Avalon Park Sun Daytona Beach-August Edition

VOLUME 1 EDITION 1

AUGUST 2020

LIVE

Avalon Park Group Closes on 3,000 Acres in Daytona Beach

Avalon Park Daytona Beach Moving Forward with Mixed-Use Development

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LEARN

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WORK

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PLAY

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COMMUNITY UPDATES

Avalon Park Group/ sitEX closed on over 3,000 acres recently with ConsolidatedTomoka Land Co [NYSE:CTO]. The property is located on State Road 40, just west of Interstate 95 and south of West Granada Boulevard/State Road 40, next to Latitude Margaritaville.

Avalon Park Group/ sitEX, who developed their flagship mixed-use community Avalon Park Orlando, plans to develop Avalon Park Daytona Beach as a mixed-use project on the 3,000 acres. The proposed new town will include a variety of uses as permitted in the Mixed Use Future Land Use classification, including but not limited to commercial, retail, multi-family residential, single-family residential, educational and recreational uses, all intended to bring forward a comprehensive downtown

Site plan is conceptual and subject to change at any time.

THE PLAN INCLUDES A COMPACT, WALKABLE, MIXED-USE AND INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITY. within the project.

“We are excited to formalize the Avalon Park Daytona Beach development project with the official closing,” says Beat Kahli, CEO, Avalon Park Group/sitEX. “We look forward to continuing to build relationships and

partnerships with the great people in the City of Daytona Beach to create a sustainable, walkable community, that will truly be a benefit for the City, as well as the region at large.”

Avalon Park Group/ sitEX continues to work with the City of

Daytona Beach, City of Ormond Beach and Volusia County to develop a comprehensive plan that meets the overall growth objectives for the area.

The plans for Avalon Park Daytona Beach include a compact, walkable, mixed-use and interconnected community, that achieves efficient use of land and infrastructure costs. Additionally, the plan preserves large contiguous space for conservation lands, utilizes a network of interconnected streets to reduce the number and length of automobile trip and conserving energy. This all creates walkable neighborhoods all centrally located around a downtown commercial center for all ages to live, learn, work and play.

For more information visit us online at AvalonParkGroup. com or 407-658-6565.

To SUBMIT your local LIVE news.... to ADVERTISE, to REGISTER or to RECEIVE the Avalon Park Sun email: Info@AvalonParkSun.com

LIVE

Coffee Hour with BEAT I have called central Florida home for exactly a quarter of a century and what a journey it has been over the last 25 years. From 100 cows in east Orlando to a city, called Avalon Park. Participating in many personal, charitable, and business ventures around the globe, more and more people have asked me when I am going to write a book. Stephanie Lerret, who joined Avalon Park Group almost 20 years ago as a student straight from the University of Kansas, and who is today our Senior Vice President for Marketing and Community Relations had a better idea when she suggested: Let’s bring back the East Orlando Sun! The Sun was founded by a great lady, called Sheryl Quatrano, back when east Orlando was in the “middle of nowhere.” She started the newspaper as a one-women enterprise, writing all articles, selling advertisement and at times personally delivering the newspaper. Sheryl became famous for telling the stories of east Orlando residents, students, and businesses through her paper. When she and her husband decided that it was time to retire, she decided to sell the East Orange Sun (later called the East Orlando Sun) to me. The Sun was shining bright, reaching many families in east central Florida, and quickly became the largest central Florida community newspaper, with a weekly circulation of over 100,000. Not a day goes by that we do not hear from somebody either talking about an article they saw in a past edition, calling us to place an advertisement or asking when our break from publishing the Sun will end.

Yes, a few years ago we decided to take a break, but as we promised the community, after a break, the Sun was reinstated as our branded community digital newsletter.

Over the past several years of traveling and doing business internationally, we have been able to learn and connect with many new friends all over the world. Today the sun never goes down in the Avalon Park Group global group of companies. With operations all over the globe, in the US, Europe, Asia, Africa or Australia, someone in the APG family of companies is always working. Being a global company means that sometimes my sleep patterns take a while to catch up with me, and while I may be in the US, my body is often still

on Swiss time! This is actually a great “problem, ” as that is when I am blessed to be able to get in touch with a member of our family-styled enterprises elsewhere in the world. And while we used our break from publishing the Sun to travel the world, our foundation and home base has always been central Florida. We always come home to Avalon Park where people can live, learn, work and play.

It is our goal to let the Sun shine all over the world, on every continent and in many different languages.

Every large vision and mission starts with a first step, and our first

WE WANT THIS TO BE AN INTERACTIVE NEWSPAPER, WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE AND TO SHARE YOUR OPINION step was a new name: The Avalon Park Sun. The next steps were to implement a specialized publication with unique content in each of our Avalon Park Communities.

As of August 2020, The Avalon Park Sun is being published in each one of our Central Florida Master-Planned Communities: Avalon Park Tavares, Avalon Park Orlando, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel and Avalon Park Daytona Beach. While you are reading the 1st edition of the Avalon Park Sun Tavares, you are reading the 228th edition of Coffee Hour with Beat. Over all our publications we are reaching online and through delivery of hard copies more than 60,000 readers today, and hope to reach an online and print circulation of more than 100,000 by the end of 2020.

The Avalon Park Sun is a local community newspaper with a global reach. Because of our roots in Switzerland, and our ventures on every continent, we can bring you firsthand experience and news written by people like you and I, living in Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Beach, Tavares, Florida, in Austin, Texas, Denver, Colorado, Basel, Switzerland, Singapore, Asia, Sydney, Australia or Cape Town, Africa and more.

We want this to be an interactive newspaper, we want you to be able to contribute and to share your opinion. The Avalon Park Sun will not be written by professional journalists, it will be written by you, the community! Moms, dads, by students, people of all ages and backgrounds, artists, politicians, athletes, business people and many more will share their experiences and tell the story of the communities they live in.

The Avalon Park Sun, will be a monthly publication with dynamic updates as they are submitted. While we want to be your community news source, we will not “chase” the latest scandal or gossip. And while we will tell you how people are talking about the US, the US economy in Singapore or Sydney, we will also feature pictures from local schools and community events.

Whenever I read an article in a newspaper about an event I personally participated in, it seems like most of the time, the account is not “like it really” was. The Avalon Park Sun will be different, all articles are written by people like you and I, and the news is only first hand. The Avalon Park Sun will have an opinion and it will be the opinion of the people who live, learn, work and play in central Florida, or around the globe.

You can view the latest news for each of our communities by logging into the Avalon Park Sun anytime at www.AvalonParkSun. com or by subscribing to receive our weekly email updates at www.

AvalonParkTavares.com.

Rome was not built in one day, the Avalon Park Sun will evolve and we need your input and help.

Submit your articles, pictures, questions, comments, complaints and ideas to Info@AvalonParkSun. com.

LIVE (Cont.)

At-Home Activities Seniors Can Do to Stay Active During Quarantine The coronavirus outbreak has caused major life changes in the past few months, especially in the lives of seniors. Since seniors are at higher risk for complications it is important for them to stay home and practice safe social distancing. This is a big change and can be difficult on one’s overall mental and physical wellbeing. Finding ways to stay active and motivated while on lockdown can be challenging, but there are a few activities that can be implemented into a routine to make it easier to stay healthy during quarantine.

Start with Healthy Eating

Snacking on junk food can be tempting during a time like this, but the high levels of sugar in those foods can cause seniors to feel even more tired and grumpy during quarantine.

Maintaining a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains will keep energy levels high and make staying active during this difficult time that much easier.

Online Exercise Classes

Seniors who enjoy participating in exercise classes are encouraged to check out online options if their physical classes have been cancelled. Many places are offering free online classes during quarantine. A great option for seniors who want to explore different types of exercise, online classes include everything from yoga to strength training along with an instructor to guide you through it.

Outdoor Walks

Going for walks is a great way to get outside and remain active

during quarantine. Walking is a low-impact activity that is easy on joints and improves balance.

Walking also provides great health benefits such as weight control and lowering the risk of heart disease and strokes.

Besides the health benefits, going outdoors for a walk will allow seniors to see neighbors, nature, and animals from a safe distance.

Indoor Dancing

Whether it’s taking an online dance class or putting on some music and moving freely, dancing is a diverse form of exercise that improves balance, reaction times, posture, and flexibility. A great way to stay active during quarantine, putting on music and dancing can ease the symptoms of anxiety, boost mood and energy levels, and provide many increased health benefits.

Why Choose Encore at Avalon Park

Finding an assisted living community that provides safety and a range of activities for your loved ones is important, especially during a time like this.

You can visit Encore at Avalon Park to better understand what we are doing to encourage our senior residents to stay active and motivated during this time.

If you have any questions or want to schedule a socially-distanced virtual tour, call us at 407-270-7500.

To SUBMIT your local LIVE news.... to ADVERTISE, to REGISTER or to RECEIVE the Avalon Park Sun email: Info@AvalonParkSun.com

LEARN

Education Disruption: COVID-19 Allows for an Education Paradigm Shift Students across the globe have encountered a new academic setting for the last 4 months. It certainly has changed the way parents look at academic settings.

When I started in education almost 20 years ago, I remember rows of desks and students entering through the front door to a ringing bell. Education has certainly changed, but are we advanced enough to engage the 21st-century learner.

What if COVID was a reset button for you and the learning environment that your student encounters each day. What if CoVid was about us needing an education paradigm shift?

Educators across the world have been saying for some time that there is a need for change in education environments.

Learners push this statement forward on a daily basis because of the changing world around us. The development of students in the 21st century requires forward-thinking and individual engagement to prepare students for their future, which will ultimately look different from the one we currently live in. But the question remains, are we listening or moving along with the status quo? Education reforms and necessary shifts are normally based on a change in perspectives based on timely or untimely engagement within the process. CO-VID 19 has caused a shift where we can no longer go about our children’s learning

conquests, hoping and praying that it all works out. Many parents have come across the stark realization that their students are frustrated, they need more support, seeing firsthand that their student is often in a maze hoping that they will find their way to the exit unscarred.

Imagine if you, the learned parent, are confused about the materials, assignments, concepts for learning within the process, then how do you think your student feels within the learning spectrum.

Take a few minutes and think of your student as a jewel that needs a ring setting. Would you place that precious stone in a setting that is not prepared for the weight of the diamond, ruby, or pearl that you possess?

Would you place it where there is little to no support to encapsulate that rare diamond? No, you would place the diamond in an environment that would ensure that the diamond can be protected and well maintained.

Students learning during the pandemic and beyond: Shouldn’t education be individualized? When looking at a learner, you must realize that they have insurmountable potential. The teacher should be viewed in the same way. However, if either is stifled, they never reach their full potential.

Each child is different in the learning landscape. Learners should automatically receive information based on learning

style and ability. To ultimately create scripted instruction and scripted lessons for students whose learning style and learning abilities are needing a different form of learning engagement, only places the learner in a form of learning isolation.

Now imagine the student you engaged with over the last few months in a class with 21-25 students. The same student you supported with math concepts like, Understanding Operations and Algebraic Thinking has now been tasked with completing similar concepts without the proper support.

Brookings preliminary estimates suggest the following: These preliminary COVID Slide estimates suggest students could begin fall 2020 with roughly 70% of the learning gains in reading from the prior year relative to a typical school year. In mathematics, students may show even smaller learning gains from the previous year, returning with less than 50% of the gains. In lower grades, students may be nearly a full year behind in math compared to what we would observe in normal conditions.

Though not shown in the figures, we produced similar estimates of learning loss based on research showing the effect of being absent on achievement.

That is, we simply assumed students’ learning during COVID-19 school closures would be akin to what occurs when students miss school, a

large assumption given the online learning and homeschooling now occurring. Results for absenteeism-based projections were often more dire.

An education paradigm shift is necessary for parents, leaders, teachers, and stakeholders within the context of learning environments and the workforce.

As we embark on making decisions concerning the next school year, keep these 5 points in the forefront of your decision making. ● Will my student thrive in the learning environment? ● Does my child need additional support based on the gaps caused by the pandemic? ● Are there programs that would better suit my student? ● What challenges could my student have this year that I could potentially navigate through before it causes a greater gap in learning? ● Is my student’s potential being exhausted as a 21st Century Learner?

For more support and to view our programs, visit creativeglobalschools.org or call our offices at 407.203.6283. Kim Lundy has been an educator for 19 years in university, college, public-private and charter settings across the United States.

WORK These days I hear from many people that we are living in the most difficult times ever. Both in the news and in conversations I am having from around the globe the COVID-19 Pandemic, social unrest and political divide are hot topics. When you are going through tough times such as these, it seems like it is the most challenging situation you have ever been through and wonder if you will make it through. Then once the challenge subsides and you have survived the crisis at hand, you can think, “We did it, we made it through.”

Personally, I think all of us born in the last 60 years in the USA or Western Europe, have had the best time ever in history. Compared to somebody born around 1880 in Germany, the last 60 years were awesome. If you were born in 1880 in Germany, during your life you had to go through 2 World Wars, and likely lost many of your family members and friends in those wars. Even if you were working hard, saving money, hyperinflation twice wiped out all your

savings. Yes, this was the time where a loaf of bread would first cost 1 Reichsmark and during hyperinflation 1 Billion Reichsmark. Retirees who worked hard all their lives could buy nothing with their monthly pension if they were fortunate to have one.

portunity crises, pandemic, recessions, and times when a lot of people are “paralyzed” and just wait for better times to come.

We recently went through an innovation awards program in our community in Orlando. There were 153 entrepreneurs who submitted a In contrast, today all of us business plan for the Avalon have little to fear that our life needs cannot be satisfied Park Innovation Award and tomorrow. And truly like for- I feel that these entrepremer US President Franklin D. neurs GOT IT. Despite the COVID-19, lockdown, and Roosevelt said, “Only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” many businesses reporting losses and layoffs, they saw As an entrepreneur for more the time to start a business than 30 years, I am by nature is NOW. Over the last few weeks, an international jury and “training” an optimist. spent countless hours on Time and time again in my video conferences and face to business career I have seen face meetings with dozens of that the best times to start a new venture is the time when entrepreneurs, where more than 20 of the finalists will others feel the world is near receive an award to follow the end. their dream.

For a real estate entrepreAround 20 years ago, when neur, the best of times was in Avalon Park Orlando, entering the industry when we were on the look-out for the savings and loan crises entrepreneurs to join our hit in the early 90’s, or even community, it was primaribetter after the great recesly money, cash, and almost sion 10 years ago. The old nothing else what the typical saying “buying low and start-up entrepreneur was selling high” can be accomrequesting. The world has plished if one uses the op-

changed, seed money and start-up capital are definitely still a need, but for most it is not anymore, the most crucial need. Advice, local and global connections, and synergies are at the top of the requests.

In other words, the resources we will be providing to entrepreneurs in our The Fifth Floor Pro-Working facilities around the globe, starting in Avalon Park Orlando and Basel-Muttenz, Switzerland, and very soon to the other Avalon Park communities.

While we went through this program in Orlando, we will be launching a similar program in Avalon Park Daytona Beach in the coming years.

However, I am always interested in learning about the “next big idea” and welcome you to email me at anytime with your ideas to Info@AvalonParkSun.com.

I am pleased to have gone through this awards process with visionary entrepreneurs and I would venture to guess that in 10 years from now in 2030, I will be able to write to you about many success stories, which started while the world was going through a pandemic.

To SUBMIT your local LIVE news.... to ADVERTISE, to REGISTER or to RECEIVE the Avalon Park Sun email: Info@AvalonParkSun.com

PLAY

Must See Museums!

Some of the coolest museums to visit on your next trip!

Looking to find the pulse of a community? Need another activity for your itinerary? Want to expand your knowledge? Visit a museum. Good museums are able to evoke emotions and shift perspectives. They transport you to a different time and place, be it through interactive galleries or 3D movie theaters. Gain a deeper understanding of a community’s history and culture, and have fun while learning something new. From art to space, historical and archeological sites, read on to discover the coolest museum in some of the states.

Florida: The Dalí Museum

Fans of Salvador Dalí need not travel all the way to Spain for a glimpse of the surrealist painter’s work. The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida contains an impressive collection of paintings, illustrations and sculptures created by the eccentric painter over the course of his life. Don’t miss: Available until December 31, 2022, Dreams of Dalí in Virtual Reality allows visitors to explore a Dalí painting through the lens of VR.

North Carolina: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

One of North Carolina’s top attractions, the Natural Sciences Museum in Raleigh definitely lives up to the hype. The largest of its kind in the Southeastern U.S., this museum is a center of research and exploration. Its seven floors of interactive exhibit spaces span two city blocks and feature everything from dinosaurs to meteorites and beyond. Don’t miss: The Nature Research Center, which dives into North Carolina’s unique ecosystem and natural history.

Maryland: American Visionary Art Museum

Fans of contemporary art will love Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum. A museum dedicated entirely to self-taught artists, don’t expect to see traditional paintings and sculptures here. The unusual art pieces and installations are accompanied by the artist’s story, which adds a sense of depth and meaning to the work at hand. Don’t miss: At 55 feet high, the Giant Whirligig by Vollis Simpson is an amazing wind-powered sculpture outside the museum’s walls.

Georgia: The World of Coca-Cola

Whether you call it soda or pop, you’ll definitely want to visit Atlanta’s World of Coca-Cola. This interactive museum contains a pop culture gallery, a 4D theatre and a vault holding Coke’s secret formula. Regardless of which exhibits you visit, the colorful and exciting space is a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Don’t miss: The tasting room allows you to taste over 100 samples of Coca-Cola from around the world. Just beware of the accompanying sugar rush.

South Carolina: The Charleston Museum

The gem of Charleston’s Museum Mile, the Charleston Museum asserts itself as the “oldest museum in the United States.” Founded in 1773, it makes a good case for this title. The museum features hundreds of artifacts from Charleston’s colonial past, and examines the city’s role in the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

Don’t miss: The museum also owns two historic homes that you can tour. The Heyward-Washington House displays a collection of local antique furniture, and the Joseph Manigault House offers a look at the lives of a wealthy Charleston family.

Washington: Museum of Pop Culture

Nicknamed MoPop, Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture is home to all things mainstream — music, television, film and literature.

From exhibitions dedicated to Pearl Jam and Nirvana to exploring the world of horror films and science fiction, you’re sure to find something that sparks your interest at MoPop. Don’t miss: The Sound Lab is a hands-on experience, allowing visitors to experiment with turntables, drums and audio technology. Soundproof rooms are also available for jamming, singing and mixing sounds.

Virginia: Jamestown Settlement

This living history museum is set in America’s first permanent English colony. The Jamestown Settlement is reenactment at its finest, featuring restored buildings, ships and traditions from the early days of America. From gallery exhibits to storytelling, and live displays of traditional life from historical interpreters, this museum proves that history can be a ton of fun.

Don’t miss: Visit three recreations of the ships that brought colonists to the New World. Visitors can tour the Susan Constant.

Louisiana: The National WWII Museum

The scope of this museum is simply breathtaking.

Located in New Orleans, the National WWII Museum features a massive collection of artifacts and interactive exhibits from the turbulent conflict.

Wander through nearly 250,000 artifacts and listen to more than 9,000 personal accounts. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the war that changed the world. Don’t miss: You can’t miss the B-17 Bomber suspended in air, but you can get even closer by walking the catwalks near the ceiling.

Delaware: Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

Pronounced “winter-tour,” the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library is the previous home of Henry Francis du Pont, an art collector and horticulturist born in 1889. The estate sits on 1,000 acres of land in the rolling hills of Delaware. Guests to the museum can tour both the grounds and the 175-room home, which houses permanent and rotating art collections. Don’t miss: Yuletide at Winterthur is a special holiday event showcasing period and artistic Christmas displays, one of which is a Christmas tree constructed entirely of flowers.

Coming together to create a healthy community

Personal Care Agreements and Their Importance to Medicaid Eligibility One of the most common Medicaid asset protection strategies is a Personal Care Agreement, or a Caregiver Agreement.

These are two terms that mean the same thing – an agreement between an elderly individual and someone else (usually a child) for the child to provide care to their parent in exchange for money. And while this sounds cold and heartless, the real purpose of the agreement is to transfer money from parent to child, advancing the inheritance in a way, while depleting the parent’s assets in such a manner that the parent will be immediately eligible for Medicaid.

What kind of care would the caregiver provide? Some examples of the sort of care covered under a personal care agreement are things like grocery shopping, monitoring and managing medications, tracking health, and preparing meals. Even when the person needing the care has gone into a long-term care facility, these agreements are still valid and the caregiver can still provide services, such as delivering personal items or working with in-house medical staff.

So How Do Personal Care Agreements Work?

Personal Care Agreements are formal contracts – and while they can be written on the back of a napkin, they do create an employer/employee arrangement and it is best that they include certain provisions, like any other employment agreement would. While these agreements are usually between a parent and child, they can also be created for a grandchild, aunt, uncle, nephew, or niece to provide care for an elderly family member. This relationship can also be between spouses, however, they typically are not because this type of arrangement will not work if the purpose is to “spend down” excess assets to qualify for Medicaid.

Because these agreements are also employee agreements, you will need to ensure that tax considerations are taken into account – the caregiver will need to pay income tax on any money received from this agreement. These agreements should also include language regarding how many hours the caregiver is expected to work and what would happen if there was an accident. Finally, because even families can have issues, it is

important to have language protecting the elderly individual from potential abuse, either physical or financial.

Personal Care Agreements and Medicaid If it is your goal or a loved one’s goal to apply to the Medicaid program to receive government assistance, a Personal Care Agreement can assist you in qualifying for the program.

Through this type of agreement, you can pay a caregiver for future services in order to legitimately spend-down assets.

This means that you can pay a caregiver today for services that you anticipate needing six months, or even three years down the line. That allows for a lump sum payment to be made, instead of having to deplete assets slowly, over time. Because of the nature of these Caregiver Agreements, timing is not everything. If you establish them early, then you have more time to spend down money for Medicaid eligibility, but if you are preparing for an emergency Medicaid plan – attempting to lower assets quickly so as to qualify for Medicaid as soon as possible – these agreements are still valid and are common-

ly used. When done correctly, Personal Care Agreements are a strategic way to pass wealth to your heirs, protect your assets, and ensure that you can qualify for Medicaid. These agreements are a powerful tool in any asset protection arsenal.

Rosenthal Meyer, PLLC was founded by attorneys Matthew Rosenthal and Justin Meyer, who share the same commitment to providing client-centric legal services, with a concentration in business law, wills & trusts, Medicaid planning, probate, real estate, and title.

The multi-state community law firm prides itself on its experience, approachability, caring about the outcome of the situation, and providing legal solutions that work. Their focus is on legally protecting clients through the evolution of their business, and through all stages of life. They take pride in getting involved with the communities they serve and building long-term relationships.

For more information, visit https://rosenthalmeyer.com.

LIVE WELL (Cont.)

For Cardiac Emergencies: We’re Here for You 24/7 AdventHealth

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But when that person with heart attack symptoms is you or a loved one, the situation can seem unreal.

A heart attack is a medical emergency that you need to get care for quickly. When you experience a heart attack or other cardiac symptoms, your first thought might be to lie down and see if you feel better. But waiting can waste precious time.

The sooner you seek emergency cardiac care by calling 911, the sooner you can get treatment to reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle, if you need it, for optimal recovery.

It’s Safe, and Necessary, to Go to the ER Care for Cardiac Emergencies As scary as a cardiac emergency is, rest assured that we’re here for you. Whether you need emergency cardiac care for a heart attack or another heart condition, our emergency room teams are available to provide skilled emergency cardiac care for you 24/7. We’ll address your emergency quickly while taking extra measures to protect and keep you safe in our facilities.

Potential Heart Attack Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore A heart attack occurs when a part of the heart doesn’t get enough blood, which may be caused by a blocked artery. This could be a result of coronary artery disease or a sudden contraction of the heart muscle that prevents blood from flowing to the heart as it should.

Call 911 if you experience symptoms of a heart attack, including: •Chest pain or discomfort •Feeling weak, light-headed or faint •Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders •Pain or discomfort in your jaw, neck or back •Shortness of breath Other symptoms of a heart

attack could include tiredness, nausea or vomiting. Women are more likely than men to have these symptoms. Seek help immediately by calling 911.

At the hospital, our emergency room providers and your cardiologist can run tests to find out if a heart attack is happening and decide which treatment is best for you.

What Our Emergency Room Teams Are Doing to Protect You To protect and keep you safe if you or a loved one needs emergent cardiac care, we’ve made some important changes. Here’s what you can expect when you enter the hospital emergency room, should you need emergent cardiac care.

Temperature Checks at Entry Points We’re checking everyone’s temperature upon arrival — patients, visitors, team members and all our health care providers. That’s because most people who have symptoms of COVID-19 develop a fever, according to the CDC. Separate Care Areas for People Who Are Sick Anyone who has concerning symptoms, like a fever, will be cared for in separate spaces. If you need emergent cardiology care, you can take comfort that everyone you come into contact with will have had their temperature checked.

Masks for Everyone To help slow the spread of illness, the CDC urges everyone to wear cloth face coverings when in public. To support this important safety step, all AdventHealth team members and visitors must wear a surgical loop mask when in an AdventHealth facility.

Rest assured that all health care providers and staff will also be wearing safety equipment, including masks. We have supplies of personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, for our health care providers. As a cardiac patient, you will be given a mask to wear

when you enter the facility.

schedule.

Social Distancing in Our Facilities We have redesigned our emergency department waiting rooms to help visitors and walkin patients better practice social distancing. You may notice covers on seats that say, “Thank you for leaving this seat empty.

We’re social distancing to keep you safe.” You’ll also see stickers on the floor that say: “Here’s your spot. Thank you for social distancing,” to help you stand 6 feet away from other patients when you’re waiting in line.

When you come inside for follow-up and other appointments, you may notice barriers like screens at registration desks.

We are also limiting the number of people in each facility at all times.

Take These Steps to Protect Against Heart Disease You’re in good hands should you need emergency cardiology care at AdventHealth. But prevention is even better medicine.

To reduce your risk of heart attack and heart disease, take these steps to keep your heart healthy.

Frequent Disinfecting and Cleaning We’re also frequently cleaning the emergency department lobbies, patient rooms and high-touch areas throughout the hospital with an approved cleaning solution that eradicates viruses. Our clinical staff practice frequent hand-washing too.

Stay in Touch With Your Cardiologist, Even From Home To help better manage your heart health between office and hospital visits, stay in touch with your physician. You can easily talk with your primary care doctor or cardiologist virtually about the care you need.

You may even be able to schedule a video visit with an AdventHealth cardiologist if you don’t currently have one. Just look for the purple icon that says “Offers Video Visits” underneath the cardiologist’s name.

During a telemedicine visit, your cardiologist can offer guidance on concerns you may have about your heart condition and advise you on what to do to help keep your heart healthy. In addition to telemedicine, video visits and in-office appointments, many of our physicians offer online appointment scheduling, extended hours and same-day appointments to meet your busy

Get Regular Check-ups Annual well-patient check-ups with your primary care doctor and cardiologist can help spot treatable risk factors that you can’t feel, which can lead to heart attack and cardiac arrest, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar (diabetes) and high cholesterol. If your physician or cardiologist recommends medication as part of your prevention plan, take it as prescribed.

Get Moving Exercise, such as brisk walking, helps reduce blood pressure and makes you feel better too. Do your best to maintain a healthy weight and stick to a hearthealthy, plant-based diet as well, to keep your heart happy.

Get Help to Stop Smoking Smoking increases the likelihood of plaque buildup in your arteries. It’s the leading cause of preventable death, the CDC says. If you currently smoke, help is available, and quitting is possible.

Need more ideas? For more tips on how to show your heart some love, check out this post.

We Take Your Safety Seriously From emergent care to preventive care screenings, we’re taking measures to protect and safeguard you and your loved ones. In a cardiac emergency, don’t delay ER care, and know that we’re taking steps for your safety in our ERs. Learn more about our emergency care, see what sets cardiology at AdventHealth apart or find a cardiologist near you, today.