AdventHealth Prepares for Hurricane Ian

September 29, 12:30 pm - AdventHealth Hillsborough, Pasco and Marion County Locations Resume Normal Operations

AdventHealth hospitals in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties have resumed normal hospital operations, including regular visitation. Elective procedures and the opening of AdventHealth Medical Group and AdventHealth Centra Care locations will resume Friday, September 30.

• AdventHealth Tampa will reopen outpatient services on Friday, September 30.
• AdventHealth Wesley Chapel will reopen the Wellness Center, Inspiration Place, Outpatient Therapy, Wound Care, and Cardiac Rehab on Friday, September 30.
• AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills Outpatient Therapy, Outpatient Imaging, Outpatient Lab, and Wound Care will resume business on Friday, September 30. The Wellness Center will reopen on Saturday, October 1. Cardiac Rehab and the Early Learning Center will resume business on Monday, October 3.

AdventHealth Ocala did not sustain any damage for the duration or in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. All patients and team members were able to safely make it through the storm. All hospital operations, including regular visitation have resumed at this time. Elective procedures and the opening of AdventHealth Medical Group and AdventHealth Centra Care locations will resume Friday, September 30.

AdventHealth Ocala outpatient services such as the Wellness Center, Outpatient Therapy, Wound Care, Rehab and Diabetes Care will reopen on Friday, September 30.

September 28, 6:15 pm - Baby Born in the AdventHealth Zephyrhills Parking Lot

Zephyrhills, Fla. – A Sumter County family is grateful for their healthy baby Kieralynn after she was born in an unexpected place, the parking lot of AdventHealth Zephyrhills. Baby Kieralynn's parents were on their way to the hospital on Tuesday, September 27, when the new mom started experiencing contractions. They pulled into the hospital's parking lot, but the urge to push became stronger, leaving mom with no time to get through the front door. Our clinical care teams rushed outside and helped the mom with her special delivery.

Both baby Kieralynn and mom are doing well. The baby's parents say they are grateful for the care they received and will share this story with their little princess for years to come.

September 27, 5:00 pm - AdventHealth West Florida Division leaders have activated emergency management teams and continue to meet multiple times each day ahead of Hurricane Ian.

Important Updates and Closures

• AdventHealth Providing Free Video Visits

AdventHealth wants you to stay safe and well during Hurricane Ian. If you have a non-emergency health need but are unable to leave home, the board-certified health care teams at AdventHealth Video Visits are available for free video visits, 24 hours a day, from 8 am Wednesday, September 28, through 8 am Friday, September 30. The free visits can be accessed by any Florida resident affected by Hurricane Ian via the AdventHealth app, available through the App Store or Google Play. Patients must use the promo code “Ian” to access the free service offered by AdventHealth Video Visits.

• AdventHealth West Florida hospital visitor policy and guidelines:
  • Each patient is allowed to have (1) one visitor during the storm.
  • The visitor must be at least 18 years old, no minors allowed.
  • The visitor must be self-sufficient and capable of caring for themselves.
  • If weather conditions worsen, the visitor will be required to shelter in place for the length of time required by local government ordinances based on curfews and the threat of the storm.
  • Because our resources are reserved for caring for our patients and team members, each visitor will be responsible for bringing his/her own:
    • Water and food supply
    • Medications
    • Clothing
    • Personal items needed for the time you are in the hospital visiting the patient.

Once the threat of the storm has passed and there is safe passage on the roads, we will resume our normal visiting hours.

• AdventHealth North Pinellas transports patients out ahead of Hurricane Ian

In an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of all patients and team members in lieu of the effects of Hurricane Ian, leaders at AdventHealth North Pinellas in Tarpon Springs completed the transport of all clinical team members and patients to AdventHealth sister facilities throughout Tampa Bay. All patients and their families have been directly notified of the transfer. The hospital is located in a mandatory evacuation zone in Pinellas County. Additionally, all elective procedures, including surgeries, imaging, rehab, Cath Lab, endoscopies, and any other elective department procedures have been canceled at the hospital. Patients will be notified once services resume. Patients and team members will be transported back to AdventHealth North Pinellas once deemed safe.

• AdventHealth Medical Group, AdventHealth Care Pavilions and AdventHealth Express Care at Walgreens locations in Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas counties will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The public is encouraged to check AHMGTampabay.com and our AdventHealth Medical Group Facebook page for future updates.
• AdventHealth hospital locations in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties have paused elective surgeries for Wednesday and Thursday. AdventHealth Ocala in Marion County will pause elective surgeries on Wednesday. Patients will be contacted directly for rescheduling.
• AdventHealth Wellness Centers and outpatient services, including imaging in Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk counties will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. AdventHealth Ocala outpatient services in Marion County will be closed Thursday.
• AdventHealth hospitals and freestanding emergency rooms are not shelters for the general public. We encourage the public to check with their local municipality for the closest shelter.
• AdventHealth emergency departments remain open for emergency care.

Residents can find hurricane safety information, tips on what to pack in your hurricane kit and updates on hospital operations on the Facebook pages for each hospital in the West Florida Division.

September 27, 12:30 pm - In an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of all patients and team members in lieu of the effects of Hurricane Ian, leaders at AdventHealth North Pinellas in Tarpon Springs will complete the transport of all clinical team members and patients to AdventHealth sister facilities throughout Tampa Bay. All patients and their families have been directly notified of the transfer. The hospital is located in a mandatory Evacuation Zone in Pinellas County. Additionally, all elective procedures, including surgeries, imaging, rehab, Cath Lab, endoscopies, and any other elective department procedures have been canceled at the hospital. Patients will be notified once services resume.

Patients and team members will be transported back to AdventHealth North Pinellas once deemed safe.

September 26, 7:00 pm - AdventHealth West Florida Division leaders have activated emergency management teams that are meeting multiple times each day ahead of Hurricane Ian to ensure the safety of patients and staff during the storm. Hurricane protocols include team staffing procedures, adequate water supply and backup generator power checks.

The West Florida Division has more than a dozen hospital and emergency room locations and various physician practices throughout seven counties, including Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk.

Closures and Important Updates:

• AdventHealth Medical Group, AdventHealth Care Pavilions and AdventHealth Express Care at Walgreens locations in Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas counties will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The public is encouraged to check AHMGTampabay.com and our AdventHealth Medical Group Facebook page for future updates.
• AdventHealth hospital locations in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties have paused elective surgeries for Wednesday and Thursday. Patients will be contacted directly for rescheduling. AdventHealth Polk county locations will make a determination by end of business Tuesday, September 27.
• AdventHealth hospitals and freestanding emergency rooms are not shelters for the general public. We encourage the public to check with their local municipality for the closest shelter.
• AdventHealth emergency departments remain open for emergency care.

Residents can find hurricane safety information, tips on what to pack in your hurricane kit and updates on hospital operations on the Facebook pages for each hospital in the West Florida Division.