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Evolution of Mental Health Care

WHH Center for Behavioral Health’s Retiring Clinical Director Reflects on 36 Years of Change After 36 years with Winter Haven Hospital’s Center for Behavioral Health, Clinical Director Jeff Ware, LMHC, is trading the office for retirement. Central Florida Health News spoke with Ware to learn how the community and healthcare needs have changed during his…
Pegasus Partners

UCF Teams With AdventHealth, Orlando Health to Tackle Nursing Shortage by PAUL CATALA As more than 1,000 people each day make the Sunshine State their new homes, the need for healthcare professionals to take care of them intensifies. In April, the Florida Hospital Association said Florida will need more than 60,000 nurses in hospitals, clinics, and…
Don’t Forget Your Back-to-School Immunizations

by TERESA SCHIFFER Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care As parents prepare for the upcoming school year, many will be making appointments with their kids’ pediatricians for physicals. During those visits to the doctors’ offices, it’s likely that vaccinations will be discussed. While vaccinations are nobody’s favorite, they serve an important role and are very…

Gaining a Better Understanding of Pacemakers and Defibrillators

Pacemakers and defibrillators have become so common. Everyone has questions and concerns about these. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers. What are pacemakers and defibrillators used for? Pacemakers are used when the heart rate is too slow or stops and the patient is symptomatic: dizziness or blackouts usually. Conversely, defibrillators are for the…
Use of Opioids as First-Line Treatment a Slippery Slope

What do Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and Chris Farley have in common? These are celebrities who developed dependence on prescription drugs that started with legitimate use after injuries or procedures. They subsequently developed an addiction, which culminated in their unfortunate and untimely deaths due to unintentional overdose. Just a few examples of other celebrities who…
Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-Related Macular Degeneration, AMD, is a leading cause of vision loss in adults over the age of 50. It destroys the macula, which is the small central area of the retina that provides detailed, central vision. With AMD, you lose the ability to see fine details, both close-up and at a distance. Due to the…