patients.

For information, call Laura Arnold at (727) 863-0176.

 

Heart healthy nutrition

The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is offering an educational class called “Heart Healthy Nutrition: Eating for a Healthy Lifestyle” on Feb. 6 at 10 a.m.

Participants will learn dietary balance, controlling sodium intake, the importance of dietary fiber, good and bad fats, and calorie balance.

Seating is limited. Reservations are required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

 

Lung cancer screenings approved

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has approved guidelines recommending an annual low-dose CT scan for older smokers. This applies to people between the ages of 55 and 79 who have at least a 30 pack-year history of smoking, or equivalent to one pack per day for 30 years, or two packs per day for 15 years.

For those who don’t meet the criteria but want to be screened, a prescription is required.

Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive in Tampa, is offering low-dose CT lung cancer screenings for $150, self-pay.

To schedule an appointment, call (813) 745-3980. For information, visit Moffitt.org/lungscreening.

 

Obstetrics tour

The obstetrics program at Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is offering a tour through the obstetrics unit on Feb. 5 at 5 p.m.

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

Spaces are limited. Reservations are required.

For information, call (727) 834-5630.

 

CoDA group

The Co-Dependence Anonymous group at the Medical Center of Trinity meet every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Center’s West Pasco Campus, 5637 Marine Parkway in New Port Richey.

Upcoming meetings are Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 20 and Feb. 27.

For information, call (727) 816-8678, or (727) 858-3013.

 

Trinity lab receives accreditation

The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists has awarded accreditation to the Laboratory at Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54.

During the accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years.

Also examined are staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management of the laboratory.