A celebration of first responders
AdventHealth Wesley Chapel hosted an EMS ceremony on May 21, commemorating the 50th anniversary of National EMS Week, to celebrate the dedication and bravery of Pasco County Fire Rescue first responders, specifically the service of Station 26 A shift, according to a news release.
Members of this EMS team were recognized for responding to a cardiac arrest patient on Easter Sunday and bringing them to the ER at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. The patient is recovering in the hospital’s cardiac rehab program because of the quick actions and care of the first responders.
The ceremony showcased the importance of honoring first responders who play a critical role in ensuring the health and safety of the community, saving lives and providing essential care during crises.
In addition to the ceremony at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, AdventHealth Zephyrhills hosted a celebration on May 23 to honor Station 29 C shift and AdventHealth Dade City honored Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 32 A shift on May 24.
Veterans Home is charity of the month
The five Pasco County Tax Collector’s offices will feature the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes as its charity of the month for June.
The nursing home was built for veterans who need long-term skilled nursing care, with about 50% of the beds dedicated to veterans with dementia and related memory disorders.
“It is truly inspiring to serve our veterans who sacrificed so much in protecting our freedoms,” said Administrator Marlies Sarrett, in a news release.
“By supporting them as Charity of the Month, it is a fitting way to honor their service to our country. By donating, you are ensuring the residents of the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home have a refurbished outdoor recreation area to use. It is a way to honor their service!” said Sarrett.
Donations will be accepted at all tax collector offices, through the mail and online.
For information about the nursing home, call Program Director Rebecca Corley at 813-558-5000.
For more about the tax collector’s office’s charities, call Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at 727-847-8179.
Mental health first aid
The Alliance for Healthy Communities has scheduled a Youth Mental Health First Aid class for June 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at BayCare Behavioral Health, 7809 Massachusetts Ave., in New Port Richey. The class is open to any adult who works with or interacts with youth.
The course teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among adolescents ages 12 to 18. Participants can learn how to build skills and confidence needed to reach out and provide initial support to young people who are struggling, and learn how to connect them to appropriate support.
For more information, visit MHFA.org. To register, call 727-315-8644, or email .
Detention facility partnership
The Pasco County Detention Facility announced a new partnership with correctional health care company NaphCare to provide services — medical, mental health, dental and pharmaceuticals — for its inmates, according to a news release.
The partnership will build on NaphCare’s 19-year legacy of delivering quality and proactive health care in Florida, with the goal of elevating patient care through innovative solutions while upholding the highest standards of care, the release says.
The detention facility will implement NaphCare’s first-of-its-kind, corrections-specific electronic health records (EHR) system, TechCare, offering the county a customized clinical information tool to efficiently track, organize and manage the medical information of incarcerated patients.
As of April 1, NaphCare began overseeing health care services in the detention facility, providing services to its 1,450 inmates.
Pasco hospitals all earn an A
All AdventHealth hospitals in Pasco County, including AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, have again earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog, according to a news release.
Leapfrog assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
Leapfrog’s hospital safety grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day nationally. The grade is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
To see AdventHealth West Florida’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
