By Tamas Mondovics
Residents living in the Riverview, Apollo Beach and surrounding area communities were invited last month to celebrate the first services now available on the campus of the future St. Joseph’s Hospital-South.
Following a ribbon cutting of St. Joseph’s-South Physician Office Building located at 10141 Big Bend Rd., event organizers made sure that young and old both enjoyed the festivities along with a number of complementary health-related services.
“We wanted to give local residents the chance to stop by our open house, tour the facilities and ultimately learn about all the available services,” said St. Joseph’s Hospitals spokesperson, Lisa Patterson. “The event was a great opportunity to celebrate healthy living with the area’s newest health care provider.”
For the children, activities included balloon artists, face painting, games and bike safety demonstrations, coupled with snacks and prizes to make the event more memorable.
The opening of the new 40,000 sq. ft., freestanding Physician Office Building is now the home to BayCare Outpatient Imaging and BayCare Laboratories, in addition to HealthPoint Medical Group’s Patient-Centered Medical Home.
Under the direction of Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lee Kirkman, the facility will offer services that include MRI, CT, digital mammography (screening and diagnostic) and bone density.
“These are all valuable services provided by appointment, while some imaging exams, such as X-ray studies and ultrasound, do not require an appointment and can be serviced on a walk-in basis,” Kirkman said, adding that laboratory services will include a wide range of general and specialized testing, with walk-in service available.
Pleased with having a share in BayCares’ newest adventure, long-time Apollo Beach physician, Frederick Taylor, D.O., who is relocating his primary care practice inside the Physician Office Building, was also on hand to speak with residents about his involvement in the project as well as the benefits of the new facility. BayCare Outpatient Imaging and Laboratories, in addition to HealthPoint Medical Group, opened on July 1.
St. Joseph’s Hospital-South, a four-story, 352,000 sq. ft. full-service hospital at 6901 Simmons Loop Rd. in Riverview, is scheduled to open in early 2015.
For more information, visit www.stjosephssouth.org or keep up with new developments on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stjosephssouth.
