HCA Florida West Marion Hospital

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital’s Trauma Center celebrated its 10th anniversary with a dinner on October 24 featuring comments by former patients, VIP guests, and its primary advocate, Dr. Darwin Ang, trauma medical director who provided a compelling history lesson about the program's conception. The Florida Department of Health designated the Trauma Center a Level 2 facility in 2014, allowing the trauma center to serve Marion County and surrounding areas. The trauma center at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is now verified as a Level 1 trauma center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT), the highest possible designation. At the time of its launch, Marion County was shipping more trauma patients out of county for care than any other Florida county. Establishing the HCA Florida Ocala Hospital Trauma Center provides critical care to Floridians who live between the next closest trauma centers, located in Gainesville and Tampa, respectively. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital’s Trauma Center now serves roughly 1 million people who live in Marion County and adjacent counties. Special guests included Congresswoman Kat Cammack, Representative Stan McClain and Marion County Commissioner Kathy Bryant. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital CEO Alan Keesee also honored Dr. Ang for his advocacy in creating the trauma department. #TraumaServices #CriticalCare #WeShowUp #TakeMeToHCA

On Saturday, October 26 HCA Florida Ocala Hospital proudly joined local law enforcement for the DEAHQ’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Thank you to our community members who dropped off unused and unwanted medication for safe and proper disposal, helping us #CrushtheCrisis on prescription drug misuse. Learn more about this event that took place at HCA Healthcare hospitals across the nation: https://bit.ly/3AgJery. #HealthierTomorrows

Crush the Crisis is happening TODAY, October 26, 2024. We’re partnering with local law enforcement and HCA Healthcare hospitals across the nation to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and the importance of safe disposal of unused or expired medications. Community members are invited to safely and anonymously drop off medications at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital located at 1431 SW 1st Avenue Ocala, FL from 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. Learn how you can help #CrushTheCrisis: https://bit.ly/3YkwI2q. #TakeBackDay #HealthierTomorrows

Join us today between 10 AM - 2 PM as we host our annual “Crush the Crisis” Prescription Drug Take Back event. We’re joining the HCA Healthcare hospitals across the nation to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and the importance of safe disposal of unused or expired medications. Community members are invited to safely and anonymously drop off medications at 1431 SW 1st Avenue Ocala, FL from 10 AM - 2 PM. Learn how you can help #CrushTheCrisis: https://bit.ly/3YEUN5t. #TakeBackDay #HealthierTomorrows

Patient Testimonial Christina Peratos carries a tribute to her late mother on her left forearm: a 3-inch tattoo of a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon with a small black rabbit seated at its base. The symbol recalls that her mother, Bunny, passed away from breast cancer 30 years ago at the tender age of 45. Now that tattoo, a Mother’s Day gift from her own daughter, could symbolize Christina’s own determined effort to overcome breast cancer so she could be here for her own children — with the assistance of the HCA Florida Ocala Imaging Center. Christina said she had long been concerned about breast cancer because the disease had afflicted multiple generations of women in her family. When she visited HCA Florida Ocala Imaging Center in February for a routine annual mammogram, staff informed Christina that her family history qualified her for genetic testing to assess her likelihood for developing the disease. That screening revealed that Christina was positive for the BRCA2 gene. As HCA Florida West Marion Hospital Oncology Director Lisa McGuire explained, that finding meant Christina’s risk for developing breast cancer spiked from 12 percent to 70 percent. Christina opted for a bilateral mastectomy, which was conducted in September at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital in Gainesville due to the type of reconstructive surgery she desired. During that procedure, her doctor discovered that two cancerous lesions had already taken root in Christina’s left breast. “Had we not had the benefit of genetic testing and this program,” said Lisa, “she wouldn’t have even known and potentially been diagnosed a year or many years from now or at a later stage. Patients like Christina were why we put the high-risk women’s program in place.” The program launched in June 2023, and earlier this month, HCA Florida Ocala Imaging Center performed its 1,000th genetic test, Lisa added. Citing her own experience, Christina advocates for other women to seek early detection services, especially if they have a family history of breast cancer. “Definitely go for the screening. I didn’t think that I had anything wrong because I always go for my routine screenings. I’m always doing self-examinations. And still ended up with something,” she said. “Make sure you get tested. If you have a family history and you have children, do it.” She also was grateful for the treatment rendered by HCA Florida Ocala Imaging Center and by HCA Florida Healthcare staff both in Ocala and Gainesville because it means she’ll be around for her six children, who range in age from 33 to 14. “The doctors and the staff and everything have been just absolutely amazing,” Christina said. “Your hospital is definitely top notch.” #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #SurvivorsStory #GeneticTesting #OncologyCare #HCAFloridaOcalaImagingCenter

Michelle Double (MSN, APRN, FNP-C) visited the Del Webb Spruce Creek Golf & Country Club to talk osteoporosis with the retirement community’s Singles Club. Michelle, who is part of the HCA Florida Ocala Primary Care team, shared with the group what osteoporosis is, its risk factors, and its symptoms. She also discussed how osteoporosis is diagnosed, treatment methods, and techniques for prevention. Getting regular exercise, especially by walking, and maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin D and calcium are excellent ways to fend off osteoporosis. About 30 Singles Club members attended the presentation. To learn about our primary care offices and make an appointment, visit https://bit.ly/4eYcnqL. #OsteoporosisEducation #HCAFloridaOcalaPrimaryCare

Did you know? According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an estimated 8.6 million people age 12 or older misused prescription pain relievers in the past year. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is ready to #CrushTheCrisis on October 26, 2024 in support of the DEAHQ’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Together, we can help reverse the trend of prescription drug misuse. Find a “Crush the Crisis” event location near you: https://bit.ly/3YCacDo. #TakeBackDay #HealthierTomorrows

EMS Crew of the Week HCA Florida Ocala Hospital Trauma Center on Oct. 24 presented Trauma Star awards to firefighter/paramedics and firefighter/EMTs from The Villages Public Safety Department (VPSD) for their recent life-saving work on an elderly patient. Vice President of Trauma Services, Cory Hewitt, recounted the incident during a ceremony at the department’s Station 51. According to Cory, an elderly Villages resident was riding her bicycle on Aug. 16, 2024, when she was struck by a motorist. She sustained multiple injuries to her head and chest, including a laceration to the head with life-threatening amount of blood loss. The patient was also unresponsive and unstable when paramedics arrived. Yet the rapid recognition and treatment by EMS responders at the scene prevented cardiac arrest. They immediately controlled the blood loss and administered a blood transfusion, which was available under a new program recently implemented by the VPSD. Through the program, VPSD now dispatches a unit carrying the blood supply to all severe trauma incidents, for situations such as this. Because of the VPSD crew’s timely intervention, the patient was discharged from the hospital a week later with an opportunity to resume her normal life instead of succumbing to a tragic outcome. #WeShowUp #EMSCrewofTheWeek #CommunityPartners

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital joined partners from Marion County Fire Rescue on Oct. 23 to cut the ribbon on the new Ocala EMS Central Station. According to Marion County officials, the new $8 million facility will serve residents of the central and western portions of the city of Ocala as well as urban areas just outside the city limits. The Central Station features bays for up to 12 units and will house up to 20 first-responders. The station replaces one that was first built in 1960. HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital were proud to participate and celebrate with our Marion County Fire Rescue in this new chapter of providing emergency medical services to our community. Congratulations! #EMS #CommunityPartners #EmergencyCare

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital shares a proud moment for being the first hospital in the HCA Florida North Florida Division, as well as all of Central Florida, to be able to offer patients who suffer from Severe Aortic Stenosis the Abbott Navitor TAVI valve. A heartfelt thank you to our Structural Heart Team for their dedication to expanding their knowledge and being able to offer our community the latest and greatest technology! #StructuralHeart #CardiovascularCare #TAVI