Grief workshops offer creative outlet
Lynne Sakovits took part in Gulfside Hospice’s Creating Grieving Workshop in Zephyrhills. Participants used a variety of mediums to express and work through grief, including prayerful coloring, Zentangles and listening to calming music while drawing. The two-hour workshops (offered in Zephyrhills and New Port Richey) aim to teach various ways to relax, reduce stress and process grief feelings. For information, call (800) 561-4883, or visit GHPPC.org.
Department of Health gets $25,000 grant
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County has been awarded a $25,000 grant to enhance coordination of preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks.
The National Association of County and City Health Officials has funded projects in 11 health departments across the nation.
The Pasco health department carries out a number of activities to identify disease and implements interventions to prevent the spread of disease. The epidemiology staff monitors and detects disease clusters or outbreaks through the use of sentinel and syndromic surveillance systems. The work requires a strong network of community partners that are able to connect, communicate and respond.
In addition to training infection control partners on emerging issues, the grant will support implementation and testing of a Health Alert Network to expedite communication.
For information on training, email .
For information about Infectious Disease Services, visit Pasco.FloridaHealth.gov.
Hospital announces yearly awards
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson, announced these yearly awards:
- Good Samaritan Clinic’s Nurse of the Year Award: Evelyn Christian. Christian has been a staff member at the hospital for 29 years, and is a longtime Pasco County resident. She has been involved in a variety of nursing areas, including neonatal, pediatric ICUs, the emergency room and the intensive care unit. Christian continues to work two shifts per week in the heart surgery unit.
- Nurse of the Year: David Kokoruz. Kokoruz is the night charge nurse on “Three North.” He is a leader who keeps things running smoothly and efficiently.
- Physician of the Year: Dr. Michael Wahl, thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeon. Wahl sacrifices his time even when he is off duty to see his patients progressing. He always includes a bedside nurse in his patient plans, covers for other physicians, and goes out of his way to make nurses feel they are an important part of the team.
