Hospital opens clinic in booming FishHawk

Dave Nicholson

Jun. 17, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- LITHIA -- South Florida Baptist Hospital is branching outside of Plant City for the first time.

The hospital founded more than 50 years ago has opened the Community Health Resource Center in FishHawk Ranch, off Lithia-Pinecrest Road. Hospital marketing manager Shannon Mitchell said the hospital wants to tap into the rapidly growing FishHawk area.

South Florida Baptist has seen a surge in FishHawk area residents using its services, hospital Chief Operating Officer Steve Nierman said.

"We quickly recognized an opportunity to expand our health education and disease prevention services. I'm confident this will provide real value to families living in FishHawk Ranch."

Located in Park Square at 17004 Dorman Road, the new resource center initially will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays to offer free and reduced-cost health screenings, including cholesterol, blood sugar screenings, blood pressure and bone density checks and body mass index tests; physician referrals; health and services information; and monthly community lectures and events.

Family physician Roh Afridi will hold office hours at the clinic, and other physicians with privileges at South Florida Baptist are expected to do the same, Mitchell said.

Many of the lectures will be at The Palmetto Club, a meeting space across the street from the resource center.

The following is a list of upcoming lectures. Except where otherwise noted, the lectures are at The Palmetto Club:

-- Ladies Night Out Lecture Series program, Weight Management, 6:30 to 8 p.m. July 14

-- Infant Child/CPR Class, 6 to 9 p.m., Aug. 11

-- Ladies Night Out Lecture Series program, Children's Issues -- ADD, Autism and Immunizations, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 8

-- Health fair at FishHawk Ranch Park Square, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 7

-- Ladies Night Out Lecture Series program, Cosmetic Surgery, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 10

-- Safe sitter babysitting class, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 11

For information, call the center at (813) 757-8511.

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 627-4727.

Newstex ID: 35806977