New director named
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has named Mary Partridge as its new operations director. Partridge began her new role on Aug. 7 and succeeded Sara Dodds, who was operations director before her promotion to hospital president in April.
As the new director, Partridge will assist Dodds and share in the responsibility for integrating the hospital’s strategic plan into operations and provide oversight for the development of high-quality compassionate care.
She will have leadership to ensure efficient services, designed to meet the needs of patients, physicians, team members and the community.
Partridge has been with BayCare since 2017 in positions at its various hospitals that included: quality, safety and regulatory manager; quality improvement manager; and patient services director.
She is a registered nurse and holds a master’s degree in both nursing and business administration from the University of Phoenix. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Relieving nursing shortage
Saint Leo University is focused on meeting the health care needs of the community through its Bachelor of Science in nursing program.
When the fall semester begins on Aug. 28, students will begin their junior year in the core nursing program classes. With hands-on learning, the juniors will learn in the skills and simulation labs and go to a clinical setting.
During the spring 2024 semester, nursing students will partner with AdventHealth Zephyrhills.
By the end of its first five years of operation, Saint Leo’s program is expected to add nearly 200 nurses to the workforce.
With the rapid growth of Pasco County, where Saint Leo’s University Campus is, Pasco Economic Development Council President/CEO Bill Cronin noted, in a news release, “In one of our greatest areas of need — health care — it is especially clear that we need our education partners to step up and produce the talent needed for our hospitals and other health care providers to thrive.”
Joey Resnick, CEO of Premier Community HealthCare Group, echoed Cronin in his support. “I see the urgent need for nurses to provide services for people of all ages to support health promotion, disease prevention, and illness care.
“The Saint Leo University Bachelor of Science in nursing program has a curriculum that aligns with health promotion and the needs of those with chronic and late-stage illnesses. This emphasis will support the needs of the growing population in our region,” said Resnick.
Funds from the state of Florida and private donors will be used in part to build an experiential learning space on the second floor of Benedictine Hall at Saint Leo University.
Achievement Award
HCA Healthcare West Florida Division hospitals received 42 American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Stroke quality achievement awards for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, leading to more lives saved and reduced disability, according to a news release.
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., the release said. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die.
Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
HCA Florida Trinity Hospital, 9330 State Road 54 in Trinity, received these awards this year:
- Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus
- Target Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus
- Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
Apprenticeship program builds careers
A new health care apprenticeship program at AdventHealth is helping young adults in the area to build strong careers in the medical field.
AdventHealth and Ultimate Medical Academy were chosen to partner with CareerSource Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners to implement the first health care Apprenticeship-to-Career Empowerment Program (ACE), according to a news release.
Students were carefully selected from their respective communities with a rigorous interview process, and gives them the opportunity to earn a professional career certificate, gain paid work experience, and have assistance in preparation for entering the professional workforce.
These phlebotomy (taking and preparing patient blood samples for testing) students were given hands-on experience at AdventHealth Tampa on Aug. 16.
Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 10% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Florida has one of the highest employment levels for phlebotomists in the country, the release said.
