St. Joseph's Hospital - North

04/10/2026

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North has added the latest and most state-of-art MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) technology to its diagnostic imaging services.

The $2 million MRI offers patients:
• 30 to 40 percent less scanning time on the MRI table.
• 70 percent reduction in sound.
• Higher resolution exams.
• Faster turnaround time for diagnosis.
• A detachable table allowing 50 percent less patient transferring from stretcher to table. Normally, four transfers would be required to and from the machine. The new technology, with the detachable table, requires only two transfers.
• A clearer image without blurring for patients with metal implants in the body such as those in the spine or with artificial hips or knee replacements. In typical MRIs, blurring occurs for these patients hindering in producing an accurate image.

Among the uses of MRIs are diagnosing spine conditions, breast cancer evaluations and in stroke care. The MRI is used for both inpatients and outpatients.

Chris, our imaging manager, said the motive for the hospital’s purchase of the new MRI was to ensure an excellent patient experience.

“People often don’t like to spend a lot of time getting an MRI, they can get claustrophobic feelings,” Blanchard said. “This reduces significantly the amount of time on the table and the reduction of noise is important too, less noise is calming.”

Chris also noted that the MRI tunnel is lighted with expansive space to limit the claustrophobic feelings.

“The new MRI is another example of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s commitment to the bring the best health care experience to the North Tampa community,” Chris said. “We’re trying to make MRIs friendlier, take less time and increase patient comfort.”

Photos include the MRI being transported earlier this year to our hospital via a tractor trailer and a MRI blessing held April 6.

Visit the link to learn more about BayCare imaging services or to schedule an appointment: bit.ly/49Bd8pB

04/09/2026

For the third straight year, BayCare is one of USA TODAY's Top Workplaces in 2026! We’re proud to foster a culture that cares where people can grow and thrive and make a lasting impact on the communities we serve. 💙 https://bit.ly/41k1vhN Energage

The national award by USA Today Top Workplaces reflects BayCare’s people‑first culture and commitment to helping team members grow, thrive and make the difference.

04/08/2026

💙 BayCare is bringing proton therapy, the most advanced treatment available for cancer, to West Central Florida, centrally located in Tampa. The BayCare Proton Center, located on the St. Joseph’s Hospital campus, is expected to open in the coming months. Watch the new commercial preview and share in the excitement.

04/07/2026

St. Joseph's Hospital-North is excited to share BayCare's 2025 Report to the Community. Meet the people and partnerships moving care forward and read stories about how BayCare is reimagining health care, investing in our communities and staying true to our mission to improve the health of all we serve. Click the photo below to read the BayCare Newsroom article.

From increased community benefit spending to expanded services and physician training, BayCare’s 2025 Report to the Community reflects meaningful progress in improving access to care across the region.

04/06/2026

This week is designated as National Robotics Week celebrating the technology in many different industries, applications and uses. We'll use the Robotics Week opportunity to feature our robot-assisted surgeries that are minimally invasive, can provide patients with smaller incisions, less pain and faster recoveries compared to standard open surgery. We have three robots that are guided by St. Joseph’s Hospital-North surgeons who are specially-trained and experienced in robotic surgery. We perform robotic surgeries in colorectal, general surgery, gynecology and urologic procedures.

We are accredited as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). SRC is a leading independent, external evaluator of programs and services for surgeons and hospitals. The designation signifies that our robotic surgery services provide the highest quality of care to patients.

Read the recent The Laker - Lutz News article about our robotic surgery and the addition of our third surgical robot: https://bit.ly/4v9q9iz

The article was front page in the News' print edition! The gallery includes screenshots of the print article.

Also, read more about our robotic surgery services: https://bit.ly/3PZVHHA

04/05/2026

Easter is the most important day in the Christian liturgical year. It commemorates and celebrates the central belief of the Christian faith - the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Today starts the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year. In the Catholic Church, the Easter season continues for 50 days, through the Ascension of Our Lord to Pentecost Sunday, seven full weeks after Easter Sunday.

May the glory and the promise of this time of year bring peace and happiness to you and to those you hold most dear.

An Easter prayer:
Lord, the resurrection of Your Son has given us new life and renewed hope. Help us to live as new people in pursuit of the Christian ideal. Grant us wisdom to know what we must do, the will to want to do it, the courage to undertake it, the perseverance to continue to do it, and the strength to complete it.
— New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

Photos include our hospital chapel taken on Monday of Holy Week and religious symbols in our hospital. Holy Week is the week before Easter beginning with Palm Sunday last Sunday and ending with Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.

04/03/2026

We've concluded "Physicians Week" and "Doctors Day" celebrations, a special time dedicated to honoring our doctors. A final word to cap the week and express our deepest gratitude to our doctors for their proficiency, devotion and service.

Thank you for making the difference every day and inspiring us with your skill and your unwavering commitment and dedication to outstanding and excellent patient care. You always put patients first and selflessly care for their health. You truly deserve our sincere appreciation.

The gallery includes some of our physicians. Also, see our post of March 31 for some additional doctor photos!

04/02/2026

More than 100 family, friends, and colleagues gathered March 30 for a heartfelt Celebration of Life in our atrium to honor the enduring legacy of Paula McGuiness, our hospital's beloved first president from 2010 to 2020. Paula passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on January 7, 2026.

Paula’s career spanned 48 years. In 1972, she began at the flagship St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa. She started there as a nurse and her roles and responsibilities expanded including an appointment to surgical services director in 1978. Paula was instrumental in developing and launching the St. Joseph’s Hospital Open Heart program in 1983 and the Same Day Surgery Center in 1988.

Paula became involved with the planning for St. Joseph’s Hospital-North (SJHN) in 2000 and in 2005 became SJHN’s chief operating officer. She was our hospital’s founding president in 2010. Paula was also involved in the design and development of our sister hospital, Riverview’s St. Joseph’s Hospital-South, which opened in 2015.

In honor of Paula’s leadership and contributions, the St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation has established the Paula McGuiness Memorial Nursing Scholarship providing financial assistance to team members pursuing an education degree while enhancing their careers at St. Joseph's Hospitals.

“The scholarship is a tribute to the lives that Paula touched and made an impact and the countless more she will continue to inspire,” said Sara Dodds, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North president. “I hope we can all honor her legacy by carrying on the culture she built so many years ago.” Sara served in nursing positions under Paula’s leadership since SJHN opened in 2010 and as SJHN's operations director under Paula from 2016 to 2020.

Sara was an event speaker with:
• Courtney Weaver, Paula’s daughter and BayCare team member in the Leadership Development department
• Kimberly Guy, BayCare Chief Operating Officer
• Isaac Mallah, retired St. Joseph’s Baptist Chief Executive Officer
• Nora Gunn Kratkey, St. Joseph's Hospitals Foundation

03/31/2026

We're celebrating "Physicians Week" this week which included national "Doctors Day" on Monday, March 30. These celebrations honor our doctors for their expertise, compassion, resilience and making a profound difference in lives. Our physicians navigate the challenges of ever-evolving health care and focus on BayCare's true north: clinical excellence.

We thank our physicians for the invaluable contributions they make to patients, patients' loved ones and the community.

The gallery includes some of our physicians during an event and "Thank-You-Grams" from team members to doctors who go above and beyond for others!

Follow this page for another Physicians Week post with doctors' photos as the week progresses!

03/30/2026

On Doctors Day and every day at BayCare, we’re grateful for the exceptional, patient-centered care provided by our physicians. Serving our West Central Florida communities with clinical excellence and compassion, BayCare physicians help deliver outstanding outcomes and high levels of patient satisfaction across the region. As part of the region’s largest academic health system, their dedication also helps shape the future of care. Happy Doctors Day! 🩺💙

03/28/2026

One important message as we are about to close out March, Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Discussing colorectal cancer can be difficult. But a busy member of the clergy, Rev. Christian Wood, who undergoes chemotherapy in our Infusion Center, shares his story hoping it will encourage others to get the recommended screening. He and his BayCare Medical Group surgeon, Dr. Elizabeth Myers, also hope the screening age will be lowered.

Read the article: https://bit.ly/4djweT0

In the photos, Rev. Wood is in one of our individual, private infusion treatment rooms with Kristen, an infusion nurse. The photos are screenshots from a Spectrum Bay News 9 segment with Rev. Wood and Dr. Myers. Watch the news segment: https://bit.ly/4s9rc0h. Please note that a Spectrum sign-in may be required to watch the video segment.

Read more about our cancer care and infusion center: https://bit.ly/44ULyQ6

03/27/2026

A dozen years of recognition from the Tampa Bay Times Top Workplaces — and counting! 🎉

BayCare has been named a 2026 Top Workplace for the 12th year in a row, based entirely on team member feedback. We’re grateful to our team members for creating a culture rooted in values, growth and support. Read more about our award here: https://bit.ly/3O67Wlp.

Energage

Based entirely on team member feedback, the prestigious recognition underscores BayCare’s continued commitment to fostering a people‑first workplace culture across the Tampa Bay region.