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Surviving COVID-19: One Man’s Story of Gratitude

Auburndale’s Keith Johnson Talks About His Journey and the Healthcare Workers Who Saved His Life by MARY TOOTHMAN Amid the confusion, sadness, and fear that COVID-19 has brought, an Auburndale man is calmly and gratefully sharing his story of recovery with others to praise and give thanks to the healthcare workers who fought fiercely for…
On the Front Line

Charge Nurse Describes New Normal Caring for COVID-19 Patients by TERESA SCHIFFER As coronavirus deaths rise around the world, Central Florida is rushing to meet the increased demand on the healthcare system. David Coicou is on the front line of the medical field’s fight against this illness, working as a charge nurse at AdventHealth Orlando…
Care During Crisis

Virus Changes How Clinics Reach Patients by TIM CRAIG It didn’t take long for Central Florida Health Care CEO Ann Claussen to realize that the COVID-19 virus was going to change the way they do things. Claussen says that in early March, Polk County’s first confirmed case of the virus was diagnosed through the group’s…

Brain Attack (Stroke or Mini-stroke): Are You at Risk?

Approximately 700,000 strokes occur in the United States annually. Stroke or brain attack is a disease that involves the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that brings oxygen to the brain gets blocked by a blood clot most commonly. With the oxygen supply to the brain…
Punctal Plugs

Many patients suffer from dry eye, and eye care professionals have many tools at their disposal to help with symptoms. For many patients, over-the-counter lubricating drops such as Blink or Systane can be helpful. It is important to avoid redness relieving drops, as these tend to cause more problems over time. When over-the-counter drops are…
Understanding Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Last year, I wrote about heart failure. At that time, I had said that about half the patients admitted with congestive heart failure have normal systolic function. This is true. The most common way to express heart function is by measuring ejection fraction (EF). This is the proportion of the amount of blood in the…