Davis Islands Today

From our friends at Tampa General Hospital:

Healthcare consumers have identified Tampa General as one of the region’s top hospitals when it comes to quality and image.

Based on these findings, the National Research Corporation for the second consecutive year has awarded Tampa General its prestigious Consumer Choice Award for 2007-08. The award identifies hospitals that healthcare consumers have selected for having the highest quality and image in the U.S.

The National Research Corp. surveyed more than 200,000 households, representing 400,000 consumers, throughout the United States. TGH was one of 223 hospitals nationwide, and one of 17 in Florida, selected from among the 3,200 hospitals named by study participants.

TGH was the only hospital to receive this designation from the four-county metropolitan statistical area of Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hernando.

NRC Chief Executive Officer Michael D. Hays said winners are determined by consumer perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings collected in the company’s annual NRC Healthcare Market Guide® study.

“Consumers play an increasing role in selecting their healthcare facilities and services,” Hays said. “As more healthcare quality information is made publicly available, we expect this trend to increase. These organizations are selected for the Consumer Choice Awards by the community residents they serve. We are pleased to honor these facilities for their dedication to quality healthcare in the eyes of their patients.”

Ron Hytoff, president and CEO of Tampa General, said the distinction is a reflection of the hospital’s commitment to quality and to the teamwork and dedication of all employees.

“Our physicians and nurses are key components, but they do not work in a vacuum,” Hytoff said. “This effort includes everyone from the clinical techs who perform diagnostic tests on patients, to the people who clean the rooms, and the dietary staff that prepares the meals. Our patients and their families are keenly aware of all these elements when they come to the hospital.”

The 2007-08 Healthcare Market Guide is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive study of its kind. No other study used to measure hospital performance and preferences contain more consumer responses than NRC’s study. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 0.2 percent at a national level. Co-winners are named when scores fall within the statistical margin of error for a given market.

By Mark Misner of Body By Design

As you are well aware, it does not take much to get me excited when it comes to health information that I can share with you. This month I will relay facts that you should consider as you make your daily and long-term health decisions.

First of all, let’s discuss a common symptom of the aging process; loss of the ability to do every day physical tasks. I believe we have become much too acceptant of this decline in physical independence. In your 30s, you and your spouse could move the couch as you rearranged your living room. In the later decades of 40-50-plus, you now have your teenager and their friends move that couch. We have all seen older adults who can’t open a jar of pickles or have to be assisted when getting up from a chair. Will that be you in 5 or 10 years?

So what happens to our muscles in the aging process? The medical term is sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is to muscles as osteoporosis is to bones. Sarcopenia is the loss of valuable muscle tissue from inactivity as much as it is from aging. You do not have to settle for the obvious resulting loss in physical ability and independence. Most of us don’t want to age in the same manner as our grandparents and parents.
The best news is you simply do not have to accept sarcopenia and the resulting loss of physical capacity. Extensive research has shown that adults can gain muscular strength at ages well beyond their 90s. The Fountain of Youth might be a myth (or wishful thinking), but the key to maintaining the health of your youth is consistent, challenging weight training. As the research has shown, age is not a limiting factor when it comes to developing enhanced muscular strength and the corresponding increase in physical ability and independence.

I strongly encourage two to three safely executed sessions of weight training activity each week. Surprisingly, extensive equipment is not required for positive results. Many of the exercises can be completed in a relatively small space in your home without any equipment. However, an investment in developing knowledge of the proper technique is time and money well spent. Seek out the professional direction of a highly experienced personal trainer. (Remember to check with your physician before beginning any exercise program.)

In the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for Strength Training for Older Adults, they state that “people with health concerns—including heart disease or arthritis—often benefit the most from an exercise program that includes lifting weights a few times each week.” The CDC lists the following proven benefits of strength training regularly; arthritis relief, strengthening of bone, proper weight maintenance, improved glucose control, healthy state of mind, sleep improvement, healthy heart tissue, and restoration of balance and reduction of falls. One study in women 80 years of age and older showed a 40% reduction in falls with simple strength and balance training. That benefit alone translates into a large quality of life advantage over the issues associated with the normal aging process.

Start weight training and you will love the results. Regardless of your age, get started today. Have a very healthy day!

From the Young Islanders

Fall is here and our Young Islanders are back in school. They will be working on the Internet for school projects, homework, research and staying in touch with their friends. Our responsibility as parents is to make sure our children are safe while interacting with the Internet world.

The Young Islanders will host an Internet Safety Seminar to teach children about the Do’s and Don’ts of Internet Safety. This seminar will be targeted toward children ages 6-12, but at the same time will be valuable information for all. Stay tuned for date, time and location details of this upcoming Internet Safety Seminar.

From our friends at Tampa General Hospital:

Tampa General Hospital Executive Wins Statewide Honor

Deana Nelson, Tampa General Hospital’s Executive Vice President, Patient Care Services has been awarded the Florida Nurses Association Nurse Administrator Award for 2007. This award exemplifies outstanding leadership in nursing administration and is awarded to just one nurse administrator in the entire state of Florida.

Ms. Nelson has over 20 years of progressive clinical and operational management experience in complex health care organizations. Her career began as a staff nurse at Medical College of Ohio Hospital in Toledo and later came to TGH in 1983 as a staff nurse and where she has held a variety of positions. A Tampa resident, she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with honors from Bowling Green State University and her Masters of Health Care Administration from the Ohio State University.

She holds an Advanced ANCC Nursing Administration Certificate and serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Tampa College of Nursing. Her professional affiliations include the American Organization of Nurse Executives, Florida Organization of Nurse Executives, American College of Healthcare Executives and the Florida Nurses Association.

Congratulations, Deana!

Kuba Cigars is celebrating their first birthday on Davis Islands! Located at 243 E. Davis Blvd., Kuba Cigars will throw a party this weekend:

Join us Friday, September 14th from 7 – 10pm for our official one year anniversary.

We’ll also be kicking off the 2007 – 2008 Tampa Bay Lightning season (GO BOLTS!)

As always, there will be prizes, refreshments, and of course cigars. Best of all it’s FREE.

Bring your friends, smokers and non-smokers alike, and get ready to celebrate like we always do!

Thank you to everyone who has made this possible. It’s been a great first year, and we look forward to many more!

DavisIslandsToday.com wishes Kuba Cigars a happy birthday!

From the Young Islanders:

By now you have seen the white traffic safety stickers around Davis Islands. The Young Islanders have purchased these stickers with grant money from Hillsborough County. The goal is to remind D.I. residents and visitors so slow down to a safe speed when travelling around the islands. Many of you have inquired on how to get your own traffic safety stickers or how to obtain a yard sign. Please e-mail your request to youngislanders@yahoo.com. At this time, supplies are available for Davis Islands’ residents only on a first come first serve basis.

The Young Islanders wish to thank Hillsborough County Neighborhood Relations and the Hillsborough County Children’s Board for the grant monies used to fund this important initiative.

Kim Harnish tells us that the King High School Lionettes want to show your elementary and middle school kids how to dance, and give them an opportunity to perform on the field.

Join the King High School Lionettes for the 7th annual Jr. Lionettes Dance Workshop. Cost is $45 with proceeds benefiting the award-winning auxiliary team as they prepare for their 34th straight superior season. Anyone in grades 1st through 8th are invited to participate in the two-day workshop to be held on Saturday, Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 20 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the King High School Gym, located at 6815 N. 56th St. All participating Jr. Lionettes will receive a commemorative t-shirt, instruction from team members, and will perform an age-appropriate routine with the band during their Pre-Game Performance on Friday, Sept. 21. Registration will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15 starting at 10 a.m. in the gym lobby.

For more information or to pre-register please contact Kim Harnish at Gatormom63217 [at] msn.com.

If you want to take your children to the dance workshop, mark your calendars for September 15, and you can find out a bit more at the KHS Marching Lions website.