Skip to main content

Health & Wellness


A message from the Clinic: Help us slow the spread of COVID-19

April 24, 2020
BY HILJA BILODEAU, CEO OF THE BGHC – The health and wellbeing of the Boca Grande Community is paramount to us at the Boca Grande Health Clinic. We are here to serve the community. Our goal is to pr…

‘To Go’ only: Florida Governor issues executive order closing all dining rooms in establishments on March 20

March 20, 2020
STAFF REPORT – Here is your to-go dining list for the island. An executive order by our governor has closed all dining rooms in restaurants. Starting Monday, March 23, shopping will be limited to …

A message from the Clinic: ‘It is time to put community above self’

March 20, 2020
BY DALY WALKER, MD – The Coronavirus is now moving explosively through the world’s human population. The latest scientific reports warn that without action by the government and individuals to slow…

JUST A WORD ABOUT COVID-19 …

March 13, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – We do NOT have a confirmed case of COVID-19 on Gasparilla Island. According to officials, “The Boca Grande Fire Department responded to an EMS call this morning where the screen…

Coronavirus explained: BGHC doctor explains the latest information

February 28, 2020
BY LAUREN HANA MD – The novel (new) coronavirus, now called COVID-19, is a respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. Initial cases were linked to a large open-air seaf…

From the Miccosukee in the Everglades to Boca Grande and beyond people are asking … where is our clean water?

June 22, 2018
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE UPDATE: Gov. Rick Scott has now issued an emergency order to allow water from Lake Okeechobee to be discharged to the south, into the Everglades, instead of directing runoff pri…

Flu season is definitely here as Boca Grande Health Clinic sees its first ‘A’ victim

December 22, 2017
■ BY DR LAUREN HANA The Clinic saw its first test positive case of Influenza A this week,so this is a good time to review some “flu facts.” The influenza virus, “the flu,” causes a respiratory illn…

Red tide comes to Boca Grande beach

September 30, 2016
■ BY SUE ERWIN      Coughing, sneezing and runny noses were common annoyances for islanders this week, after thousands of dead fish washed up on Charlotte County beaches. The irritations were the r…

A letter from the Boca Grande Health Clinic

September 30, 2016
Dear friends and patients of the Boca Grande Health Clinic: As the “season” approaches, it seems timely to send out an update about Zika virus disease. You might be aware that Zika virus is now end…