New MADD national president
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has announced Helen Witty as its new national president, effective Jan. 1.
Witty joined MADD in 2000, after her 16-year-old daughter, Helen Marie, was killed by a drunk and drugged driver while rollerblading on a designated bike path near the family’s home.
As president, Witty will serve as national spokesperson and chief advocate for MADD, which grew from a grassroots movement started up by a grieving mother in 1980 to one of the most influential and effective organizations in history.
In addition to her work with MADD, Witty spent nine years as a Delta Air Lines employee and eight years as a college advisor in Miami-Dade Public Schools.
Helping kids have a happy holiday
Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care in Land O’ Lakes has been collecting gifts for children within the Eckerd Youth Foster Angel Program.
More than 130 gifts were delivered to 20 children, in an effort to ensure they have a happy holiday.
Surgery expansion
Following the opening of Pasco County’s first Neuro Interventional program and Comprehensive Stroke Center, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point will undertake a major renovation and expansion of the hospital’s surgical services.
The project includes enlarging and updating the hospital’s existing operating rooms, construction of a new Sterile Processing Department and an expansion of the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
The 19,000-square-foot venture involves the internal renovation of operating rooms and PACU at a projected cost of $14.7 million.
New construction will be at the south end of the hospital — the opposite end of the hospital’s emergency room. The build out will not impact existing roads or visitor parking.
The expansion and renovation is expected to take approximately 14 months to complete.
Straight As for patient safety
Florida Hospital West Florida Division once again earned the highest marks possible for patient safety and quality.
The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization, announced the Top Hospitals in the country, and Florida Hospital Carrollwood, Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center Sebring, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills all received the Top General Hospital award.
This is the second top designation for Florida Hospital Carrollwood, and the first for Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.
Gulfside is expanding
Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care announced plans to expand the company’s care options by becoming Gulfside Healthcare Services.
With the expansion, Gulfside Healthcare will now offer an option for skilled home health, furthering its mission to provide a comprehensive circle of personalized care.
The option of skilled home health services will encourage patients and their loved ones to participate in the healing process side-by-side, in the comfort of their own home.
Beginning in March, the home health services will be offered in Pasco, Hernando, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, alongside its current hospice services in Pasco County and palliative services in Pasco and Hillsborough.
For information, visit GHPPC.org.
