Riverview/Apollo Beach
6
November 2022
Volume 20, Issue 11
Ph: 813-657-2418
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CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
TAMPA ELECTRIC’S AWARD-WINNING ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL-SOUTH MANATEE VIEWING CENTER NOW OPEN RECEIVES PATHWAY TO FOR THE SEASON EXCELLENCE® NURSING DESIGNATION
Staff Report
Staff Report
Rita Smith, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South’s director of patient services, with the Pathway to Excellence award.
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
The Manatee ignated manaViewing Centee sanctuary ter is the anthat provides chor attraction critical protecfor the Florida tion from the C o n s e r vat i o n cold for these and Technolunique, genogy Center tle animals. (FCTC), which Each season, is a public-prithe center vate partnerdraws nearly ship to show400,000 viscase nature itors — for a and technology. total of 7 milIn addition to lion. Tampa Electric, Admission the partners inand parking Each season nearly 400,000 visitors are drawn to see clude The Flor- the many manatees gathered in the warm waters of the at the Apollo ida Aquarium Beach facility Tampa Electric discharge canal and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Con- are free, and the boardwalks are comservation Commission (FWC). pliant with the Americans with Disabil“We’re proud to be the showcase for ities Act for our guests’ convenience. Tampa Electric’s commitment to envi- Contributions are welcomed and will ronmental stewardship,” said Stan Kroh, directly support protecting manatees, manager of Land and Stewardship Pro- preserving their habitats and educating grams for Tampa Electric. “The Mana- the public. tee Viewing Center proves that you can The Manatee Viewing Center’s regular have fun while learning about the natu- hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day now ral treasures of Florida.” through April 15, except Thanksgiving, When the water temperature of Tam- Christmas and Easter. (The facility clospa Bay is 68 degrees or colder, mana- es at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.) Comforttees gather in the clean, warm water able shoes and clothing are recommenddischarge canal of Tampa Electric’s Big ed. Please note that no pets are allowed, Bend Power Station, sometimes by the only trained service animals. hundreds. Visit the center online at www.tampaManatee Viewing Center visitors can electric.com/manatee or call 813-228see the mammals up close from multiple 4289 for more information. boardwalks and vantage points. Visitors Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest can also enjoy meeting the stingrays, investor-owned electric utilities, serves critical animals that rely on a healthy about 800,000 customers in W. Central Tampa Bay ecosystem, and even touch Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary them gently as they glide past in the of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse touch tank. Guests can hike the nature energy and services company headquartrail and take in the vistas from the 50- tered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. foot observation tower. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at a table near the base of the tower. To help support the manatee rescue and research efforts, be sure CHAMBER LUNCHEON..................... PG 3 to stop at the gift shop on the way out. TOYS FOR TOTS .................................. PG 9 The manatees have gathered in the EYE ON BUSINESS ................PGS 25-26 canal to find refuge from the cold since the early 1970s. The Tampa Electric dis- ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT..........PG 29 charge canal is a state and federally des- ROCK BOX ............................................PG 32
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Earlier in 2022, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South in Riverview was redesignated as a Pathway to Excellence Program® through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The hospital’s previous designation was from 2017-21 and the current redesignation is good through 2026. The Pathway to Excellence Program recognizes health care organizations for positive practice environments where nurses excel, nursing leadership fosters a collaborative culture and hospital policies reflect nursing input where patient and nurse safety come first. As a Pathway-designated organization, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South nurses embody the highest standards in nursing practice. Better quality care from nurses means better outcomes for patients. To qualify for the designation, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South had to meet practice standards essential to an ideal nursing environment. The hospital conducted a review process to fully document the integration of those standards in practices, policies and culture. St. Joseph’s Hospital-South nurses validated the data and other submitted data via an independent, confidential survey. This was a critical element exemplifying the theme of empowering and giving
nurses a voice. “Pathway to Excellence is recognized by the American Nurse Credentialing Center as achieving our commitment to providing a positive, high-quality care environment that empowers our nurses and staff,” said Rita Smith, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South’s director of patient services. Smith oversees nursing personnel, leads and evaluates the nursing team and helps to set nursing objectives and long-term goals. “This creates a culture of teamwork, excellent care, successful recruitment and staff retention,” she said. “Our nurses and staff have a voice in the care we provide, and nurses feel empowered by having this opportunity. It is a huge honor to achieve this again at St. Joseph’s Hospital-South. It means we’ve met every expectation as a team. It’s a team achievement. It’s getting nurses, managers and leadership to unite as one to give the care the community needs.” St. Joseph’s Hospital-South opened in February 2015 to bring high-quality health care services to Southern Hillsborough County in an environment designed to help patients heal. Part of BayCare Health System, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South features all private patient suites and offers emergency care, surgical services, imaging, intensive care, obstetrics, a NICU, cardiac catheterization and more in a peaceful, relaxing and family-centered environment. Located south of Tampa in Riverview, the all-digital, state-of-the-art facility is specially designed to make patients and visitors as comfortable as possible during their hospital experience. For more info, visit www.baycare.org.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Busch Gardens Christmas Town returns as the longest holiday celebration in the Tampa Bay area offering brand-new experiences to celebrate the holidays and create memories to cherish for a lifetime. Christmas Town joyfully bundles millions of twinkling lights, uplifting shows, and award-winning attractions such Iron Gwazi every day from Monday, November 14 through January 9, 2023. See Full Story on Page 14.
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