TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL ELEVATES HOME HEALTH CARE

Tampa General Hospital’s (TGH) profound and expert quality care has been quite literally lifesaving for the past 95 years. But what if you were told patients could be treated with the same quality from the comfort of their own home?

That’s right, the program, TGH at Home, saves people the overwhelming experience of a hospital environment while keeping them in the care of trained health care providers. Patients must first be admitted to the hospital or seen in the Emergency Department to be transferred to TGH at Home, and there are no additional costs. With an average of just three to four out of every 100 individuals from this program readmitted to the hospital, TGH at Home hurdles obstacles and reaches goals in patient care. From simply improving patients’ states of mind to saving approximately 50 lives a year from sepsis, this program is an example of a dawn of a new era for hospitals around the world. Receiving positive patient feedback, Tampa General has hopes to continue advancing the program for the greater good of the community.

Mainly treating only patients with chronic illnesses, the program combines daily in-home visits from expert doctors and nurses, virtual visits and 24/7 remote monitoring. TGH at Home’s hardworking team of staf are eager to expand the area it cov-

By Avery Ranieri

ers along with continuing to diversify its treatments.

Dr. Peter Chang, vice president of health care design and care transitions, said, “With new technology and processes, we’ve been able to take better care of a patient at home because they are surrounded by their loved ones, a familiar environment, their pets, their normal daily routines and you’re bringing the hospital to them.”

These groundbreaking technologies are found in Tampa General’s CareComm, where artificial intelligence applications store patient data, which then helps to reduce the length of patients’ stays. TGH at Home’s foundation is within this master communication hub. The innovative program works with CareComm to “battle high hospital capacities and provide quality and safety,” said Dr. Chang.

The endless benefits of this program compile into one major thing: world-class care in your own home. TGH at Home’s dedicated team of staf strives to make sure patients are comfortable and taken care of.

“Working with this program reminded me why I became a doctor,” remarked one of Dr. Chang’s colleagues.

For more information on eligibility and frequently asked questions, visit www. tgh.org/institutes-and-services/hospital-at-home.

TAMPA BAY RODEO & FAMILY FESTIVAL, PRESENTED BY BARTOW FORD, GALLOPS INTO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

The best entertainment in Western sports gallops into the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds when the Tampa Bay Rodeo & Family Festival, presented by Bartow Ford, arrives on Friday and Saturday, July 14 and 15. The two-day extravaganza chockfull of bull riding, bronco busting and barrel racing brings cowboys and cowgirls throughout the South to test their skills against some of the best bucking horses and bulls in all of rodeo. Tickets are on sale today for this electrifying event.

Seven-time International Professional Rodeo Association Announcer of the Year Matt McGee from the award-winning T-T Rodeo Company, based out of Waycross, Georgia, will present lively and hilarious entertainment between competitions that will have fans stompin’, hootin’ and hollerin’ with excitement. Highlighting the bull riding competition, select competitors will attempt to ride Georgia Smoke Shop, a legendary undefeated bull.

Fans can arrive early for the Family Festival featuring good grub, spirited games, live music and entertaining activities that will thrill the entire family, from the littlest cowpokes to the most seasoned cowhands. Roaring into the Family Festival for the first time, a monster truck will show of its oversized maneuverability in demos. Rodeo royalty will be in the house as fans can meet and take pictures with Justin Thigpen, 22time world champion cowboy with more than $1 million in career rodeo winnings. An expanded, tented eating area will allow fans to eat and enjoy the live music featured on the Bartow Beer Barn entertainment stage protected from the sun or rain.

In addition to a monster truck, live music and meet and greets, guests can test their skills on the mechanical bull, ride ponies, speed down the giant slide or play oversized lawn games. Yummy vittles at the Family Festival include corn dogs, barbecue, tacos, funnel cakes, ice cream, pizza, hot-pressed Cuban sandwiches and more. There’s something for everyone at this summer spectacular.

The Tampa Bay Rodeo & Family Festival, presented by Bartow Ford, is a community event featuring local vendors and area sponsors, including:

• Bartow Ford. • Acme Barricades.

• Bass Pro Shops. • Boot Barn.

• Hooters. • Duke’s Brewhouse.

• John Deere. • KC Coastal.

• US 103.5. • Tampa Bay Times

• Russell’s Work & Western Wear. For more information and tickets, please visit https://hillsboroughcountyfair.com/tickets.