Pasco Fire Rescue recognized
The American Lung Association in Florida presented Pasco County Fire Rescue with the Top Fundraising Firefighter Company Trophy, recognizing the firefighter company that raised the most funds — nearly $10,000 — during the 19th annual Fight For Air Climb Tampa, the Lung Association’s premier stair-climbing fundraiser. This is the first time Pasco County received the top honor, according to a news release.
“As firefighters and first responders, it’s our duty to save lives and protect our community,” said Pasco Fire Rescue Chief Tony Perez, in the release. “Our team’s participation in the Fight For Air Climb Tampa is an extension of that commitment, and I’m proud so many of our firefighters heeded the call.”
Pasco Fire Rescue competed against 13 other Tampa Bay area teams in the firefighter division. Twenty-five team members climbed in full turnout gear to the top of the Bank of America Plaza, Tampa’s second-tallest skyscraper.
“Lung health and air quality are especially important for firefighters and first responders – the nature of our work puts us at a higher risk for developing lung disease,” added Chief Perez. “The Lung Association’s work is critical to us, our families and our community.”
The Fight For Air Climb brought together more than 600 participants and raised more than $171,000 for the Lung Association’s mission.
For information about the event, visit ClimbTampa.org. For more about firefighters and lung health, including ways to reduce risk and early warning signs of lung disease, visit Lung.org.
Hospital earns top safety grade
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has received an “A” grade in the Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2024 Hospital Safety Grades, released on May 1.
The hospital now has earned the top grade four consecutive times — fall 2023, spring 2023 and fall 2022 — from the Leapfrog Group, a national organization that evaluates hospitals for patient care and safety, according to a news release.
Leapfrog collects and analyzes data about infections, accidents, injuries and errors at nearly 3,000 general hospitals nationally. Letter grades ranging from “A” to “F” are assigned.
“Patient safety is among the highest priorities for our medical staff and team members,” said Sara Dodds, president of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, in the release.
“We are laser-focused on patient safety. We are proud that we have been recognized four consecutive times with the highest grade in this national report card and evaluation. The grade reflects the contributions of our entire hospital and that our initiatives, practices and protocols in the area of patient safety are working and are at the highest standards,” said Dodds.
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road, opened in February 2010 to bring high-quality health care services to north Tampa. The hospital is part of the BayCare Health System.
Child advocate award
Robin DeLaVergne, senior vice president of external affairs at Tampa General Hospital, was named the 2024 Cornelia Corbett Child Advocate Award recipient at the Champions for Children annual “Light the Way” soiree in Tampa, according to a news release.
Each year, the award is presented to a prominent community member who, through their philanthropy and advocacy, has made a significant contribution to the welfare of children in the Tampa Bay area.
DeLaVergne serves on the Tampa Downtown Partnership Board of Directors, the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council Executive Committee and Board, and the Tampa Bay Chamber Board of Directors. She currently serves as chair for the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County.
The recipient has received multiple awards for her commitment and leadership in the Tampa Bay area, including the 2012 Women of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida; the 2017 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award from the Tampa Bay Chamber; the 2017 Sustainer of the Year from the Junior League of Tampa; and the Leadership Tampa Alumni 2017 Park Wright III Award, the release says.
New off-site emergency department
A ribbon-cutting for the New AdventHealth Winter Haven ER, 6945 Cypress Gardens Blvd., took place on May 9 with hospital leaders, local government officials and members of the business community in attendance, according to a news release.
The 20,000-square-foot ER has 24 exam rooms, including a resuscitation room, a bariatric room, an isolation room, an obstetrics-friendly room and pediatric-friendly rooms.
The facility also will have two triage rooms near the lobby to help patients be seen and get into treatment quickly.
The ER will offer lab services, X-ray, CT and ultrasound scans, too, and a helipad was constructed behind the ER to help support critical patient transfers, the release says.
The new emergency room is 2.5 miles and less than five minutes from the LEGOLAND Florida Resort, of which AdventHealth is an official medical partner.
