Southcoast Health System & Southcoast Hospitals Group eNews

Southcoast & Boston Children's Hospital announce new collaboration

Southcoast Health System and Boston Children's Hospital recently announced a new collaboration to provide enhanced local access to high-quality pediatric care to children and families across the South Coast region.

Beginning in late summer 2012, Boston Children's and its physicians will collaborate with local physicians to provide hospital-based pediatric services for Southcoast.

The pediatric program will be centered at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford.

Boston Children's pediatricians will provide 24/7 onsite pediatric care working with local physicians in pediatrics, family medicine and emergency medicine.

A Boston Children's onsite Medical Director will be responsible for medical oversight, development and coordination of the Southcoast hospital-based pediatric care.

Additionally, remote pediatric consultative services will be available to the Emergency Departments at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

"We are excited to partner with Boston Children's Hospital, one of the country's top pediatric hospitals, to enhance pediatric inpatient and outpatient care available to families on the South Coast," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Health System and Southcoast Hospitals Group. "Our local physicians — pediatricians, primary care, family practice and emergency — have come together in support of this initiative and expressed overwhelming support for bringing innovative clinical care from Boston Children's to Southcoast."

www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2012/022912.html

Southcoast Physicians Group forms region's largest network

Felicia Freilich, MD, a family practice physician with Southcoast Physicians Group, with a patient at Southcoast Family Medicine in Fall River.

Southcoast Health System has formed Southcoast Physicians Group, an integrated network of 193 multidisciplinary physicians and mid-level providers, creating the largest network of physicians in the South Coast region.

"Our patients will continue to receive the same care that they have known and trusted for years where they need it most — right here in their own community," said Warren "Chip" Wood, MD, President of Southcoast Physicians Group and an internal medicine specialist practicing in Fall River.

"As part of Southcoast Physicians Group, Southcoast physicians will have access to the latest information, best practices and quality assurance programs while adhering to the highest standards of care," Dr. Wood said.

Southcoast Physicians Group brings together Southcoast Physicians Services and Southcoast Primary Care and includes specialists in the fields of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, gastroenterology, general surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pulmonary, sleep medicine, wound care and weight loss.

The change will be completely seemless to patients, who do not need to take any action.

Physician practices are located throughout the South Coast region and East Bay, Rhode Island.

www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2012/030612.html

Charlton recognized for quality and safety in endoscopy

The Endoscopy Unit at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River has been recognized by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), a leading gastrointestinal medical society, as part of its program specifically dedicated to promoting quality in endoscopy in all settings where it is practiced in the United States.

"We are honored to be recognized by ASGE for our efforts to enhance quality and safety in our endoscopy unit," said Paul Iannini, MD, Physician-In-Chief for Medicine. "The program course on improving quality and safety provided us with valuable knowledge to continue to give our patients the safest and best care possible."

An endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic medical procedure that is performed by specially-trained physicians, called endoscopists, using the most current technology to diagnose and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Using flexible, thin tubes called endoscopes, endoscopists are able to access the human digestive tract without incisions via natural orifices. Endoscopes are designed with high-intensity lighting and fitted with precision devices that allow viewing and treatment of the gastrointestinal system.

The Endoscopy Unit at Charlton Memorial Hospital is specially designed and equipped with the latest endoscopic technology. Patients receive all of their care in a comfortable and convenient setting.