Health

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital were both recently awarded an ‘A’ safety grade from The Leapfrog Group following an evaluation of general hospitals across the country.

HCA Florida Healthcare announced last week that its hospitals were recognized with over 650 quality awards from Healthgrades, including 37 awards that were received by HCA Florida Ocala Hospital.

The Florida Department of Health's latest virus summary shows that new COVID-19 cases slightly increased in Marion County during the week of Friday, October 28 through Thursday, November 3, with a total of 165 new infections being reported.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County is recognizing November as National Diabetes Awareness Month in an effort to improve education about how this disease adversely affects the community. Since 2008, the annual death rate from diabetes in Marion County has exceeded that of Florida as a whole each year, according to data from the Florida Department of Health.

The Florida Department of Health's latest virus summary was released last week, and it shows that new COVID-19 cases decreased in Marion County during the week of Friday, October 14 through Thursday, October 20, with a total of 136 new infections being reported.

HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals in North Central Florida will host the fourth annual “Crush the Crisis” national opioid take back day event on Saturday, October 29 to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse, while also providing a safe and anonymous way to dispose of medications that may be left over from previous procedures or other medical visits.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County recognizes the month of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and encourages the community to “Wear It Pink” on Friday, October 21.

In Marion County, Emergency Medical Services teams responded to over 3,000 overdose calls in 2021, and current data indicates that Marion is among the top 10 counties in Florida with the highest fatal overdose rates. Residents who are battling addictions can utilize the Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Network for stabilization and to receive medication-assisted treatment.

The Florida Department of Health has released its latest virus summary for the week of September 30 to October 6, and the report shows another decline in new COVID-19 cases in Marion County. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has downgraded Marion County’s community transmission risk from ‘medium’ to ‘low.’

The month of October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and the Florida Department of Health in Marion County is encouraging members of the community to adopt better dental hygiene practices to improve and maintain good health.

The Florida Department of Health’s latest virus summary for the week of September 16 to September 22 shows that new COVID-19 cases have continued to decrease in Marion County, with an average of just over 40 cases reported each day.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County will host a class in Belleview later this week to show members of the community how to invigorate their cooking with herbs, spices, and seasonings.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County’s risk-avoidance program, BRAZEN, is offering parents and guardians an opportunity to join a frank and potentially life-saving discussion about teen suicide. The upcoming event will include a free dinner and a discussion that will be led by a nationally certified youth counselor.

National Opioid and Substance Awareness Day is on Tuesday, September 13, and the Florida Department of Health in Marion County is recognizing this day to educate residents on the continued impact of opioids in the community. According to statistics from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the number of opioid overdose deaths increased by more than 350% from 2015 to 2020 in Marion County.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County and AdventHealth Ocala recently published the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, providing Marion County residents with a new roadmap to plot their course to better overall health.

The Florida Department of Health’s latest virus summary for the week of September 2 to September 8 shows another decease in COVID-19 cases in Marion County, with just over 500 new infections. The number of new COVID-19 cases has continued to decline in Marion County since the middle of July, when the county reached a 2022 peak of 1,199 recorded cases.

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, an affiliate of HCA Florida Healthcare, has expanded its neurological services through the addition of a 24,000 square-foot Neurological Intensive Care Unit.

The Florida Department of Health has announced an initiative to ensure readily available access to naloxone, a lifesaving medication that could reduce thousands of substance abuse deaths across the state, through its county health departments.