St. Joseph's Hospital-South

11/05/2026

Meet some of our patient transporters! Patient transporters are team members piling up the steps and miles and wearing out footwear while moving patients by wheelchair and stretcher to their procedures and tests throughout our hospital. These health care heroes are instrumental in making sure our patients get from point A to point B safely in our hospital.

We're giving them a shout out for National Patient Transport Week, November 1 to 7!

Transporters have a tremendous amount of patient contact. For example, for imaging exams, transporters are often the first people that a patient will see as transporters take them to and from exam rooms. Transporters also need good interpersonal skills and a comforting and caring disposition. Patients are often wary when they’re being moved and unsure where they are going. The transporter is taking them to the unknown. The transporter explains where they are going in a way the patient understands.

We thank these "perpetual motion" team members during their week!

11/04/2026

Two former managers at our hospital have been named by BayCare as senior leaders at the new BayCare Hospital Manatee opening in nearby Palmetto in 2028! Ileana (left in photo) will serve as the hospital's Director of Operations and Vanessa (right in photo) will be Director of Patient Services.

Ileana was imaging services manager at our hospital from 2022 to 2024 and Vanessa was emergency services nursing manager here from 2021 until her recent appointment to BayCare Hospital Manatee.

In the years leading up to the hospital’s opening, Ileana and Vanessa will build the hospital’s staff and management team, establish operations, policies and procedures, help equip the facility and prepare it for approval by the Agency for Healthcare Administration.

Scheduled to open in 2028, BayCare Hospital Manatee will encompass more than 436,000 square feet with 154 private patient rooms and capacity to expand to 207 beds.

Learn more about BayCare's Manatee County presence: https://baycare.org/baycare-is-growing-in-manatee

Congratulations Ileana and Vanessa in your exciting new endeavor of opening a new hospital! BayCare Hospital Manatee is in great hands! And thank you for your years of service to St. Joseph's Hospital-South.

11/03/2026

This Native American Heritage Month, we honor the cultures, contributions and enduring traditions of Indigenous peoples. We're grateful for the Native American communities and team members who help strengthen our mission of improving the health and well-being of everyone we serve.

11/02/2026

Be ready for flu season. Getting a flu shot not only protects you from , it can help protect everyone around you. In the photos, some of our team members are getting their . We encourage everyone to get one also. Ready to get a flu shot? Talk to your doctor or call a BayCare Urgent Care for details.

Read more about flu protection from the BayCare website: https://bit.ly/4yLgbEU
Read the BayCare Newsroom article about flu prevention: https://bit.ly/46UpxCF
BayCare Urgent Care locations for a flu shot: https://bit.ly/3FKE8TL

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween! Stay safe today! Bonus points if you can name all the Wizard of Oz characters in the first gallery photo!

10/30/2026

During Respiratory Care Week (October 25-31) we acknowledge the work of our respiratory therapists (RTs)! They aim to improve lung health of our patients and help them with lung and breathing disorders. Collaborating with medical staff, they recommend treatments and therapies. They do analysis, tests and measurements of a person's breathing to determine oxygen levels and other gases. RTs also manage the intricate and complex apparatuses, ventilators and artificial airway devices for patients with breathing difficulties. They also educate patients and families about breathing and lungs so patients can maximize recovery.

These are some of our RTs with the tools of their trade. The equipment to the left in the group photo is a BiPAP machine and the equipment to the right is a ventilator. Both machines assist patients in breathing.

Read more about BayCare respiratory and pulmonary services: https://bit.ly/470OewY

10/29/2026

October 29 was National Cat Day and we celebrate Bentley, our award-winning pet therapy cat! Bentley had an exciting summer! Read the links with the stories about Bentley being honored in June by the Animal Law Section of The Florida Bar Association for exemplary service.

Bentley is a hospital volunteer and provides pet therapy to patients, patient’s loved ones, visitors, medical staff and team members at our hospital and the adjacent BayCare Outpatient Center near our campus.

Bentley's news coverage included:
Osprey Observer, local newspaper and news site: https://bit.ly/4bDfC7n
The Florida Bar Association website: https://bit.ly/4z5by9M
Florida Bar Association social media: https://bit.ly/4xvoyUU
Tampa’s WMNF Community Radio “Talking Animals” show. The Bentley segment is on the lower half of the page. Forward to 47:19 using the arrow on the audio player to hear the interview with Kathy, Bentley's handler. The link to the page: https://tinyurl.com/mvw82wc4

See the gallery with some screenshots of Bentley's coverage and other information about his award!

10/28/2026

For the sixth time, BayCare has been recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Women™ by Fortune magazine and Great Place To Work®. Selections for this national list were based on survey feedback from employees. With women making up 77% of our BayCare workforce, we are proud they feel supported and have opportunity to grow in their careers. 🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4k48RR9

For the sixth time, BayCare has been named to the Fortune Best Workplaces for Women list. Women make up 77% of BayCare’s workforce of more than 34,000 team members, with opportunities to grow, lead and succeed.

10/27/2026

October, the "pink" month for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, soon comes to a close. But don’t let this be the end, let it be the beginning. We encourage you to make an appointment for a mammogram. Getting a screening mammogram should be in the forefront of our minds any time of the year.

Getting a mammogram screening is the best way to detect breast cancer early. For more breast health information and scheduling a mammogram: https://bit.ly/46rFJMi

Pink photos include:
-- Our campus exterior lit up in pink at night for all of October for CREW Tampa Bay's 2026 "City in Pink" initiative to drench local buildings in pink for breast cancer awareness.
--Team members in the "Big Pink Chair" during a hospital event promoting participation in an American Cancer Society "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk.
--Team members wearing pink attire during October.

10/25/2026

Lynn, a nurse manager, earned distinction as recipient of a prestigious DAISY Foundation Nurse Leader award! DAISY is a national recognition program for nurses and among the highest accolades in the profession. DAISYs honor the “super-human” work nurses do for patients and their families.

Nurse Leader DAISYs recognize nursing directors and managers in supervisory and administrative roles.

Lynn was nominated for a DAISY nurse leader for her mentoring, support and involvement in particularly difficult and complex patient situation. Although the patient was not in Lynn’s unit or within the realm of her responsibility, Lynn was aware and cognizant of the situation and knew she could help. She saw a need to become involved and offered assistance on her own accord.

When the patient had a critically ill episode, Lynn rushed to the unit and remained with the unit providing help for duration of the episode. She kept hospital leadership informed and enlisted the proper resources to assist. She provided emotional support to team members and was instrumental in navigating through a challenging dynamic with the patient’s family.

From Lynn’s DAISY nomination documents: "It spoke volumes that not only was (she) present for us, but (she) also CHOSE to be present for a unit that wasn't even (her) own. The support that we felt was tangible, and we wanted to express our gratitude and make it known what an impact this made in our moment of need. This personifies what it means to be a leader.”

Congratulations, Lynn and thank you for going above and beyond in providing invaluable support and guidance despite having no direct responsibility for the situation. Your actions were DAISY worthy!