"Spreading knowledge ~ Saving Lives," A Cancer Awareness Day, will be held on Sunday, April 1, from noon to 3 p.m. at White's of Westport, 66 State Road, Westport, Mass.
Richard T. Miller, MD, a thoracic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive thoracic surgery and thoracic oncology has joined Southcoast as the region's only dedicated thoracic surgeon.
"The South Coast region has a high number of lung cancer patients who must leave the area to receive surgery and treatment," Dr. Miller said. "Southcoast's thoracic surgery program will build upon the success of the heart surgery program and similarly offer comprehensive thoracic surgery right here in the community, where it is needed the most."
Dr. Miller specializes in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, or VATS, which is performed primarily in early stage lung cancer patients or high risk patients that may not be a candidate for conventional lung surgery.
This minimally invasive approach to lung surgery is the first for our region, offering patients quicker recovery time, less pain and smaller surgical incisions.
Dr. Miller has joined the practice of cardiothoracic surgeons Thomas Carr, MD, and Christian T. Campos, MD, of Southcoast Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery in Fall River. He serves on the staff at all three Southcoast Hospitals sites.
The addition of a dedicated thoracic surgeon expands the scope of Southcoast's cardiothoracic surgery program, which has brought unprecedented access to advanced cardiothoracic services to the region and has received exemplary reviews and outstanding patient satisfaction since its inception in 2002.
Southcoast's thoracic surgery program will include more comprehensive and minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer and palliative surgical interventions for lung and esophageal cancer.
Southcoast holds sign up days for Commonwealth Care
Southcoast Hospitals Group will be hosting "sign-up days" during the months of March and April for the state's new Commonwealth Care plan. Sign-up days will be held in Fall River, New Bedford and Wareham.
Representatives from BMC HealthNet and Neighborhood Health Plan — the only two plans accepted at Southcoast Hospitals Group — will be available at the sign-up sessions. Also joining in the sign-up efforts will be HealthFirst Family Health Center and SSTAR at the Fall River sessions and Greater New Bedford Community Health Center and PACE at the New Bedford and Wareham sessions.
Southcoast Sign-up Days will be held on:
- Tuesday, March 13, and Wednesday, March 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Avenue, Fall River. Enter main lobby, located at bottom of stairs.
- Tuesday, April 17, and Wednesday, April 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page Street, New Bedford. White Home Building, adjacent to Emergency Department Entrance.
- Wednesday, April 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Tobey Hospital, 43 High Street, Wareham, Mass. Enter main lobby, located in the Stillman Library.
