Nine million registered donors
As of the beginning of October, more than nine million Floridians have registered as organ, eye and tissue donors on Florida’s Joshua Abbott Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. The landmark achievement continues Florida’s accomplishment of maintaining the second largest donor registry in the country, second only to California.
The achievement was reached due in part to the recent launch of Apple’s iOS 10, which allows users in Florida to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor through the Medical ID tab of the Health app. All registrations submitted from the iPhone are sent directly to the National Donate Life America registry and merged with the Donate Life Florida registry.
Donate Life Florida is a nonprofit organization helping to empower the public to save and enhance lives through organs, eye and tissue donations. For information, visit DonateLifeFlorida.org.
NAMI support groups
The Pasco County Chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers two types of support group meetings each month: one for those living with mental illness, and another for family and friends of those with mental illness. This covers all brain disorders, including OCTD, depression, bi-polar, schizophrenia, multiple personalities and more.
The NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group, for those with a mental illness diagnosis age 18 and older, meets the second and fourth Friday of each month, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.
The NAMI Family Support Group, for family members and caregivers of someone with a mental illness diagnosis, meets the first and third Tuesday of each month, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.
For more information, and locations in New Port Richey and Hudson, call (727) 992-9653, or visit NAMIPasco.org.
Volunteer award winners
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has recognized the recipients of its third quarter volunteer Star Awards.
Michelina Orta received a Five Star Award. Orta began volunteering in June, 2010 and has accumulated more than 1,100 hours of service as a courier.
Carol O’ Brien also received a Five Star Award. O’ Brien has been volunteering for almost five years, and has nearly 7,000 hours of service as an assistant treasurer, courier, courier team leader and courier dispatcher.
Bruce Carlson received a One Star Award. Carlson has been a volunteer since September 2014 and has accumulated 400 hours working as a courtesy cart driver.
Access Health Care adds services
Access Health Care has added medical oncology, hematology and radiation oncology services for patients.
Dr. Richard Caradonna and Dr. Fadi Nakhl will offer oncology and hematology services at 11373 Cortez Blvd., Suite 200, in Brooksville. For information, call (352) 597-4998.
Dr. V. Rao Emandi will offer radiation oncology services at 14535 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville. For information, call (352) 596-3622.
