Southcoast Health System & Southcoast Hospitals Group eNews

This July, the pizza is on us!

The Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital has teamed up with area Domino's Pizza stores in a "Pizza for a Pint" promotion during the month of July.

"Community partnerships are an essential part of Southcoast's blood donor program," said Maureen Brown, Laboratory Site Manager for St. Luke's and Tobey Hospitals. "We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Domino's Pizza during the month of July when blood donations tend to slow down due to travel and busy summer schedules."

The Southcoast Blood Bank is the only blood donation venue that directly supports the South Coast communities' blood supply. When you donate blood at a Southcoast-sponsored blood drive, you are helping to keep your local blood supply strong — so it is there when you need it.

"Domino's Pizza is proud to partner with our local community blood bank during the month of July when the need for blood donations is the greatest," said Nelson Hockert-Lotz, owner of the Domino's Pizza stores on Kempton Street and Rockdale Avenue in New Bedford. "We hope our collaboration will be both a motivator and a thank you to people for rolling up their sleeves and pitching in this summer."

Seven franchise owners from throughout the area joined Hockert-Lotz, making the offer good throughout Bristol County and Wareham.

www.southcoast.org/bloodbank/

New initiative aims to make positive impact on youths

Southcoast Hospitals' RAPPP (Responsible Attitudes toward Pregnancy, Parenting & Prevention) Program has launched a new program for community members and organizations involved in working with Greater New Bedford's youth.

"The Greater New Bedford Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Initiative" is based on a national model currently being implemented in high-risk communities across the country. Created by the nonprofit Search Institute, the program aims to create a stronger community for our young adults by emphasizing positive developmental assets.

The "40 Developmental Assets" are the core of the program and are defined as experiences and qualities that have a tremendous positive influence on young people such as self-esteem, encouragement, decision making, conflict resolution and setting future goals. The "assets" serve as a springboard for positive behavior and healthy development.

"It is important that as a community we come together to support our youth as they grow and mature. This new initiative will provide local youth with the tools they need to make healthy life choices that will lead them to success," said New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang.

www.southcoast.org/rappp/

Weight loss surgery program at Tobey now offers LAP-BAND

Southcoast's weight loss surgery program at Tobey Hospital is now offering LAP-BAND® procedure in addition to the Roux-en-Y surgery.

LAP-BAND®, or adjustable gastric banding, is a relatively new procedure that involves inserting an adjustable, silicone band around the top part of the stomach, to reduce the amount of food you can eat at one time and to make you feel full on small amounts of food. The band is soft and can be tightened or loosened.

LAP-BAND offers advantages such as no intestinal re-routing, cutting or stapling of the stomach and intestines; a lower risk of post-surgical nutrition complications and shorter hospital stay and recovery time. The procedure is also reversible.

Weight loss with the LAP-BAND is usually slower than with Roux-en-Y surgery although some studies have shown that long-term weight loss is comparable with both procedures. Sometimes the band may slip or migrate and may need to be surgically re-adjusted or removed. Long term, some patients may experience dilatation of their esophagus, requiring adjustment or removal of their band.

The best thing to do is discuss your options with the gastric bypass surgeon and decide which is best for you.