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Orlando & The Freakshow

Tampa General Hospital Can Help Your High Blood Pressure

Author Richie Ortiz

High blood pressure, affecting nearly half of American adults according to the American Heart Association, is a critical health concern that can lead to serious complications like heart attacks and strokes. While lifestyle changes and medication often help many manage this condition, some patients find these measures insufficient. For some individuals whose high blood pressure has persisted despite various treatments, there may be a new option at Tampa General Hospital. Doctors are now offering an innovative procedure designed to help those with resistant hypertension.

Renal Denervation Procedure

Dr. Fadi Matar, Medical Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab at Tampa General Hospital, and his team are utilizing a procedure called renal denervation. This minimally invasive technique targets the nerves surrounding the kidney arteries, which play a role in regulating blood pressure. Dr. Matar told ABC Action News “The body adjusts blood pressure based on signals from sensors within the body,” Dr. Matar explained. “Renal denervation takes advantage of this system by disrupting the overactive nerves around the kidney arteries, effectively ‘shutting off’ some of these signals.”

Let me put it in words I even understand. The procedure employs ultrasound energy to selectively target these nerves, helping to reduce the excessive nerve activity that contributes to hypertension. They have also been performing this procedure for less than a year with “very favorable results”.

One individual, William Ballingall, told reporters the results have been life-changing. He told ABC “The pressure is gone, and so are the headaches. I don’t feel that thumping in my temples anymore”.

The renal denervation procedure is typically performed in an outpatient setting, allowing patients to return home the same day. For those who have struggled with resistant hypertension, this new treatment offers a promising path forward.

Source: ABC Action News

Rich grew up in the Bronx, NY but moved to Tampa in 2006 to attend the University of Tampa. Even though he completed 4 years at the University for Sports Management, Ortiz realized his true passion for radio after taking a couple of classes to fulfill his communications minor and volunteering at UT's WUTT radio station as a sports director. Rich also worked at several clubs in Tampa as a host/promoter where he would meet and work alongside Davy Rolando, who would be the one who would help him get a job at WiLD 94.1. From there, Rich worked his way up from Promotions assistant to promotions coordinator, to eventually full-time on-air. Rich loves to write about his favorite Tampa food spots, concert reviews, and the WiLDest Florida man/woman stories.

Tampa Hospital Safety Grades: See The Highest and Lowest

  • Saint Joseph's Hospital - A

    Address: 3001 W Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

    Saint Joseph’s Hospital has consistently scored an A since Fall 2021. They have scored 100 in practices to prevent errors, and doctors, nurses, and staff.

  • HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital - A

    Address: 2901 W Swann Ave

    HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital has improved over the past 3 years. They went from a “B” score in 2021, down to a “C” in 2022, then earned an “A” grade in Fall of 2023. They scored low in infection rates and problems with surgery.

  • AdventHealth Carrollwood - A

    Address: 7171 North Dale Mabry Highway

    AdventHealth is one of the highly talked about hospitals in the Tampa Bay area. They’ve had an “A” grade in patient safety dating back to the Fall of 2021. They scored 100 in measures that protects patients from errors or injuries like  staff working together, nursing and bedside care, and effective leadership.

  • St. Joseph's Hospital - North - A

    Address: 4211 Van Dyke Rd

    St. Joseph’s Hospital in North Tampa has been an “A” hospital since Fall 2022, upgrading from a “B” grade the year before.

  • Morton Plant Hospital - A

    Address: 300 Pinellas Street, Clearwater

    Morton Plant Hospital has been a highly graded hospital since Fall 2021. The received the best score possible for practices to prevent errors, hospital staff, and problems with surgery.

  • St. Anthony's Hospital - A

    Address: 1200 Seventh Avenue North, St. Petersburg

    St. Anthony’s Hospital is the only “A” rated hospital in the St. Pete area. They scored low in infection rates and problems with surgery.

  • Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital - B

    Address: 701 Sixth Street South

    Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital (formerly Bayfront Health St. Petersburg) has seen improvements in their scores over the past few years. They were graded a “D” back in Spring of 2021 and a “C” in Fall 2023.

  • AdventHealth Tampa - B

    Address: 3100 East Fletcher Avenue

    AdventHealth Tampa is actually dropped a grade from 2021-2023. They scored above average in infections and slightly above average in safety problems like complications.

  • Tampa General Hospital - C

    Many may be surprised to see TGH with a C grade, but this is actually the fourth “C” ranking of the past six rankings. Even though they are consistently ranked among the nation and world as one of best hospitals, Tampa General scored below average in more than half a dozen categories which sank their score. It just shows that even though a hospital that is seen as world leader for patient safety and patient outcomes can still receive an average grade with Leapfrog’s strict grading system.

     

  • HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital - C

    Address: 6500 38th Ave N

    HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital has had a declining grade in the past year. They had an “A” grade all 2022 and spring 2023. They declined to report their scores for Effective leadership to prevent errors, nursing and bedside care, and staff’s working together.

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Author Richie Ortiz
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