Infusion center expands
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz will be 10 years old this year, and is continuously expanding. The hospital’s Infusion Center originally opened in October 2012 and had about 20 visits monthly. Today, the Center sees an average of 225 visits monthly, and has expanded from six beds to 15 beds. The Infusion Center performs chemotherapies and other cancer-related services. It also relocated to a new space in late January (on the first floor of the Physician Office Building), giving patients easier access. Karen Hay, left, and Rubi Ison prepare a room at the new Infusion Center.
Volunteer at Gulfside
Gulfside Hospice is looking for individuals who are passionate about helping people to join its team of volunteers and help with a variety of tasks.
Volunteer opportunities include patient care tasks, as well as positions that do not require working directly with patients.
Volunteers can offer companionship to patients at the Gulfside Centers for Hospice Care or at the patient’s home, offer respite care to give caregivers a break, staff the thrift shops, help at community and fundraising events, and more.
Those interested can complete an application online at Gulfside.org.
All new volunteers must complete an interview, background check, and various training based on the applicant’s choice of tasks.
For information, contact Laura Wright at (727) 845-5707 or .
Learn to quit smoking
The Florida Department of Health’s Tobacco Free Florida program offers Phone Quit, Group Quit and Web Quit services, in addition to individual tools like text support, a Quit Guide and helpful emails.
Free nicotine replacement therapy, such as nicotine patches, gum or lozenges, also are available to tobacco users who are age 18 or older, if medically appropriate.
For information, visit TobaccoFreeFlorida.com/quityourway.
Three-year grant awarded
The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas (AAAPP) has been selected as one of 11 recipients statewide for the Innovation in the Health Care System grant, for funding from the Florida Blue Foundation.
The three-year, $300,000 grant will fund the AAAPP Senior Community Health Program, which strengthens the links between medical and social service providers, to improve access and health outcomes for under-resourced seniors.
The program currently operates out of the Baycare Turley Family Health Center in Clearwater and the WellMed Clinic in St. Petersburg. Funding from the Florida Blue Foundation will equip AAAPP to serve more seniors in the current sites and expand into Pasco County, with a newly developed partnership with the Medical Center of Trinity, an HCA hospital.
