Southcoast Hospice to hold Annual Interfaith Memorial Service

Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care & Infusion Services will be holding its Annual Interfaith Memorial Service on Wednesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary Church, 41 Harding Road in Fairhaven.

This service, which will include a Special Children's Story, celebrates the lives of those who have passed and provides comfort for all who are grieving a loved one during the holiday season. A social gathering with refreshments for family, friends, hospice and palliative care staff and volunteers will follow in the church hall.

www.southcoast.org/news/

Southcoast Hospice "Memory Tree" at St. Luke's Hospital

Southcoast Hospice and Palliative Care is sponsoring its annual Season to Remember Tree in the lobby of St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford this holiday season.

The Memory Tree is decorated with small red gift box ornaments inscribed with the name of loved ones who are being remembered or honored. Another small white gift box ornament can be taken home as a special reminder of the Memory Tree.

The two ornaments are $5 and can be purchased in the hospital lobby beginning December 1 through December 24, from noon to 8:30 p.m. or by calling 508-984-0277.

Contributions will allow Southcoast Hospice and Palliative Care to continue to meet the needs of bereaved families in the Greater New Bedford and Wareham regions.

www.southcoast.org/news/

The ultimate gift: Give blood!

The holidays is the perfect time to give the gift of life by giving blood at the Southcoast Blood Bank.

You can give at the Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital or on the Southcoast Health Van. Find out when the van will be in your neighborhood.

www.southcoast.org/bloodbank/

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HealthGrades: Southcoast Hospitals now in Top 5% in the U.S. for heart care

Southcoast Hospitals ranks among the top 5 percent in the U.S. for overall cardiology services according to a national study released last month by HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent health care ratings company.

The report also named Southcoast as a recipient of two prestigious awards: the Cardiac Care Excellence Award™ and the Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™.

"Patients in the South Coast region who receive their cardiac care at a Southcoast hospital can rest assured they are receiving their care at one of the top heart hospitals in the U.S.," said Keith A. Hovan, President of Southcoast Health System and President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group.

"The HealthGrades ranking is an outstanding achievement for our cardiac program and a testament to our physicians and health care providers who are saving lives every day. At the forefront of this ranking is our dedication to improving quality care and patient safety which is represented by the awards of Excellence and being among the top five percent for overall cardiac care in the U.S."

See all of Southcoast's 2011 HealthGrades clinical achievements in cardiac services.

www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2010/102610.html

RAPPP student films address bullying, abuse and teen sex

Southcoast Hospitals' RAPPP (Responsible Attitudes toward Pregnancy, Parenting & Prevention) program has produced four youth risk behavior films on topics relevant to today's youth.

The films were written and produced by RAPPP student interns and are part of the program's initiative to address teen risk behaviors in the South Coast region.

RAPPP interns and high school student volunteers wrote, acted, filmed, edited and produced the series of four films on bullying, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease and teen relationship violence. This project was funded in part by a mini-grant from Greater New Bedford COAST and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

"The films were created with one goal in mind — to speak to our youth in their own voice about very challenging topics, such as bullying, teen sex and abuse," said Cindy Guilbeault, Coordinator of the Southcoast Hospitals RAPPP program. "It is important that our schools and professionals have interesting and current materials to keep our youth engaged."

View photos from the event on Facebook

www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2010/102210.html

OPTIFAST Weight Management Program now in New Bedford

Southcoast's OPTIFAST® weight management program now has a free lecture in New Bedford.

The lecture will be held Monday, November 22, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Hospital in the Food & Nutrition Conference Room (on ground floor next to main kitchen).

Developed more than 30 years ago, OPTIFAST is a comprehensive weight management program that combines lifestyle education, meal replacement and medical monitoring to achieve significant results in weight loss. At Southcoast, our program is located at Tobey Hospital in Wareham, where we have a recognized Center for Excellence in weight loss surgery and weight management.

www.southcoast.org/weightloss/optifast.html

New council joins patients, families and Southcoast

Southcoast Hospitals' Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC) provides a vehicle for improved communication between patients, families, staff and administration.

The PFAC acts as a "consumer advisory group" and serves as a link between Southcoast Hospitals and the communities we serve. The PFAC provides a voice for patients and families about the way in which care is delivered and to discuss concerns about care, quality and access.

The PFAC's goal is to facilitate family participation in hospital care and decision-making and gather information about significant issues and trends to be considered by hospital administration and staff in its policy-making, program development and staff training and education.

The PFAC will also help advise Southcoast on community-based education needs to better inform the public about how to play an active role in their health care.

Read our 2010 Annual Report and learn how to join the Southcoast Hospitals PFAC.

www.southcoast.org/pfac/