Children’s hospital receives historic gift
St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation announced a $50 million gift from the Pagidipati family of Tampa, to support the future of pediatric health care in the Tampa Bay community, according to a news release.
Tampa business leader and philanthropist Sidd Pagidipati, along with his brother Rahul and sister Srujani, made the donation to honor their parents’ legacy as health care providers, their 50th wedding anniversary and their 50th anniversary of coming to the United States, the release said.
The gift will support the new, specially designed pediatric facility for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, which BayCare announced last October as part of a strategic effort to increase the region’s access to high-quality, state-of-the-art health care for children.
When the new children’s hospital facility opens, it will be named Pagidipati Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s, in recognition of the donating family.
The new hospital is scheduled to open in 2030.
Mental health resources
If you or someone you know are facing a challenge with mental health, substance use or other difficulties such as homelessness, suicide, veterans and PTS (post-traumatic stress) or more, there is help available within the community. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office offers a list of community-based resources on its website, to give you a place to start. Visit PascoSheriff.com/MentalHealth-html/ for additional information.
Crisis dispatch service launched
The Tampa Police Department (TPD) and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay launched a Crisis Intervention Dispatch Service Program on April 15, at Tampa Police Dispatch, during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, according to a news release.
The individuals who answer 911 calls address a range of emergency and crisis situations, including calls from individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
Many behavioral health calls to 911 do not require in-person law enforcement intervention. For this reason, the TPD will soon house intervention specialists from the Crisis Center in its dispatch center, the release says.
The program aims to reduce officer dispatched calls relating to individuals undergoing a behavioral health crisis, connect 911 callers in need of behavioral health support to resources, reduce recidivism of Baker Acts, and engage high utilizers of 911 for prevention.
People in the community who are experiencing thoughts of suicide and other crises can call 988. If someone needs information about community resources, call 211. Both numbers are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The 911 emergency services number is available 24/7 for anyone in need of immediate assistance from police, the fire department or an ambulance.
Doctor joins BayCare
Huy D. Nguyen, DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) has joined BayCare Medical Group’s primary care office at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz, on the campus of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.
The physician is board certified in family medicine, speaks fluent Vietnamese, and treats patients age 18 and older. Nguyen’s clinical interests include hypertension, weight loss, ADHD, diabetes, cholesterol, sports-related injuries, and joint infections.
He completed an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of South Florida-Tampa and earned his DO from the Bradenton campus of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also completed a family medicine residency at the University of Incarnate Word/Graduate Medical Education and Research in San Antonio, Texas.
To learn more, visit bit.ly/3PMKhUy. To reach Dr. Nguyen’s office, call 813-960-4026.
