The Laker/Lutz News

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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Georgetown

Sheriff’s sergeant helps send two ambulances to Guyana

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Guyana Development Mission International, an international relief organization created by Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Mielke, will receive two refurbished ambulances formerly owned by TransCare Medical Transportation to help provide critical emergency medical services to the people of Guyana.

TransCare is donating two ambulances to Guyana in South America thanks to the help of efforts like, from left, Pasco County Sheriff's Office major John Corbin, Sgt. Mike Mielke, and TransCare vice president Terence Ramotar. (Courtesy of Crisis Center of Tampa Bay)
TransCare is donating two ambulances to Guyana in South America thanks to the help of efforts like, from left, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office major John Corbin, Sgt. Mike Mielke, and TransCare vice president Terence Ramotar. (Courtesy of Crisis Center of Tampa Bay)

The ambulances have been stocked with critical medical supplies and mechanical replacement parts with the help of Pasco County Fire Rescue, the sheriff’s office, Wilderness Lake Church, Crockett’s Towing and Scaife Enterprises. They will be used through two hospitals in Georgetown.

Ambulances with more than 300,000 miles can no longer be used for medical transportation in Hillsborough County, and have minimal resale value, according to a release.

This latest effort was made possible by Terence Ramotar, vice president of TransCare, whose parents immigrated to the United States from the small coastal nation. His connection to Mielke was practically coincidence for the time his organization was looking for ambulances to help the country.

“It was a matter of being in the right place at the right time,” said Ramotar, in a release. “The two vehicles had recently come to the end of their service life, and we met Sgt. Mielke at the same time. I’ve traveled to Guyana and have seen the need first-hand. These vehicles have saved lives in the Tampa Bay area. It’s great to know they’ll now be used to save lives in Guyana.

TransCare is a division of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, a not-for-profit organization that responds to 183,000 requests for help each year.

Guyana, with a population of a little more than 750,000, is located in the northern part of South America, with Georgetown its largest city at 235,000 people. Life expectancy in Guyana is a little older than 70 years, compared to nearly 80 in the United States. That ranks it 126th in the world, with one of the leading causes of death in the country being malaria.

Lutz physician offers seniors quality healthcare and genuine compassion

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Dr. K. Venkataram, known by his patients simply as Dr. Ram, is accepting new patients at his downtown Lutz location in Sunset Point off US 41 and Crystal Grove Boulevard. New patients are seen within two weeks and same-day urgent care appointments are available.

Board certified in internal medicine with prestigious residencies at Georgetown and John Hopkins affiliated hospitals, Dr. Ram offers 30 years of medical experience and perhaps more importantly, a genuine compassion and commitment to helping patients live life to the fullest by treating the whole person, not just their medical conditions.

“There are usually other issues that need to be taken care of besides whatever is ailing a patient physically that particular day,” said Dr. Ram. “We take the time to look at all of a patient’s needs because they are usually inter-related.”

Most of Dr. Ram’s patients are over 65 and many live a long way from their immediate family. Because family members are often unable to accompany patients to their doctor appointments, or to provide help at home, patients turn to Dr. Ram and his staff to find social services and other assistance they need.

“This really is a relationship,” said Dr. Ram. “Patients won’t tell you what’s wrong, not just medically but also in other areas of their lives, unless you spend time with them. We go a little bit deeper and take the time to do a thorough job.”

Dr. Ram typically sees just 12 to 15 patients a day, while many physicians see over 30. By spending more time with his patients, Dr. Ram says he gets to know his patients personally as well as medically.

“I am able to give every patient a thorough examination and then spend time talking and listening to them,” said Dr. Ram.

Patients rave about Dr. Ram’s thoroughness and bedside manner:

“Dr. Ram is a modern doctor with old-time ethics. You never wait long in the waiting room and he listens with undivided attention.” Al Walker

“It’s wonderful to actually be treated with compassion and respect. You never feel like just another number.” Randy Baldwin

“Dr. Ram is very knowledgeable and always thorough. You never feel that he is rushing to finish his consultation. He is a very com- passionate man who truly cares about his patients. Plus his staff is friendly, efficient and helpful.” Kenneth and Doris Cook

Working alongside Dr. Ram is nurse practitioner Kristine Bamford, who joined the practice a year ago after graduating from USF.

“Dr. Ram is very personable and knowledgeable and has the uncanny ability to remember everything about every patient,” said Kristine.

Also working with Dr. Ram is LPN Shirley Berry, a Land O’ Lakes resident. “This is a very family-oriented practice with entire families coming here,” said Shirley. “Our staff is very personable and warm and we treat patients like family.”

Dr. Ram has been affiliated with JSA Medical Group since 1998 and has managed the company’s Lutz office since 2004. JSA accepts most insurance, including Humana, Blue Cross and Medicare.

Dr. Ram lives in Odessa with his wife, Jaya, a Montessori teacher and his office manager, and their 12 year-old daughter, Saritha, a seventh grader at Berkeley Prep. Their son, Sunil, earned a MBA and works for Deloitte & Touche. When not practicing medicine, Dr. Ram enjoys amateur photography and traveling with his family.

JSA Medical Group is located at 208 Crystal Grove Blvd., Lutz. They can be reached at (813) 949-4991, or at www.SunsetPointMedicalCenter.com.

This story is a feature of the advertising department.