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HCA Florida Northside Hospital Joins Program to Fight Opioid Crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Richelle Hoenes
Richelle.Hoenes@hcahealthcare.com
(941) 544-0961
HCA Florida Northside Hospital Joins Program to Fight Opioid Crisis
The hospital is only the second in the county to launch Pinellas Matters, a pilot program to combat substance use disorders
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (September 16, 2024) – HCA Florida Northside Hospital has announced its now a part of the Pinellas Matters program, a groundbreaking initiative in partnership with Pinellas County Human Services to address substance use disorders in Pinellas County. As part of the program, hospital workers can initiate stabilizing treatment and connect patients with community resources that help them overcome addiction.
"We are proud to be part of such a vital service for our community,” said Phil Marchesini, chief executive officer of Northside Hospital. "Our commitment to someone’s health and wellness does not end when they leave our hospital. We want to play a positive role in ending this crisis and helping everyone live a healthier life.”
Pinellas County Human Services utilizes Opioid Settlement funds to support a team of Recovery Peer Specialists at Northside Hospital who are credentialed to meet with a patient and provide support, guidance and connections to additional resources outside the hospital.
In one recent encounter, a patient expressed concern about being discharged and showed interest in a treatment program. Within minutes, a specialist was working with the patient and before discharged, the patient had a bed arranged at a rehabilitation facility.
Northside Hospital has served over 80 patients in the first 90 days and plans to continuing growing support for this initiative by identifying champions who will have a role in facilitating collaboration, advocating for patients, sharing important news, educating others about the program and identifying areas substance use conditions can be stabilized.
"This partnership is so important to our goal of expanding the Pinellas Matters program across the county," said Karen Yatchum, Pinellas County Human Services director. "We recognize that substance use care is part of healthcare and should be accessible to all, so it is exciting that we're able to meet people where they are and provide these critical, life-saving services."
As substance use disorders continue to affect individuals, families, and communities, programs like Pinellas Matters provide crucial support and pathways to recovery. Northside Hospital's active participation reinforces the community's commitment to addressing this pressing public health issue.
For more information about Northside Hospital and its community initiatives, please visit HCAFloridaNorthsideHospital.com.
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About HCA Florida Northside Hospital
HCA Florida Northside Hospital is located in the heart of Pinellas County serving communities around Lealman, Pinellas Park and Kenneth City. It is a 288-bed, full
service acute care hospital with more than 1650 physicians and colleagues caring for adults and children of all ages. The hidden gem of healthcare, Northside is a Comprehensive Stroke Center, providing preventive and corrective cardiac care and surgery, 24/7 emergency room services and the latest in minimally invasive and robotic surgery options. The hospital has been named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals in 2024 and a 2024 Patient Safety Excellence award winner by Healthgrades. It is also recognized as among the Top 10% in the nation for Critical Care and Surgical Care. Additionally, HCA Florida Northside Hospital has earned the Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognitions from the American Heart Association. For more information about Northside Hospital and its community initiatives, please visit HCAFloridaNorthsideHospital.com.
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. United as a statewide network in 2022, HCA Florida Healthcare includes approximately 11,100 experienced doctors and more than 84,000 colleagues working together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care through more than 11.6 million patient encounters each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provides more than $903 million in uncompensated care and contributes $2.2 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly-trained specialists, including the state’s largest cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a major supporter of university-based healthcare programs and residencies and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
