South Bay Hospital’s Radiology
Department Goes Digital

South Bay Hospital’s Radiology Department has completed installation of a new Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) that will give physicians increased access to their patients’ images.

“It is like switching from a film camera to a digital camera,” says Larry Johnson, Director of Radiology at South Bay Hospital. “The new system produces higher quality images that can be accessed by doctors throughout the hospital, and even in the doctor’s office.”

The new digital images are also easy to share when needed. For ­patients in the South Shore area who have primary care physicians or specialists in other states, this will be especially helpful. With the new PACS system, a local ­doctor can share the images with another doctor over the web, rather than going through the time and ­expense of printing and shipping the images.

“We are very excited to bring this technology to South Bay Hospital,” says Stephen J. Daugherty, Chief Executive Officer. “It gives us another opportunity to assist our physicians in the care of their patients.”

In addition to ease of access and increased quality, the new system will allow for digital storage of ­patient images. Patients who pick up copies of their images will now be given a CD rather than the tradi­tional large prints.

For more information about the Picture Archiving and Commu­nications System, call Melissa ­Morgan at (813) 634-0496.

South Bay Hospital is a 112-bed, acute care hospital serving Sun City Center, Ruskin, Wimauma, Riverview, Apollo Beach, Gibson­ton and the surrounding areas. South Bay offers a wide range of services including general and vascular surgery, urology, ­cardiology and colorectal surgery.

Anderson Honored for Seagrass Replanting

Ruskin’s Jim Anderson ­received the Don Hansen Conservation Award at the Tribune’s Outdoors Expo & Boat Show at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Anderson was selected for his pioneering work in seagrass replanting on Tampa Bay, the ­Florida Keys, Chesapeake Bay, Laguna Madre and other locations. He ­devised a mechanical planter ­capable of planting 20-square-foot blocks in a few seconds, and he worked out a system of raising seagrass in nurseries ashore, so natural grasses do not have to be used for donor sites. His sediment tubes have also been recognized as a rapid repair for propeller scars on the flats.

The award, in its 20th year, is named for former Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Commissioner Don Hansen of Sebring, who was one of the first voices for snook conservation and a founder of the Snook Foundation. Hansen presented the award.

New Business in Sun City Center

A family should never have to clean up after the death of a love one. The physical and emotional impact can sometimes be too much to bear. Members of a maintenance or housekeeping staff should never be asked to clean up blood or body fluids. Many serious diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, and HIV, can be transmitted through blood and body fluids. Unless the person ­doing the cleaning is trained, wearing the proper personal protective equipment, and using the proper EPA-registered disinfectant, he or she is in personal jeopardy of contacting a serious disease. And employers are potentially liable if the staff member does contact a disease.

Carpet, bedding, contaminated flooring, wallboard, or even ­towels used to clean up blood or bodily fluids should never be disposed of in a landfill. These are called “­Regulated Waste” and unless properly disinfected, the Florida DOH and OSHA consider these items to be hazardous. These items should be disposed of ­properly for the health and safety of all ­concerned.

Founded in 1999 in Texas and now serving the entire state of Florida, Amdecon has worked with governmental agencies, law enforcement, mass transit authorities, healthcare and correctional facilities, and the public sector in dealing with the biological dangers and psychological aftermath at the scenes of forensic contamination, MRSA outbreaks, suicides, homicides, and human decompositions.

Amdecon strictly follows all local, state, and federal regulatory rules.

Who pays for the biohazard cleanup? The property owner is responsible for the cost of this service. In most cases, however, home, business or auto insurance will pay for bio-recovery services. If the victim of a crime has no ­insurance, then Crime Victims’ Assistance may be in a position to authorize and pay for this service.

Call AMDECON® 24 hours a day at 1-888-933-0444 or (813) 633-0444.

Wilhelm Heating and Air Conditioning completes an updated training course

The technical and office staffs of Wilhelm Heating and Air Conditioning completed an updated training course on jobsite safety on March 5.  The course was designed to increase their technical skills and efficiency in addition to  safety procedures.  This training was the current installment in an aggressive and dedicated training effort.  The business owner, Mary Ann Wilhelm, has dedicated herself to committing the resources to ensure that her staff receives continuing state of the art training.  This training ensures that her staff members are able to deliver service to clients in the most professional manner.  For further information on Wilhelm products and programs, please call 813-641-1811 or visit www.wilhelmhtgandac.com.

© Copyright 2008 by The Observer News Publications and M&M Printing Company, Inc.

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