A healthy checkup for students
More than 85 students from the Tarpon Springs area received back-to-school health screenings during an annual event hosted by AdventHealth North Pinellas and Citizens Alliance for Progress Inc., according to a news release.
AdventHealth hospital staff and Rasmussen School of Nursing students checked children in kindergarten through eighth grade for vision, blood pressure, and checks on ears, nose and throat. Adults also were provided blood pressure and glucose screenings.
“We focus not just on your medical care but whole-person care, and that means making sure our young ones are healthy and prepared to take on a new school year,” said Ryan Quattlebaum, president and CEO of AdventHealth North Pinellas, in the news release.
Families also were provided a free nutritional meal and a backpack filled with school supplies to help get the school year started.
Medicare Basics
SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) representatives will make these upcoming stops to answer Medicare questions:
- Sept. 19, 10:30 a.m.: New River Library, 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel. Call 813-788-6375.
- Sept. 21, 10 a.m.: Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway. Call 813-929-1214.
- Sept. 26, noon: Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., Dade City. Call 352-567-3576.
SHINE is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas.
Representatives visit hospital
Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Pinellas County and Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky recently visited St. Joseph’s Hospital-North (SJN) in Lutz. Both representatives are on the Health Subcommittee in Congress with Guthrie serving as the Health Subcommittee chair.
The representatives talked with BayCare and hospital officials about health care issues and toured St. Joseph’s Hospital-North including the pharmacy and the hospital’s innovative Unit for Psychiatry and Medical Services (UPM).
The UPM, which opened in April 2023, treats patients that simultaneously have medical and psychiatric diagnoses and needs. Traditionally, these patients are treated separately and are transferred back and forth between medical and psychiatric units. The UPM at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North treats these patients for medical and psychiatric needs in one unit.
Hospital begins expansion
AdventHealth Wesley Chapel announced a major expansion project to support the growing community of Pasco County. Construction began in early July, with the new additions expected to be ready by late 2025, according to a news release.
The new three-story North Wing and two-story South Courtyard Infill will add 80,373 square feet of new space and include the renovation of 8,837 square feet of existing space. The expansion will increase the hospital’s licensed beds from 169 to 193, with room for two more 24-bed units.
The new addition allows for: 72 inpatient beds, two operating rooms, two endoscopy suites, one hybrid operating room, 20 pre-op and post-op beds, and advanced imaging capabilities with MRI, and radiology.
For more information about the hospital and ongoing updates, visit AHWesleyChapel.com.
Cardiac rehab unit expands
AdventHealth Heart of Florida has opened an expanded cardiac rehab unit, doubling the number of patients that can be treated and reducing wait time before new patients can enroll in the program, according to a news release.
Before the expansion, the unit was treating an average of 56 patients a month. With the new space, the team can double that volume.
The rehab unit has been working to help people recover and get on the road to a happier, healthier life through physical therapy, cardiac-friendly diets, smoking cessation and more. Many of the patients in the program are older and live alone, so in addition to treating their bodies, the program also helps raise their spirits.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cardiovascular disease and its mortality are increasing in working-age adults.
The unit is at 40124 U.S. 27 in Davenport. To learn more about the program, call 863-419-1811.
Florida hospital recognized
AdventHealth Heart of Florida has been named to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 Best Hospitals list as a High Performing hospital for knee replacement, according to a news release.
This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings, which are designed to assist patients and their health care providers in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.
U.S. News evaluated nearly 5,000 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions; only 11% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals ranking.
Hospitals awarded a “best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care and patient experience.
To calculate ratings, U.S. News evaluated each hospital’s performance on objective measures such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and level of nursing care.
For more information, visit https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/fl/heart-of-florida-regional-medical-center-6390286.
