In 1960, Felix LoCicero, M.D. opened his practice in West Tampa. He practiced Internal Medicine and Nephrology. When dialysis treatment became available for patients with kidney failure, Dr. LoCicero was instrumental in setting up the first dialysis clinics at Tampa General Hospital. He was also the driving force behind bringing dialysis treatment to the entire west coast of Florida.
In 1988, Dr. Karon LoCicero joined her father, Dr. Felix LoCicero, and began her practice of internal medicine in the heart of South Tampa’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Thirty seven years later, and well ahead of the major shifts in health care delivery, we are proud to offer our patients the services of a multi-specialty clinic, diagnostic center, medication dispensary, infusion center, and COLA-accredited laboratory with six office locations in the Tampa Bay Area.
Using a fully-integrated electronic health record system, our providers create and maintain a single, comprehensive digital file for each patient. Test results, progress notes, and current medication lists are maintained in one place for all providers, from primary to specialty care, to access and update. Our patients also have 24/7 remote access to personal health information through our secure Patient Portal. We believe this integrated approach to health care will increase the quality of our patients’ care and decrease our patients’ total health care expenses.
To assist our primary care patients with the management of chronic diseases, we now offer enhanced services through our multi-specialty and multi-disciplinary care teams. Our clinics offer the added expertise and oversight of our board-certified specialist physicians while conveniently located where patients receive primary care services. An interdisciplinary case management team is also available to help patients manage chronic illnesses. A dietitian, diabetes educator, certified podiatry assistant, pharmacist, physical therapist, licensed mental health counselor, laboratory technician, and nurses all support our medical provider team in providing medical services to our patients.
In 2016, we earned recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) from the National Center for Quality Assurance. A PCMH is a primary care-driven model that emphasizes care coordination, patient engagement, and communication to transform the healthcare experience into what patients expect and deserve. Studies indicate that a PCMH model may lead to better quality with lower costs, as well as improve patient and provider satisfaction.
2018 saw the inception of LoCicero Hospital Group offering 24/7 coverage at all Tampa area hospitals and many skilled nursing facilities. Our goal is to provide efficient and timely care to patients with acute medical problems in a hospital setting, and to assist with the transition of care to the patient’s home or skilled nursing facility. We also have a care team responsible for making home visits, including medical services as well as in-home phlebotomy, to assist our homebound patients with access to health care.
We continue to be a leading force in the advancement and success of a physician-owned Medicare Accountable Care Organization, as well as a commercial Accountable Care Organization in Hillsborough County. Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are provider and payer arrangements designed to improve care coordination among physicians, hospitals, and public or private insurance payers. The continued success of our Medicare and commercial ACO–Florida Accountable Care Services, is the result of our local physicians’ commitment to delivering superior care to the Tampa community.
In 2022, Dr. Britney Galantino, Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, joined her mother, Dr. Karon LoCicero, and brought the Behavioral Health Department to our multi-specialty practice. Our Behavioral Health staff , headed by Dr. Galantino, has since been working collaboratively with all specialties of the practice.
In line with our mission to provide team-based care, we recently integrated behavioral health services into our primary care team. Our patients have direct access to a psychiatrist, behavioral health certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and a licensed mental health counselor for private, individual sessions. Moreover, our providers have noted improved compliance with treatment plans as patients explore the relationship between their physical and mental health.
Significant changes in health care delivery systems are expected to continue in 2025 and beyond. We are excited about meeting the challenges ahead and believe our practice model provides the highest-quality, convenient care that patients expect.
We now have six Tampa Bay area locations serving South Tampa, Tampa Heights, Brandon, Riverview, and Wesley Chapel. We are excited about the opportunity to serve the Tampa Bay area and anticipate the opening of additional clinics in the year to come. We are certain these new locations will complement our existing Swann Avenue facility and will allow us to continue to provide access to high quality, comprehensive, and compassionate health care.
Our goal is to stay at the forefront of healthcare trends to provide the best care possible. We are honored and humbled by your continued trust in our team as we grow and change to meet all your healthcare needs.
Sincerely,
Karon LoCicero, M.D.
Medical Director
LoCicero Health and LoCicero Hospital Group
