AdventHealth staff donates school supplies
LAKE WALES – AdventHealth Lake Wales employees are helping students at Spook Hill Elementary start the school year with a large donation of school supplies.
Staff at the hospital donated and delivered to the school 2,528 pencils, about 200 notebooks, 177 boxes of crayons, 287 glue sticks and more than 30 backpacks, among other items.
Hollie Hadden, senior nurse manager of clinical patient experience, helped coordinate the drive as a Spook Hill Elementary alumna.
“This was such a fantastic effort,” Hadden said. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to help these students and teachers start the year off with the supplies they need.”
Veterinarians committed to caring for animals
LAND ‘O LAKES – County Manager Mike Carballa recently interviewed Veterinarian Christine Glenn and Veterinarian Tech Stevie Mirrop during the 53rd episode of the “Pasco Podcast.”
Glenn and Mirrop are both Pasco County natives with a passion for working in the animal shelter.
“In school, we had the opportunity to kind of get our feet wet in all the different areas, but shelter was just where my heart was,” Glenn told Carballa.
While their line of work takes an emotional toll, there are rewarding moments.
“As techs, sometimes we will take the animals that need extra care and work with them one-on-one, even at home, so that’s really rewarding,” Mirrop said. “I had a cat that we placed a feeding tube in that I had for a few months and then I got to see him adopted. Those are the little victories you hold on to and you kind of push through.”
Listen to the episode to learn more about what veterinarians do and advice for pet owners.
Support groups help breastfeeding moms
LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North offers free in-person support groups and classes in September about breastfeeding and newborn care.
The events are open to all no matter which hospital you delivered or plan to deliver your children. Events are held in St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road.
- Breastfeeding Support Group – For breastfeeding mothers, their babies and one support person (grandmother, aunt, etc.) The group provides a place where breastfeeding mothers receive support from other breastfeeding mothers and certified breastfeeding consultants. Offered Sept. 11 and 25, 10 to 11 a.m.
- Understanding Your Newborn – Provides information to the expectant mother and one support person about many aspects of safe infant care, including feeding, diapering, bathing, signs of illness and cues and communication. Offered Sept. 11, 1 to 5 p.m.
- Understanding Breastfeeding – Provides information to the expectant mother and her support person about breastfeeding basics, skin-to-skin contact, tips for returning to work and when to call a health care provider or lactation consultant. Offered Sept. 25, 1 to 5 p.m.
Register in advance by visiting BayCareEvents.org or calling 855-314-8352 and pressing the number “2” at the prompt.
Bill puts it in writing for veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and others introduced the Written Informed Consent Act.
This legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans with clear, written information about the potential side effects of antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics and narcotics prescribed through the VA healthcare system.
Currently, verbal disclosures or limited written information may accompany these prescriptions.
The proposed bill mandates a standardized written consent form outlining potential adverse effects, ensuring veterans are fully informed before medications in these categories are dispensed.
“Our veterans deserve nothing less than complete transparency when it comes to their health and the medications they’re prescribed,” Bilirakis said. “The Written Informed Consent Act will empower veterans to make better-informed decisions about their treatment and protect their right to understand the risks involved.”
Castor worries about veterans
TAMPA – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) wrote a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins about the decision on Aug. 6 to terminate collective bargaining agreements for most VA bargaining-unit employees.
The July issue of VA’s Workforce Dashboard shows that, for this fiscal year, the net losses for veteran-facing employees across VA are estimated at over 8,700. Castor previously met with Secretary Collins in April to discuss protecting health care for veterans and the veteran workforce.
She worries the latest decision will lead to more employees leaving and less prospective workers applying for jobs.
“We owe a debt to America’s veterans and their families,” she said. “We must fund the VA, protect veterans’ health care, support our VA workforce and ensure that veterans and their families get the benefits they deserve.”
