The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz News

Lutz teen gets heartwarming surprise

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When Abbie Grace Flohr returned to her Lutz neighborhood after a life-saving surgery, she was greeted with a life-affirming welcome home celebration.

Cheryl Flohr stands with her daughter, Abbie Grace, in front of a large group of well-wishers. Abbie Grace, who will be a freshman this fall at Steinbrenner High School, just returned home. The teenager had been hospitalized following a six-hour surgery to remove a blood clot from a vein near her heart. (Courtesy of Carter Gaddis)

The young woman, who will be a freshman at Steinbrenner High this fall, was coming home from the hospital, after a surgery to address a massive blood clot in a vein near her heart, according to her mom, Cheryl Flohr.

The operation took six hours and involved putting in five stents.

This is just the latest medical issue for Abbie Grace, who has been hospitalized more than 120 times, her mom said.

When Julie Dumois-Sands, the social worker at Martinez Middle School heard that Abbie Grace would be returning home, she came up with the idea of greeting the girl with a driveway concert and car parade.

Dumois-Sands turned for help to Karen Bishop, a retired Martinez Middle orchestra teacher.

Bishop texted some of her former students to see if they could help, and she got a huge response.

Some of the volunteer musicians were Bishop’s private students, so they didn’t even know Abbie Grace.

Just the same, they turned out to create a pop-up orchestra with 25 players, including Steven Bossert, orchestra director at Plant High, and musicians from Martinez Middle and Steinbrenner, Gaither, Hillsborough and Blake high schools.

Karen Bishop stands with Abbie Grace Flohr in front of a group of musicians who welcomed the young woman home with a driveway concert and car parade.

They played a 10-minute concert, without the benefit of any practice.

It was: “Show up. Set up. Let’s go,” Bishop said.

Besides being the social worker at Martinez, Dumois-Sands also founded the school’s Circle of Friends, Bishop said. That group aims to prevent bullying and to promote inclusion, and both Bishop and Abbie Grace are among its members.

Abbie Grace and her mom were touched by the outpouring of warmth.

“We live in a place where we truly are a community,” Cheryl Flohr said. “Over 20 kids took time out of their day to do this. Thank you to all of our friends that came by to show your support,” she said.

But, Abbie Grace and her mom weren’t the only ones to take joy from the event, Bishop said.

“It certainly brought sunshine to a lot of people, not only the Flohr family, but to the kids, parents and teachers that just wanted to spread the love —  a much needed thing, especially when the world is a tough place right now, the retired orchestra teacher said.

This kind of love makes the world a “kinder place” and offers hope for the future, she said.

Published July 08, 2020

Watermelon festival offers sweet, old-fashioned fun

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Amy Guzzo, 38, of Lutz, chows down on a slice of watermelon during the adult watermelon-eating contest at the first annual Lutz Watermelon Festival. She was declared the contest winner. (Randy Underhill)

It was billed as the first annual Lutz Watermelon Festival — and, the sweet juicy melon was a big draw.

There were watermelon-eating contests for kids and adults, a watermelon-catapult contest, and a Little Miss Watermelon pageant.

Other ways to have fun included a large hay bale walk, tire swings, a rock climbing tower and a dunk tank.

Festival-goers could grab a bite to eat from a plethora of food trucks, could do some shopping from local vendors and could enjoy music, too.

The event even had free parking.

The festival was held on June 13, an overcast day, at County Line Produce, 206 Newberger Road in Lutz. It was hosted by County Line Produce Company and Intensity Academy Gourmet & Hot Sauce Company.

By Randy Underhill

Published June 24, 2020

Harper St. Clair seems to have the queen’s wave down, as she celebrates being named the winner in the age 3 to 5 category in the Little Miss Watermelon pageant. Here, she is waving to her little sister, Savanah St. Clair. (Courtesy of Amanda Short)
These giant hay bales are no match for 3-year-old Roselie Nobles. (Randy Underhill)
Three-year-old Sebastian Ellis, of Spring Hill, takes this tractor on an imaginary spin, during the watermelon festival in Lutz. (Randy Underhill)
Pat Largo, of New Port Richey, was master of ceremonies during the Little Miss Watermelon Pageant, which had several age categories. Here, he announces Nicolette Verno, age 7 months, of Rochester, New York, in the age 0 to 2-year-old group. Her mother, Marissa Verno, holds Nicolette for a pose. (Randy Underhill)
Christian Northrup, 22, of Lutz, gets ready to enjoy a Maine Lobster roll sandwich from one of the food vendors at the festival. (Randy Underhill)
Ten-year-old Kayden Bilbery, of Trinity, shows off the trophy he won for winning the children’s division of the watermelon-eating contest. (Randy Underhill)
Six-year-old Jayceon Rivera, of Lutz, checks his footing on the rock-climbing tower at the festival. (Randy Underhill)

Time capsule unearths memories in Lutz

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A 60-year-old time capsule unearthed at Learning Gate Community School will be a teaching moment for at least one third-grade teacher.

The battered metal box held items buried on July 18, 1948 during a ceremony to lay the cornerstone for the First United Methodist Church of Lutz.

The congregation now resides in a new church off West Lutz Lake Fern Road.

The former church site came into ownership of Learning Gate in 2014.

The time capsule came to light as workers demolished the old church building. Learning Gate plans to build new administrative offices in its place.

Linda Fuerst, a third-grade teacher at Learning Gate Community School, takes a cellphone shot of a 1948 newspaper found in a time capsule. (Kathy Steele)

Inside the box, school officials found a few, water-logged items, namely: A July 18, 1948 edition of the Tampa Sunday Tribune with full comic section, a Bible, a hymnal and a round glazed window panel.

Using the Tribune issues as a guide, Linda Fuerst foresees a timely history lesson for her third-graders.

One headline captures the connection between then and now: “New Links Found, May Aid Polio.”

In the 1940s and 1950s, polio was a crippling disease that could cause paralysis. The virus frequently attacked children, but it also affected one famous figure, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Today, the world is battling COVID-19 and is waiting for a vaccine.

Another news item is on “meat rationing,” a part of the Depression and World War II familiar to older generations.

“I talk about my parents a lot,” said Fuerst. “They grew up in the Depression and World War II.”

Learning Gate teachers got a laugh out of one story, in particular, about teachers’ salaries being lower than that of craftsmen. Salaries ranged from a low of $2,812 to a high of $3,150.

Advertisements from Maas Brothers highlighted fashionable clothing on sale at the iconic Tampa department store. The store closed in 1991 and was torn down in 2006.

The comics and some language in the 1948 newspaper reveal some outdated views on race and women.

A brief news item notes the importance of the day for the Lutz church members – a cornerstone ceremony for the then-new church construction.

An aging hymnal from the First United Methodist Church of Lutz was found inside a 1948 time capsule.

The congregation traces its beginnings back nearly 100 years through church mergers and other church locations.

The article described a concrete block building plastered with stucco, an auditorium measuring 30-by-50 feet, and a rear addition of about the same size.

The total cost? Thirty-five thousand dollars.

When Learning Gate bought the property, the vacant church was adjacent to the campus of Learning Gate’s middle school, at 207 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.

School officials considered keeping the aging structure. But, Learning Gate Principal Michelle Mason said, “It was in a complete state of disrepair, unsalvageable. The financial cost of it was enormous.”

In addition to new offices, Learning Gate also is renovating existing school buildings to upgrade air-conditioning and to enlarge classrooms.

Work is expected to be complete by the start of the new school year.

The discovery of the time capsule was not unexpected.

“They had been told to be on the lookout,” Mason said.

Water had seeped into the box.

It took a while to dry out the newspapers and books.

Mike Reid, the worker who found the time capsule, said about 40 people stopped by to view the church before the demolition.

“A lot of people who came by were married here,” he said. “I think it was pretty cool.”

Victor Alonso remembers his wedding there, and the years he and his family attended the church.

“It was a sweet time,” he said. “It will be sad whenever we drive by and it’s gone.”

But, he added, “I feel better that it’s being acknowledged.”

Mason hopes to pass on the artifacts to church members, and has reached out to church officials.

Now that the word is out, Mason said, “I’ve had so many people reach out who want to see if they can come by and see it.”

Published June 10, 2020

Alternate fundraiser for Old Lutz School

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The annual Lutz Guv’na campaign has become a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been canceled.

In lieu of that fundraiser, the Lutz Civic Association is sponsoring an alternative. It is offering Lutz-branded merchandise for sale to benefit the Citizens of the Old Lutz School. All profits will go to the support of the historic Old Lutz School.

This is one of several garden flag designs available for purchase. (Courtesy of Stephanie Ensor)

To view items available for purchase, visit bit.ly/LutzFundraiser.

Those interested can choose from can coozies, baseball-style caps, stickers, magnets, T-shirts (youth, women and men sizes), and garden flags.

Merchandise currently is being printed and first orders will be ready for pickup by June 15. Once the merchandise sells out, there will be a second run to fill orders.

Flags are not due to be in until the end of June or the beginning of July.

Citizens for the Old Lutz School raises money every year to pay for the upkeep of the Old Lutz School, where generations of Lutz children were educated. The money pays for such things as repairing termite damage, replacing windows and other essential maintenance.

The group also hosts popular holiday festivities for the community each year during Christmas season.

Besides losing a share of proceeds from the Lutz Guv’na race, Citizens for the Old Lutz School also suffered a setback in fundraising because of the cancellation of its Spring Market due to concerns about COVID-19.

Anyone who wishes to contribute for the upkeep of the Old Lutz School can donate through the organization’s website, at OldLutzSchool.com.

Published June 10, 2020

Organizers cancel Lutz Fourth of July festivities

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COVID-19 has claimed another victim.

The traditional Independence Day festivities in Lutz will not be held this year.

For decades, the community, north of Tampa, has attracted thousands of people to its annual Fourth of July parade, and associated activities.

But, this year, organizers decided it was just too risky to stage the annual event.

This cake, which was titled ‘The Ultimate Lutz Candy Celebration Cake,’ was one of the entries for the Youth 11- to 18-year-old category during the Cake Bake Competition last year. (File)

“We mulled it over for many, many weeks. It wasn’t a decision made lightly, I can assure you,” said Annette Bellingar, president of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

Ultimately, said Pat Serio, a club board member: “We had to choose the safe route.”

Bellingar said: “When we thought about it, we thought there is just no way that we’re going to get people to be doing the proper social distancing at an event such as this.

“Can you imagine having all of those people there and saying, ‘You’ve got to be 6 feet apart?’” Bellingar said.

The close quarters between people raised concerns, Serio said. Plus, she noted: “In the usual extreme heat we have on Fourth of July, even mask-wearing could be difficult.”

Still, canceling the festivities was not an easy choice, Serio said.

The event has been an annual tradition for many families.

Generally, the parade featured widely known local organizations, such as the  GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, the Little Women of Lutz, the Lutz Civic Association, Boy Scout Troop 12 and the North Tampa Lutz Cadet Squadron.

Local businesses, churches, law enforcement agencies, schools, military organizations politicians and candidates for the honorary Lutz Guv’na are mainstays, too.

It’s been a parade that features antique cars, fire trucks, sheriff’s patrol cars, belly dancers, martial arts groups, churches, military jeeps, tiny dancers and kids riding bicycles.

It’s also a parade where it’s not unusual for someone in the parade to break ranks and rush out to hug someone in the crowd.

Traditionally, once the parade ends, a new Lutz Guv’na is sworn in over a copy of Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham,” and the bidding war begins over baked goods that were entered into the annual Cake Bake Competition.

But, none of that will happen this year.

“It really is heartbreaking because we know how important it is to the community. People love it. It’s a throwback to all of our childhoods, small-town America,” Serio said.

Ultimately, the event had to be cancelled, organizers said.

“Sad as it is, I know, I really, really know, that we’ve done the right thing,” Bellingar said.

“It would be so sad that if something like this was held this year and then following that, it brought to the surrounding area a huge spike in people coming down with the virus and maybe even passing from it,” the club president said. “We just thought that would be the most atrocious thing, ever, to happen.

“Next year, we are hoping that everything would be truly wonderful, and it would be bigger and better in 2021,” Bellingar said.

Published June 03, 2020

Lutz video game studio offers virtual concerts

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As coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is keeping most stuck inside home, a Lutz-based video game studio is discovering novel ways to keep users together and entertained.

For years, Artix Entertainment has been creating free online fantasy-based video games filled with monsters, magic and storytelling.

Adam Bohn is the founder/CEO of Artix Entertainment, an independent video game studio in Lutz. (Courtesy of Adam Bohn)

Among the most popular iterations is the AdventureQuest3D series, which takes role-playing users into an expansive fantasy world where combat skills are tested in an environment filled with the undead, beasts, dragons, dungeons and all sorts of other challenges. The game is cross-platform, meaning it can be played through computer, tablet or smartphone.

More recently, AdventureQuest’s creators have added a new wrinkle: in-game, virtual battle concerts from various well-known bands like Alice in Chains, Breaking Benjamin, Korn and others.

And, ever since the outbreak of the coronavirus has canceled many activities and concerts, game makers vowed to keep the music going.

So, the company decided to again team up with Breaking Benjamin, a multi-platinum rock band with nine No. 1 hit songs, to re-release an “encore” virtual battle concert, with some newly added features and objectives.

Here’s how the battle concert works: After completing a short tutorial, an unlimited number of users enter the concert and are tasked with fighting off a host of giant monsters all while the band’s music plays in the background. Users also have the option of taking a virtual selfie and interacting with Breaking Benjamin animated characters.

The virtual concert loops nonstop, and is designed for players of all skill levels. Bands send pre-recorded songs and custom voiceovers to Artix for the virtual concerts.

“I think it’s the best thing we’ve ever created,” Artix CEO/founder Adam Bohn said of the virtual concert series. “We’re trying to provide the most fun we can and help people during their stays at home.”

Artix also is expanding the virtual battle concert series to include local bands, so long as their music is safe for radio play. Interested groups can email .

“We have the ability to do these performance with any band in our game,” Bohn said. “Right now, I’m sure there’s musicians, with all the concerts canceled, there has to be some other way we can help, so it’d be great if anybody wanted to contact us.”

Humble beginnings, to millions of users
Artix today has over 30 employees, headquartered out of the NorthPointe Village business plaza off State Road 54.

Yet, the company started with humble beginnings back in 2002.

“It started out at the kitchen table of my first home here in Lutz,” Bohn, 44, said. “Our offices have been very, very slowly, methodically just moving down (State Road) 54.”

A computer video game enthusiast growing up in Pennsylvania, Bohn’s “lifelong dream” was to someday create games of his own.

It first came from the encouragement of his father, who all but told a youthful Bohn that if others could build video games, then his son could, too.

The planted seed led Bohn on “this kind of obsessive mission” that included years of trial and error “and unbelievable persistence.”

Lutz-based Artix Entertainment has teamed up with rock band Breaking Benjamin to host virtual concerts inside the AdventureQuest online video game series.

In the almost 18 years since Bohn launched the first version of AdventureQuest — then in 2D form — over 200 million accounts have been created worldwide across Artix’s platform of more than a dozen games.

It’s more than Bohn could’ve ever anticipated two decades ago. “I put the game out there hoping we’d get 100 players,” said Bohn.

In addition to AdventureQuest, other Artix titles include DragonFable, MechQuest, and BioBeasts. While the games are all free to play, users have the option to purchase cosmetics to improve the likeness of their characters.

Bohn acknowledged he entered the video game industry at the right time — when internet technology began booming in the early 2000s. “We were very early, so we were a part of this great video game evolution that’s been happening,” he said.

Like other area businesses dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Artix employees have begun working remotely from home, collaborating via Google Docs, Trello and a chat program called Discord.  “I think gamers maybe have an easier time with this (coronavirus) problem because we love staying at home,” Bohn quipped.

However, the work to fine-tune a host of online games is anything but easy.

Bohn explained gameplay updates and problem-solving requires long hours from his team of artists, programmers and developers, and database managers.

For him and his team, it’s “pretty much a 24/7 job.”

“Most of the team is quite a fan of coffee,” Bohn joked, adding video game creation is more difficult than some may think. “There is this belief that we have this magical “make game button” and we press it and then there’s more games…”

As if running an independent video game studio day and night wasn’t enough, Bohn has another side project — he’s building a new video game for the 1985 Nintendo.

Bohn said the game, coming in a physical Nintendo cart, should be finished in two months’ time. “The game’s really, really far along,” he said. “We’ve already kind of done all the fulfillments. I have the circuit boards, I have the shelves…”

To play AdventureQuest and other Artix Entertainment games, visit AQ3D.com and Artix.com.

Published April 08, 2020

Keystone Community Church delivers Easter joy

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Members of the Keystone Community Church delivered Easter baskets and food to 26 families on April 1.

Volunteer Charlie Bell is bagging up some frozen food items, to be distributed to families. (Courtesy of Lisa Kamps/Keystone Community Church)

The food boxes contained dairy, meat, bread from Publix, fruit, veggies and nonperishable items.

The Easter baskets were made by the church’s women’s group, along with Emma Wasson, a volunteer’s granddaughter.

The church, which is on State Road 54 just west of the U.S. 41 intersection, in Lutz, will continue to distribute to families and individuals in need, as often as possible, according to information provided by Lisa Kamps, of the KCC Second Serving outreach ministry.

The church reaches out to the local community providing food to those in need, according to its website. People the church serves range from single seniors to young families with children. Because the church is a Feeding Tampa Bay agency, it can purchase frozen foods and other items at a low cost. It also collects nonperishable food from our members and friends to round out what it distributes. Also, it also prepares food for the homeless.

Published April 08, 2020

Emma Wasson was one of the volunteers who helped to make Easter baskets.
Christy Smith, who is a teacher, is shown here bagging some cartons of orange juice.

Scout project creates fun options for dogs at park

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When Sean Monahan brainstormed ideas to gain the rank of Eagle Scout, he finally settled on a way to help man’s best friend.

The scout decided to incorporate new accessories for dogs at the Carolyn Meeker Dog Park in Lutz.

The member of Boy Scout Troop 12 – also in Lutz – had to tackle a project that betters his community as one of his requirements to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 12, in Lutz, rallied around Scout Sean Monahan to help build new equipment at the Carolyn Meeker Dog Park. The project was done as part of Monahan’s quest to advance to the rank of Eagle Scout, while providing more fun options for dogs at the park. (Courtesy of Todd Pratt, Hillsborough County Media Relations Strategist)

Monahan said that his adoration for dogs sparked the idea to create a more fun and energetic environment for them.

“I thought adding agility equipment in both the big and small dog areas would kind of give them a little something more to do,” the 16-year-old said.

Joe Monroe is the recreation program supervisor for Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation.

The scout approached Monroe and explained the upgrade he wanted for the dog park.

“Before that, there were actually zero obstacle course pieces there,” the supervisor said.

Monahan unveiled several schematic drawings of what he had in mind.

He took a survey and found that visitors wanted new amenities for their dogs, too.

With the help of his fellow scouts, Monahan raised $3,100, pushing his agenda forward.

The team also worked together to install the equipment.

The bigger park area now has two loops for dogs to jump through, as well as an accessory to jump over. The smaller area has a tunnel for dogs to run through and a platform where dogs can learn commands from their owners.

The four new pieces of equipment were placed in the park during a span of three days.

Monahan did not take full credit for the project.

“I led it, but I did have a lot of help from a lot of other people, the Scout said.

Monroe admired the Scouts’ ability to wrap up the effort in less than a week.

“We were impressed by the timeline,” he said. “The planning took a lot longer than the actual installation of the project.”

It was a win for Hillsborough County, the Scouts and the community, Monroe added.

In his six years in Troop 12, Monahan has helped his community in other ways, too.

He has handed out cool drinks at the Lutz Fourth of July Parade, and he has picked up trash on U.S. 41.

Monahan has earned numerous merit badges. He and his fellow Scouts also have gone on camping expeditions, including out of state.

Eventually, he wants to become a Sea Scout, advancing his boating skills.

He thinks other youths should be afforded these same opportunities, and find ways to better their environment.

He believes this recent accomplishment, at the dog park, has helped to build his character.

“I feel like finishing the project really helped me more clearly define my definition of leadership,” the Scout said. “It taught me that if you’re doing something, you’ve got to be prepared for every single thing.”

Published March 18, 2020

This entrepreneur is bullish on Pasco

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When Thomas Giella Jr., launched his business, he was a one-man operation — and he wasn’t sure how to get it where he wanted it to go.

So, he took advantage of various programs offered through the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., and began learning more about the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur.

That helped get his business rolling, and now, six years later, he still uses what he has learned through those programs.

When Thomas Giella Jr., launched his business, he was a one-man operation. Now, his business has three divisions — with five employees — and plans to add two more within the foreseeable future. He is optimistic about Pasco County’s potential. (B.C. Manion)

Now, he has five employees, and he expects to add at least two more in the foreseeable future. He also expects to be required to move from his current location, on Wesley Chapel Boulevard in Lutz, as the business outgrows its space.

Giella thinks the future is bright for entrepreneurs who want to launch businesses in Pasco County.

“Pasco is hot,” the Dade City native said. “Pasco is growing.”

Entrepreneurs and manufacturers should realize the county has much to offer, Giella said.

If they can’t find what they’re looking for in Pasco, he said, “they should start it themselves.”

He added: “Who knows what’s going to happen in the next decade?”

His interest in technology dates back to his teenage years, when he built his own computer.

When he started his business, called Gear Spinners, he offered website design aimed at the small to mid-sized business market.

Over time, his business pursuits have evolved and grown.

Now, he is chief executive officer of Complete I.T. Corp, which  owns and operates three different brand divisions, including Complete I.T. Computer Repair and Network Solutions, Tampa Bay Installs and Diverge Laser Systems.

Complete I.T. provides computer repair and computer/network solutions. It also designs, repairs and replaces business network of all sizes.

“We started off as a website company. We have added so many services. We started doing IT — helping companies set up networks,” Giella said.

Giella estimates he has roughly 800 clients on the IT side – residential, commercial and enterprise.

“Our primary market for the computers and networks is Tampa Bay and Florida,” Giella said.

But, it has expanded its reach, he said. “Sometimes, we’ll do work for a local franchise that’s starting up or something, or a business — and word will get to one of their other offices, what we did, so they’ll say, ‘Can you put in a bid for us over here?’”

Tampa Bay Installs provides a variety of services. It installs and services access control gates and security cameras for homeowner associations and community development districts, Giella said.

For instance, at a clubhouse, company services include installing speakers and Wi-Fi, inside and out, cameras by the pool, in the clubhouse and in the parking lot, televisions and access control systems.

His primary market for gate access systems stretches from Brooksville to Riverview and from Kissimmee to the Gulf of Mexico, Giella said.

Most recently, his company branched into lasers.

Giella co-owns Diverge Laser Systems with Charles Bourne.

The company provides support and sales for Universal Laser Systems.

It sells and services equipment for a vast array of clients in the fields of manufacturing, education, education, military and government.

He believes lasers will help the county attract more manufacturers.

“Pasco’s mission right now is to bring manufacturing jobs back to Pasco County. We can now provide equipment to companies, who will then be able to create the manufacturing jobs using the equipment,” he said.

To find out more about Giella’s companies and services, call (813) 235-0554, ext. 103.

Want to know more about running a business?
Pasco Hernando SCORE offers numerous free workshops and seminars at various locations around Pasco County. The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., also offers free and low-cost programs. To find out more, visit these websites: PascoHernandoScore.org or PascoEDC.com.

Published March 18, 2020

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North expands

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St. Joseph’s Hospital-North has completed a $75 million expansion, and began welcoming patients to its more spacious facility this week.

The project doubled the hospital’s capacity — increasing it from 108 beds to 216 beds. The hospital also has upped its intensive care unit beds from 12 to 24. And, has more room to deliver services, accommodate visitors and enhance employee work areas.

Sara Dodds, the director of operations for St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, has worked at the Lutz hospital since its inception. She has been the point person on the $75 million expansion, which doubled the hospital’s capacity. The expansion is opening this week. (B.C. Manion)

Sara Dodds, the hospital’s director of operations, provided a walk-through tour of the addition to The Laker/Lutz News last week, before it opened for patients.

The expansion will allow the hospital to respond to the area’s fast-paced growth, Dodds said.

“There’s definitely a need. There’s so many new homes going up around us.

“We’ve been overcapacity for quite some time,” she said.

The hospital’s primary market is within 5 miles, and its secondary market is within 10 miles.

“The growth going on in our primary and secondary service areas is much faster than the rest of Florida and the rest of the country,” Dodds said.

In designing its expansion, the hospital sought feedback from its existing staff and incorporated their ideas into the design, she said.

For instance, Dodds said, “We got feedback from the staff that our waiting rooms weren’t very open, and inviting for guests.”

The new waiting rooms feature comfortable furniture, artwork and a flat-screen TV.

Patient rooms also provide accommodations for patients when they’re out of their beds, and offer a place where family member can rest through the night.

Also, at intervals in the hospital’s corridors, there are respite areas.

Dodds explained: “A lot of time we might ask a visitor to step out, while we’re doing something for the patient. Instead of them having to stand out in the hallway, or go walk to another location, we added benches.”

The recently wrapped-up project also includes technology to help patients.

There’s a “Get Well Network,” which allows patients to watch health videos, learn about their medications and so on. “That is all integrated with their medical record,” Dodds said.

The hospital also uses technology that automatically displays the name and title of hospital staff entering a patient’s room on the television screen.

That system is integrated with the hospital’s call light system, so “as long as a nurse or a tech or another member of that clinical care team is in the room, there’s a specific color light that’s illuminated outside the room,” Dodds said.

The hospital also uses a technology that allows care team members to secure-message physicians and anyone they might need to take care of a patient.

Some of the approximately 100 St. Joseph’s Hospital-North team members who have been with the hospital since it opened on Feb. 15, 2010. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

“It’s definitely enhanced communications, on behalf of the patient,” she said.

The expansion also includes a dedicated hemodialysis suite, which can accommodate up to four patients at a time.

It has a larger space for physical therapy, too, to help patients prepare to return home after treatment.

The hospital’s clinical engineering department now has a larger workspace, where staff can ensure the hospital’s equipment is up-to-date and can do required preventative maintenance work.

The design keeps function, in mind.

In the progressive care area, for instance, a nurse can sit at a station, with windows on both sides. The nurse can slide open the blinds, to observe two patient rooms, without having to enter the rooms.

The hospital also is using technology to help manage its inventory.

“Historically, someone from materials management would have to come in each day, or more than once a day, and have to count everything that was in the bin (material container), so they knew what to reorder.

“Now, with this new technology, there’s a scale built into every one of those bins, they can see it on a computer system, so they know, remotely, what needs to be reordered,” Dodds said.

The technology improves efficiency.

“We did hire a lot of new staff for the expansion, but this is one area where we did not have to because of the innovation,” Dodds said.

The hospital also has more classrooms now, which are used to keep staff up to date on the latest information, to provide training on new equipment and to accommodate orientations. They’re also available for classes to help staff members meet continuing education requirements.

With a larger facility, more employees will be needed.

Dodds expects the hospital to need 200 additional employees, when the expansion is operating at full capacity.

She’s been working there since its inception and is excited about the facility’s future.

Apparently, she’s not the only one who enjoys working there.

“We just celebrated our 10-year anniversary,” she said. “We have close to 100 team members that were here when the hospital opened that are still here now.”

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North
The $75 million expansion:

  • Doubled number of hospital beds, from 108 to 216
  • Doubled intensive care unit beds, from 12 to 24
  • Added two new floors
  • Added a new infusion center, allowing treatment for up to 15 patients at one time
  • Doubled number of operating suites, from four to eight

Hospital statistics, 2019

  • 404 births
  • 4,467 outpatient surgeries
  • 42,869 emergency room visits
  • 463,414 lab tests

Hospital statistics, 2010-2019

  • 6, 944 cardiac procedures
  • 380,061 emergency room visits
  • 61,137 admissions
  • 31,300 surgeries
  • 3,923 babies delivered

Service providers

  • 188 physicians with hospital privileges in 2010; more than 350 in 2020
  • 476 team members in 2010; 820 in 2020

Published March 11, 2020