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St. Joseph’s Hospital-North turns five By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
When St. Joseph’s Hospital-North opened its doors five years ago, it was the first new hospital built in Hillsborough County in 30 years. “Our goal was to provide a health care alternative in this community because there really weren’t many alternatives,” said Paula McGuiness, president of the hospital, at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz.. “It was an underdeveloped medical infrastructure, if you will. There weren’t many doctors out here. There certainly wasn’t a hospital,” McGuiness said. People needing to go to a hospital had to drive 13 miles or more, she added. “That was why this was built.” The hospital acquired the land in the 1980s, anticipating a future need, McGuiness said. Since St. Joseph’s Hospital-North began operations on Feb. 15, 2010, both Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Medical Center of Trinity, in neighboring Pasco County, have opened their doors. “You would think that it would have a big impact on the volume of patients that we see, but, in fact, there has not been much change, overall,” McGuiness said. More than a half-million people visited a loved one at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North during the hospital’s first five years, and it treated nearly a quarter-million patients. The hospital’s work force has grown, too. It began with around 425 employees and now exceeds 575, McGuiness said. Many employees have been there since it opened. “We have a lot of team members who previously had worked in places like St. Pete and Clearwater, so now, we have provided a close-to-home work environment,” she said. There’s also a medical office building on the property, housing physicians from a wide array of specialty areas. The hospital has an ambulance service and a helipad, enabling it to transport patients to other facilities when necessary. In fact, when St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was planning to move into Lutz, one of the most controversial aspects was its intention to have a helipad. “People were concerned we were going to be bringing in helicopters to be a port here. We’re not transporting in. What we do is we do transfer out,” McGuiness said.
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B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTOS
The main entrance to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, a hospital located in Lutz that is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a community event on April 11.
The hospital was built with comfort in mind, for both patients and their families. “The aesthetics don’t make the care, but they are a kind of backdrop for the kind of care that we provide,” McGuiness said. “If you can provide an ambience, an environment that is soothing and restful and doesn’t have that sterile, stereotypic hospital feel, then you can support the health and well-being of individuals that come here.” Along those lines, the hospital’s common areas are spacious and inviting, and all patient rooms are private. The patient rooms are designed with the notion that family members would be active participants in their loved one’s care, McGuiness said. “Even with the ICU (intensive care unit), we allow the family to stay in the room with the patient during their stay, if that’s what they desire,” McGuiness said. “It’s not just the patient, it is the family that needs that type of support.” In terms of construction, the hospital was built to accommodate future expansion. It also was designed with the environment and energy conservation in mind. St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was the first acute hospital in Florida to be LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design)-registered by the U.S. Green Building Council. The hospital has technology that is de-
By Michael Murillo
It’s April, but the march goes on. “March” as in March of Dimes, the nonprofit organization that provides funds for research and services to prevent premature birth, defects and infant mortality. And also March for Babies, an event on April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel. Teams and individuals will walk while raising money for research. This is the first year the event will be at The Shops at Wiregrass after several years in West Pasco. The shopping center is happy to be a part of it. “It just was something that we felt passionate about,” said Debbie Detweiler, the regional shopping mall’s marketing director. “With all of the families in the Wesley Chapel area and families that shop at
Wiregrass, it was something we could be a part of in creating that awareness for March of Dimes.” The March of Dimes has set an ambitious goal of $240,000 after having to cancel last year’s event due to weather. More than 1,000 people are expected to take part. Wesley Chapel resident Jen Cofini and her family have been selected to be the ambassador family for Pasco County March for Babies since they have firsthand experience in dealing with premature births. Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born eight years ago after a 32-week pregnancy. He weighed just 4 pounds. He spent a month in the hospital, and there were many challenging moments. “When you have a premature baby, you don’t know what to expect,” Cofini said. “The resources that the March of Dimes provide for the parents of premature babies See MARCH, page 9A
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St. Joseph’s Hospital-North 5th anniversary
WHEN: April 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz WHO: All are welcome WHAT: Children’s activities; health and wellness demonstrations and speakers; baby play area; a reunion of babies born at the hospital with the doctors and nurses who cared for them; food trucks; wellness screenings; live entertainment; a teddy bear clinic (bring your own teddy bear patient); and, judging of a baby photo contest the hospital conducted on its Facebook page throughout March. Pre-registration is not required, but is appreciated. Please call (813) 644-6772.
signed to support quality patient care, in a secure environment. It was the first hospital in Baycare Health System to be almost entirely paperless. The electronic medical records represent a significant technological move forward in the arena of patient care, McGuiness said. The records give doctors access to a patient’s medical history. See HOSPITAL, page 9A
Wesley Chapel prepares to ‘March for Babies’ Famous Tate buys land near Walmart on U.S. 41
mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com
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APRIL 8, 2015
Jen Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born after 32 weeks and weighed just 4 pounds. Now he is a happy and healthy 8-year-old. The Cofinis are the ambassador family for the March for Babies event April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass.
By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County’s third Famous Tate is planned for an outparcel, in front of Walmart Supercenter, off U.S. 41 in Lutz. An architect is working on the design of the 14,000-square-foot appliance and mattress store, but a groundbreaking likely is months away, according to John Horst, the company’s president. Famous Tate plans to open a new store in Pinellas County before it opens its new Pasco County location. The Pinellas store could open within the next four months. Horst is eager to get started on the Pasco site, but design and permitting could take as long as a year. The company generally prefers to be conservative and opens a store a year, Horst said. “It will be an attractive building,” Horst said. “We just want to be a player in Lutz as it grows.” Plans in Pinellas are to reopen and rebrand former Apsco Appliance Centers, which were acquired in a bankruptcy. Famous Tate of New Tampa Inc., purchased the 1.5-acre vacant lot by Walmart in March from Tarpon Springs-based Hagman Properties for slightly more than $1 million, according to Pasco County records. The company, which was founded in 1954, has nine current locations including stores in Pasco at 5419 Village Market in Wesley Chapel, and at 8010 Grand Blvd., in Port Richey. There are about 250 employees. Walmart and the County Line Commons shopping plaza are located in a pie-shaped plat of land between U.S. 41 and North Dale Mabry Highway, with entrances off both roadways. Horst said a vacant lot on the North Dale Mabry side was considered, but the entry from U.S. 41 seemed the better option. “It seemed easier to get in and out,” Horst said.“It’s busier and has more local traffic.”