Southcoast Health System & Southcoast Hospitals Group eNews

Southcoast breaks ground on Fairhaven cancer center

Southcoast Hospitals has officially broken ground on our new flagship Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fairhaven.

When completed in early 2011, the center will provide convenient access to advanced cancer services to residents in the eastern part of the South Coast region.

The center will create about 40 new permanent jobs and about 250 temporary construction jobs.

The new Southcoast Center for Cancer Care will ensure coordinated, high-quality, streamlined care for cancer patients and their families.

It brings together state-of-the-art radiation therapy and medical oncology, such as chemotherapy, in a beautiful and peaceful setting conveniently located off Interstate 195 in Fairhaven.

The new outpatient center will also have the very latest advanced technology — from radiation therapy to diagnostic testing and imaging — to meet the growing needs of the region's cancer patients.

www.southcoast.org/news/releases/

www.southcoast.org/cancercare/

Give a pint ~ get a pound!

For the sixth consecutive year, Dunkin' Donuts® is teaming up with the Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital to encourage local residents to donate blood.

In January 2010, anyone — including Southcoast employees — who donates blood at the Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital or at any Southcoast Blood Bank site or blood drive will receive a certificate for a pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee. Coupons are redeemable at any Dunkin' Donuts shop. Southcoast employees also receive a day off when they donate three times within an 18-month period.

Stop by the Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., or Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Appointments are requested, but not necessary, and can be made by calling 508-961-5320.

The Southcoast Health Van also holds blood drives several times each month.

www.southcoast.org/bloodbank/

Thank you — 90,933 times!

Volunteers at Southcoast Hospitals Group contributed more than 90,000 hours of service over the past year!

Southcoast honored its many volunteers on October 7 at an annual reception at White's of Westport Restaurant. Award pins were given to volunteers who have reached milestones in hours of service at the three hospital sites and the Southcoast Hospice program, starting at 100 hours.

Adeline DeSousa, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford, was honored for 31,500 hours.

Corrie Rogers, Tobey Hospital in Wareham, was honored for 11,000 hours.

Maurice Vannier, Charlton Memorial in Fall River, was honored for 11,000 hours.

"Volunteers have worked 90,933 hours this past year," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group, as he thanked the volunteers. "During these many hours, they have brought comfort to our patients and assistance to our staff. Southcoast Hospitals is truly grateful for their devotion."

www.southcoast.org/news/

www.southcoast.org/involve/volunteer/

Southcoast helps "Make Smoking History"

Southcoast Hospitals received the 2009 Make Smoking History Award at the Massachusetts State House on November 18. From left, Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group; Niki Almeida, RN, Resource Nurse, Charlton Memorial Hospital; Nancy Medeiros, RN, Nurse Manager, Charlton Memorial Hospital; Joyce Dolin, RN, Director of Medical Services Quality & Practice for Southcoast Hospitals; John Auerbach, Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health, and Jim Rattray, Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs at Southcoast Health System.

Southcoast Hospitals received the first-ever "Make Smoking History Award" from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation & Prevention Program.

Southcoast received the award for its efforts to help patients quit smoking through its implementation of the QuitWorks patient referral program.

DPH Commissioner John Auerbach presented the award at a ceremony held November 18 in Nurses Hall at the Massachusetts State House.

Southcoast was an early adopter of the QuitWorks program, which was created by DPH for use by health organizations across the state. QuitWorks provides free, confidential information and tobacco treatment counseling by telephone for any Massachusetts resident, regardless of health insurance coverage.

Southcoast Hospitals Group serves the Fall River, New Bedford and Wareham areas where tobacco use is disproportionately high in comparison to the rest of the state, with rates of 34 percent in Fall River, 26.4 percent in New Bedford, and 23.4 percent in Wareham.