St. Joseph's Hospital-South

09/03/2026

St. Joseph's Hospital-South has added a minimally invasive procedure that can lower stroke risk for atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients without medication.

We are now performing the "Watchman™" procedure, in which a small, permanent implant is placed in the heart to close off the area where stroke-causing blood clots most often form. It is an alternative to taking long-term oral blood-thinning medication for people who cannot tolerate these medications or who are at a higher risk of bleeding.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4gLzXsN

09/01/2026

BayCare's St. Joseph's Children's Hospital and BayCare Kids, our extensive pediatrics network, have the resources and expertise to treat all kinds of childhood illnesses. From a simple earache to the most complex pediatric disorders and emergencies, we deliver with care and compassion that embraces not just the patient but the entire family. We're here for you, here for your kids, here for life.

08/30/2026

It goes without saying that a child’s visit to the ER is not high up on their favorite things to do. With that in mind, we try to make our pediatric emergency center environment as kid-friendly as possible. The gallery includes our nautical-themed pediatric waiting room with a glass-enclosed fountain. The doors to our to pediatric examination rooms also have the nautical theme. The gallery also includes our pediatric sensory room for children coming to the ER who have varying cognitive conditions, disabilities and sensory processing needs such as autism spectrum disorder. A sensory room is a specially designed place that provides individuals with a controlled and immersive sensory experience. It promotes a calming environment that can lessen overstimulation.

Learn more about our pediatric services and pediatric emergency center: https://bit.ly/45aYZNC

08/26/2026

August 26 is National Dog Day, a perfect opportunity to highlight our pet therapy program! Our pet therapy dogs bring joy, comfort, happiness, love and delight to patients, visitors, team members and medical staff. Our pet therapy dogs and their handlers are hospital volunteers. They visit our hospital frequently and stay for several hours during the visits.

Pet therapy raises people’s spirits, spreads healing and provides emotional support. Sometimes the best medicine comes with a wagging tail.

Reppin' all our pet therapy dogs this year on the big day are Triscuit, Rosie and Tootsie. The gallery includes their hospital ID tags and calling cards which their handlers pass around.

Read more about pet therapy at the St. Joseph's Hospitals: https://bit.ly/4grwHCO

08/23/2026

Jessica, a respiratory therapy specialist, is the recipient of a BEE Award! BEE, an acronym for “Being Excellent Every Day” celebrates non-nursing team members supporting patient care. BEEs honor team members for the skilled and dedicated support they provide contributing to extraordinary care.

As a respiratory therapy specialist, Jessica specializes in helping patients with breathing and lung disorders or difficulties. Her BEE nomination documents note she has a “phenomenal” way of explaining and communicating to parents and families of patients.

Jessica was nominated by a colleague who observed her in action during an especially busy shift. Jessica’s phone was ringing nonstop with requests. Her colleague marveled how she handled each call and situation with calmness, professionalism and a positive attitude. Her colleague overhead Jessica tell a caller, “We will get it done, don’t you worry!” That moment stood out to her colleague because it reflected the kind of teammate Jessica is – dependable, steady and always supportive, even under pressure.

Jessica’s BEE documents also mentioned that nurses are confident and reassured when Jessica is working because of her clinical skill, teamwork and “heart” she brings to the job. Nurses also appreciate when Jessica educates them about the respiratory care she is providing patients.

Jessica, congratulations on the BEE recognition, and thank you for going above and beyond at our hospital!

08/20/2026

Thank you to U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor for recently visiting our hospital and Wimauma's La Esperanza Clinic. La Esperanza, which translates to "The Hope" in English, provides free health care and disease prevention services for low income residents in the local area without employer-provided insurance. La Esperanza is a partnership between our parent BayCare and the Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg.

We were grateful for the opportunity to showcase our hospital and La Esperanza!

08/16/2026

Some food for thought about school lunches as we are in Week 2 of the new school year!

What's really missing from your child's lunchbox? 🛍️🥪🍎 Many foods marketed to kids may not provide the nutrition they need to stay focused, energized and satisfied throughout the school day. From protein and hydration to added sugars and easy meal ideas, a BayCare dietitian separates fact from fiction and shares practical tips for packing healthier school lunches. Read more: https://bit.ly/456p937

Think packing a healthy school lunch has to be complicated? Think again. A BayCare dietitian busts common lunchbox nutrition myths and shares simple, practical tips to help kids stay energized, focused and hydrated throughout the school day.

08/12/2026

BayCare has been named No. 21 on the PEOPLE® Companies That Care list, the highest ranking of any health care system in Florida. It's BayCare's sixth time to earn a spot on the list. The award reflects the work of 34,000+ team members who bring our mission to life with care and compassion, every day.
Learn more:

BayCare earned the highest ranking of any Florida health care system on the list, recognized for its commitment to team members, patients and the communities it serves.

08/10/2026

Sonia, a phlebotomist, is the recipient of a BEE Award! BEE, an acronym for “Being Excellent Every Day” celebrates non-nursing team members supporting patient care. BEEs honor team members for the skilled and dedicated support they provide contributing to extraordinary care.

Sonia is known at our hospital as "Sony" (pronounced the same way as Sony TVs). As a phlebotomist, Sony draws and collects blood from patients. Needless to say, this is not high on the list of patients’ favorite things.

She turns this experience around 180 degrees. She takes a patient’s anxiety and transforms it to a sense of calm. Sony engages with the patient. She uses compassion, comfort, warmth, extreme care and professionalism. Her kindness is genuine and Sony has an unwavering commitment to make the experience as painless and uneventful as possible.

Sony often draws blood during patients’ most difficult and stressful moments. Team members have noticed her praying with patients. Her empathy for patients is evident by her tender interactions with them.

Sony is also appreciated by her team for her positive attitude and willingness to help others. She is always there for them with a smile, encouraging word or lending a hand in assistance. She also expertly anticipates her department’s needs and proactively helps fill those needs without being asked.

Congratulations Sony, a phenomenal phlebotomist making the difference with patients and your team!

08/06/2026

August 1 to 7 is designated as World Breastfeeding Week!

Members of our Labor and Delivery and Mom and Baby units pictured here encourage you to check out this page for breastfeeding information: https://bit.ly/4d4dLXZ.

Our hospital offers free, monthly in-person breastfeeding support groups and classes throughout the year. The events are open to all no matter which hospital you delivered or plan to deliver your baby. All events are held in our classrooms.

The events are free but we ask you to please register. To see the upcoming schedule and register, visit: https://bit.ly/4by8WaA. Or, get the schedule and register by phone by calling (855) 314-8352 and pressing the number “2” at the prompt.

The class descriptions:

Breastfeeding Support Group - For breastfeeding mothers and their babies. The group provides a place where breastfeeding mothers receive support from other breastfeeding mothers and certified breastfeeding consultants.

Understanding Breastfeeding - Provides information to the expectant mother and her support person about breastfeeding basics, skin-to-skin contact, tips for returning to work and when to call a health care provider or lactation consultant.

BayCare also offers a free, self-paced virtual "Understanding Breastfeeding" course that helps new moms build confidence with tips on feeding, knowing when to seek support, involving your partner and tracking your baby's feedings along the way. Learn at your own pace, whenever it's convenient for you. Register here: bit.ly/40EqzA0.