BayCare Hosts Public Events to Celebrate American Heart Month

CLEARWATER, Fla., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- BayCare Health System, the Tampa Bay area's leading health care provider, recognizes the importance of American Heart Month and is launching a series of community programs to raise awareness for heart disease.  Cardiovascular disease and stroke remain the nation's #1 killer, and BayCare and its hospitals are hosting a variety of events throughout the Tampa Bay area to help educate the public to identify heart disease and decrease the risk factors.

BayCare's hospitals, which include: Mease Countryside, Mease Dunedin, Morton Plant, Morton Plant North Bay, St. Anthony's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospitals and South Florida Baptist Hospital are offering the following programs in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties for American Heart Month.

Pinellas County

Tuesday, February 9

The Five Numbers You Need To Know For a Healthy Heart

Noon

Bardmoor Medical Arts Building, Conference Center, Room 120; 8839 Bryan Dairy Road, Largo

Please call (727) 953-6877 to register

Vanessa Lucarella, MD, Cardiologist

Learn about the major factors for heart disease that can be prevented or controlled and find out about the five numbers you need to know to see if you are at risk. Light lunch will be served.

Thursday, February 11

Protect Yourself: Simple Ways to Protect Your Heart

11 a.m.

Mease Dunedin Hospital, Meeting Room 3; 601 Main Street, Dunedin

Please call (727) 953-6877 to register

Dr. A-Hamid Hakki, MD, Cardiologist

You protect your family, your valuables and even the environment. But what do you do to protect your heart? In this important lecture, we will discuss several simple ways to protect your heart and help prevent heart disease.

Healthy Heart Wellness Fair

4:30-6:30 p.m.

St. Anthony's Outpatient Center, 900 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg

Please call (727) 953-6907 to register

St. Anthony's is offering free health screenings, including blood pressure, sleep disorders, BMI and cardiac risk assessments.

Monday, February 22

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Your Heart, Valves and Lungs

10 a.m.

Cheek-Powell Heart and Vascular Pavilion, Meeting Room A and B; Morton Plant Hospital 455 Pinellas St., Clearwater

Please call (727) 953-6877 to register

John C. Ofenloch, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Find out the latest options and who is a candidate for minimally invasive cardiac and lung surgery, including heart valve repair and replacement. With these minimally invasive surgical techniques, patients have a quicker recovery and less scarring.

Wednesday, February 24

A Patient's Guide to the Management and Treatment of Heart Failure

Noon

St. Anthony's Medical Office Building, 2nd fl conference room; 1099 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg

Please call (727) 953-6907 to register

Gregg Schuyler, MD, Chief of Cardiology

Dr. Gregg Schuyler, chief of cardiology at St. Anthony's Hospital, will discuss congestive heart failure (CHF) with a focus on risk factors, signs and symptoms and the latest treatments options for those who have CHF.

Latest Advances in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation 

Noon

Morton Plant Mease Outpatient Center, Community Room; 2102 Trinity Oaks Blvd., Trinity

Please call (727) 953-6877 to register

Robert Ledbetter, DO, Cardiology

Learn what atrial fibrillation is and the underlying causes of this heart disorder. Treatment options, from medicines to minimally invasive procedures will also be discussed. Light lunch will be served.

Thursday, February 25

Heartburn, Angina or Heart Attack? If In Doubt, Check It Out.

Noon

Mease Countryside Hospital, Meeting Rooms 1-3; 3231 McMullen Booth Road, Safety Harbor

Please call (727) 953-6877 to register

Van Q. Nguyen, MD, Cardiologist

Have you ever experienced pain in your chest and wondered if it was heartburn or something more serious? In this informative lecture, you will find out what symptoms indicate an emergency, and why it is a good idea to have your doctor check into the source of your pain. Light lunch will be served.

Heart-Smart Shopping Tour

2-4 p.m.

Sweetbay Supermarket, 3327 Ninth St. N., St. Petersburg

Please call (727) 953-6907 to register

Guided grocery shopping tour led by a registered dietitian from St. Anthony's LifeHelp Nutrition & Diabetes Center. Cost: $10.

Hillsborough County

Tuesday, February 9

An Afternoon Tea: Preventing Heart Disease in Women

Noon

Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library; 11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa

Please call (727) 953-6877 to register

Joedrecka Brown, MD, Family Medicine

Learn to recognize if you are at risk and what you can do to prevent heart disease. You will also discover the benefits of tea and the impact that it has on your health. Enjoy sampling a variety of teas accompanied by cookies and biscotti.

Wednesday, February 17

Ladies Night Out – Women and Heart Disease

6 – 8 p.m.

St. Joseph's Women's Hospital Pavilion, 4th Floor Classrooms; 3030 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Tampa

Please call (813) 443-2046 to register

The presentation will include information on heart disease in women. The session will also cover prevention, risk factors and screening services offered at St. Joseph's Hospital. 

Thursday, February 18

CPR: Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers

5:30 – 9:30 p.m.

St. Joseph's Hospital, Medical Arts Building; 3003 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa

Please call (813) 443-2046 to register

Designed for health care workers, this course teaches CPR techniques for victims of all ages. Topics include ventilation, use of an AED and choking relief. Course completion card is provided.  Cost: $40.

Ladies Night Out – Women and Heart Disease

6-8 p.m.

South Florida Baptist Hospital, Administrative Conference Room; 301 N Alexander Street, Plant City

Please call 813-443-2041 to register

Ghazzanfar Khadim, MD and Sara Markham, RD

The presentation will include information on heart disease in women and will feature a Q&A with physicians and registered dieticians. Light dinner will be served.

Various Dates

Adult Heart Saver – CPR and AED

St. Joseph's Hospital, Medical Arts Building Auditorium; 3003 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa

Please call (813) 443-2046 to register

This one-session class is designed for people without a medical background and includes CPR, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use and choking relief techniques. Course completion card provided.  Cost: $25.

Women's Healthy Heart Center

St. Joseph's Women's Hospital is offering screenings for both men and women and include customized educational materials in a convenient, comfortable and private environment.  Prescription or a physician referral not required for screening services.  For more information about the program and other screening services offered please call (813) 443-2046 or visit www.womenshealthyheart.com.

Advanced Center for Atrial Fibrillation

If you have been diagnosed with AFIB, St. Joseph's Hospital is home to one of the most advanced treatment centers in the southeastern United States. Our electrophysiologist and cardiac surgeons work together to offer a full array of treatments from non-surgical ablation to advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques.  For more information about the program please call (813) 443-2046 or visit www.advancedafibcenter.com. You do not need a prescription or a physician referral for a free consultation with our Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP).

About BayCare Health System

BayCare Health System is the largest community-based health system in the region, providing expert medical care for a patient's lifetime.  Composed of hospitals and numerous affiliated services, the system connects patients to a complete range of services throughout the Tampa Bay area.  Together, BayCare organizations seek to advance the health of their patients and their communities.  

Member hospitals are Mease Countryside, Mease Dunedin, Morton Plant, Morton Plant North Bay, St. Anthony's, St. Joseph's, St. Joseph's Children's, St. Joseph's Women's, St. Joseph's Hospital North and South Florida Baptist.  On the web: www.baycare.org.

SOURCE BayCare Health System