Gulfside appoints Suggs
Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care has appointed Dr. Charles L. Suggs III as its new chief medical officer.
Suggs started at Gulfside Regional Hospice, now Gulfside Hospice, in August 2006 as a team physician. He also has served as the medical director for both Gulfside Regional Hospice and Pasco Palliative Care.
He has more than 30 years experience practicing medicine, and is board certified in hospice and palliative care medicine, as well as in obstetrics and gynecology.
Chatterboxes meeting
Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will host a Chatterboxes meeting April 3 at 3 p.m.
The support group assists people suffering from communication deficits as a result of a cerebral vascular accident or other neurological disorder.
Caregivers and spouses are encouraged to attend.
For information, call (727) 834-4445.
Chronic disease program
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, will offer the chronic disease self-management program Living Healthy beginning April 3 at 1:30 p.m., and continuing on April 10, April 17, April 24, May 1 and May 8.
Topics include dealing with fatigue, appropriate exercise, use of medications, new treatments, and communicating with family.
The workshop is free, but class size is limited.
For reservations, call (727) 869-5498.
Celiac support group
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, hosts the West Pasco celiac support group the first Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. The next meeting is April 5.
Meetings are open to the public and include recipe demonstrations of a gluten-free diet. For information, visit RMCHealth.com.
Give blood, get gift card
OneBlood will host blood drives April 7 at two Walgreens locations, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Each donor will receive a $10 gift card to Walgreens. Donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. The stores are:
• 22829 State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes
• 20741 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Tampa
For information, visit OneBlood.org.
Helping HANDs
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will host Helping HANDs, a support group for family members and friends impacted by autism, April 9 at 7 p.m.
There will be a guest presenter from the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida.
For information, call Jonica Chittum at (813) 402-9442, or email .
Heart healthy nutrition
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, is offering a class called Heart Healthy Nutrition: Eating for a Healthy Lifestyle April 15 at 10 a.m.
The class will review heart healthy eating to control blood pressure, weight and protect the heart. Participants will learn dietary balance, good and bad fats, controlling sodium intake, calorie balance, and the importance of dietary fiber.
Seating is limited.
To make a reservation, call (727) 834-5630.
Carpal tunnel presentation
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., will present a treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome seminar hosted by Dr. Randolph Knight April 3 at 6 p.m., in the hospital’s Wellness Center Conference Room.
To register, call (877) 534-3108.
Give blood in ZH
OneBlood will have blood drives April 5 and April 12 at Walgreens,12807 U.S. 301 in Dade City, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., both days. Each donor will receive a $10 gift card to Walgreens. Donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.
For information, visit OneBlood.org.
Get copy of advance directives
National Health Care Decision Day is April 16 and HPH Hospice is offering a download of an advance directive form on its homepage at HPH-Hospice.org.
Those interested also can have a packet mailed to them by calling (866) 940-0962.
HPH representatives also are available to meet one-on-one for guidance through the preparation of an advance directive.
For information, call Jane Freeman at (727) 863-7971 or (800) 486-8784.
Caregiver luncheon
The Hook Law Group and Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care will host a caregiver luncheon called Life Planning and Healthcare Decisions April 16 at 11:30 a.m., at Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club in San Antonio.
Panelists include Joan Nelson Hook and Dr. Charles Suggs III. They will speak on advance directives, life planning and more.
For information, call (727) 484-7933.
Living Will distribution
The Hook Law Group is providing free living wills April 16 at three locations:
• Gulfside Center for Hospice Care, 5760 Dean Dairy Road, Zephyrhills from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Gulfside’s Corporate Resource Center, 2061 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes, from 9 a.m. to noon
• Hook Law Group, 4918 Floramar Terrace, New Port Richey, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For information, call (727) 842-1001.
