FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals today announced its new Wound Care Center in Fall River, which will house the first hyperbaric oxygen treatment chambers in Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay R.I., will open on March 15.

"The Southcoast Wound Care Center is an important component to the comprehensive services being offered through Southcoast Hospitals," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "Patients suffering with chronic wounds will no longer have to leave the region for treatment. Our new Wound Care Center offers the most up-to-date approaches to wound healing and prevention including hyperbaric oxygen therapy."

The Southcoast Wound Care Center will provide outpatient wound care services, including circulatory system diagnostics and treatment, nutrition, wound pain management, diabetes care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), in collaboration with Diversified Clinical Services, the world's largest wound care management company.

"Associated with inadequate circulation, vascular insufficiency, obesity and immobility, non-healing wounds occur most frequently in the elderly and in people with diabetes," said Gerald Monchik, MD, the center's Medical Director and a surgeon at Charlton Memorial Hospital who is also a founding member of Truesdale Surgical Associates. "Studies have shown that specialized wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy accelerates wound healing, reduces amputation rates and helps patients avoid hospitalization."

Comprehensive wound care centers treat wound problems with a variety of clinical treatments, including the removal of damaged tissue (a technique known as debridement), medicines, dressings and a wide range of support services.

The new Southcoast Wound Care Center has two hyperbaric oxygen chambers that are designed to deliver high doses of healing oxygen directly to help improve difficult wounds. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, also known as HBOT, enriches the patient's bloodstream with oxygen to accelerate the wound-healing process. It is estimated that 12 percent of non-healing wounds benefit from HBOT. An average treatment session is two hours and typically patients undergo about 30 sessions.

Nationally, more than 7 million Americans suffer from chronic wounds, and this number is expected to double in the next decade. According to American Diabetes Association statistics, the South Coast region has a high incidence of diabetes, a contributing factor in the increase in chronic wounds. Approximately 9 percent of the populations in the Greater Fall River and New Bedford regions and 8 percent of the Wareham population are diabetic compared with the national average of 7 percent.

The Southcoast Wound Care Center in Fall River is located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Avenue, Fall River. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. To make an appointment, please call 1-800-276-0103 and for more information please call 508-679-7447 or visit www.southcoast.org/woundcare/.

The Noble Army Hospital in Anniston, Ala., was converted in 1998 into a training site for health and medical education in terrorism, manmade and natural disasters. The National Training Facility (NTF) is the only hospital facility in the U.S. dedicated to training hospital and health care professionals in disaster preparedness and response. The facility includes classrooms, breakout rooms, exercise/simulation areas, a resource center, computer lab and two prototype mass casualty decontamination training lanes.

"Southcoast has sent a number of individual employees to the NTF over the past five years for training with health care providers from across the country. The training this March is for Southcoast employees and will incorporate Southcoast's specific emergency preparedness plans and take into consideration natural and manmade disasters that would most likely affect our region," said Ray Price, Director of Safety & Security for Southcoast Hospitals, who will be attending the training.

The 40 Southcoast participants represent various departments across the three hospital sites, including the Emergency Departments, Radiology, Public Relations, support services, leadership and more.

"Attending trainings at the federal and state levels enable first responders to receive the most up-to-date training," Price said. "This type of training course is also attended by multidisciplinary providers such as fire service, emergency medical services, police and public health and safety officials, which promote greater understanding and communication among first responders when a disaster strikes."

Southcoast will be posting updates from the training on Twitter and Facebook throughout the week. More information on our social media channels is available online at www.southcoast.org/connect/.

Presented by Paul J. Botelho, MD, ophthalmologist of Botelho Eye Institute in Fall River and Dartmouth, "The Eyes Have It" will outline recent medical advances in the areas of laser LASIK surgery, laser assisted corneal transplants, telescopic implants for macular degeneration, naturally focusing lens implants for cataract surgery and new technology used to replace reading glasses.

Dr. Botelho completed a yearlong fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. While at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Dr. Botelho participated in many clinical research projects and received the prestigious Terrance P. O'Brien, MD, Research Award. He also authored numerous research publications, book chapters and review articles.

He performed the first corneal transplant surgery at Charlton Memorial Hospital in 2005, where he continues to practice. He also serves as Assistant Clinical Professor, Chief of Cornea, in the Department of Ophthalmology at Brown University Medical School in Providence, R.I.

Light refreshments will be served. If you would like to attend this informative session or find out more about the Auxiliary of Charlton Memorial Hospital, please call John Teixeira at 508-679-7038 for more information.

Fall River

• "The Pink Link West" is a support group for patients who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer. This group will meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 2:30 to 4 p.m. beginning Wednesday, March 10, at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave. Entrance to the Cancer Center is off Prospect Street at the back of the hospital. For more information and to register call Susan Domingue at 508-679-3131, ext. 2530.
  

• "Introductions West" is a support group for patients with any cancer diagnosis who is beginning treatment or in active treatment. This group will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 2:30 to 4 p.m. beginning Wednesday, March 24, at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave. Entrance to the Cancer Center is off Prospect Street at the back of the hospital. For more information and to register call Susan Domingue at 508-679-3131, ext. 2530.
  

• "Support for the Supporters" a support group for caregivers of patients with cancer. The group will meet on the third Thursday of each month from 6 to 7:30 pm beginning Thursday, March 18, at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave. Entrance to the Cancer Center is off Prospect Street at the back of the hospital. For more information and to register call Susan Domingue at 508-679-3131, ext. 2530.
  

Dartmouth

• "The Pink Link East" is a support group for patients who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The group will meet on the second Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. beginning Tuesday, March 9 at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in North Dartmouth, at 480 Hawthorn Street (formerly called The Oncology Center). For more information and to register call Linda Casey at 774-206-4111.
  

• "Post Treatment Group" is a support group for patients with any cancer diagnosis who are no longer in active treatment. The group meets on the first Monday of the month from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The next meeting is on Monday, March 1 at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in North Dartmouth, at 480 Hawthorn Street (formerly called The Oncology Center). For more information and to register call Barbara Pacheco at 508-961-5515.
  

Wareham

• "Introductions East" is a support group for patients with any cancer diagnosis who is beginning treatment or in active treatment. This group will meet on the first Friday of each month from 2:30 to 4 p.m. beginning Friday, April 2, at Tobey Hospital, 43 High Street, Wareham in the Library. Enter through the main lobby. For more information and to register call Susan Domingue at 508-679-3131, ext. 2530.
  

In July 2009, Southcoast Hospitals opened the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River in the Mitchell Building at Charlton Memorial Hospital. The Fall River center offers a full range of oncology services, including advanced radiation therapy, medical oncology at Charlton's Jarabek Center, support services and free valet parking.

The Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in North Dartmouth, at 480 Hawthorn Street (formerly called The Oncology Center) provides medical oncology and support services.

The Fall River and Dartmouth cancer centers operate as an extension of Southcoast's new cancer center in Fairhaven that is slated to open in 2011. The Fairhaven center is currently under construction and will be the flagship outpatient center for Southcoast Hospitals' cancer services program. When completed the Fairhaven cancer center will offer convenient access to a full-range of oncology services from diagnosis through treatment. The estimated cost for both the new Fairhaven and Fall River cancer centers is about $60 million.

For more information on Southcoast's cancer services visit www.southcoast.org/cancercare/.

Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.

Dr. Pope is a featured columnist for The Standard-Times on women's health topics. Check out Dr. Pope's column the first Tuesday of every month at www.southcoasttoday.com.

What is Infertility?

A couple is considered infertile when they have tried to get pregnant for at least a year without success. About 15 percent of couples are affected with infertility in the U.S.

A woman has a 20 to 30 percent chance of getting pregnant in any given month of having intercourse regularly. This chance decreases after age 35. Some lifestyle changes may improve chances for pregnancy, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, and lowering stress. Quitting smoking and stopping excessive alcohol and drug use will also improve a woman's chances of conceiving. Having intercourse regularly between days 8 and 18 after the start of menses may help increase the chances of pregnancy, as well.

What causes infertility?

Infertility can be caused by problems in either the female or male partner. Rarely, both partners may contribute to infertility. Some causes are: poor sperm production (24 percent), inadequate ovulation (21 percent), blocked fallopian tubes (14 percent), and endometriosis or other uterine complications (13 percent). Still, 28 percent of the causes of infertility are unexplained.

How do you know if you're infertile?

When a couple's fertility is being evaluated a detailed history and physical examination of both partners is performed. Men are usually examined by a urologist and women are examined by a gynecologist. Important points in the history may be: medication use, prior history of pelvic infections, abnormalities in timing of menses or irregularity, prior surgery, and family history of infertility.

Certain days of the menstrual cycle are important for assessing proper ovarian function and so women being evaluated for infertility may undergo laboratory testing on days three, 10, and 21 of their cycle. Depending on individual circumstance, thyroid evaluation and assessment of other hormone levels may also be performed. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is performed to asses fallopian tube function. This short procedure is conducted by the gynecologist, wherein a saline-like dye is instilled through a small catheter into the uterus and fallopian tubes. A picture is taken to assure that the uterus is normal and the tubes are functioning properly. A pelvic ultrasound is reviewed to ensure all female-pelvic anatomy appears normal. Additionally, women may, at times, be asked to assess their ovulation at home with ovulation predictor kits, typically sold at pharmacies.

In some cases, as the last step in the evaluation, especially in patients where endometriosis may be suspected as a contributing cause to infertility, laparoscopy may be performed. This is an outpatient surgical procedure where a 1-2cm incision is made in the navel and a laparoscope (small camera) is placed in the abdomen. The laparoscope allows for all the pelvic organs to be visualized, and if there is evidence of endometriosis or adhesions, is it either removed or vaporized.

The male is usually evaluated by a urologist; however, many times the gynecologist may be the one to order a semen analysis, and only if abnormal, the man is referred to the urologist for further evaluation. A man's infertility evaluation usually consists of one or two semen analyses, a focused history and physical examination, possibly a scrotal ultrasound, and laboratory testing of his hormonal levels.

What can you do?

The cause of infertility can be determined in about 80 percent of patients. Gynecologists can provide treatments targeted to the specific problem and with the correct therapy, about 60 percent of couples will become pregnant. Even without treatment, there is about a 20 percent spontaneous pregnancy rate. Some initial treatment options include weight loss, medications such as clomiphene citrate and glucophage to induce ovulation. Intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization are also effective fertility treatments that, in conjunction with medication, can help improve a couple's chances of conceiving.

Infertility may have emotional impacts, such as anxiety and depression, and it's important to understand that these are natural reactions to the stress involved with the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Your gynecologist and infertility sub-specialist can provide the diagnosis, tests, treatments and support patients need to deal with the condition and improve the chances of fertility.

For more information regarding infertility the following websites may be helpful: National Infertility Association www.resolve.org and American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists www.acog.org.

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. — FUN 107 and the Fogaren family today announced plans to hold a memorial walk and family-friendly event to honor Sharon Fogaren, the co-host of the "J.R. & Sharon" morning radio show on FUN 107, who passed away after a brief illness this past September.

"Sharon's Walk, in memory of Sharon & Elaine Fogaren" will be held on Sunday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fort Taber in New Bedford. Proceeds from the event will benefit the new Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fairhaven. Registration and check-in begins at 8 a.m. The registration fee is $15 per person.

"Sharon recognized the importance of giving back to her community and used her talent to raise awareness about important issues in a loving and caring way," said Alfred Fogaren, Sharon's father. "After losing her mother to breast cancer several years ago, Sharon redirected her grief into championing breast cancer awareness and hospice care. I am honored to partner with FUN107 and the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care to follow through on a cause that was so dear to Sharon's heart."

Sharon's Walk is a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) walk that will take place inside Fort Taber with a 10 a.m. kick-off. Participants are welcome to join the walk any time during the event, which goes until 2 p.m. The family friendly event includes entertainment, refreshments, children's activities, raffles and more. Free health screenings will also be provided by the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care and Southcoast Hospitals through its Southcoast Health Van.

"This is a project that Sharon had started to plan before she became ill. Your involvement would mean so much," said J.R. Reitz, who co-hosted the "J.R. & Sharon" show for over 10 years with Sharon. "We hope all of our friends and listeners will join us in raising funds for Southcoast's cancer centers and in continuing with the project that was so important to our beloved Sharon."

Registration

Participants can pre-register for Sharon's Walk by going to FUN 107's Website at www.fun107.com or Southcoast's Website at www.southcoast.org/sharonswalk/. The cost is $15 per person, including a Sharon's Walk memorial T-shirt.

Registration forms can also be downloaded from the site or picked up at:

• FUN 107 / WBSM studios, 22 Sconticut Neck Rd. in Fairhaven.
• The three Southcoast hospitals' information desks —
o Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave. in Fall River.
o St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page St. in New Bedford.
o Tobey Hospital, 43 High St. in Wareham.
• Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River, 363 Highland Ave.
• Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in North Dartmouth, 480 Hawthorn St.

Registration forms and payment should be returned the day of the walk.

Sharon Fogaren (1965 – 2009)

Sharon Fogaren

Her broadcasting career began at WPEP-AM in Taunton. Sharon worked in radio in Boston, Providence, R.I., and Orlando, Fla.

She joined FUN 107 in 1995. She took some time to work as a news anchor at ABC-TV (Channel 6) in Providence, R.I., before returning in 2001 to reunite with J.R. Reitz to co-host the top-rated FM morning show in Southeastern Massachusetts. She also anchored and produced Southcoast Hospitals' "Your Health Matters" television series, which aired throughout Bristol County Massachusetts in the late 1990s.

After the passing of her mother in 2004, Sharon became an advocate for breast cancer awareness and hospice care, most recently volunteering for Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care & Infusion in Fairhaven.

In August 2009, Sharon fell ill, passing away two weeks later.

In a letter to listeners, her father, Al Fogaren wrote: "Over the past few months, our family has found strength in the love and support received from the FUN 107 family and Sharon's loyal fans. It has been a difficult time for all of us and we miss her dearly every day. She was a friend, an advocate and a loving daughter. When you needed a helping hand or a good laugh, Sharon was there. When Sharon was by your side, you never walked alone. Please walk with us on April 25 at Fort Taber."

]]> Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:07:46 -0500 march-1-2010-|-fun-107-and-the-fogaren-family-ann http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2010/022610.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group and Northeast Ear Nose & Throat Surgeons will be offering free head and neck cancer screenings on the Southcoast Health Van on Wednesday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CVS/Pharmacy, 1145 Kempton St. in New Bedford. Reservations are required for the screening. To register, call the Southcoast Wellness Line at 1-800-497-1727.

"Oral cancer is a major health problem in this country and one that most people aren't aware of," said Wendy Stern, MD, a surgeon at St. Luke's and Tobey Hospitals and a member of Northeast Ear Nose & Throat in North Dartmouth.

"It is vital that people — especially those who smoke — learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of this cancer and our screening offers a great opportunity for both education and a chance for early detection."

Dr. Stern noted that tobacco — including smokeless tobacco — and alcohol use are risk factors for head and neck cancers.

According to National Cancer Institute and the Yul Brynner Head & Neck Cancer Foundation, 85 percent of these cancers are linked to tobacco use. The foundation was created 20 years ago after actor Yul Brynner launched a crusade to educate the young people of the world on the effects of tobacco and its relationship to mouth and throat cancer. Brynner died in 1985 after a public fight with lung cancer.

Head and neck cancers are more common in men and in people over age 50. It is estimated that some 45,000 men and women in this country developed head and neck cancers in 2004. Black males have the highest incidence of head and neck cancers, with a survival rate over five years at 33 percent versus 55 percent for whites.

Some of the symptoms that are common in head and neck cancer include a lump or sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing and a change or hoarseness in the voice.

"As physicians, we need to educate the public about head and neck cancer and encourage people to get regular checkups and to eliminate high-risk habits like smoking," Dr. Stern emphasized.

The screening is sponsored in part by the Yul Brynner Head & Neck Cancer Foundation Inc. in honor of Head & Neck Cancer Awareness week.

To learn more about head and neck cancer visit http://www.headandneck.org/.

Patricia Nelson

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group has named Patricia A. Nelson as Director of Oncology Operations for the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care.

In her new role at Southcoast, Nelson will oversee the administrative staff and function in both medical and radiation oncology for Southcoast's cancer centers in Fall River and North Dartmouth as well as the new flagship center being built in Fairhaven.

Nelson joins Southcoast from 21st Century Oncology, where she served as West Coast Regional Director of Operations responsible for 32 oncology centers in California, Nevada and Arizona. She previously was the Director of Operations for Nevada Physicians Imaging in Las Vegas, a group of diagnostic imaging centers. She also had been the founding Chief Executive Officer for the Petaluma Health Center in Petaluma, Calif.

Nelson holds master's degrees in Organizational Development and Human Resource Management the University of San Francisco. She received her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco. Nelson is currently working toward an MBA in Finance. Prior to moving into management, she worked for eight years as a radiologic technologist in northern California.

Nelson is a member of numerous organizations, including The Grantsmanship Center Institute Alumni, The American Society of Training and Development and the Medical Group Management Association. While in northern California she served as Board President and Vice President of Redwood Community Health Coalition and as Secretary of the Economic Development Committee in Mesquite, Nev.

Nelson resides in Fairhaven with her spouse, Steven Humble, an Environmental Health Specialist.

The Southcoast Centers of Cancer Care

In July 2009, Southcoast Hospitals opened the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River in the Mitchell Building at Charlton Memorial Hospital. The Fall River center offers a full range of oncology services, including advanced radiation therapy, medical oncology at Charlton's Jarabek Center, support services and free valet parking.
The Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in North Dartmouth, at 480 Hawthorn Street (formerly called The Oncology Center) provides medical oncology and support services.

The Fall River and Dartmouth cancer centers operate as an extension of Southcoast's new cancer center in Fairhaven that is slated to open in 2011. The Fairhaven center is currently under construction and will be the flagship outpatient center for Southcoast Hospitals' cancer services program. When completed the Fairhaven cancer center will offer convenient access to a full-range of oncology services from diagnosis through treatment. The estimated cost for both the new Fairhaven and Fall River cancer centers is about $60 million.

For more information on Southcoast's cancer services visit www.southcoast.org/cancercare/.

"The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates Sleep HealthCenter North Dartmouth on fulfilling the high standards required for receiving accreditation as a sleep disorders center," said Dr. Clete Kushida, AASM president. "The center is a significant resource to the local medical community and will provide academic and scientific value in addition to the highest quality care for patients suffering from sleep disorders."

To receive a five-year accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. The accreditation process involves detailed inspection of a center's facility and staff, including an evaluation of testing procedures, patient contacts, and physician training. Additionally, the facility's goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine currently accredits more than 1,900 sleep medicine centers and laboratories across the country.

Sleep HealthCenter North Dartmouth is directed by Dr. Lawrence Epstein and is located at 84 Faunce Corner Road, suite 330. For more information call 508-990-1408.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a professional medical society for clinicians, researchers, and other health care providers in the field of sleep medicine. As the national accrediting body for sleep disorders centers and labs, the AASM is dedicated to setting standards and promoting excellence in sleep medicine health care, education and research.

The non-invasive screenings are performed by a trained nurse and take approximately 20 minutes. Patients should arrive 15 minutes prior to screening time.

Appointments are required and can be requested by calling 800-497-1727. Space is limited and appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. No walk-ins will be accepted on screening days.

The vascular screenings will be held at the following dates, times and locations:

MARCH / APRIL

• New Bedford: St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page Street in New Bedford on Tuesdays, March 30, and April 6 and 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. This site is handicap accessible.
  

• Fall River: Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Avenue in Fall River on Wednesdays, April 7 and 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. The screenings will be held on the Southcoast Health Van which will be parked outside the hospital's main entrance.
  

• Wareham: Tobey Hospital, 43 High Street in Wareham on Wednesday, April 28, and Thursday, April 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. The screenings will be held on the Southcoast Health Van which will be parked outside the hospital's main entrance.
  

MAY

• New Bedford: St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page St., New Bedford on Tuesdays, May 4 and 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. This site is handicap accessible.
  

• Fall River: Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Avenue, Fall River on Wednesday, May 5, and Thursday, May 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. The screenings will be held on the Southcoast Health Van which will be parked outside the hospital's main entrance
  

• Wareham: Tobey Hospital, 43 High Street, Wareham on Thursday, May 6 and Wednesday May 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. The screenings will be held on the Southcoast Health Van which will be parked outside the hospital's main entrance.
  

JUNE

• New Bedford: St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page Street, New Bedford on Tuesday, June 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. This site is handicap accessible.
  

• Fall River: Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Avenue, Fall River on Wednesday, June 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. The screenings will be held on the Southcoast Health Van which will be parked outside the hospital's main entrance.
  

• Wareham: Tobey Hospital, 43 High Street, Wareham on Wednesday June 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. The screenings will be held on the Southcoast Health Van which will be parked outside the hospital's main entrance.
  

Southcoast offers a full range of endovascular services to both diagnose and treat vascular disease. The hospitals offer the very latest technology — including minimally invasive procedures — along with the expertise of highly trained surgeons, interventional radiologists and staff nurses and technologists.

The screenings are basic vascular screenings that can help detect a condition called peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

PVD occurs mainly in the vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm muscles. If left untreated, PVD can result in peripheral artery disease (PAD) a condition that puts people at higher risk of death from stroke and heart attack due to the risk of blood clots.

"Because the symptoms of PAD usually disappear after rest, many sufferers do not seek help because they believe their pain is a normal part of growing older," said Gail Perzentz, RN, who conducts the screenings at St. Luke's Hospital. "Regular vascular screenings can detect PAD, a potentially serious circulatory problem characterized by an ache, pain or cramping in the legs, calves or buttocks while walking or exercising."

One in every 20 Americans over the age of 50 has PAD which can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke. Southcoast offers a range of tests and treatments for PAD — and the first step is to get screened.

For more information on Southcoast's endovascular services call 1-800-497-1727 or www.southcoast.org/endovascular/.

Fall River

• "The Pink Link West" is a support group for patients who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer. This group will meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 2:30 to 4 p.m. beginning Wednesday, March 10, at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave. Entrance to the Cancer Center is off Prospect Street at the back of the hospital. For more information call Susan Domingue at 508-679-3131, ext. 2530.
  

• "Introductions" is a support group for patients with any cancer diagnosis who is beginning treatment or in active treatment. This group will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 2:30 to 4 p.m. beginning Wednesday, March 24, at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave. Entrance to the Cancer Center is off Prospect Street at the back of the hospital. For more information call Susan Domingue at 508-679-3131, ext. 2530.
  

• "Support for the Supporters" a support group for caregivers of patients with cancer. The group will meet on the third Thursday of each month from 6 to 7:30 pm beginning Thursday, March 18, at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave. Entrance to the Cancer Center is off Prospect Street at the back of the hospital. For more information call Susan Domingue at 508-679-3131, ext. 2530.
  

Dartmouth

• "The Pink Link East" is a support group for patients who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The group will meet on the second Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. beginning Tuesday, March 9 at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in North Dartmouth, at 480 Hawthorn Street (formerly called The Oncology Center). For more information call Linda Casey at 774-206-4111.
  

In July 2009, Southcoast Hospitals opened the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River in the Mitchell Building at Charlton Memorial Hospital. The Fall River center offers a full range of oncology services, including advanced radiation therapy, medical oncology at Charlton's Jarabek Center, support services and free valet parking.

The Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in North Dartmouth, at 480 Hawthorn Street (formerly called The Oncology Center) provides medical oncology and support services.

The Fall River and Dartmouth cancer centers operate as an extension of Southcoast's new cancer center in Fairhaven that is slated to open in 2011. The Fairhaven center is currently under construction and will be the flagship outpatient center for Southcoast Hospitals' cancer services program. When completed the Fairhaven cancer center will offer convenient access to a full-range of oncology services from diagnosis through treatment. The estimated cost for both the new Fairhaven and Fall River cancer centers is about $60 million.

For more information on Southcoast's cancer services visit www.southcoast.org/cancercare/.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group has teamed up with the 2010 U.S. Census to host Questionnaire Assistance Centers on March 20, 21, 27, 28 and April 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, from noon to 7 p.m. at the following locations:

• St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page St., New Bedford. Located in the Cafeteria.
  

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave., Fall River. Located in the main lobby.
  

• Tobey Hospital, 43 High St., Wareham. Enter through Emergency Department.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Census is taken every 10 years as required by the Constitution. By accounting for all residents in the United States, the Census helps communities receive federal funding toward hospitals, emergency centers, job-training centers, schools and public works projects, such as bridges and tunnels. Data collected through the Census also determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Southcoast is pleased to partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to help all residents of the South Coast region get counted in the upcoming Census," said Jim Rattray, Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs for Southcoast. "We have made it easy for people to get their questions answered about the Census by setting up Questionnaire Assistance Centers on weekends in at all three Southcoast hospitals."

The Census Bureau places Questionnaire Assistance Centers throughout the community to give people a place to go for help filling out their questionnaires. The centers are staffed by Census Bureau professionals dedicated to helping people accurately complete their census. Information will be available in English, Portuguese and Spanish and the Census Bureau will provide multilingual staff.

For more information regarding the 2010 Census, visit www.southcoast.org/census/ or www.2010census.gov.

The Auxiliary of Charlton Memorial Hospital recently announced a $1 million, four-year pledge to benefit the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River. From left, Barbara H. Mulville, CFRE, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Southcoast Health System; Therese M. Mulvey, MD, Physician-in-Chief / Medical Oncologist at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care; Edie Snow, President of the Charlton Auxiliary; Linda Bodenmann, Chief Operating Officer of Southcoast Hospitals Group, and Agatha St. Amour, Director of Volunteer Services at Southcoast Hospitals.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — The Auxiliary of Charlton Memorial Hospital recently announced a $1 million, four-year pledge to benefit the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River.

"The Auxiliary of Charlton Memorial is proud to present a pledge for $1 million in support of the outstanding services being offered at Southcoast's new Centers for Cancer Care," said Edie Snow, President of the Auxiliary. "The Auxiliary has a long history of working closely with the hospital to identify the community's greatest health care needs. Our support of the cancer center will help build awareness and provide much needed oncology services in our region."

Snow made the remarks February 5 during a ceremony at the center, located in the Mitchell Building at Charlton Memorial Hospital. Snow presented the check to Therese M. Mulvey, MD, Physician-in-Chief / Medical Oncologist at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care; Linda Bodenmann, Chief Operating Officer of Southcoast Hospitals Group, and Barbara H. Mulville, CFRE, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Southcoast Health System.

The Auxiliary is half way to meeting its $1 million pledge and plans to raise an additional $500,000 over the next four years. The remainder of the pledge will come from proceeds from the Charlton Memorial Hospital Gift Shop and Auxiliary fundraisers, such as the upcoming "ABBA-Salutely Fabulous" event to be held on Saturday, May 1, at the Eagle Performance Arts Center in Fall River.

"We are very grateful for the many years of dedication and support of the auxiliary," Mulville said. "Over the years they have helped to provide new equipment, assisted in renovations and supported Charlton's mission to improve access to much needed health care services."

"The Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care are designed with one goal in mind — to bring our patients and their families the very best cancer treatment possible and make it available right here in your own community," said Dr. Mulvey, a board-certified physician in medical oncology and internal medicine, who serves as the Physician-in-Chief for oncology services for both the Fairhaven and Fall River centers. "It is important that our South Coast communities have access to high-quality oncology services without having to travel. We are grateful for the Auxiliary's dedication to this mission."

In July 2009, Southcoast Hospitals opened the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River in the Mitchell Building at Charlton Memorial Hospital. The Fall River center offers a full range of oncology services, including advanced radiation therapy, medical oncology at Charlton's Jarabek Center, support services and free valet parking.

Unique to Southcoast's program is the dedicated "Patient Navigator" who manages all aspects of the patient's care, including appointments with physicians, radiology and laboratory services, medication and pain management, support services, transportation and any questions the patient or family members may have during their visit or after they return home.

The Fall River cancer center operates as an extension of Southcoast's new cancer center in Fairhaven that is slated to open in 2011. The Fairhaven center is currently under construction and will be the flagship outpatient center for Southcoast Hospitals' cancer services program. When completed the Fairhaven cancer center will offer convenient access to a full-range of oncology services from diagnosis through treatment. The estimated cost for both the new Fairhaven and Fall River cancer centers is about $60 million. For more information on Southcoast's cancer services visit www.southcoast.org/cancercare/.

Check before traveling to our hospitals.

"One thing all hospice volunteers have in common is a true desire to help," said Jo-Ann Richard, Volunteer Coordinator at Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care & Infusion Services. "Some volunteers provide care and comfort to patients and their families while others prefer to assist with fundraising events, bereavement services, memorial planning, community networking, office tasks and other helpful duties."

The hospice volunteer must participate in a free 20-hour training session held at Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care & Infusion Services located at 200 Mill Road, Fairhaven. The next training sessions are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 16, 17 and 21. Hospice volunteer training topics include patient care, family dynamics and spirituality. For more information, please contact Jo-Ann Richard at 508-984-0277.

This year's 12 individuals and the winning team were announced at the combined annual meetings of Southcoast Health System and Southcoast Hospitals Group by Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group.

"I am honored to continue Southcoast's long tradition of recognizing the dedicated individuals who exemplify the outstanding cultural elements of Southcoast Hospitals Group," Hovan said. "Southcoast is built upon the dedicated service and commitment of more than 6,000 employees, by receiving this award these recipients standout among the best."

All Southcoast employees, including members of leadership and physicians who are employees of Southcoast, are eligible. There is no limit on the number of times an employee can be nominated. Winners are selected on how well they meet the selection criteria that is based on excellent performance and demonstration of our cultural elements and service priorities. There is no pre-assigned number of recipients to each hospital site.

2009 Southcoast President's Award for Excellence winners:

Listed by home town and in alphabetical order

Nidia Williams, CCC-SLP
Director of Quality Outcomes

Southcoast Hospitals Group

Michelle Croft, RN, CBN
Bariatric Nurse Coordinator

Tobey Hospital

Nora King, RN
Atwood 4

Charlton Memorial Hospital

Lisa Pollard, RTR, CT
Operations Coordinator, Radiology

St. Luke's Hospital

Stacey Rousseau, PT
Team Leader, Southcoast Rehabilitation Services

Charlton Memorial Hospital

Nancy Lo Bue, RN
Intensive Care Unit / Critical Care Unit

Tobey Hospital

Lucelina Andrade, CNA
Nurse Assistant
Tobey Hospital

Theresa Cruz
Food Service Worker

St. Luke's Hospital

Armanda Dunn, RN
Team Leader

Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care & Infusion Services, Fairhaven

Christine Azevedo
Senior Graphic Designer, Marketing & Public Relations

Southcoast Health System

Pablo Corral, RT(R), (N)
Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Charlton Memorial Hospital

Kristen Anderson, CCC-SLP
Speech/Language Pathologist

Charlton Memorial Hospital

The President's Award "Team Award" was presented to the Health Information Systems Physician Provider Workload Management (PWM) software and E-Sign Training Team. The team was credited with the successful training of all Southcoast physicians on the new state-of-the-art software which significantly improves the way physicians view their list of patients, new test results and documents which require electronic signatures.

The team is comprised of Roberta Aylsworth of Tiverton, R.I., Bettyann Carroll of Lincoln, R.I., Deborah Carvalho of Rochester, Nancy Costa of New Bedford, Elizabeth Faria of Tiverton, R.I., Nicole Figueiredo of Acushnet, Natalie Gomes of North Dartmouth, Elizabeth Price of Wareham, Ermelinda Raposo of Fall River, Jolelynn Saraiva of Fall River and Pamela Sousa of North Dartmouth.

Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.

Dr. Pope is a featured columnist for The Standard-Times on women's health topics. Check out Dr. Pope's column the first Tuesday of every month at www.southcoasttoday.com.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder characterized by laboratory and/or clinical findings of higher levels of androgens (male sex hormones), difficulty with ovulating and menstrual irregularity, and polycystic appearance to ovaries on ultrasound. Its prevalence is nearly 10 percent among reproductive-age women and may represent the largest underappreciated segment of the female population at risk for cardiovascular disease.

What are some of the symptoms of PCOS?

Most women suffering from PCOS present with one or more of the following symptoms or characteristics: irregular periods, excessive facial hair, alopecia (loss of hair), high levels of androgens or specific hormones on lab testing, and obesity; although as many as 20 percent of women with PCOS are not obese. Many women also present with a variety of menstrual related complaints, from not having a period for years to heavy menstrual bleeding. Infertility is also a common finding among PCOS sufferers and the diagnosis is often made during an infertility evaluation.

What causes PCOS?

The genetic contribution to PCOS remains uncertain and there are no environmental causes identified. Insulin resistance, where insulin levels are high may be causative and contribute to symptoms. Obesity may be both a cause as well as a complicating factor with PCOS, further contributing to the signs and symptoms of the disorder. However, there is no known genetic testing available for PCOS and it is unknown whether the condition may itself be inherited.

How is the diagnosis made?

Diagnostic criteria for PCOS have changed many times over past years and there is no universally accepted definition. However, there are consistent physical, laboratory, and ultrasound findings accepted amongst physicians who diagnose and treat women with PCOS.

The following are the most common features and most, but not all must be present for the diagnosis:

• Symptoms: Menstrual irregularity, infertility
  

• Physical: Elevated blood pressure, High Body Mass Index (BMI >30). Presence of stigmata of high androgen levels: acne, excessive facial hair, hair loss, darkening at nape of neck and armpits
  

• Laboratory: High levels of male sex hormones (androgens), high insulin levels, high glucose levels, high cholesterol
  

• Ultrasound: Polycystic ovaries (meaning presence of 12 or more follicles seen in one or both ovaries, thickened uterine lining)
  

Complications & Significance

PCOS poses an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Women with the condition are at increased risk for complications in pregnancy, including miscarriage, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Additionally, women with PCOS have a significantly increased risk of long-term diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Women with long-term untreated PCOS also have an increased risk of uterine cancer, if menstrual symptoms are not treated. Of note, mood disturbances and depression are more prevalent among women with PCOS.

Treatment Options

Obesity contributes substantially to reproductive and metabolic abnormalities in women with PCOS. Multiple studies have demonstrated that weight loss improves many of the signs and symptoms associated with the condition. Weight reduction has proven to improve pregnancy rates, decrease the growth of facial hair, and improve glucose and cholesterol levels. These beneficial changes have been shown in women with weight loss as little as 5 percent.

Without doubt, the most important and successful treatment for women with PCOS is weight reduction.

Women with PCOS should be screened for cardiovascular disease frequently with fasting laboratory testing. Regular exercise, proper diet and weight control are proven methods to reduce cardiovascular disease in young women.

In women with menstrual symptoms ranging from not getting a period to heavy irregular periods, there are several treatment options. Low-dose, oral contraceptives are most frequently used to regulate the menstrual cycle and additionally protect the uterine lining from overgrowth and long term risk of uterine cancer.

Progesterone, given either as injection, orally, or included within an IUD, called the Mirena IUD, also may help regulate menstrual symptoms.

Drugs initially developed to treat type-2 diabetes also are used to treat PCOS. One such drug most commonly used is metformin, also called glucophage. Treatment with this medication helps regulate periods, contribute to weight loss, improve insulin resistance, increase ovulation, and thus, improve pregnancy rate, and help decrease or eliminate the signs and symptoms associated with PCOS.

Conclusions

PCOS remains a common condition among reproductive-aged women and accounts for a myriad of symptoms and physical signs that has potentially serious long-term ramifications. The symptoms of PCOS are commonly associated with other disorders and making the diagnosis is crucial to assure proper treatment. Besides menstrual related disorders and infertility, cardiovascular disease is a largely under-recognized and underappreciated co-morbidity associated with PCOS and must be diagnosed and treated. Treatment of the cardiovascular risk factors, including insulin resistance, hypertension, obesity and high cholesterol, should be incorporated into the routine PCOS patient treatment plan. The gynecologist is only one member of the health care team required to help care for women with this malady.

LINK: www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp121.cfm

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Rehabilitation Services and the Southcoast Diabetes Management program today opened a new state-of-art-rehab facility at the Durfee Union Complex at 283 Pleasant St. in Fall River.

A number of Southcoast rehab programs located in the greater Fall River area have been relocated to the new Durfee Union site, including physical and occupational therapy, audiology, speech pathology, the Southcoast Diabetes Management Program, Somerset Cardiopulmonary Rehab and Southcoast's Occupational Health Rehabilitation program.

The new location is centrally located with easy access off Interstate 195 and offers patients the latest in outpatient rehabilitation equipment and technology.

"Southcoast Rehab's new Fall River site gives patients access to the most comprehensive rehabilitation services in Southeastern Massachusetts provided by a team of highly skilled professionals in a friendly and caring environment," said Jennifer Randall, Director of the Diabetes Program, Wound Care & Rehabilitation for Southcoast Health System.

Southcoast Rehabilitation Services, Occupational Health Rehab and Southcoast's Diabetes Management program, formerly located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, now occupy the newly remodeled ground floor and third floor of the building.

"The ground floor clinic has custom-built areas, including a complete audiology suite with a sound-proof booth for testing and separate hearing aid dispensing and repair stations," said Sharon Solomon, PT, Manager of Rehabilitation Services for Southcoast. "We also have a comprehensive hand splinting station for on-site custom hand splint design."

Other features on the ground floor include a distinct Occupational Health work conditioning area and staff for the treatment of patients with work-related injuries as well as a separately designed space with two educational classrooms created for the patient needs of the Diabetes Management Program.

The third floor is dedicated to the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program.

"Moving to the Durfee building has allowed us to provide an integrated outpatient and maintenance cardiac program," Solomon said. "Patients are accepted to the new facility upon discharge from the hospital. Individuals who are at high risk of heart disease can also be referred by their physicians for risk factor modification, education and participation in the newly developed medical fitness programs."

To learn more about any of these programs call Southcoast Rehab Services at Durfee Union at 508-324-3200, the Southcoast Diabetes Management Program at 508-324-3260 and Southcoast Occupational Health at 508-324-3280.

A public open house of the new Southcoast facility is planned for Thursday, March 25, from 3 to 6 p.m.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group will be hosting free public H1N1 flu vaccination clinics in Fall River and New Bedford. College students are urged to attend the two clinics being held at Bristol Community College's Fall River campus. The following are the times and locations:

• Saturday, February 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Durfee High School in Fall River Operation Haiti fundraiser presented by New England's Portuguese-American community.
  

• Thursday, February 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Coastline Elderly, 1646 Purchase Street, New Bedford, Mass.
  

• Friday, February 26, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Bristol Community College Fall River campus, G building, 777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, Mass.
  

• Friday, March 5, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Bristol Community College Fall River campus, G building, 777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, Mass.
  

The Southcoast H1N1 flu vaccination clinics are open to all community members throughout the South Coast region. Vaccinations will be administered on a first come, first served basis. Participants are asked to bring health insurance cards, but it is not required. Interpreter services will be available.

The clinics are open to all individuals, but Southcoast further recommends that the following high priority groups attend:

• Under the age of 25 year old.

• Children 6 months to 18 years of age (Must be accompanied by a Parent or Guardian).

• Children 9 years and under should receive two (2) doses of H1N1 vaccine.
  IMPORTANT: Any child who has received the first of their two doses MUST bring documentation of the first dose of vaccine to this clinic because U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends a 28-day interval between doses for maximum effectiveness.

• High-risk patients between the ages of 19 to 64 years old. High-risk means that you may have a chronic medical conditions such as:

  • Respiratory (including asthma and COPD).

  • Heart disease (except high blood pressure alone).

  • Kidney, liver, blood disorders, neurologic/neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes.

  • Immunosuppression (including that induced by medications, illness or by HIV).

• Women who are pregnant, up to two weeks post partum (including after pregnancy loss) and have not yet received H1N1 vaccine from their obstetrician.

• Household member or caregiver of infants younger than 6 months of age.

• Household member of pregnant women in their third trimester to ensure their newborns go home to a safe environment.
  

Please check with your physician if you have questions or concerns about receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine. Questions about the clinics at St. Luke's and Tobey hospitals can be directed to 508-961-5560. Questions about the clinic at Charlton Memorial Hospital can be directed to 508-679-3131 Ext. 2988.

"Southcoast will be allowing siblings to visit on the maternity units at our three hospitals. This decision is based on data released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health showing a decline in the number of flu-like illness in the state, and the fact that the current flu-like illness level is slightly below what is expected for this time of the year," said Marcia Liggin, RN, Chief Nursing Officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group.

Southcoast officials also recommend that the following people who are in contact with infants receive the H1N1 vaccine:

• Pregnant women.

• New mothers, fathers and guardians.

• Household contacts and caregivers of infants who are less than 6 months old.

• Children 6 months to 24 years.

Persons age 25 to 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

Southcoast Hospitals Group continues to monitor, plan and implement a regional response to the H1N1 (Swine) flu outbreak. A primary source of information is the hospital's Website: www.southcoast.org/flu/. Southcoast also sends out regular updates on Twitter and Facebook. Get connected at www.southcoast.org/connect/.

Alex Borges, of New Bedford, doubles his donation with the new Double Red Blood Cell donation program at the Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital. Also pictured Cynthia Beaulieu, Phlebotomist.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital announced its new "Double Red Cell" collection program to strengthen the local blood supply.

"Southcoast's new Double Red Blood Cell program addresses the critical demand for red blood cells at Southcoast Hospitals by using a new technology that collects two units of red cells, safely, in one blood donation," said John Laverty, MD, Medical Director of the Southcoast Blood Bank.

Red blood cells are critically needed for trauma, surgical, cancer and anemia patients. They are often in short supply because they are the most frequently transfused blood components and they have a short shelf-life. During the double red cell collection, two units of red blood cells are collected and separated from the rest of the blood components. The blood products that are remaining — platelets, plasma plus a small amount of saline — are safely returned back to the donor.

Blood types O and B are in the greatest demand for double red cell collection.

"Whole blood donations of all blood types continue to be vital for our blood supply, with the double red blood cell collections supplementing the high demand for red cells, especially for blood types O and B," Dr. Laverty said.

Type O blood is the universal blood type and can be transfused to all other blood types. It is the preferred type for accident victims and babies needing transfusions. People with type O blood can only receive type O red cells.

"If all blood types are in supply through whole blood donations, then blood banks do not need to depend on the more critical (universal) types of blood in emergency situations." Dr. Laverty said.

Doubling your donation — safe and easy

Similar to traditional blood donation, a single needle is used to collect the blood. The difference is the red blood cells are collected into two separate bags, while the remaining blood products and a small amount of saline are returned to the donor, all while using the same, smaller needle. The entire process takes approximately 45 minutes with the return of blood products, leaving the donor fully rehydrated.
The criterion for donating double red cells is slightly more stringent including height, weight, and iron requirements. Also, the time between blood donations is twice as long — 16 weeks compared to eight weeks.

Blood donors are welcome to call the Southcoast Blood Bank to find out more information or see if they qualify for the Southcoast Double Red Cell program by calling the Southcoast Blood Bank at 508-961-5320. Currently double red cell donation is only available at the Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page Street, New Bedford, Mass.

Find out more about donating blood at Southcoast and the Double Red Cell program at www.southcoast.org/bloodbank/.

• Tuesday, January 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. Luke's Hospital, White Home building (adjacent to ER entrance), 101 Page Street, New Bedford, Mass.
  

• Wednesday, January 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Mooney Conference Room, 363 Highland Avenue, Fall River. The entrance to the clinic and parking are located at the back of the hospital off Prospect Street.
  

• Thursday, January 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Tobey Hospital, main lobby entrance, 43 High Street, Wareham.
  

The Southcoast H1N1 flu vaccination clinics are open to all community members throughout the South Coast region. Vaccinations will be administered on a first come, first served basis. Participants are asked to bring health insurance cards, but it is not required. Interpreter services will be available.

The clinics are open to all individuals, but Southcoast further recommends the following high-priority groups attend:

• Under the age of 25 year old.
  

• Children 6 months to 18 years of age (Must be accompanied by a Parent or Guardian)
  

• Children 9 years and under should receive 2 doses of H1N1 vaccine
  IMPORTANT: Any child who has received the first of their two doses MUST bring documentation of the first dose of vaccine to this clinic because Center for Disease Control recommends a 28 day interval between doses for maximum effectiveness.
  

• High risk patients between the ages of 19 to 64 years old. High risk means that you may have a chronic medical conditions such as:

  • Respiratory (including asthma and COPD)

  • Heart disease (except high blood pressure alone)

  • Kidney, liver, blood disorders, neurologic/neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes

  • Immunosuppression (incl. that induced by medications, illness or by HIV )

• Women who are pregnant, up to 2 weeks post partum (including after pregnancy loss) and have not yet received H1N1 vaccine from their obstetrician.
  

• Household member or caregiver of infants younger than 6 months of age.
  

• Household member of pregnant women in their third trimester to ensure their newborns go home to a safe environment.
  

Please check with your physician if you have questions or concerns about receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine. Questions about the clinics at St. Luke’s and Tobey hospitals can be directed to 508-961-5560. Questions about the clinic at Charlton Memorial Hospital can be directed to 508-679-3131 Ext. 2988.

Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.

Dr. Pope is a featured columnist for The Standard-Times on women's health topics. Check out Dr. Pope's column the first Tuesday of every month at www.southcoasttoday.com.

Initial cervical cancer screening should begin at age 21 and can be rescreened less frequently than previously recommended, according to newly revised evidence-based guidelines issued recently by The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).* Most women younger than 30 should undergo cervical screening once every two years instead of annually, and those age 30 and older can be rescreened once every three years. Annual gynecological visits are still recommended and important for a woman's overall health.

Cervical cancer rates have fallen more than 50 percent in the past 30 years in the US believed to be due to the widespread use of the Pap test. The incidence of cervical cancer fell from 14.8 per 100,000 women in 1975 to 6.5 per 100,000 women in 2006. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 11,270 new cases of cervical cancer and 4,070 deaths from it in the US in 2009. The majority of deaths from cervical cancer in the US are among women who are screened infrequently or not at all. Cervical cancer is a slow growing malignancy caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV also is responsible for genital and anal warts, as well as oral and anal cancer.

"The tradition of doing a Pap test every year has not been supported by recent scientific evidence," says Alan G. Waxman, MD, at the University of New Mexico. Review of the literature shows that screening at less frequent intervals prevents cervical cancer just as well, with less incurred costs, and avoids unnecessary interventions that could be harmful, especially to reproductive aged women.

ACOG now recommends that women from ages 21 to 30 be screened every two years instead of annually. Women age 30 and older who have had three consecutive negative cervical cytology test results (pap smears) may be screened once every three years. Women with certain risk factors may need more frequent screening, including those who have HIV, are immunocompromised, were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, and have been treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2, CIN 3 (both pre-malignancies of the cervix), or cervical cancer.

Moving the baseline cervical screening to age 21 is a conservative approach to avoid unnecessary treatment of adolescents which may have economic, emotional, and future adverse childbearing implications. ACOG previously recommended that cervical screening with pap smears begin three years after first sexual intercourse or by age 21, whichever occurred first. Although the rate of HPV infection is high among sexually active adolescents, invasive cervical cancer is rare in women under age 21. The immune system clears the HPV infection within one to two years among most adolescent women. Because the adolescent cervix is immature, there is a higher incidence of HPV-related precancerous lesions, called ‘dysplasia'. However, the large majority of cervical dysplasias in adolescents spontaneously resolve without any treatment. This means in this age group there may be a higher number of false-positives which are followed by more invasive tests or more frequent pap smears.

A significant increase in premature births has recently been documented among women who have been treated with excisional procedures for dysplasia, called cold-knife cone excision or LEEP excision in which a portion of the cervix is surgically removed either in the office or operating room. Adolescents have their childbearing years ahead of them, and surgically treating the cervix with such excisional procedures has been shown to adversely affect their pregnancies. Therefore, it's important to avoid unnecessary procedures. We argue that early screening for cervical cancer in adolescents only serves to increase their anxiety, and may lead to overuse of procedures for a disease that has shown to usually resolves on its own.

Routine cervical cytology testing should be discontinued in women (regardless of age) who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the cervix along with the uterus) for noncancerous reasons, as long as they have no history of high-grade dysplasia.

ACOG's recommendations on the upper age limit for discontinuing cervical screening remain the same. It is reasonable to stop cervical cancer screening by age 70 among women who have three or more consecutive negative pap smears results and no abnormal test results in the past 10 years. ACOG also recommends that women who have been vaccinated against HPV should follow the same screening guidelines as unvaccinated women.

Of importance to impress on our patients is that annual gynecologic examinations are still appropriate and recommended, even if cervical screening with a pap smear is not performed at each visit. There's more to a visit to the gynecologist than just the pap smear.

Why should you believe this study? ACOG is the nation's leading group of professionals providing health care for women. Recommendations are evidence based and highly regarded among health care professionals. www.acog.org

*ACOG is formerly known as The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Physician Services has opened a new Family Medicine practice at Truesdale Clinic in Fall River, increasing access to much-needed primary care in the region.

Southcoast Family Medicine Group includes five physicians who are all board certified in Family Medicine and provide both adult primary care and pediatric care. The practice is located in a spacious new office suite at the expanded medical office building at Truesdale Clinic, 1030 President Ave. in Fall River. The practice is open Monday through Friday with evening and Saturday office hours.

Physicians include Carlos Correia, MD, who has been practicing at Charlton Memorial for the past 15 years, Felicia Freilich, MD, Jessica Inwood, MD, Kristianna Roberts, DO, and Joey Tryon, DO.

"Our new family medicine practice will provide families with comprehensive medical care, from childhood through adulthood," Dr. Correia said. "We also recognize that families need flexibility with their busy schedules and we will provide both evening and Saturday office hours for our patients' convenience."

Southcoast Family Medicine is accepting new patients. For more information or to make an appointment, call 508-730-3100.
Southcoast Physician Services and Southcoast Primary Care are the region's largest provider of primary care services with more than 50 providers in 21 different locations throughout the South Coast. Both are affiliates of Southcoast Health System.

Dunkin' Donuts franchise owner Frank Braga gives the first pint of blood on the Southcoast Health Van during the January "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" promotion.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Frank Braga, Dunkin' Donuts franchisee, kicked off January's "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" by donating the first pint of blood on the Southcoast Health Van at his Dunkin' Donuts store on Milliken Boulevard in Fall River.

Throughout January, anyone 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 participating Dunkin' Donuts while supplies last.

Giving locally makes a difference

When you give a single pint of blood to the Southcoast Blood Bank, you are saving a life and investing in your community. Because every pint that's donated to the Southcoast Blood Bank stays right here at Southcoast Hospitals, it helps provide life-saving treatment to patients in the South Coast region. When you donate at Southcoast there is also a cost savings that can be reinvested into much needed local health care services.

Donors can also check the Southcoast Health Van schedule for blood drives in their area. The van can comfortably accommodate up to five donors at once, making it easier for people to give blood locally.

The Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or call 508-961-5320 to make an appointment.

The Southcoast Health Van hosts blood drives throughout the region. The schedule can be found online at www.southcoast.org/van or by calling 508-679-7131.

Lisa Tager

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group has named Lisa Tager as Director of the Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.

Tager joins Southcoast from Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, Vt., where she served as Director of Social Work and Trauma Support.

She has also held the position of Director of Outpatient Services & Contracting at Westwood Pembroke Health Systems in Westwood, Mass., and Contracts Manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts in Boston.

She holds a Juris Doctor degree from the New England School of Law in Boston. She has a Master of Social Work from New York University in New York and received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

Tager was a member of the Board of Directors for PACE Vermont, a nonprofit health care provider for seniors and the first rural PACE site in the country.

She lives in Falmouth, Mass., with her husband, David, three children and two dogs.

The Southcoast Wound Care Center

The Southcoast Wound Care Center is scheduled to open in February 2010 at Charlton Memorial Hospital. Southcoast has partnered with Diversified Clinical Services, the pioneer and leader in wound management services, to integrate the new center into Southcoast Hospitals' existing clinical programs and primary care services. Diversified's experience with approximately 300 hospital-based wound care centers throughout the United States, will bring innovative treatment plans for wound care to the area. The Southcoast Wound Care Center will offer the latest in hospital-based outpatient wound care, including circulatory system diagnostics and treatment, nutrition, wound pain management, diabetes wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, also known as HBOT.

Nancy Manchester

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group has named Nancy Manchester as Director of Regulatory Readiness.

Manchester joins Southcoast from Atrius Health, an alliance of five medical groups in the greater Boston area where she served as Director of Patient Safety and Risk Management. In her new position at Southcoast, she will be responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of organization-wide patient safety programs.

Prior to her tenure at Atrius, Manchester served in positions of increasing responsibility with Advocate Health Care, a 12-hospital integrated health care system in Illinois, culminating in her role as Patient Safety and Regulatory Compliance Officer.

Manchester holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from the University of Connecticut at Storrs, Conn., board certification in electroneurodiagnostic technology and Lean Healthcare Certification through the University of Michigan School of Engineering. She was appointed to the Institutional Review Board for the University of Massachusetts in 2009.

Manchester resides in Westport with her family.

"OPTIFAST is a weight loss program that involves medical supervision, great tasting meal replacements, comprehensive lifestyle and behavior modification group sessions with ongoing support," said Stacy Medeiros, RD, Clinical Dietitian and the program director for the OPTIFAST weight management program. "The OPTIFAST program treats the whole person by combining lifestyle education, medical oversight and counseling services."

Southcoast Hospitals is designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery and offers two types of weight loss surgery: The Rouxen-Y gastric bypass and LAP-BAND®.

OPTIFAST is a non-surgical weight loss program that consists of three phases: Active weight loss, transition and long-term weight management. The program is only offered with a doctor's supervision and has the additional benefits of ongoing group sessions and individual counseling, customized programs tailored to the patient's needs and helpful tips for keeping the weight off.

"People with diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease benefit from the OPTIFAST program because they are consistently monitored in a safe health care environment," Medeiros said.

OPTIFAST is designed for people with a BMI of 25 or over, which would be a weight of 150 pounds for someone five foot, five inches tall. People must be over the age of 16. People who complete 22 weeks of the program average more than a 50-pound weight loss and also see a significant reduction in their blood levels of cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.

Tobey also offers a "partial" OPTIFAST program for people who only wish to lose a small amount of weight or who do not need to be medically monitored. The 12-week program involves the OPTIFAST meal replacements and ongoing support.
The cost of the program varies according to the individual. Some of the medical monitoring may be covered by insurance, but the group fees and cost of the food products are paid by the patient.

The next free and introductory sessions will be held in the historic Alden Besse House on 112 Main Street in Wareham on Tuesday, January 12, at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, January 21, at 9 a.m. and Tuesday, January 26, at 4:30 p.m. To enroll, call the Southcoast Wellness Line at 1-800-497-1727.

More information is available at www.southcoast.org/weightloss/optifast.html.

Toya Holmes and Broderick Parrish Sr. welcome son Broderick Lanard Parrish, who was the first baby born in Southeastern Massachusetts in 2010.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — The first New Year's baby to be born in Southeastern Massachusetts (and Rhode Island) arrived at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River at 1:46 a.m. on January 1, 2010.

Toya Holmes and Broderick Parrish Sr. of Fall River had a baby boy, Broderick Lanard Parrish, weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce. This is the couple's first child.

"He is a very special boy — we have been married for 15 years and never thought we would be able to have a baby ... he is a miracle," Holmes said.

[See Charlton New Year's baby gallery]

A second baby boy was born at Tobey Hospital in Wareham to Rachel Pina of Wareham. Alijah Pina arrived at 3:11 p.m. and weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces.

St. Luke's Hospital also welcomed a baby boy, Ismael Isaiah Bermudez, 7 pounds and 5 ounces, born at 3:50 p.m. to Tyvonne Pina and Alexander Bermudez of New Bedford. [Note to editor: Mother's have the same last name. They are not related. Rachel Pina at Tobey Hospital declined a photo.]

[See St. Luke's New Year's baby gallery]

The Southcoast Hospitals New Year's babies will receive gift baskets and gift certificates donated by the St. Luke's and Charlton Auxiliaries and the Tobey Hospital Guild.

Charlton New Year's Baby

St. Luke's New Year's Baby

]]> Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:16:12 -0500 january-1-|-charlton-welcomes-new-years-baby-tob-1 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2010/010110.html FALL RIVER, Mass. — The first New Year's baby to be born in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island arrived at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River at 1:46 a.m. on January 1, 2010.

Toya Holmes and Broderick Parrish Sr. of Fall River had a baby boy, Broderick Lanard Parrish, weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce. This is the couple's first child.

"He is a very special boy — we have been married for 15 years and never thought we would be able to have a baby … he is a miracle," Holmes said.

As of 10 a.m. on January 1, the New Year's baby had not arrived at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford or Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

The Southcoast Hospitals New Year's babies will receive gift baskets and gift certificates donated by the St. Luke's and Charlton Auxiliaries and the Tobey Hospital Guild.

Gerald Monchik, MD

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Gerald Monchik, MD, has been appointed Medical Director of the Southcoast Wound Care Center & Hyperbaric Medicine Program, scheduled to open in February 2010.

A surgeon at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and founding member of Truesdale Surgical Associates, Dr. Monchik will oversee the clinical services being offered at the new outpatient wound care center. As medical director he will also work closely with referring physicians from across the South Coast region and East Bay, R.I., to incorporate best practices, prevention and continued follow-up care.

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Monchik completed a surgical residency at New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center in New York and a clinical and research fellowship Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

He has served as chairman of the Patient Monitoring Committee at Charlton Memorial Hospital and as President of the Fall River Medical Society and the Bristol South Medical Society.

The Southcoast Wound Care Center

The Southcoast Wound Care Center is scheduled to open in February 2010 at Charlton Memorial Hospital. Southcoast has partnered with Diversified Clinical Services, the pioneer and leader in wound management services, to integrate the new center into Southcoast Hospitals' existing clinical programs and primary care services.

Diversified's experience with approximately 300 hospital-based wound care centers throughout the United States will bring innovative treatment plans for wound care. The Southcoast Wound Care Center will offer the latest in hospital-based outpatient wound care, including circulatory system diagnostics and treatment, nutrition, wound pain management, diabetes wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, also known as HBOT.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of non-healing wounds. The South Coast region has a large population of people with diabetes and Fall River has the highest mortality rate for diabetes. New Bedford has the third highest mortality rate in the state.

"Dedicated wound care centers and the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, when necessary, have proven to be the most effective way to treat patients with non-healing or chronic wounds. Patients with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and obesity, are all conditions associated with poor healing and make up a high percentage of hospitalizations in our region," Dr. Monchik said. "Southcoast's Wound Care Center will be an important resource for the South Coast community, meeting the needs of the population with difficult wounds."

George H. Beauregard, DO

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Health System announced the appointment of George H. Beauregard, DO, as President & Chief Medical Officer of Southcoast Physicians Network (SPN).

Southcoast Physicians Network, a corporation with Southcoast Health System as its sole corporate member, is a community-based physician network of primary care and specialty care private physician practices and Southcoast affiliated practices.

In his role as President & Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Beauregard will provide guidance and oversight of all clinical, financial and operational aspects of SPN including clinical integration efforts, network expansion, medical management and quality assurance programs, systems implementation of the new electronic health record (EHR), negotiation of risk contracts with managed care companies and health plans and the coordination of patient care services.

Dr. Beauregard is a physician co-founder, and formerly served as President of Primary Care, LLC, the largest independent group of primary care physicians in New England that existed from 1996 to 2005. For the past four years he has served as Chairman of the Board for New England Quality Care Alliance (NEQCA), a subsidiary of Tufts Medical Center, and as a member of the Board of Trustees for Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization Inc. in Braintree and Boston.

He also served as President & Medical Director of Southwest Boston Primary Care LLC.

Dr. Beauregard is a graduate of University of New England-College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. He has been awarded Diplomate Certificates by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.

Dr. Beauregard currently resides in Medfield, Mass., with his wife, Kathleen, and their four children.

Carter Hunt

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group has named Carter Hunt, MBA, MSPT, as Vice President of Clinical Services, Musculoskeletal, Neurosciences, Rehabilitation & Occupational Health.

Hunt joins Southcoast from Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Conn., where he served as Service Line Executive responsible for the operation and financial leadership of orthopedics, neuroscience, trauma, physician medicine, rehabilitation and occupational health service lines. While at Danbury Hospital he also held the position of Director of Operations.

Prior to his positions in Danbury, Hunt was Coordinator of Outpatient Rehabilitation at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., and Multiple Center Manager at PRO Physical Therapy in Wilmington, Del.

Hunt holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. He received his Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the Widener University in Chester, Pa., and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

Hunt currently resides in Southbury, Conn., with his wife, Tonja, and three children. He plans to move to the South Coast region in 2010.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The Southcoast Blood Bank's annual promotion, "Give a pint, Get a Pound" returns to the region during the month of January.

Throughout January, anyone 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 participating Dunkin' Donuts while supplies last.

"We are very grateful to the local Dunkin' Donuts shops for their ongoing support and commitment each January," said John Laverty, MD, Medical Director of the Southcoast Blood Bank. "Due to their generosity, last year the Southcoast Blood Bank collected nearly 1,000 pints of blood — keeping our local blood supply strong and saving many lives right here in our own community."

Southcoast Hospitals and the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care in Fall River and Dartmouth use approximately 1,300 pints of blood a month, but collect less than a third of that amount. The Southcoast Blood Bank is here for emergencies, for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses and for patients having surgery.

"Dunkin' Donuts is honored to partner with the Southcoast Blood Bank for the 'Give a Pint, Get a Pound' promotion once again," said Todd Wallace, Field Marketing Manager for Dunkin' Donuts. "Giving blood is a selfless, and free, way to give a gift this holiday season, and we hope that receiving a pound of delicious Dunkin' Donuts coffee will help encourage our neighbors to reach out this January at a time when it's needed most."

Giving locally makes a difference

When you give a single pint of blood to the Southcoast Blood Bank, you are saving a life and investing in your community. Because every pint that's donated to the Southcoast Blood Bank stays right here at Southcoast Hospitals, it helps provide life-saving treatment to patients in the South Coast region. When you donate at Southcoast there is also a cost savings that can be reinvested into much needed local health care services.

Donors can also check the Southcoast Health Van schedule for blood drives in their area. The van can comfortably accommodate up to five donors at once, making it easier for people to give blood locally.

The Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or call 508-961-5320 to make an appointment.

The Southcoast Health Van hosts blood drives throughout the region. The schedule can be found online at www.southcoast.org/van or by calling 508-679-7131.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group today announced that it has received the 2010 clinical excellence awards for cardiac care and coronary intervention from HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent health care ratings company. The recognition is based on HealthGrades' 12th annual Hospital Quality in America study and places Southcoast Hospitals' clinical outcomes in the top 10 percent nationally for overall cardiac services for the fourth year in a row.

Southcoast also received HealthGrades prestigious five-star rating in four categories: Cardiology services, coronary interventional procedures, treatment of heart attack and treatment of heart failure.

"Southcoast has been recognized for the fourth year in a row as one of the top providers of cardiac services in the country with an emphasis on quality of care and outstanding patient outcomes," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "Local heart patients continue to have access to a breadth of high-quality, comprehensive heart services without having to travel. The HealthGrades recognition is a tribute to our top-notch physicians and health care providers who offer our patients an exemplary standard of care with unwavering dedication to quality and patient safety."

The 2010 HealthGrades clinical achievements for Southcoast Hospitals include:

• Ranked among the Top 10 percent in the U.S. for Overall Cardiac Services.

• Ranked among the Top 5 percent in the U.S. for Cardiology Services.

• Ranked among the Top 5 percent in the U.S. for Coronary Interventional Procedures.

• Ranked among the Top 5 hospitals in Massachusetts for Overall Cardiac Services.

• Ranked among the Top 5 hospitals in Massachusetts for Cardiology Services.

• Ranked among the Top 5 hospitals in Massachusetts for Coronary Interventional Procedures.

• Five-Star Rated for Cardiology Services.

• Five-Star Rated for Coronary Interventional Procedures.

• Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Heart Attack.

• Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Heart Failure.

• Recipient of the HealthGrades Cardiac Care Excellence Award™.

• Recipient of the HealthGrades Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™.

These findings were included in the 12th annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study that analyzed patient outcomes in nearly 40 million Medicare hospitalization records from 2006 to 2008 at the nation's approximately 5,000 non-federal hospitals. According to the study, if all hospitals performed at the level of five-star rated hospitals, 224,537 Medicare deaths could potentially have been prevented over the three years studied (2006 to 2008). More than half of those preventable deaths were associated with four conditions: sepsis, pneumonia, heart failure and respiratory failure. (10-13-09 "Patients at Top-Rated Hospitals Have 52 percent Lower Chance of Dying Compared to U.S. Average." http://www.healthgrades.com/press-releases/)

Local heart services

Heart disease is the No. 1 health problem locally and strikes South Coast residents more frequently than anywhere else in Massachusetts. Southcoast Hospitals Group, which includes Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham, ranks second in the entire state for the greatest number of cardiac medical discharges. Thirty-nine percent more people have heart attacks in the South Coast — and about two in five residents die from heart disease.

In 2002, Southcoast Hospitals Group became the first of three community hospitals in the state to perform open heart surgery, making this lifesaving surgery available locally for the first time ever. Southcoast has Heart Centers at Charlton Memorial and St. Luke's hospitals that offer the same level of technology available in teaching hospitals in Boston and Providence. Southcoast performs more cardiac catheterizations than any community hospital system in Massachusetts, with approximately 60 percent of patients needing advanced treatment such as coronary artery bypass or angioplasty. Southcoast's Electrophysiology (EP) Laboratory, also at Charlton and St. Luke's, provides diagnostic testing for cardiac arrhythmias using non-invasive methods such as electrocardiograms and holter monitoring, and treatment options such as the pacemaker service.

For more information about Southcoast Hospitals' local heart services visit www.southcoast.org/heart/.

"Our new Quickpay system is quick, easy and secure," said Kevin Dwyer, Director of Patient Accounts for Southcoast Hospitals. "This new method of payment will be more convenient for those who prefer to pay their bills online and will help cut down on errors that can happen during manual data entry."

Patients can also inquire about their patient bill, insurance claims and payment arrangements online. A patient account representative will review the request and respond the next business day. Any information provided on the Southcoast Website is secure and is only used for hospital-related business.

Southcoast's new Quickpay service can be found at www.southcoast.org/accounts/.

Patients are still welcome to contact the Patient Accounts department directly by telephone by calling Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 774-206-4500 or 800-289-9342.

Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.

Dr. Pope is a featured columnist for The Standard-Times on women's health topics. Check out Dr. Pope's column the first Tuesday of every month at www.southcoasttoday.com.

One group of experts have recently concluded that most women should now start regular breast cancer screening at age 50, not 40 as has been previously recommended. On November 17, 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published these new recommendations, which have sparked some controversy over the benefits of screening for breast cancer.

New recommendations by the USPSTF:

• No screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years. The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account.

• Biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years.

• Current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 years and older.

• There is too little evidence to support breast self-examinations.
  

Just seven years ago, the same group of experts, the USPSTF, with a different member panel at the time, recommended women have mammograms every one to two years starting at age 40. The new recommendations, which do not apply to a small group of women with unusual risk factors for breast cancer, reversed longstanding guidelines are aimed at reducing harm from overtreatment, initiated by screening.

What are the current recommendations?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) continues to recommend the following services:

• Screening mammograms every 1-2 years for women aged 40-49 years.

• Screening mammograms every year for women aged 50 years or older.

• Breast self examinations is recommended.

• Clinical annual breast exams every year for women aged 19 or older.
  

As a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the College has reviewed the USPSTF recommendations and expresses concern regarding the implications of recommending against routine screening mammograms for women in their 40s.

In addition, Victor G. Vogel, MD, MHS, FACP, national vice president for research at the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Atlanta, Georgia, has presented research data that shows that death rates from breast cancer have declined by 3 percent per year since 1990 ~ when widespread population-based screening of women 40 to 49 years of age began. This can be attributed to both mammographic screening and the use of therapies for early breast cancer detected by mammograms. If we stop screening women 40 to 49 years of age, the death rates from breast cancer may rise progressively, and we will potentially eliminate nearly 2 decades of progress with this cancer.

Why did the USPSTF come to this conclusion?

The new USPSTF recommendations are based on an evidenced-based analysis that judged that although women in their 40s and women in their 50s benefit equally from routine screening mammograms, women in their 40s experience greater harms from screening than do women in their 50s. Therefore, the USPSTF recommended routine screening for women aged 50-74, but recommended against routine screening for women in their 40s.

Rather than benefit from screening, those women without cancer who undergo mammography, additional imaging such as follow up mammograms and breast MRI, and biopsies may incur harm. These outcomes were seen more commonly in women in their 40s. The USPSTF also considered pain and psychological responses harmful as well. The risks of screening tests are real. A test may trigger unnecessary further tests, like biopsies, that can create anxiety and mammograms can find malignancies that may grow so slowly that they may never have been noticed in a woman's lifetime, resulting in unnecessary treatment.

Overall, the report states that the modest benefit of mammograms, reducing the breast cancer death rate by 15 percent, must be weighed against these harms. Those harms potentially are greater for women in their 40s, who are 60 percent more likely to experience then than women 50 years and older but are less likely to have breast cancer. Essentially, the USPSTF concluded that one breast cancer death is prevented for every 1,904 women age 40 to 49 who are screening for 10 years, compared with one death for every 1,339 women age 50-59, and one death for every 377 women aged 60 to 69.

The new guidelines have certainly been criticized by some and charged as politically motivated, a political effort by the Obama administration to save money on health care costs. No doubt if the new guidelines are followed, billions of dollars will be saved; however, the task force has stood firm stating there was no political influence on their evidenced-based guidelines.

Additionally, the new USPSTF found that teaching breast self examination did not reduce breast cancer morality but resulted in additional imaging procedures and biopsies. Therefore, the USPSTF recommend against teaching breast self examination on the basis that it has no benefit from women but simply increases their risk of harm.

Who uses the USPSTF recommendations?

The main audience for the USPSTF recommendations is the primary care clinician.

Several professional organizations and expert groups have voiced their objections to the new recommendations. The American Cancer Society continues to recommend annual mammogram screening for women 40-49 years of age. Additionally, the American College of Radiology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and several other expert groups recommend that physicians and patients continue to follow earlier, previously established guidelines.

Early detection of breast cancer saves lives and improves survival. Fear is that if the USPSTF recommendations are adopted as policy Medicare and private insurers may use them as a way to cut cost and potentially many women may die unnecessarily. Furthermore, the treatment costs associated with breast cancer may potentially increase as the disease is found at a later stage, and require more extensive treatment.

Final Thoughts

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Widespread use of screening, along with treatment advances have been credited with significant reductions in mortality.

All professional societies are working to help women prevent breast cancer and this theme is consistent rather than disparate. There is no disagreement that mammograms have a benefit when done at ages 40 to 74. The question lies in the absolute benefit weighed against the potential harms I previously discussed of starting to screen at a younger age.

In its final statement, the new USPSTF guidelines "encourage individualized, informed decision making about when to start mammographic screening." I, together with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Southcoast Hospitals Group, continue to recommend previously established recommendations of starting breast cancer screening at the age of 40 for most women. However, it is a personal decision that should be reviewed individually between the patient and her physician.

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.

Payments can also be mailed to: Jo-Ann Richard, Southcoast Hospice, 200 Mill Road, Suite 120, Fairhaven, MA. 02719. Please remember to include the name of the person you are honoring, your name, address and phone.

All 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.

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; Nikki 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.

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation & Prevention Program (MTCP) honored Southcoast Hospitals Groups with its "2009 Make Smoking History Award." It marked the first time MTCP gave such an award.

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.

Comprised of St. Luke's, Tobey and Charlton Memorial hospitals, Southcoast Hospitals Group 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.

"Southcoast Hospitals Group is dedicated to raising public awareness of the health risks associated with smoking and secondhand smoke. The QuitWorks program at the three Southcoast Hospitals sites is part of an ongoing effort to address our region's high incidence of heart disease, cancer and chronic tobacco use," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "We are also dedicated to providing a healthier, safer environment for everyone who works at Southcoast and everyone who visits with the launch of our region-wide 'Breathe Better' program last year." Southcoast intends to go totally smoke free on October 1, 2010.

As one of the highest QuitWorks users of among more than 30 health care organizations across the state, Southcoast Hospitals reported that, when contacted seven to nine months after cessation services (or treatment), more than 20 percent were able to quit for at lease 30 days.

"There are few challenges undertaken at the state level that are more important than helping people quit smoking," said state Sen. Mark C.W. Montigny (D-New Bedford), a longtime public health champion. "Increased education and programming efforts are making a remarkable difference in people's lives, in addition to improving public health in the Commonwealth."

The Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation & Prevention Program's mission within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is to reduce the health and economic burden of tobacco use by preventing young people from starting to smoke; helping current smokers to quit; protecting children and adults from second-hand smoke; and identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities.

More information about QuitWorks can be found on Southcoast's Website at www.southcoast.org/health/quitworks.html.

— Therese M. Mulvey, MD
Physician-in-Chief & Medical Oncologist
Southcoast Center for Cancer Care

Southcoast Hospitals continues to strongly recommend that women follow the guidelines issued by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society:

• Women in their 40s and older should get a mammogram every year. A woman's chance of getting breast cancer is greater as she ages.
  

• A clinical breast exam should be part of a woman's annual health exam when they are in their 20s and 30s. Women who are considered high risk should begin having mammograms earlier than 40 years old. The decision about when to begin screening should be based on shared decision-making between patients and their health care providers, taking into account personal circumstances and preferences.
  

• A breast self-exam is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast changes to a health professional right away. [www.southcoast.org/breast/bse.html]
  

Additional information can be found online at www.southcoast.org/breast/.

Sources:

• American Cancer Society

• National Cancer Institute
  

Frequently Asked Questions

I am 46 years old, should I still get a mammogram?

The recommendations by the USPSTF guidelines released in November 2009 have caused great confusion and anxiety among women. According to the U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Task Force has presented some new evidence for consideration, but policies remain unchanged. Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year. (Please see the above guidelines for more information.)

In a statement issued on November 18, 2009, by Secretary Sebelius: "My message to women is simple: Mammograms have always been an important life-saving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today. Keep doing what you have been doing for years — talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions, and make the decision that is right for you."

www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/11/20091118a.html

If I am in my 40s, is it okay to do a breast self-exam instead of receiving a mammogram?

Women in their 40s should continue to receive annual mammograms. It is also important that women know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any new breast changes to a health professional as soon as they are found. A breast self-exam is another method for determining changes in the breast tissue. Decisions about an individual's breast health should be made between patients and their health care providers, taking into account personal circumstances and preferences.

www.southcoast.org/breast/bse.html

What is a digital mammogram? What does it mean when Southcoast says they are "100 percent digital?"

Digital mammography allows us to provide you with the highest quality of care in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

Unlike other parts of the body, the breast is composed mainly of soft tissue. When breast tissue is X-rayed, it creates an image that looks something like a smoky haze, making it difficult to see tiny "spots," called microcalcifications, and other subtle signs of early cancer.

With digital mammography, the radiologist reviews electronic images of the breast using special high-resolution monitors. The physician can adjust the brightness, change contrast and zoom in for close ups of specific areas of interest.

Being able to manipulate images is one of the main benefits of digital technology. Another convenience of digital mammography over film-based systems is it can greatly reduce the need for retakes due to over or under exposure, reducing your exposure to X-rays.

Digital mammography feels identical to conventional screening from a patient's perspective, though women may notice shorter exam times and a reduction in call-backs to obtain additional images.

www.southcoast.org/radiology/digitalmammography.html

100% Digital Mammography

Southcoast Health System has 100 percent digital mammography services at all nine of its mammography service locations from Fall River to Wareham.

Southcoast is the primary provider of breast health services in the region, performing more than 40,000 mammograms a year.

Southcoast patients have access to the most comprehensive digital mammography system with 13 units installed at nine sites in Fall River, North Dartmouth, New Bedford and Wareham. Several of our sites have also been upgraded with other modalities to provide our patients with the most complete breast imaging services available on the South Coast, including digital mammography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and stereotactic breast biopsies.

Southcoast offers mammography services at its three hospital sites — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham — and at several offsite locations, including the Center for Women's Health at
Faunce Corner in North Dartmouth, Truesdale Clinic in Fall River, the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center in New Bedford and several physician offices.

Southcoast Health System health care providers welcome your questions, call a mammography location near you and listed at www.southcoast.org/breast/ or one of the following:

Charlton Memorial Hospital: 508-679-3131 Ext. 7117
St. Luke's Hospital: 508-997-1515 Ext. 2844
Tobey Hospital: 508-273-4141


Center for Women's Health: 508-998-0600


]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:45:50 -0500 november-19-|-southcoast-experts-address-new-mammo http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/111609.html




FAIRHAVEN, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals held a ceremony today as it officially broke ground on its new flagship Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fairhaven that, when completed, 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.

"This is a very exciting day for Southcoast, the town of Fairhaven and everyone who resides throughout the region as we gather to mark the beginning of our promise to bring the very best, seamless cancer care to the entire South Coast," John B. Day, President & CEO of Southcoast Health System.

The new Southcoast Center for Cancer Care, scheduled to open in early 2011, 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.

"The Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care puts patients squarely at the center, providing access to a full range of medical and radiation oncology services — without having to travel," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "The new center will also address the fragmentation of oncology services currently offered in the region; and have outstanding physicians, nurses and staff who are solely dedicated to giving our patients the best, most compassionate care — right here, close to home."

The Fairhaven center will be the flagship outpatient center for Southcoast Hospitals' cancer services program, which currently includes radiation therapy and medical oncology in Fall River and medical oncology in North Dartmouth. The North Dartmouth center will relocate to Fairhaven when the center opens in early 2011.

In July, Southcoast Hospitals opened its Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River in the Mitchell Building at Charlton Memorial Hospital. The Fall River center offers a full range of oncology services, including advanced radiation therapy, medical oncology at Charlton's Jarabek Center, support services and free valet parking. The Fall River location will serve as the satellite location to the Fairhaven center.

The estimated cost for both the new Fairhaven and Fall River cancer centers is about $60 million. The Fairhaven building project will create up to 250 temporary construction jobs over the life of the project. The center will employ about 55 staff, of which about 40 will be permanent new clinical and support jobs.

Meeting a Growing Need

"Having the new Southcoast Center for Cancer Care located here, in Fairhaven, is extremely important because, until now, those who live east of New Bedford had the most difficulty accessing cancer care that was close to home and convenient," said Elizabeth H. Kunz, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Southcoast Hospitals Group.

There is a growing need for cancer treatment in the region and Southcoast is committed to making sure patients have access to the very latest technology and care delivered by a dedicated and experienced staff. Currently patients in the eastern section of the region may receive fragmented care and, in many cases, travel great distances for cancer treatments, many of which require daily visits.

Leading the clinical team is Therese M. Mulvey, MD, a board-certified physician in medical oncology and internal medicine, who will serve as the Physician-in-Chief for oncology services for both the Fairhaven and Fall River centers.

"Our new services, staff and locations are designed with one goal in mind — to bring our patients and their families the very best cancer treatment possible and make it available right here in your own community," Dr. Mulvey said. "It is important that the South Coast communities have access to high-quality oncology services without having to travel. We hope to empower patients to receive high-quality care in their own communities, with shared decision making among specialists and patients."

Unique to Southcoast's program is the dedicated "Patient Navigator." The Patient Navigator is a "go-to" person to help coordinate appointments, answer questions and point patients and families in the right direction and guide patients through their care. The Patient Navigator manages all aspects of the patient's care, including appointments with physicians, radiology and laboratory services, medication and pain management, support services, transportation and any questions the patient or family members may have during their visit or after they return home.

"Southcoast is able to commit to building this center — to bringing the very best medical team here — because we know we can count on the support of our communities to help build this exceptional new cancer center," said Carl Ribeiro, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Southcoast Health System. "On behalf of the Boards of Trustees for both the Health System and Hospitals Group, I want to extend my sincere gratitude for your ongoing generosity. This new cancer center is a testament to our communities' good will and unwavering support and will make a difference in thousands of lives going forward."

More information about the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care call 877-822-2732 or online at www.southcoast.org/cancercare/.

]]> Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:09:34 -0500 november-16-|-southcoast-breaks-ground-on-new-canc http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/111309.html

Click to download a PDF poster




NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Flagship Cinemas New Bedford will team up with the Southcoast Blood Bank for the "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" weekend premiere on Sunday, November 22, from noon to 6 p.m.



Those who donate blood during the event will receive a free bag of popcorn as a thank you for donating, compliments of Flagship Cinemas New Bedford.



The blood drive will take place on the Southcoast Health Van, which will be located at Flagship Cinemas, 500 Kings Highway in New Bedford. Free health screenings will also be offered.



Southcoast hosts blood drives throughout the region on the Southcoast Health Van and at local businesses. When you donate at a Southcoast-sponsored blood drive, the blood stays local, helping to keep your community blood supply strong. The Southcoast Health Van schedule can be found online at www.southcoast.org/van/ or by calling 508-961-5320.



Follow us on Twitter for daily updates on the Southcoast Blood Drives and Southcoast Health Van locations. Find a link to our Twitter feed at www.southcoast.org/connect/.

]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:50:27 -0500 november-13-|-flagship-cinemas-teams-up-with-south http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/110909.html WESTPORT, Mass. — Volunteers at Southcoast Hospitals Group, who contributed more than 90,000 hours of service over the past year, were honored 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."



Therese M. Mulvey, MD, Physician-in-Chief & Medical Oncologist at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care, also expressed gratitude to the volunteers and spoke about the future of cancer care and services in the South Coast region.



Charlton Memorial Hospital


Award Recipients


Maurice Vannier was honored for having the most volunteer hours at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. From left, Keith Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals, Agatha St. Amour, Director of Volunteer Service, Southcoast Hospitals, and Maurice Vannier, Charlton Memorial in Fall River, was honored for 11,000 hours.




100 Hours at Charlton



Judith Amaral, Patient Representative
Janice Arruda, Pastoral Care
Natalia Arruda, Gift Shop
Victoria Botelho, Purchasing
Maria Carmo, Pastoral Care
Cecile Chicca, Pastoral Care
Carol Cioe, Pastoral Care
Alfred Correia, Pastoral Care
Vivian Costa, Gift Shop
John Cummings, Volunteer Office
Dawn Cunningham, Surgery Center
Paul Cyr, Pastoral Care
Michael DeJesus, Volunteer Office
Debra Fontaine, Pastoral Care
Larry Garside, Medical Staff Office
Deborah Gordon, Pastoral Care
Patricia Healey, Pastoral Care
Sheila Holleran, Patient Representative
Stanley Janczura, Volunteer Office
Bridget Kaegael, Mended Hearts/Cardiac Surgery
Tim Kirkman, Patient Registration
Mary Ann Lamontagne Mended Hearts/Cardiac Surgery
Christine Lopiano, Pastoral Care
Rossario Lopiano, Pastoral Care
William Lynch, Pastoral Care
Eleanor Mellor, Information Desk
Michael O'Connell, Volunteer Office
Elizabeth Sylvia, Knitting
Scott Warner, Transport
Wayne Yee, Pastoral Care


500 Hours at Charlton



Robert Chouinard, Pastoral Care
Constance Daley, Pastoral Care
Susan Foster, Surgery Center
Pauline Frates, Information Desk
Mary Frederick, Information Desk
Elaine Genereux, Knitting
Brain Legault, Information Desk
Veronica McCarthy, Gift Shop
Maureen Solomon, Gift Shop
Edie Sosnoskie, Gift Shop
Arnold Waterman, Patient Representative


1,000 Hours at Charlton



Ann Beben, Surgery Center, Human Resources
Dino Branco, Pastoral Care
Jose Branco, Pastoral Care
Margaret Brown, Patient Representative
Robert Colley, Information Desk
Joseph Levesque, Pastoral Care
Dolores Minkin, Mended Hearts/Cardiac Surgery, Surgery Center
Barbara Mumford, Gift Shop
Pauline Theberge, Education Services
Lillian Valcourt, Gift Shop


1,500 Hours at Charlton



Veronica Beaulieu, Information Desk
Maxine Cobb, Flowers/Mail
Henry Dion, Pastoral Care
Raul Fernandes, Mended Hearts/Cardiac Surgery
Joseph Mlynek, Mended Hearts/Cardiac Surgery
Emma Pavao, Pastoral Care
Roger Pelissier, Mended Hearts/Cardiac Surgery
Henry Sylvia, Graphic Arts


2,000 Hours at Charlton



Debbie Roy, Cafeteria
Marion Saurette, Pastoral Care
June Smith, Knitting
Jeanne Woodward, Pastoral Care


2,500 Hours at Charlton



Vincent Hebert, Southcoast Center for Cancer Care
Cecile Letourneau, Gift Shop


3,000 Hours at Charlton



Eleanor Lechan, Gift Shop


4,000 Hours at Charlton



Patricia Boyer, Gift Shop


4,500 Hours at Charlton



James Brayton, Information Desk


5,500 Hours at Charlton



Barbara Bell, Emergency Dept.
Russell Bell, Emergency Dept.
Gabrielle Partridge, Administration


6,500 Hours at Charlton



Janet Rancourt, Information Desk


11,000 Hours at Charlton



Maurice Vannier, Information Desk (pictured)


St. Luke's Hospital


Award Recipients


Ed Fernandes was honored for 12,000 hours of volunteer time at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford. Not in attendance were Adeline DeSousa and Maria Oliver with more than 31,500 hours. From left, Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO Southcoast Hospitals Group, Agatha St. Amour, Director of Volunteer Services, Southcoast Hospitals Group, and Ed Fernandes, St. Luke's Volunteer, was honored for 12,000 hours.




100 Hours at St. Luke's



Priscilla Demers, Nursing
Cynthia Farrell, Patient Representative
Cheryl Gouveia, Southcoast Hospice
Kathleen Lang, Southcoast Hospice
Patricia Marshall, Southcoast Hospice
Anne Nolin, Southcoast Hospice
Ronald Nolin, Southcoast Hospice
Helen Heffernan, Information Desk
Maria Negalha, Pastoral Care
Maria F. Pacheco, Pastoral Care
Marilyn Pacheco, Pastoral Care
Alice Pfeninger, Patient Representative
Shirley Purrington, Health Information
Mary E. Silva, Southcoast Hospice
Anne Silveira, Southcoast Hospice
David Souza, Transportation
Rita Souza, Gift Shop
Paula Sullivan, Southcoast Hospice
Jacqueline Swanson, Southcoast Hospice
Gerard Tanguay, Southcoast Hospice
Fr. John of the Trnity, Pastoral Care
Jeannine Watts, Pastoral Care


500 Hours at St. Luke's



Mary Ann Buss, Nursing
Normand Cabral, Transportation
Claire Catulo, Pastoral Care
James Corrado, Pastoral Care
Mary Ellen Emmons, Pastoral Care
Debra Kennedy, Admitting
Robert Kowalski Jr, Southcoast Hospice
Mary Lucy Pereira, Information Desk
Debra Pauline, Southcoast Hospice
Gloria Richard Chartier Southcoast Hospice
Cecelia Russell, Nursing/Volunteer Dept.


1,000 Hours at St. Luke's



Bethany Barrow, Mailroom/Social Services
Robert Colley, Southcoast Hospice
Paul Gosselin, Transportation/Surgery Center
Elaine Lancaster, Information Desk
Anne Marcotte , Nursing
Lesbelia Resendes, Southcoast Center for Cancer Care
Vivian Whalley, Admitting


1,500 Hours at St. Luke's



Diane Binning, Nursing
Marilyn Collins, Information Desk/Surgery Center
Jean Coury, Patient Representative
Jennifer Demers, Nursing
Rose Duarte, Admitting/Flowers
Celeste Lake, Southcoast Hospice
Bella Perry, Transportation
Dolores Rodrigues, Nursing
Andrea Rousseau, Mailroom/Transportation
Louis Silverstein, Information Desk/Surgery Center


2,000 Hours at St. Luke's



Pauline Brunelle, Southcoast Hospice
Elvira Fernandes, Library
Raymond Guy, Transportation
Phyllis Peckham, Southcoast Hospice


2,500 Hours at St. Luke's



Florence Gonsalves, Employee Health
Patricia Halloran, Gift Shop
Olivia Telesmanick, Volunteer Office


3,000 Hours at St. Luke's
Michael Araujo, Transportation
Joan Cote, Southcoast Hospice
Patricia Marujo, Oncology
Barbara Adams, Surgery Center

3,500 Hours at St. Luke's



Lucy Bernardo, Human Resources/Info. Desk/Pastoral Care
Jacqueline Morin, Southcoast Hospice
Norma Oste, Surgery Center


4,500 Hours at St. Luke's



Mary Ann Touhey, Rehab
Gloria Vincent, Health Information


5,500 Hours at St. Luke's



Lorette Viens, Gift Shop


6,000 Hours at St. Luke's



Richard Nissen, Mailroom/Transportation


12,000 Hours at St. Luke's



Edward Fernandes, Emergency Dept/Gift Shop (pictured)


31,500 Hours at St. Luke's



Adeline DeSousa, Admitting/Mailroom


Many years of dedication at St. Luke's



Marie Oliver, Gift Shop




Tobey Hospital


Award Recipients


Corrie Rogers was honored for having the most volunteer hours at Tobey Hospital in Wareham. From left, Agatha St. Amour, Director of Volunteer Service, Southcoast Hospitals, Corrie Rogers, Tobey Hospital in Wareham, was honored for 11,000 hours, and Keith Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals.




100 Hours at Tobey



Kaitlyn Anderson, Emergency Dept.
Robert Richards, Pastoral Care
Kathryn Conroy, Emergency Dept.
Phyllis Ducary, Emergency Dept.
Joan Holway, Information Desk
Glenn Monterio, Pastoral Care
Marcella Regan, Information Desk
Carol Rhodes, Patient Representative
Eileen Styblo, Emergency Dept.


500 Hours at Tobey



Arlene Barrett, Pastoral Care
Cathy Bergeron, Information Desk
Joyce Houlihan, Patient Representative
Yvonne Jackson, Transportation
Judith MacGregor, Gift Shop
Alice Mercier, Pillow Maker
Pauline Parkinson, Transportation
Barbara Ramsay, Pastoral Care
Jean Reitsma, Information Desk
Marc Ciano, Emergency Dept.


1,000 Hours at Tobey



Maureen DeWitt, Information Desk
Bonnie Murphy, Gift Shop
Ronna Santoro, Gift Shop


1,500 Hours at Tobey



Carl Whitcomb, Transportation
Emma Williams, Medical Records


2,000 Hours at Tobey



Diane Cremonini, Patient Representative
Helen Fisher, Gift Shop


2,500 Hours at Tobey



Patricia Figueredo, Gift Shop
Shirley Kurcharski, Rehab Clinic


4,000 Hours at Tobey



Lucille Dardis, Information Desk
Louise Thunert, SDC


11,000 Hours at Tobey



Corrie Rogers, Rehab Clinic (pictured)




]]> Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:36:04 -0500 november-9-|-southcoast-hospitals-celebrate-volunt http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/110509.html

Pictured from left are Ann Petrella, Charlton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary member; Agatha St. Amour, Director of Volunteer Services, Southcoast Hospitals Group; Sandy Soderstrom, Assistant Principal; Maria Ponte, Principal; Edie Sosnoskie, Charlton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary President, and Marion Greer, Educational Chair.




FALL RIVER, Mass. — The Auxiliary of Charlton Memorial Hospital announced this year's recipient of the Auxiliary's school supply donation program is the first grades at the John J. Doran School in Fall River. The schools supplies were delivered at the beginning of the school year.



Edith Sosnoskie, President of the Auxiliary, said the donation was especially important this year due to the reduced funding that the Fall River school system has had to incur. "As ambassadors to Charlton Memorial Hospital, our Auxiliary members are extremely proud to help the John J. Doran, in any way possible," she said.



The Auxiliary of Charlton Memorial Hospital is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to render service to Charlton Memorial Hospital, its tax-exempt subsidiaries, its patients and to assist in promoting the health and welfare of the community. The Auxiliary raises money throughout the year by hosting fundraisers, a spring fashion show and various cake, jewelry and apparel sales. They also run the hospital gift shop with all proceeds going toward the hospital.



For more information or to join please call 508-679-7038.


]]> Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:53:09 -0500 november-5-|-auxiliary-of-charlton-memorial-announ http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/110409a.html By Christian S. Pope, DO, FACOG
Diplomate, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology


HealthCare for Women Inc., New Bedford and Mattapoisett



Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.






Dr. Pope is a featured columnist for The Standard-Times on women's health topics. Check out Dr. Pope's column the first Tuesday of every month at www.southcoasttoday.com.





Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is common and affects 80 percent of pregnant women. The spectrum of symptoms ranges from mild nausea to unmanageable vomiting which can deplete the body of vital nutrients resulting in hospitalization. It may simply be a nuisance to most women or may be severe enough to affect the health of both the pregnant woman and her fetus.


What Causes morning sickness?



It has been theorized that nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is an evolutionary adaptation that developed to protect the pregnant woman and her fetus from foods that might be potentially dangerous. This theory may in fact explain the temporary aversions to tastes and smells that pregnant women experience.


Hormones



Symptoms are a reaction to the changes your body is going through such as, high pregnancy hormone levels (bBHCG) that are made from the placenta. These levels rising exponentially during the first trimester and peak at 10 weeks pregnancy, a point when symptoms are at their worst, then slowly decline over the remainder of the pregnancy.


Estrogen



Another hormone known to influence nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is estrogen. High estrogen levels associated with pregnancy contribute to nausea.


Gastrointestinal



Your gastrointestinal symptom slows during pregnancy. It takes longer for food to empty from your stomach into your small intestine, and it takes longer for food to digest. This slow down in food travel also contributes to symptoms of fullness and nausea, especially early in pregnancy. This is also why frequent small meals, rather than three large meals, are encouraged during pregnancy for better absorption and tolerance.


Risk Factors



Women with more than one fetus (twins, triplets, etc), uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, or history of nausea and vomiting in previous pregnancy, are at a higher risk of increased nausea in pregnancy.



Additionally, daughters and sisters of women who had severe nausea and vomiting, are more likely to have similar symptoms, and having a history of motion sickness and migraines have also been described as risk factors in some studies.


Is my baby okay?



The effect of nausea/vomiting on the fetus really depends on the severity of the condition. With mild to moderate symptoms, there is usually nothing to worry about. However, in women with severe symptoms, lower birth weights may occur. Severe symptoms relate to those patients whom required long-term treatment with medications throughout their pregnancy and/or require multiple hospital admission for rehydration with intravenous hydration.



In women who suffer from symptoms throughout their pregnancy, frequent fetal growth ultrasounds are recommended to assure normal fetal growth and development.



Curiously numerous studies have shown a lower rate of miscarriage among women with nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. This is thought to be due to vigorous placental synthesis in a healthy pregnancy.


Are non-medicinal therapies effective for treatment?



Treatment begins with prevention.



Few studies have shown that women who were already taking a multivitamin at the time of conception were less likely to need intervention for vomiting in pregnancy. Besides a multivitamin, recommendations to alleviate signs of nausea/vomiting include rest and avoidance of sensory stimuli that can provoke symptoms. For example, avoiding spicy or fatty foods, eating mostly bland or dry foods, high-protein foods, and plenty of small volumes of liquids, especially in the morning helps prevent symptoms. Ginger-ale may help some patients due to the mixed sugar and carbonation content. Also, frequent small meals is encouraged.



Ginger capsules (250mg) four times daily has shown promise among some women in improvement of symptoms. Additionally, pressure with wrist bands or electrical stimulation at the P6 (Neguian) point on the inside of the wrist has shown improvement in symptoms in many women. Also, never underestimate the power of acupuncture in preventing or improving the worst cases of vomiting in pregnancy.


Are medical therapies effective for treatment?



Yes. Sometimes.



Here they are:

1. Vitamin B6 10-25mg four times daily

2. Phenergan 12.5-25mg four times daily

3. Reglan 5-10 mg four times daily

4. Zofran 8mg three times daily

5. Tigan 100mg three times daily ( rectal suppository….in severe cases where you cannot keep anything down..at this point you'll try anything)

6. Steroids in a tapering dose after 10 weeks of pregnancy only

Hyperemesis gravidarum



This is a severe form of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy that causes dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, possible reversible kidney and liver insults, and warrants hospitalization with intravenous and electrolytes replenishment. Rarely patient need IV nutrition for prolonged periods of time, known as TPN (total parenteral nutrition), where liquid food is infused through an intravenous line either in the hospital or at home. For more information on this severe form of ‘morning sickness' you may visit the Hyperemesis Education and Research Foundation at www.hyperemesis.org.


Final Thoughts



Your body goes through many changes in pregnancy, with nausea and vomiting being a frequent normal result of these changes. Usually, passing of time results in improvement or complete resolution of symptoms. If symptoms become severe, there are many treatment options available which may help. And remember, every pregnancy is different and no one knows your body better than you.


]]> Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:39:40 -0500 november-4-|-health-column-what-you-should-know-a http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/110409.html WHAT:



Southcoast Hospitals, the Partnership for Healthcare Excellence and AARP Massachusetts will sponsor an event to highlight efforts underway to improve the quality of health care in Massachusetts.



Hosted by Southcoast Hospitals Group, the event will discuss the challenges faced by patients and health care providers, including variations in quality health care and efforts underway to improve safety and quality.



WHEN:



Monday, November 16


6 to 7 p.m.





WHO:



The panel will include:

• Linda Fitzgerald, State President, AARP Massachusetts.

• Linda Kenney, Executive Director, MITSS (Medically Induced Trauma Support Services).

• Marilyn Kramer, Executive Director, Partnership for Healthcare Excellence.

• E.J. McMahon, MD, MBA, FCAP, Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, Southcoast Hospitals Group.


WHERE:



McBratney Amphitheatre
St. Luke's Hospital


101 Page Street, New Bedford, Mass.





RSVP:



info@ partnershipforhealthcare.org or 617-399-8368





About The Partnership for Healthcare Excellence



The Partnership for Healthcare Excellence is the first statewide effort of its kind to focus specifically on patients — helping them to play a greater role in improving the quality of their health care. The Partnership is a broad-based coalition with participants from every segment of the health care community. Its members include consumer associations, disease and advocacy organizations, doctors, nurses, insurers, business groups, labor, public health advocates and other health care leaders. For more information, including a complete listing of members of the Leadership Council, please visit www.partnershipforhealthcare.org.


About AARP



AARP is a non-profit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

]]> Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:57:38 -0500 november-4-|-southcoast-to-host-forum-on-future-of http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/102909.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals continues to see an increase of influenza-like illnesses across its three hospitals and multiple physician practices. After receiving guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Southcoast Hospitals is not recommending a rapid flu test if H1N1 (Swine) flu is suspected.



"Rapid testing for influenza is not recommended for screening of H1N1 at this time," said E.J. McMahon, MD, MBA, FCAP, Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group.



"Rapid tests can have low sensitivity for H1N1 flu," Dr. McMahon said. "These tests should not be used to rule out the presence of H1N1. If a rapid test is positive for influenza A, the patient can be presumed to have H1N1. In a number of cases, if a rapid test is negative, the patient may still have H1N1. Health care providers are advised to manage and monitor symptoms rather than rely on a test that may not be accurate."



According to Massachusetts DPH: "Decisions regarding treatment, selection of antiviral agents and isolation should be based on clinical factors, and should not be contingent on laboratory confirmation."



Southcoast's policy states that if there are compelling clinical or public health concerns, rapid testing will be used. This decision will be made by the individual health care providers.



On the public health level, early testing for purposes of surveillance provides a useful picture of how the virus is spreading. On the hospital and community level, whether it is H1N1 (Swine) flu or seasonal flu, the treatment would be the same.



"H1N1 flu is treated the same as seasonal flu — there is no benefit in knowing whether it is H1N1 flu or not," Dr. McMahon said. "What patients do need to know is that this virus can be very serious, so it is important to monitor you or your child's symptoms, practice good hygiene and hand washing. Also note that special populations, such as, pregnant women, people ages 6 months to 24 years old, all people with chronic illness, asthma or diabetes, should receive the vaccine when it is available."



Dr. McMahon also explained that the seasonal flu is not currently circulating in our region. If a person has flu-like symptoms, it is most likely H1N1 (Swine) flu, he said.



For more information on flu prevention and facts visit www.southcoast.org/flu/. You can also receive weekly tips from Southcoast and Dr. McMahon in a weekly video podcast available on Southcoast's flu Website or through iTunes.


]]> Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:56:26 -0400 october-29-|-h1n1-testing-not-recommended-by-healt http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/102209.html

Subscribe to our weekly video podcast, "Flu Facts: Spread the message, not the flu," through iTunes.




NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group has updated its visitors policy to limit visitor access to maternity and pediatric units to protect the patients most at-risk for H1N1 (Swine) flu and seasonal flu. The policy applies to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.



"Southcoast Hospitals is asking the public to avoid visits to friends and family in the hospital if they have cold or flu symptoms," said Patrick Gannon, RPh, Vice President of Quality & Safety for Southcoast Hospitals Group. "As of Monday, October 26, we are limiting visitors to the maternity and pediatric units at our three hospitals to only those over the age of 18 years old, including siblings. Children who are sick at any time of the year should never come to the hospital to visit a patient."



Maternity and Pediatric Unit visitor policy



Southcoast has maternity units at all three hospital sites and pediatric units at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham. For the safety of all of the infants and children receiving care at the hospital, their parents and guardians and hospital staff, no visitors will be allowed under the age of 18, including siblings, effective Monday, October 26.



"It is always important to protect against the flu, but this year the added threat of H1N1 (Swine) flu makes it even more important that we all do our part to protect ourselves and our community," said Marcia Liggin, RN, Chief Nursing Officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group. "The decision to limit visitors to the maternity and pediatric units is an industry-wide practice that is based on recommendations of federal health officials."



In addition, no visitors with cold or flu symptoms will be allowed. Liggin said the policy will continue to be reviewed as the flu season progresses.



"We understand this may be a disappointment to our parents, but H1N1 poses a serious health risk to infants and children in our care and our staff members," said Janine Fontaine, RN, Director of Women's Health for Southcoast Hospitals Group. "Infants are thought to be at higher risk for severe illness from H1N1 and little is known about the prevention of H1N1 flu infections in infants. It is our responsibility to be proactive in keeping them safe."



Fontaine also said that because the babies do not yet have their own immunity and are not able to receive protection against the flu virus through vaccination, public health officials recommend that the following people who are in contact with infants receive the H1N1 vaccine:


• Pregnant women.

• New mothers, fathers and guardians.

• Household contacts and caregivers of infants who are less than 6 months old.

• Children 6 months to 24 years.

• Persons age 25 to 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.


General Visitor Policy



Surgical masks, antibacterial hand sanitizer, tissues and general information in multiple languages on the flu are available at all of the hospital's main lobby entrances and Emergency Department entrances.



Patients and people entering the hospital with cold or flu symptoms are asked to wear surgical masks that will be provided by hospital staff. The hospital also requests patients to practice safe hygiene by washing hands and/or using the antibacterial dispensers located throughout public areas and patient floors.



Visitors who are in the hospital for non-critical situations and who have obvious cold or flu symptoms may be given a mask and asked to leave the hospital for the safety of our patients and employees.



E-Mail a Patient



Another option for people who want to stay in touch with a loved one or friend who is a patient at Southcoast Hospitals is the "E-Mail a Patient" program. By clicking on the "E-Mail a Patient" link, anyone can create a private message and have it delivered to a patient Monday through Friday. Every effort is made to deliver the message the same day it is sent.



"E-mail is a great option for keeping in touch with a loved one in the hospital — especially during cold and flu season," Liggin said.
To send an e-mail to a patient, go to www.southcoast.org/email/, select the hospital site and complete the simple form.



Southcoast Hospitals Group continues to monitor, plan and implement a regional response to the H1N1 (Swine) flu outbreak — including a Website, weekly video podcast and flu clinic information — to keep people informed of the latest developments.



A primary source of information and crucial link to local health facts is the hospitals' Website: www.southcoast.org/flu/. The latest recommendations, updates and guidance from federal and state health experts is compiled in one convenient location along with additional local resources.



A weekly video podcast, "Flu Facts: Share the message, not the flu," is available on Southcoast's Website or through iTunes.



Southcoast also sends out regular updates on Twitter and Facebook. Get connected at www.southcoast.org/connect/.


]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:03:06 -0400 october-22-|-southcoast-hospitals-updates-hospital http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/101409b.html FAIRHAVEN, Mass. — Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care and Infusion Services is introducing a new program, "Caring for Caregivers." Free and open to the public, this new support group is facilitated by Drs. Robert and Barbara Greene and will focus on how caregivers can care for themselves as they care for another.



The first program is scheduled for Monday, November 2, from 6:30 p.m. at the Southcoast Hospice offices located at 200 Mill Road, Fairhaven. For more information or to register, call Jo-Ann Richard at 508-984-0277.


]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:05:59 -0400 october-14-|-southcoast-hospice-introduces-caring http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/101409a.html NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. — Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care & Home Infusion Services will be holding its Annual Interfaith Memorial Service on Wednesday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Rd., North Dartmouth.



Southcoast's Annual Interfaith Memorial Service celebrates the lives of those who have passed and provides comfort for all who are grieving a loved one during the holiday season. An informal social gathering with family, friends, hospice and palliative care staff and volunteers will follow in the church hall.



Southcoast offers bereavement support groups for adults, adolescents and children all year long. For more information, call Southcoast Hospice at 508-984-0202.



Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care & Infusion Services, located at 200 Mill Road in Fairhaven, is a department of Southcoast Hospitals Group. Southcoast Home Care provides comprehensive, preventive and rehabilitative home health care to residents of the Greater New Bedford and Wareham areas and is a preferred HomMed Home Health Care Agency of Choice.

]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:52:49 -0400 october-14-|-southcoast-hospice-to-hold-annual-int http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/101409.html

Clare F. Healy




WAREHAM, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group announced the appointment of Clare F. Healy as Chief Philanthropy Officer for Tobey Hospital in Wareham.



A native of Marion, Healy most recently served as Regional Development Director at Brown University in Providence, R.I., leading efforts in the Midwest and Great Lakes region for Brown's $1.4 billion Campaign for Academic Enrichment. Prior to that she lived in New York City where she has more than 10 years of experience in development for non-profit organizations, including Special Olympics New York, Junior Achievement of New York and Citymeals-on-Wheels. She also worked within the for-profit sector at companies that include Bank of America, Wells BDDP and Grey Advertising.



Healy attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., where she received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Theater Arts. She was active in numerous community groups in Manhattan, now serves on the Board of Trustees for Elizabeth Taber Library and locally does various non-for-profit committee work for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Marion Historical Society and Community Nurse and Hospice.



She can be reached at Tobey Hospital, External Affairs, 508-273-4364.


]]> Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:14:33 -0400 october-14-|-tobey-hospital-names-chief-philanthro http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/100909.html

Former Sen. Bill Bradley talked about health reform with physicians from Southcoast Hospitals Group Photo credit: Deborah Hynes




SWANSEA, Mass. — Former Sen. Bill Bradley called for health care reform that focused on the "health of the patient" and a new system that offers "total transparency" for quality and cost last night at the Southcoast Hospitals Group physician annual meeting.

"I think we have the best health care in the world, but we do not have the best health care system," said Bradley, addressing more than 170 Southcoast Hospitals Group physicians in Swansea.

"The health of the patient has to be the central goal of the entire system and incentives [for hospitals, physicians, insurers and medical device manufacturers] have to be aligned to achieve that objective," he said.

"We need to be clear: There are no partial answers. The goal is to improve the overall health of all people, to keep our technological edge, to cover the unexpected [health incident] and to allow people to die in dignity."

Bradley, who is now a managing partner at Allen & Co. in New York and hosts a radio show on Sirius XM Radio, was invited to speak through Rev. Dr. Robert Lawrence, Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Fall River and a longtime supporter of Southcoast and Charlton Memorial Hospital.

"Southcoast physicians were honored to host Sen. Bradley at our annual meeting. During a tumultuous time in our nation's economy and the ongoing challenges of health care reform, the Senator offered some interesting perspectives as the debate continues over the future of health care in the U.S.," said E.J. McMahon, MD, MBA, FCAP, Chief Medical Officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group. "We are extremely grateful to Rev. Lawrence for making it possible for our physicians to hear from Sen. Bradley."

Bradley's vision for health care reform included national health goals for all hospitals, physicians, insurers and the government, including reducing infant mortality, addressing diseases such as diabetes and having "total transparency" of the system.

"We need total transparency on quality and cost," he said. "We need to be able to look into every hospital to see what is happening on that day, in that month or in that year. [Hospitals and physicians] should be paid for how well you manage a patient's care over the course of an illness — from diagnosis and treatment to rehab to disease management."

With health reform being debated in Congress and in the news media, Bradley said bipartisan support would be essential for achieving reform. That means combining universal coverage with tort reform.

"We need to use conservative means to achieve liberal ends," Bradley said. "Everyone should be covered with a basic benefit. There can always be an option to buy more deluxe coverage. Insurance companies will have to compete to provide the best plans. And we need genuine malpractice reform with medical courts that have experts as judges.

"Universal coverage and malpractice reform — put them together and you get 70 votes."

Like most of society, Bradley noted that health care is increasingly operating in a more globalized world, including treating diseases that jump international boundaries and using telemedicine to read X-rays and other tests.

"What's important to keep in mind is the context in which we are doing reform — globalization," he said. "Diseases are spread globally, just look at SARS and swine flu. We live in a globalized, highly technological world and health care is part of a global supply chain."

As evidence of a broken health care system, Bradley pointed to some "sobering statistics," such as runaway costs, which he said have outpaced inflation by as much as three times, and medical errors that cause 195,000 in-hospital deaths each year. The U.S. also leads the world in obesity, is 12th in life expectancy and 17th in infant mortality.

Some 47 million people in the U.S. currently go without health insurance, which Bradley said is equivalent to all of the combined population of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and New Mexico.
"Hospitals are like every other player in this drama — you can imagine better days with a different system," he said.

With regards to how the estimated $800 million to $1.2 trillion tab is funded, Bradley said $625 billion would come from new taxes but the balance would need to be found in the way health care is delivered and in malpractice reform. Businesses currently receive an annual federal subsidy of $160 billion for health care, which could also go toward paying for reform.

]]> Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:42:31 -0400 october-9-|-sen-bill-bradley-addresses-southcoast http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/100909a.html

Robin Marek, CFRE




NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group announced the appointment of Robin Marek, CFRE, as Chief Philanthropy Officer for St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford.



Marek has more than 25 years of experience in development for non-profit institutions in Rhode Island, including Brown University and the Providence Health Centers. She most recently served as Executive Director of Development at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. Prior to that position she served as the initial Executive Director of the Kent Hospital Foundation in Warwick, R.I., where she helped create the hospital's philanthropic foundation in 2000 and led the foundation's first comprehensive campaign to renovate and expand its Emergency Department.



Marek attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive.



She is on the Board of Directors for the Partners for Philanthropic Planning, Rhode Island, and is a member of Leadership Rhode Island. Marek lives in North Kingstown, R.I., with her husband, David Beutel.


]]> Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:15:18 -0400 october-9-|-st-lukes-hospital-names-chief-philan http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/100609.html DARTMOUTH, Mass. — Get your skin checked by a dermatologist and know the signs of skin cancer. Southcoast Hospitals Group is offering free skin cancer screenings on Wednesday, October 28, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care at 480 Hawthorn Street in North Dartmouth.



Dermatologists who specialize in the treatment of skin disease and disorders will conduct the screenings and provide information on skin cancer prevention and services for cancer patients. Space is limited and pre-registration for the screening is required. To register please call the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care at 1-774-206-4000


]]> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:23:25 -0400 october-6-|-free-skin-cancer-screenings-announced http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/100109.html

Subscribe to our weekly video podcast, "Flu Facts: Spread the message, not the flu," through iTunes.





FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group continues to monitor, plan and implement a regional response to the H1N1 (Swine) flu outbreak, including a Website and weekly video podcast to keep people informed of the latest developments.



Working on multiple fronts, inside the hospital walls and beyond, Southcoast is providing outreach information to community members, high-risk populations and coordinating with local health agencies on community H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccination programs.



Information is changing daily and it is difficult to keep up-to-date. A primary source of information and crucial link to local health facts is the hospitals' Website: www.southcoast.org/flu/. The latest recommendations, updates and guidance from federal and state health experts is compiled in one convenient location along with additional local resources, such as:


• Weekly video podcast, "Flu Facts: Spread the message, not the flu," featuring Eugene McMahon, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group. Each week the podcast will cover key facts about the flu and news and information about local resources, such as flu clinics. The podcast is available at www.southcoast.org/flu/ or through iTunes.
  

• Frequent "Flu Facts" and updates via Facebook, Twitter and Southcoast eNews.
  

• Easy links to federal and state officials to find the latest news and information.
  

• Helpful tips and fact sheets.
  

• A "Quick Poll" visitor response on all things flu, such as "When is the best time to hold a flu clinic?" and "Do you plan to get the H1N1 flu shot?" Polls will change each week.
  

• Guidance for special populations, including pregnant women, what you can do and caring for someone with the flu at home.
  

• A free "Flu Facts" poster for the public encouraging proper hygiene that can be downloaded and displayed in public areas.
  

• Listings of H1N1 flu clinics (once the vaccine becomes available).


"Southcoast continues to dedicate significant resources to monitoring and responding to the H1N1 (Swine) flu outbreak. Our regional health care network provides our community members a coordinated response and consistent local information," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO, Southcoast Hospitals Group. "We are encouraging community members to take advantage of the resources that are available through Southcoast and federal and state health experts."



Southcoast will be hosting H1N1 (Swine) flu clinics once the vaccine is available. Hospital officials have also been meeting with local health agencies throughout the South Coast region regarding joint clinics and providing staff and expertise for distribution and administration of the vaccine.



General information on influenza is also available through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's free health information line by dialing 2-1-1 from anywhere in Massachusetts.


]]> Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:24:51 -0400 october-1-|-southcoast-takes-leadership-role-in-re http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/100109a.html By Christian S. Pope, DO, FACOG
Diplomate, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology


HealthCare for Women Inc., New Bedford and Mattapoisett



Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.






Dr. Pope is a featured columnist for The Standard-Times on women's health topics. Check out Dr. Pope's column the first Tuesday of every month at www.southcoasttoday.com.





Heavy menstrual bleeding or "menorrhagia" afflicts one in five women; that is approximately 10 million women in the U.S., including one-third of all baby boomers. Menorrhagia is a clinical term used in gynecology to describe menstrual periods that are heavy, prolonged or restrict a woman's quality of life. Patients who perceive that their periods are heavy can be offered various FDA-approved treatment options.



What are the physical & psychological consequences of menorrhagia?



Symptoms range from severe pain and cramping to fatigue, emotional turmoil and embarrassment. Regardless of your symptoms, heavy menses can be restrictive to lifestyle, social activities and may result in missed work time.



In a recent survey of women suffering from heavy periods, nearly 60 percent reported lack of confidence and 70 percent felt they could not perform effectively at work or other activities and often missed plans or athletic events. Eighty percent of women claimed that they experience anxiety surrounding their menstrual cycle. Four out of five women also report a negative impact on their sexual relationship. Additionally, menorrhagia is also a common cause of iron deficiency anemia. According to a recent survey conducted by the National Women's Health Resource Center, nearly 40 percent of women with menorrhagia developed anemia. Anemia is a common cause of fatigue and propensity to develop bladder infections and often requires treatment with iron replacement therapy.



What are the current treatment options?



Hormonal Therapy: Oral contraceptives are commonly used. For women who would like to keep their child-bearing options open, oral contraceptives may help alleviate heavy bleeding. However, research shows hormonal therapy is effective in reducing or eliminating heavy periods in less than 50 percent of cases. Side effects and potential risks of oral contraceptives need to be weighed against the success rate in improving symptoms.



Mirena Intrauterine Device: A non FDA-approved option for menorrhagia is a 5-year long acting contraceptive that is placed within the uterus during an office visit. It releases a hormone called progesterone locally within the uterus that over several months causes menses to lighten with as many as 25 percent of women experiencing no menses 12 months after its insertion. Side effects range from mild cramping to irregular bleeding for the first several months.



Endometrial Ablation: A highly successful outpatient procedure that permanently treats the uterine lining that causes menstrual bleeding. Because of its safety, high efficacy and minimal recovery time, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that it be considered as a first-line treatment for women with problem periods caused by heavy menstrual bleeding who have completed child-bearing, bypassing the potentially less successful option of hormonal therapy.



Endometrial ablation is an outpatient procedure that takes just a few minutes and requires no general anesthesia, no abdominal incisions, minimal recovery time and return to normal activities the day following the procedure. Results demonstrate that nearly 80 percent of women achieved complete cessation of their periods, and 98 percent had a significant improvement in the amount of menstrual bleeding. Studies have consistently demonstrated improved quality of life, reduced PMS symptoms as well as menstrual related cramping after endometrial ablation has been performed.



Two types of endometrial ablation with the highest success rates are Novasure® and Thermachoice® endometrial ablations. You may learn about these procedures from discussion with your gynecologist and related websites at www.novasure.com, www.gynecare.com/thermachoice and www.southcoast.org/women/.



Hysterectomy: Approximately 600,0000 hysterectomies are performed in the U.S. each year. The most common reasons leading to the procedure are excessive menstrual bleeding, uterine fibroids and uterine cancer. A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. Some women also warrant removal of the cervix and/or ovaries for reasons unrelated to their bleeding concerns. It is important to note that just because you're having a hysterectomy, does not mean that you are having your ovaries removed, which would mean no change in your daily hormone levels. Hysterectomy equals no more periods, not menopause.



Curiously, most hysterectomies in the U.S. are still being performed through a six inch incision in the lower abdomen. In the Southcoast, gynecologists are performing most hysterectomies laparoscopically, that is, through three tiny one to two centimeter incisions in the abdomen. This allows for only one overnight hospital stay, less blood loss at surgery, lower infection risk, less postoperative pain, much faster recovery time of about two weeks with a better cosmetic outcome on the skin.



In the upcoming year, the newest innovation may likely be entering our area with hysterectomies being performed through a single two cm incision hidden in the navel area. Again, all the benefits of a minimally invasive approach to a hysterectomy.



Heavy menstrual bleeding is a potentially serious and restricting medical condition that forces sufferers to make lifestyle changes. Women dealing from menorrhagia now have a variety of highly successful treatment options available to them which can greatly improve their quality of life.


]]> Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:50:08 -0400 october-1-|-health-column-health-column-enough-i http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/092409.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Shawmut Diner in New Bedford will host a blood drive with the Southcoast Blood Bank on Thursday, October 15, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Owners Phil and Celeste Paleologos are offering $3 off breakfast and lunch the day of the drive for all blood donors.



"Our community is similar to an extended family, and we are all linked by giving blood to help each other," Phil Paleologos said.



The blood drive will take place on the Southcoast Health Van located at Shawmut Diner, 943 Shawmut Avenue in New Bedford. Free health screenings will also be offered.



As an added incentive, during the month of October donors receive a free half-pound of Dorothy Cox chocolate-covered cranberries.



Southcoast hosts blood drives throughout the region on the Southcoast Health Van and at local businesses. When you donate at a Southcoast-sponsored blood drive, the blood stays local, helping to keep your community blood supply strong. The Southcoast Health Van schedule can be found online at www.southcoast.org/van/ or by calling 508-961-5320.



Follow us on Twitter for daily updates on the Southcoast Blood Drives and Southcoast Health Van locations. Find a link to our Twitter feed at www.southcoast.org/connect/.

]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:02:49 -0400 september-24-|-shawmut-diner-to-host-southcoast-bl http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/092309.html FAIRHAVEN, Mass. — The Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital and Dorothy Cox Chocolates are teaming up this October on a sweet incentive. Anyone who donates blood at a Southcoast sponsored blood drive during the month will receive a free half-pound of Dorothy Cox chocolate covered cranberries.



"Our donors look forward to this great incentive by Dorothy Cox each October," said Susan Oliveira, Team Leader for the Southcoast Health Van and Southcoast blood donor recruitment program. "We are very grateful for the Cox Family's ongoing support."



Anyone who donates blood at a Southcoast location during the month of October will receive a certificate for a free half-pound of Dorothy Cox chocolate-covered cranberries — you can choose from milk-, dark- or yogurt-covered. The certificate is redeemable at Dorothy Cox Chocolates at 115 Huttleston Ave. in Fairhaven.



"When you give at a Southcoast sponsored blood drive, the blood is used right here at your local hospital. Supporting the Southcoast Blood Bank is a great way for all of us to help our neighbors and give back to the community," said Dorothy Cox, owner of Dorothy Cox Chocolates in Fairhaven.



Where to donate



The Southcoast Blood Bank: The Southcoast Blood Bank is located at St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page Street, New Bedford, off the main lobby. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 2:30 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, call 508-961-5320. More information is available online at www.southcoast.org/bloodbank/.



Community Blood Drives: Southcoast hosts blood drives throughout the region on the Southcoast Health Van and at local businesses. The schedule can be found online at www.southcoast.org/van/ or by calling 508-961-5320.



Follow us on Twitter for daily updates on the Southcoast Blood Drives and Southcoast Health Van locations. Find a link to our Twitter feed at www.southcoast.org/connect/.


]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:35:16 -0400 september-23-|-dorothy-cox-offers-a-sweet-incentiv http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/092209.html NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. — Southcoast's annual "Morning of Health for Women" will be held on Saturday, October 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Southcoast Center for Women's Health, 300B Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth.



This year Southcoast will be hosting free screenings for endovascular treatment of varicose veins with Salman Bashir, MD. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling the Southcoast Wellness Line at 1-800-497-1727.



Free and open to the public, highlights of the free events include:


• Body by Design

• Curves of Dartmouth

• Reiki

• Fabulous Foundations

• Acupuncture

• Hypnotist

• Massage

• Reflexology

• YWCA


The event will feature the following Southcoast experts who will answer your questions about breast health:


• Patricia Andrade, MD, surgeon, Southcoast.

• Anne Ruggieri, MD, radiologist, Southcoast.

• Rose Zolnierz, RN, nurse practitioner from Healthcare for Women.

• Valerie Tjersland, RT, mammography technologist, Southcoast.

• Denise Mercier, a breast cancer survivor.


The Southcoast Health Van will provide free screenings for cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and bone density.



To register, call the Southcoast Wellness Line at 1-800-497-1727. Walk-ins will be accepted on the day of the event.


]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:15:37 -0400 september-22-|-southcoasts-womens-health-fair-to http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/091709.html





FALL RIVER, Mass. — The public is invited to tour the new Southcoast Center for Cancer Care on Saturday, October 3, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Charlton Memorial Hospital.



The Southcoast Center for Cancer Care doctors, patient navigator and health care team will be conducting tours of the new center, presenting health information and answering questions throughout the afternoon.



Highlights of the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care open house include:

• Meet our physicians, patient navigator and care team.

• Tour the new center.

• Fall-themed entertainment and family-focused activities:

  • Pumpkin decorating station for kids.

  • Professional pumpkin carver.

  • Healthy cooking demonstrations.

• Health information.

• Prizes & giveaways.


The Southcoast Center for Cancer Care is located in the Mitchell Therapies Building at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. The entrance to the new center and the activity tent will be located off Prospect Street at the back of Charlton Memorial Hospital. Ample parking is available. The event will take place rain or shine. No registration necessary. For more information, call 508-961-5899.



Southcoast Hospitals Group announced the opening of its new Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River this past July. Located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, the new cancer care center is the first step toward bringing coordinated care and advanced oncology services to the entire South Coast region — from Fall River to Cape Cod.



The new comprehensive center provides a full range of oncology services, including image-guided radiation therapy, the very latest technology available in radiation treatment for cancer. The radiation therapy program will utilize IGRT, IMRT and PET/CT technology, which is considered the very latest technology available in radiation treatment for cancer. The Cancer Center will also specialize in the latest chemotherapies, surgery and advanced diagnostic imaging. Support services, educational materials and screenings will be offered in collaboration with the American Cancer Society.



Team of Caregivers



Southcoast has pulled together an outstanding team of professionals, including physicians from some of the major academic cancer centers around the country. Patients undergoing cancer treatments may receive care from medical, radiation and/or surgical oncologists. Other members of the team include oncology nurses, technologists, pharmacists, social workers and nutritionists.



Leading the team is Therese Mulvey, MD, a board-certified physician in medical oncology and internal medicine. She joined Southcoast as Physician-in-Chief for Oncology Services from Commonwealth Hematology Oncology in Quincy, Mass., New England's largest private cancer care network, where she has practiced since 1991 and served as president.



Comforting care



Southcoast's new Cancer Centers also has a dedicated "Patient Navigator" to make sure every patient's journey through cancer treatment is as smooth as possible. The Patient Navigator is a "go-to" person to help coordinate appointments, answer questions and point them in the right direction will guide every patient through their care. This coordinator will manage all aspects of the patient's care, including appointments with physicians, radiology and laboratory services, medication and pain management, support services, transportation and any questions the patient or family members may have during their visit or after they return home.



The Fall River cancer center will operate as an extension of Southcoast's new flagship cancer center in Fairhaven that was announced last year and is slated to open in 2011. The Fairhaven center will be located on Mill Road and will address the fragmented cancer care and growing need for advanced comprehensive cancer services in the eastern portion of the region. Patients in that part of the South Coast currently have to travel long distances for cancer care.


]]> Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:22:49 -0400 september-17-|-open-house-tours-planned-for-sout http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/091509.html NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. — The Southcoast Diabetes Management Program's Greater New Bedford location has relocated to Dartmouth Place, 49 State Road, Mashpee Building, Dartmouth, Mass.



Southcoast Diabetes Management Program, which is certified by the American Diabetes Association, is a comprehensive series of classes designed to give adults and their families the knowledge to live their lives with diabetes.



Education is offered in small group sessions or individually as necessary. The program addresses all aspects of diabetes self-management including meal planning, medication management, complications of diabetes and much more.



Call our toll-free number at 877-212-9135 or speak to your physician about a referral to our program. Additional information is available at www.southcoast.org/diabetes.



Southcoast Diabetes Management Programs are also available in Fall River and Wareham:


Charlton Memorial Hospital
363 Highland Avenue
Fall River, MA 02720
508-679-7143 or 1-877-212-9135



Tobey Hospital
43 High Street


Wareham, MA 02571
1-877-212-9135


]]> Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:31:54 -0400 september-15-|-southcoast-diabetes-management-prog http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/091109.html











IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER Employees, trustees and medical staff of Southcoast Health System, Southcoast Hospitals Group and its subisiaries are considered insiders and neither they nor their immediate family members can invest in these bonds.

BOSTON (Standard & Poor's) — Sept. 11, 2009 — Standard & Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'A' rating, and stable outlook, to Massachusetts Health & Educational Facilities Authority's $57.4 million series 2009D revenue bonds and the $63.5 million remaining on the series 1998A revenue bonds, issued for Southcoast Health System Obligated Group.

In the coming weeks, Standard & Poor's expects to assign a joint-criteria rating on Southcoast's $47.4 million series 2008C bonds outstanding. The rating service will base its rating on Southcoast Health System's combined credit quality and Bank of America's rating, the letter of credit provider.

Southcoast's strengths include a strong balance sheet with ample liquidity and light leverage for the rating, as well as a dominant business
position in its core market, highlighted by a 70% market share in its primary service area. Southcoast also benefits from a strong and unified management team across all three of its hospitals and across the system overall.

The stable outlook reflects Southcoast's healthy balance sheet and improved financial operating performance through the fiscal 2009 interim period. Standard & Poor's understands fiscal 2010 will be a challenging Medicaid reimbursement year for the organization. Management's quick action to contain costs and the knowledge that management expects offsetting growth in other areas of reimbursement, however, mitigate the rating service's concerns.

"If Southcoast is able to stabilize its operating margins over the next few years, without diluting liquidity, we believe a positive outlook and/or a higher rating is possible," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Jennifer Soule. "It is also our opinion that a lower rating would likely only occur if Southcoast's financial profile, specifically its strong liquidity, were to deteriorate significantly."

Organizational challenges include volatile operating earnings over the past five fiscal years due to fluctuating government reimbursement and declines in some areas of utilization and the effect of recessionary and investment market pressures over the past 12 months on the system. While Southcoast's income statement metrics are below Standard & Poor's medians for an 'A' rating, its balance sheet metrics are far more favorable.

This balance of credit characteristics, coupled with its dominant business position, supports the current rating.

RELATED RESEARCH

• USPF Criteria: "Not-For-Profit Health Care," June 14, 2007

• USPF Criteria: "Debt Derivative Profile Scores," March 27, 2006

Complete ratings information is available to RatingsDirect subscribers at www.ratingsdirect.com. All ratings affected by this rating action can be found on Standard & Poor's public Web site at www.standardandpoors.com; select your preferred country or region, then Ratings in the left navigation bar, followed by Find a Rating.




Primary Credit Analyst:
Jennifer Soule, Boston
(1) 617-530-8313
jennifer_soule@standardandpoors.com



Secondary Credit Analyst:
Martin D Arrick, New York
(1) 212-438-7963
martin_arrick@standardandpoors.com




]]> Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:46:06 -0400 september-11-|-southcoast-health-system-obligated http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/090809.html FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group is sponsoring a series of free vascular screenings this fall. Appointments are required and on a first-come, first-served basis by calling 800-497-1727. No walk-ins will be accepted on screening days.



FALL RIVER



Screenings will be held at Charlton Memorial Hospital, 363 Highland Ave. in Fall River on the Southcoast Health Van from 5 to 7 p.m. The van will be located outside the hospital's main entrance.


• Wednesday, Sept. 9

• Wednesday, Sept. 30

• Wednesday, Oct. 7

• Monday, Oct. 19

• Wednesday, Oct. 28

• Wednesday, Nov. 4
  

WAREHAM



Screenings will be held at Tobey Hospital, 43 High St. in Wareham from 5 to 7 p.m.


• Monday, Sept. 14

• Wednesday, Oct. 14

• Thursday, Nov. 5
  

The screenings are basic vascular screenings that can help detect a condition called peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The non-invasive screenings are performed by a trained nurse and take approximately 20 minutes. Patients should arrive 15 minutes prior to screening time.



What is PVD?



According to the American Heart Association, PVD occurs mainly in the vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm muscles. If left untreated, PVD can result in peripheral artery disease (PAD) a condition that puts people at higher risk of death from stroke and heart attack due to the risk of blood clots.



"Because the symptoms of PVD usually disappear after rest, many sufferers do not seek help because they believe their pain is a normal part of growing older," said Gail Perzentz, RN, who conducts the screenings at St. Luke's Hospital. "Regular vascular screenings can detect PVD, a potentially serious circulatory problem characterized by an ache, pain or cramping in the legs, calves or buttocks while walking or exercising."



For more information on PVD, www.americanheart.org.


]]> Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:01:01 -0400 september-8-|-space-remains-for-free-vascular-scre http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/090309.html By Christian S. Pope, DO, FACOG
Diplomate, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology


HealthCare for Women Inc., New Bedford and Mattapoisett



Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.






Dr. Pope is a featured columnist for The Standard-Times on women's health topics. Check out Dr. Pope's column the first Tuesday of every month at www.southcoasttoday.com.





H1N1 2009 & Pregnancy: Where are we now?



In the spring of 1918, the most lethal pandemic in history accounted for nearly 100 million deaths worldwide with 600,000 deaths in the United States alone. Remarkably, instead of deaths limited to the extremes of age, and chronically ill as is typical for seasonal influenza, this pandemic hit even the healthiest population segment. Strikingly, there was a high mortality rate among pregnant women.



There is no question that medical treatment and prevention is more sophisticated than in 1918, however it's successor, H5N1 or "bird flu" from Southeast Asia was responsible for a high mortality rate of 64 percent in birds and humans, with six pregnant women infected, four of which died.



What do pregnant women need to know?



Since the virus was initially acquired in Mexico, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported 34 cases of H1N1 swine influenza in pregnant women in thirteen states. Given the increased morbidity and mortality that pregnant women face with influenza infection, it may not be surprising that the second mortality reported in the U.S. occurred in a woman 35 weeks pregnant this past April. In general, it is estimated that there is approximately one reported case per 100,000 of H1N1 in pregnant women; and pregnant women with confirmed cases of H1N1 are four times more likely to be admitted to the hospital than the general population.



Symptoms in the confirmed cases of H1N1 include fever and cough in more than 95 percent of cases. Also a runny nose, sore throat, headache, shortness of breath and muscle aches were reported in about half the cases, with vomiting and diarrhea reported less frequently. In general, symptoms reported are similar in both pregnant and non-pregnant women; however, pregnant women were more likely to report shortness of breath.



Little is known about the effects of H1N1 on the fetus, as most of the pregnant women who tested positive have not given birth yet. Similar to seasonal influenza, much is still unknown, but it is considered infrequent for the virus to pass through the placenta.



The CDC expects a vaccine to protect against H1N1 influenza to be available this fall.In the meantime, the CDC has recommended that pregnant women with symptoms suggestive of influenza be treated with an antiviral medication, Tamiflu (oseltamivir), and those with significant exposure should receive a prophylactic course of the medicine.



Vaccination is key



Once available, vaccination will be a vital element of the public health response to this influenza.



At present, the morbidity and mortality related to the current H1N1 influenza is relatively low. However, public health officials have concerns that the virus could mutate during these summer months and produce a second phase of illness in the fall, with more severe morbidity and possibly mortality.



Pregnant women are considered a high-priority group for receipt of pandemic influenza vaccine. Getting vaccinated during pregnancy for both the seasonal influenza and the H1N1 virus is the best way to protect against the flu.



Unfortunately, studies have shown that pregnant women have one of the lowest inoculation rates of all adult population groups recommended to receive the vaccine.* Information about the safety of influenza vaccine during pregnancy is scarce, but available data suggests no evidence of harm to either mother or infant.



Whether you are pregnant or not, it is important to take preventive steps against the flu. Wash your hands frequently or use an alcohol based antibacterial. Try to avoid contact with sick people. Avoid touching your face, mouth, eyes or nose. This is how germs are transmitted. If you are pregnant and have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of H1N1, consult your physician immediately.



Southcoast Hospitals has compiled an H1N1 facts page including the latest guidelines from the CDC for pregnant women: http://www.southcoast.org/health/h1n1flu.html.



* Recommendation by the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.


]]> Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:35:16 -0400 september-3-|-health-column-h1n1-2009-pregnancy http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/082509.html

Hyperbaric oxygen chamber




FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group announced plans today to open the region's first comprehensive Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Program for the treatment of chronic and non-healing wounds. The center will be located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, the Fall River site of Southcoast Hospitals Group.



Created in partnership with Diversified Clinical Services, the world's largest wound care management company, the Southcoast Wound Care Center will offer the latest in hospital-based outpatient wound care, including circulatory system diagnostics and treatment, nutrition, pain management, diabetes care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, also known as HBOT.



"Southcoast continues to invest in the future by providing high-quality, well-respected programs such as bariatric surgery, cardiac care and comprehensive oncology services throughout the entire South Coast region," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "This comprehensive program will provide a multi-disciplinary approach to the management of complex wounds and state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen therapy to further enhance the services we currently offer."



The Southcoast Wound Care Center will be located in an existing wing of Charlton Memorial Hospital, adjacent to the main entrance. Southcoast will be working with Diversified Clinical Services, the pioneer and leader in wound management services, to integrate the new center into Southcoast's existing clinical programs and primary care services. Diversified brings clinical expertise to train Southcoast staff and physicians and will provide program oversight and access to clinical protocols.



"Beginning in February 2010, the South Coast region will have its first dedicated wound care center offering patients comprehensive services in one location," said Ellen Banach, Senior Vice President of Strategic Services for Southcoast. "Dedicated wound care centers have proven to be the most effective way to treat patients with non-healing or chronic wounds. Partnering with the nation's leading provider of wound care services further guarantees that patients receive the highest quality care through the area's most experienced physicians and our coordinated team of health care professionals."



Comprehensive wound care centers treat wound problems with a variety of clinical treatments, including the removal of damaged tissue (a technique known as debridement), medicines, dressings and a wide range of support services. An essential part of the program is the collaboration with the patient's primary care or referring physician and continued patient education.



The new Southcoast Wound Care Center will utilize the most up-to-date approaches to wound healing and prevention, drawing upon the newest scientific advances in wound care including the region's first on-site chamber designed to deliver high doses of healing oxygen directly to help improve difficult wounds.



Nationally some 7 million people suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds — a serious disorder that can lead to amputation and dramatically impaired quality of life.



"Associated with inadequate circulation, vascular insufficiency, obesity and immobility, non-healing wounds occur most frequently in the elderly and in people with diabetes," said Gerald Monchik, MD, a surgeon at Charlton Memorial Hospital and founding member of Truesdale Surgical Associates. "Studies have shown that specialized wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy accelerates wound healing, reduces amputation rates and helps patients avoid hospitalization."



In addition, Fall River has the highest mortality rate for diabetes in Massachusetts, suggesting that cases here are more severe and more complicated. The New Bedford area ranks third.



"The need for improved wound care in Fall River is compelling," said Martin Fogle, MD, the Director of Endovascular Services at Charlton Memorial Hospital and a physician-surgeon in PrimaCARE's Center for Vascular Diseases. "The South Coast region has one of the highest rates of hospitalizations for patients with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and obesity, all being conditions associated with poor circulation. Proper medical care emphasizes not only good medical management of the primary disease, but also aims to prevent and treat the associated complications.



"Identifying and treating patients promptly is the best way to heal troublesome wounds, avoid hospitalization and return people back to their productive lives as soon as possible," Dr. Fogle said.



Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment



During hyperbaric oxygen treatments, the patient lies comfortably, breathing pure 100 percent oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. Known for the treatment of decompression sickness, or "the bends," and carbon monoxide poisoning, HBOT is also an effective treatment for fighting certain types of infections and for healing complex wounds.



"Hyperbaric oxygen delivers high concentrations of oxygen through the bloodstream to the tissues surrounding the wound, stimulating the healing process," Dr. Monchik said. "This can be the missing link needed to promote healing in difficult wounds. The Southcoast Wound Care Center will be a valuable added resource for a significant number of our patients."



Most HBOT treatment sessions last approximately two hours. Not every patient is a candidate for HBOT, but this beneficial tool is available to every Wound Care Center patient who may benefit from enhanced oxygen delivery to the healing tissues.
More information can be found at www.southcoast.org/woundcare/.


]]> Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:51:09 -0400 august-25-|-southcoast-announces-regions-first-wo http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/082009.html FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group today announced it would eliminate 93 positions in a restructuring that was triggered in large part by lower reimbursement expected from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Medicaid managed care payors.



It is estimated that, by the time Southcoast's unique "deployment process" is completed in six months, approximately 20 to 40 people will actually be laid off.



Patient safety and quality care continues to be Southcoast's top priority and will not be affected by the changes.



"The impact of lower reimbursement from state programs such as MassHealth and BMC HealthNet require us to restructure the way we deliver care and manage our operations to remain fiscally sound," Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group, said in a letter to all employees on Thursday, August 20.



In his letter to employees, Hovan wrote: "This is one of the most difficult letters I will ever have to write, because some of our very dedicated colleagues will be learning that their positions have been eliminated. Doing so requires us to make decisions — some of which are painful and all of which we take very seriously — to ensure that Southcoast continues to be here to serve those who count on us, every day, for their most pressing health care needs."



Hovan also said the hospital continues to be squarely focused on quality of services and exceptional patient care. "We assure our communities, medical staff and employees that the proposed cuts will not impact the level of patient care or patient services being provided by Southcoast hospitals and its affiliates. Patients and their families will continue to receive the high-quality services and care they have come to expect and depend on every day," he wrote.



All non-union employees whose positions were eliminated are eligible for Southcoast's deployment process, which has been used very successfully in the past to find other positions for the majority of people who are affected by the elimination of a position. During the six-month process, affected employees receive their current rate of pay, the same number of hours and the same schedule. Union employees at Tobey Hospital, the only hospital with unions, will be addressed according to the terms of their current contract.



The positions eliminated span across many departments at all Southcoast sites and locations and includes clinical, support, union and non-union and administrative staff. It also includes five leadership positions, which are in addition to four leadership positions eliminated in January.



Fiscal challenges facing Southcoast and all hospitals



During the past several months, Southcoast has been addressing significant financial issues that confront Southcoast as well as every other health care organization across the region.



Despite the downturn in the economy, Southcoast has been able to achieve a positive operating margin largely because of the tremendous efforts put forth by hospital leadership and staff this year. While many other organizations already announced large layoffs and other actions, such as pay cuts, Southcoast has had to make modest changes this year with a minimal impact on its workforce. Without these proactive steps, Southcoast would have been facing much more severe cuts and layoffs.



"Southcoast has been a fiscally well-run organization over the years," Hovan said. "We have been attentive to the management of costs, effectively flexing our expenses as volumes and our average daily census decreased. We also introduced new tools, such as Lean and Six Sigma, that helped us save several million dollars this year.



"In health care we have the unfortunate additional challenge that government payors, such as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the federal government, have the ability to reduce what they pay us to provide care for Medicaid and Medicare patients. This decrease in payment — particularly by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Medicaid managed care plans, such as BMC HealthNet — has impacted us since July of this year, and will extend through all of our next fiscal year," Hovan said. More than two-thirds (71 percent) of Southcoast's payments come from either the federal (Medicare) or state (Medicaid) governments.



Southcoast also announced a pay freeze for all employees during Fiscal Year 2010 and will continue to reevaluate its health insurance benefits, which after wages is the single largest item in its budget, costing about $35 million annually.



"These are certainly challenging times for Southcoast and for each of us as employees," Hovan said. "We are committed to assisting each person impacted by a job elimination or change. We also deeply appreciate our employees and medical staffs' support for the budgetary actions, including the wage freeze, which will save about 200 other jobs that would have been reduced without such action. We will also continue to build Southcoast for our future. Most importantly, we will fulfill our mission of ‘caring for the health of our communities' by providing excellent patient care each and every day."



As the region's largest employer with some 6,000 employees, Southcoast has always taken a financially responsible and conservative approach to managing its operations and implementing capital improvement projects or expansion plans. This approach has served Southcoast extremely well since the merger of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham in 1996, helping to weather periodic economic downturns better than many other hospitals in Massachusetts. Southcoast continues to invest in new technologies and growing services in an effort to be able to better address the needs of the community and these challenging economic times.


]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:47:36 -0400 august-20-|-southcoast-announces-restructuring-tha http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/081209.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The final patient was discharged August 12 from St. Luke's Hospital after recovering from ailments suffered during the hazardous materials incident in New Bedford last week.



A total of 120 people treated at both hospitals after the hazardous materials situation on Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. St. Luke's Hospital received 66 patients. Another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.


Final totals, August 3 through 12:

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 4 (all since treated & released)

  • Treated & released: 66

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 2 (all since treated & released)

  • Treated & released: 54


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:53:06 -0400 august-12-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/081109.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — One patient was discharged August 11 after suffering from ailments from the hazardous materials incident last week. One patient remains hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital and was listed in fair condition.



The patient who was hospitalized at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River was discharged Sunday, August 9.



A total of 120 people treated at both hospitals after the hazardous materials situation on Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. St. Luke's Hospital received 66 patients. Another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.


Current totals:

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 65

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Treated & released: 54


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:46:55 -0400 august-11-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/081009.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — One patient was discharged August 9 after suffering from ailments from the hazardous materials incident last week. The conditions remain unchanged for two patients who remain hospitalized.



As of noon EDT on August 10, two patients remained hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital. Both were listed in fair condition.



The patient who was hospitalized at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River was discharged Sunday, August 9.



A total of 120 people treated at both hospitals after the hazardous materials situation on Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. St. Luke's Hospital received 66 patients. Another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.


Current totals:

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 2 (both fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 64

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:44:07 -0400 august-10-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080909.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The conditions remain unchanged for the three patients who remain hospitalized after suffering from ailments from the hazardous materials incident earlier this week.



As of noon EDT on August 9, two patients remained hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital and one patient remained hospitalized at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. All were listed in fair condition.



Two patients were discharged August 6 from St. Luke's, including Luis Vega, who was one of the victims listed in critical condition after the Monday incident.



A total of 120 people treated at both hospitals after the hazardous materials situation on Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. St. Luke's Hospital received 66 patients. Another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 2 (both fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 64

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:15:28 -0400 august-9-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080809.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The conditions remain unchanged for the three patients who remain hospitalized after suffering from ailments from the hazardous materials incident earlier this week.



As of noon EDT on August 8, two victims remained hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital and one patient remained hospitalized at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. All were listed in fair condition.



Two patients were discharged August 6 from St. Luke's, including Luis Vega, who was one of the victims listed in critical condition after the Monday incident.



A total of 120 people treated at both hospitals after the hazardous materials situation on Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. St. Luke's Hospital received 66 patients. Another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 2 (both fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 64

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:35:40 -0400 august-8-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080709.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Five New Bedford firefighters were transported to St. Luke's Hospital on Friday afternoon as a precaution after exposure to an odor coming from inside a rescue squad vehicle that was on the scene of the August 3 hazardous materials situation at a waste disposal plant.

All firefighters were treated and released.

The Friday incident occurred at the Pleasant Street Fire Station in New Bedford and was believed to have involved the truck's batteries and battery charger, said New Bedford Fire Chief Paul Leger. The firefighters showered at the station, put on fresh clothes and were transported to St. Luke's as a precaution, Leger said.

Haz-Mat Incident Patients Update

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Patients suffering from ailments from the hazardous materials incident earlier this week continue to improve.

As of 5 p.m. EDT on August 7, two victims remained hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital and one patient remained hospitalized at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. All were now listed in fair condition.

Two patients were discharged August 6 from St. Luke's, including Luis Vega, who was one of the victims listed in critical condition after the Monday incident.

A total of 120 people treated at both hospitals after the hazardous materials situation on Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. St. Luke's Hospital received 66 patients. Another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 2 (both fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 64

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53

St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.

"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."

"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.

Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.

]]> Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:02:21 -0400 august-7-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-2 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080709.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Five New Bedford firefighters were transported to St. Luke's Hospital on Friday afternoon after reportedly being exposed to waste material from the August 3 hazardous materials situation at a waste disposal plant.



All firefighters were from the Pleasant Street Fire Station in New Bedford. All were in fair condition in the St. Luke's Emergency Department.



Patients suffering from ailments from the hazardous materials incident earlier this week continue to improve.



In addition to the firefighters, as of 3 p.m. EDT on August 7, two victims remained hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital and one patient remained hospitalized at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. All were now listed in fair condition.



Two patients were discharged August 6 from St. Luke's, including Luis Vega, who was one of the victims listed in critical condition after the Monday incident.



The firefighters make a total of 125 people treated at both hospitals after the hazardous materials situation on Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. St. Luke's Hospital received 66 patients. Another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 125 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 71 total

  • Admitted: 2 (both fair condition)

  • Emergency Department: 5 (all fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 64

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:22:35 -0400 august-7-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-1 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080709.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Patients suffering from ailments from the hazardous materials incident earlier this week continue to improve.



As of 12:30 p.m. on August 7, two victims remain hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital and one patient remains hospitalized at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. All are now listed in fair condition.



Two patients were discharged August 6 from St. Luke's, including Luis Vega, who was one of the victims listed in critical condition after the Monday incident.



Some 120 people were treated at both hospitals after the hazardous materials situation on Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. St. Luke's Hospital received 66 patients. Another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 2 (both fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 64

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:39:49 -0400 august-7-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080609.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Patients suffering from ailments from the hazardous materials incident earlier this week continue to improve.



Two patients were discharged August 6 from St. Luke's Hospital, including Luis Vega, who was one of the victims listed in critical condition after the Monday incident.



Two victims remain hospitalized at St. Luke's and one patient remains hospitalized at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.



Some 120 people were treated at both hospitals after the hazardous materials situation on Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford. St. Luke's Hospital received 66 patients. Another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 2 (1 serious condition, 1 fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 64

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:27:59 -0400 august-6-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-1 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080609.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Both patients listed in critical condition at St. Luke's Hospital have improved. Luis Vega has improved to good condition and the second patient (hospital does not have approval to release name) has improved to serious.



[As mentioned, there will be no media interviews with Mr. Vega at the hospital. The 11 a.m. interview has been canceled.]



Some 120 people were treated at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River following a hazardous materials situation Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford.



As of 9:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, August 6, St. Luke's Hospital had received 66 patients. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.



In addition to the 66 victims brought to St. Luke's, another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. Two people were admitted in fair condition. One has been discharged. The rest were treated and released.

• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 4 (1 serious condition, 1 good condition, 2 fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 62

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:10:07 -0400 august-6-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080509.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Luis Vega, one of the four victims treated at St. Luke's Hospital from the ABC Disposal incident in New Bedford on Monday, August 3, has been downgraded to fair condition. He does not wish to do any media interviews at this time.



Some 120 people were treated at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River following a hazardous materials situation Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford.



As of 1:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 5, St. Luke's Hospital had received 66 patients. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.



Four people were admitted to St. Luke’s Hospital. One person remains in critical condition, one has improved to fair condition and two remain in fair condition. No additional information will be released on these patients. All remaining patients at St. Luke’s were treated and released.



In addition to the 66 victims brought to St. Luke’s, another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. Two people were admitted in fair condition. One has been discharged. The rest were treated and released.


• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 4 (1 critical condition, 3 fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 62

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:12:15 -0400 august-5-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-1 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080509.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Some 120 people were treated at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River following a hazardous materials situation Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford.



As of 10:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 5, St. Luke's Hospital had received 66 patients. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.



Four people were admitted to St. Luke's Hospital. One person remains in critical condition, one has improved to serious condition and two remain in fair condition. No additional information will be released on these patients. All remaining patients at St. Luke's were treated and released.



In addition to the 66 victims brought to St. Luke's, another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. Two people were admitted in fair condition. One has been discharged. The rest were treated and released.


• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 4 (1 critical condition, 1 serious condition, 2 fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 62

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 1 (fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 53


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:42:49 -0400 august-5-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080409.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Some 120 people were treated at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River following a hazardous materials situation Monday, August 3, at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford.



As of 2 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, August 4, St. Luke's Hospital had received 66 patients. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.



Four people were admitted to St. Luke's Hospital. One person remains in critical condition, one has improved to serious condition and two remain in fair condition. No additional information will be released on these patients. All remaining patients at St. Luke's were treated and released.



In addition to the 66 victims brought to St. Luke's, another 54 victims were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River related to the incident. Two people were admitted in fair condition. The rest were treated and released.


• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 120 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 4 (1 critical condition, 1 serious condition, 2 fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 62

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 54 total

  • Admitted: 2 (2 fair condition)

  • Treated & released: 52


St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



"I want to thank everyone at Southcoast Hospitals, especially in our Emergency Departments, for their exceptional response to this very serious incident," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "I am extremely proud of the many members of our hospital staff who responded with the professional competence and skill expected by our patients in providing emergency care in coordination with emergency response staff from local cities and towns."



"Southcoast Hospitals is also grateful to all of the first responders and City of New Bedford officials, especially Mayor Scott Lang, for their support, professionalism and outstanding response during this incident," Hovan said.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:50:23 -0400 august-4-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-2 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/ NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The following is an overview from Southcoast Hospitals Group at 11:30 a.m. EDT (no changes since 7:30 a.m. update):


• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 119 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 4 (2 critical condition)

  • Treated & released: 62

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 53 total

  • Admitted: 1

  • Treated & released: 52


These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.
Families of patients are asked to call the Patient Information line at 508-985-7000 for additional information.



The next update will be released at 2 p.m. EDT.


]]> Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:39:21 -0400 august-4-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-1 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080409.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The following is an overview from Southcoast Hospitals Group at 7:30 a.m. EDT (no changes since Monday, August 3, at 10:30 p.m. update):


• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 119 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 4 (2 critical condition)

  • Treated & released: 62

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 53 total

  • Admitted: 1

  • Treated & released: 52


These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.
Families of patients are asked to call the Patient Information line at 508-985-7000 for additional information.



The next update will be released at 11:30 a.m. EDT.


]]> Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:46:52 -0400 august-4-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080309.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The following is an overview from Southcoast Hospitals Group at 10:30 p.m. EDT (no changes since 8:30 p.m. update):


• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 119 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 4 (2 critical condition)

  • Treated & released: 62

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 53 total

  • Admitted: 1

  • Treated & released: 52


These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.
Families of patients are asked to call the Patient Information line at 508-985-7000 for additional information.



The next update will be released Tuesday, August 4, at 8:30 a.m. EDT.


]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:29:01 -0400 august-3-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-3 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080309.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The following is an overview from Southcoast Hospitals Group at 8:30 p.m. EDT:


• Treated at Southcoast Hospitals Group: 119 total

• St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford: 66 total

  • Admitted: 4 (2 critical condition)

  • Treated & released: 62

• Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River: 53 total

  • Admitted: 1

  • Treated & released: 52


These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.
Families of patients are asked to call the Patient Information line at 508-985-7000 for additional information.



The next update will be released at 10:30 p.m. EDT.


]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:46:28 -0400 august-3<b>-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-f http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080309.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Some 117 people were treated at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River following a hazardous materials situation Monday at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford.



As of 5:15 p.m. EDT, St. Luke's Hospital had received 66 patients. These patients included employees of ABC Disposal and many first responders, including EMS paramedics, police and firefighters.



Two people remain in critical condition and two people are in fair condition. No further information will be released on these patients. Approximately 10 patients were still being treated at St. Luke's, but were expected to be released soon. All remaining 52 patients at St. Luke's were treated and released.



In addition to the 66 victims brought to St. Luke's, another 51 victims were sent to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. All were treated and released.



Families of patients are asked to call the Patient Information line at 508-985-7000 for additional information.



St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:24:13 -0400 august-3-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-2 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080309.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. The incident happened at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford.



Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.
As of 1 p.m. EDT, St. Luke's Hospital had received 33 patients — six patients by ambulance, two of whom were in critical condition, 26 patients by bus from the site, all of whom were in good condition. One EMS provider had been treated.



Families of patients are asked to call the Patient Information line at 508-985-7000 for additional information.



Some of the symptoms being seen were nausea, respiratory distress and dizziness.



In addition to the 33 victims brought to St. Luke's, another 22 victims were sent to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River — five by ambulance and 17 by bus. All were in good condition.



The hospital will be participating in a news conference at 2 p.m. at the Incident Command Center on Shawmut Avenue.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:51:38 -0400 august-3-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-1 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080309.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. The incident happened at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford.



Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.
As of 1 p.m. EDT, St. Luke's Hospital had received 33 patients — six patients by ambulance, two of whom were in critical condition, 26 patients by bus from the site, all of whom were in good condition. One EMS provider had been treated.



Some of the symptoms being seen were nausea, respiratory distress and dizziness.



In addition to the 33 victims brought to St. Luke's, another 22 victims were sent to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River — five by ambulance and 17 by bus. All were in good condition.



The hospital will be participating in a news conference at 2 p.m. at the Incident Command Center on Shawmut Avenue.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.

]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:04:48 -0400 statement-on-condition-of-victims-from-hazmat-sit http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/080309.html NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — St. Luke's Hospital was notified at 11 a.m. of a hazardous materials situation in the New Bedford community. The incident happened at ABC Disposal, 1245 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford.



Under the direction of the New Bedford Fire Department, St. Luke's Hospital began the process of decontaminating victims.
As of 1 p.m. EDT, St. Luke's Hospital had received 33 patients — six patients by ambulance, three of whom were in critical condition, 26 patients by bus from the site, all of whom were in good condition. One EMS provider had been treated.



Some of the symptoms being seen were nausea, respiratory distress and dizziness.



In addition to the 33 victims brought to St. Luke's, another 22 victims were sent to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River — five by ambulance and 17 by bus. All were in good condition.



The hospital will be participating in a news conference at 2 p.m. at the Incident Command Center on Shawmut Avenue.



Updates will be issued as the situation warrants.


]]> Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:21:00 -0400 august-3-|-statement-on-condition-of-victims-from http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/072309.html

Pictured left to right: Patricia Gardner, co president of the St. Luke's Auxiliary, Phillip Teves, James Nightingale, Rayana Grace, Christopher Szala, Shauneen Crane, Scholarship chair, Muriel Morse, Co-President of the St.Luke's Auxiliary.




NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — At its annual spring luncheon held June 2 at the Waterfront Grill of New Bedford, the St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary awarded five $1,000 scholarships to area high school students entering college in the fall to pursue a career in the health care field.



The 2008-2009 Scholarship winners were:


• Christopher Szala, a graduate of Dartmouth High School, who will be entering Boston University to become an anesthesiologist.
  

• Matthew Macedo, a graduate of New Bedford High School, who will be attending the University of Massachusetts in Amherst to study pre-medicine.
  

• James Nightingale, a graduate of New Bedford High School, who will be attending the University of Massachusetts in Amherst to study pre-medicine and go on to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.
  

• Phillip Teves, a graduate of Bishop Stang High School, who will be attending Tufts University in Boston to study pre-medicine.
  

• Rayana Grace, a graduate of New Bedford High School, who will be attending Boston College to study pre-medicine and go on to become a pediatrician.
  

The St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary is a great way to become involved in your community hospital. The mission statement of Southcoast's Auxiliaries is to render services to the hospital, its patients and its tax-exempt subsidiaries and to assist Southcoast Hospitals Group in promoting the health and welfare of the communities it serves.

Members serve as ambassadors to the community on behalf of the hospital. For more information, please contact Agatha St. Amour at 508-961-5353 or E-mail: sainta@southcoast.org.

]]> Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:27:05 -0400 july-23-|-st-lukes-auxiliary-announces-20082009 http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/072009.html St. Luke's Hospital will be sponsoring its 2d annual bike run in memory of their colleague and friend, Andy Irwin who worked at St. Luke's for more than 25 years and passed away in 2008.

Proceeds from the motorcycle run will be donated in his memory to benefit St. Luke's Hospital.

Rain or shine, the run will take place on Sunday, August 16, at 8:30 a.m. Meeting location is the IHOP restaurant at 2 Bourne Rotary Circle in Buzzards Bay.

Richie Sylvester and Steve Simard of the Maintenance & Engineering department at St. Luke's Hospital are coordinating the run, which will go between Bourne and Provincetown. Autos are welcome to participate.

For more information, please contact the Maintenance & Engineering department at 508-961-5150.

]]> Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:43:19 -0400 july-20-|-bike-run-to-benefit-st-lukes-hospital http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/070909.html

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group today announced the opening of its new Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fall River. Located at Charlton Memorial Hospital, the new cancer care center is the first step toward bringing coordinated care and advanced oncology services to the entire South Coast region — from Fall River to Cape Cod.

Southcoast also announced today that one of the region's top medical oncologists has chosen to join the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care. Mark Shparber, MD, a medical oncologist/hematologist who has served the Greater Fall River region for more than 20 years, will join the team of top-tier clinicians in September. He is currently practicing at the Hudner Oncology Center at Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River.

"Southcoast is ushering in a new era of cancer care in our region. Never before have the residents of Southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island had access to this level of comprehensive oncology services backed by their own regional health system," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "The level of care being provided by this stellar team of professionals further solidifies Southcoast's commitment to the entire South Coast region."

The new comprehensive center provides a full range of oncology services, including image-guided radiation therapy, the very latest technology available in radiation treatment for cancer. The radiation therapy program will utilize IGRT, IMRT and PET/CT technology, which is considered the very latest technology available in radiation treatment for cancer. The Cancer Center will also specialize in the latest chemotherapies, surgery and advanced diagnostic imaging. Support services, educational materials and screenings will be offered in collaboration with the American Cancer Society.

Comforting care

Southcoast's new Cancer Centers will also have a dedicated "Patient Navigator" to make sure every patient's journey through cancer treatment is as smooth as possible. The Patient Navigator is a "go-to" person to help coordinate appointments, answer questions and point them in the right direction will guide every patient through their care. This coordinator will manage all aspects of the patient's care, including appointments with physicians, radiology and laboratory services, medication and pain management, support services, transportation and any questions the patient or family members may have during their visit or after they return home.

"After meeting with oncology patients from across the region, we determined that one of the hardest parts of undergoing a cancer diagnosis is managing the many appointments, medications, transportation concerns and any issues that may arise during treatment," said Linda Bodenmann, Chief Operating Officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group. "Our Patient Navigators will guide our patients in a compassionate and comprehensive manner so they are getting the best care possible in a hassle-free environment."

The newly renovated area at Charlton also offers patients and their families a comforting, spa-like environment with a host of amenities such as valet parking, personal TVs in the chemotherapy treatment area, Internet access, refreshments and a resource library.

The Fall River cancer center will operate as an extension of Southcoast's new flagship cancer center in Fairhaven that was announced last year and is slated to open in 2011. The Fairhaven center will be located on Mill Road and will address the fragmented cancer care and growing need for advanced comprehensive cancer services in the eastern portion of the region. Patients in that part of the South Coast currently have to travel long distances for cancer care. Charlton's cancer center is operational before the Fairhaven site is completed due to the longer construction schedule for Fairhaven. Southcoast's existing cancer center in North Dartmouth, formerly known as The Oncology Center, will stay operational until the Fairhaven center opens in 2011.

"In anticipation of the main Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fairhaven, we have upgraded our regional system of cancer services. Previously oncology services in the region were fragmented among providers and services," Bodenmann said. "Our patients and their family members will have access to the same team of experts and services whether they are at our Fall River or North Dartmouth sites."

Current services at the North Dartmouth location will be upgraded to reflect the full-range of care provided through Southcoast's new cancer program. Cancer patients at both locations will receive treatment from our expanded team of cancer specialists, including being appointed a Patient Navigator.

Patients who receive medical treatment at the North Dartmouth location, and need radiation services, will be offered a free shuttle to and from the Fall River cancer center. Staff will coordinate appointments at both sites. Families are welcome to ride on the shuttle as well.

Clinical Leadership

Mark Shparber, MD Medical Oncologist

Mark Shparber, MD, medical oncologist is the latest physician to join the Southcoast oncology team. Having been a part of the Charlton Memorial medical staff for 20 years, he brings a unique perspective on the region's demographics and the patients he will continue to serve.

"I am proud to join the oncologists who will be leading Southcoast's cancer program. Practicing at Southcoast Cancer Centers will allow me to reach patients who in the past have had to travel to receive their care elsewhere," said Dr. Shparber. "Fittingly, I have an intimate knowledge of the health challenges facing our community members and the patients who I will be caring for. My unique role on the team will be offering this insight as a way to target the most critical services that may be absent at the present time."

Dr. Shparber has been part of the Charlton Memorial medical staff for two decades and serves on various committees at Southcoast Hospitals, including the Southcoast Cancer Committee, the Bioethics Committee, Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee, the Credentialing Committee, and as Chairman of the Charlton Memorial Internal Review Board (IRB) Committee. He is also the current Medical Director of Hospice Outreach program in Fall River.

Dr. Shparber earned a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center in New York City, where he also performed his internal medicine internship training and internal medicine residency in conjunction with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He received his Medical Degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.

In addition to Dr. Shparber, Southcoast has pulled together an outstanding team of professionals, including physicians from some of the major academic cancer centers around the country. Patients undergoing cancer treatments may receive care from medical, radiation and/or surgical oncologists. Other members of the team include oncology nurses, technologists, pharmacists, social workers and nutritionists.

"Our new services, staff and locations are designed with one goal in mind — to bring our patients and their families the very best cancer treatment possible and make it available right here in your own community," said Therese M. Mulvey, MD, the Physician-in-Chief of Oncology Services for the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care. "It is important that the South Coast community have access to high-quality oncology services and leading-edge clinical cancer research without having to travel. We hope to empower patients to receive high-quality care in their own communities, with shared decision making among specialists and patients."

Dr. Mulvey is a board-certified physician in medical oncology and internal medicine. She joined Southcoast from Commonwealth Hematology Oncology in Quincy, Mass., New England's largest private cancer care network, where she has practiced since 1991 and served as president.

Southcoast also recently announced Teresa Boyle, MD, Radiation Oncologist, a board-certified physician in radiation oncology and internal medicine is joining Southcoast from Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Tex., an affiliated institution of the Texas A&M Health Science Center; and Todd F. Roberts, MD, MSc., Medical Oncologist, is joining Southcoast from Hematology and Oncology Specialists, LLC, in New Orleans, where he served as Director of Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation.

"We will continue to pursue our goal of being recognized as a top provider of care in every clinical service we offer," Hovan said. "Cancer is a growing health problem that will soon surpass heart disease. We want to ensure that no matter where a patient lives in the South Coast, they have access to expert, compassionate and comprehensive cancer care."

For more information on Southcoast's cancer services visit www.southcoast.org/cancercare/.

HealthCare for Women, Inc., New Bedford and Mattapoisett

Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.

Migraine headaches can affect your quality of life and in some case become debilitating. Women in particular have a higher rate of migraines, approximately 18 percent of women as compared to 6 percent of men. Women in their reproductive years are the most severely impacted group of migraine sufferers and are not often aware of the connection. There are number of factors, treatments and preventive methods that should be considered before you can determine the cause and treatment for you.

What is a migraine attack?

Migraine attacks present as a complex constellation of symptoms of which headache is the most prevalent. In women, initiation of migraine attacks is often linked to the hormonal milieu associated with one's menstrual cycle. Therefore, migraines often wax and wane throughout a women's reproductive life in response to hormonal events. More than half of women with migraines report an association between migraine and menstruation, and these attacks are described as more debilitating than migraines occurring at other times. More importantly, they are very real.

Migraine headaches and the menstrual cycle.

In general, the migraine headache results from both alterations and widening of blood vessels within the brain that effect surrounding nerves and sensory nervous pain pathways. It certainly is a complex neurobiological event involving a person's neurologic system and blood flow in the brain. Unfortunately, it is still not completely understood.

What is the "trigger?"

There is a genetic predisposition to having migraines, in which those with family histories may have a lower threshold for sensory activation than those without a family history of migraine headaches. Multiple risk factors or "triggers" are also associated with migraine attacks: alcohol consumption, excessive stress, dietary changes, change in sleeping patterns, and hormonal change due to menstruation.

Menstrual migraines affect 12 million women and are defined as occurring two days before and/or three days after the start of menstruation. Migraines associated with menstruation do not occur at any other time during the menstrual cycle, and women must experience attacks in two out of three cycles. Symptoms are described as a one-sided headache, pulsating quality,moderate to severe intensity and aggravation with physical activity. In addition, sufferers may experience nausea, but usually not light and sound sensitivity.

Why do I have wacked out hormones?

There is a diminished secretion of ovarian hormones during the premenstrual phase, including a decline in progesterone and estrogen levels. It is thought that the consistent ebb and flow in the hormonal milieu during the reproductive cycle functions as a trigger in provoking migraines. Studies have shown that an abrupt drop in estrogen levels following a period of sustained high levels with trigger migraines. This drop occurs right before menses begins. Other hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle are increases in prostaglandin levels, magnesium deficiency, and drops in serotonin levels. What? Wacked out hormones? No, just kidding, this is considered a normal fluctuation in hormone levels.

Does anything help?

There is no standard quick fix. It depends on the patient. Treatment should be tailored to the individual woman's needs and severity. A combination of patient education and behavior modification with pharmacologic therapies usually works well. Many women try non-medical treatment to manage their migraines before they begin drug therapy. Such therapies include behavior modifications such as relaxation strategies and training, as well as physical therapies like acupuncture, yoga, osteopathic cranio-sacral manipulation, massage, Rolfing, and increased in regular exercise. Quitting smoking and not consuming excessive alcohol are also recommended.

Keep a headache diary.

A headache diary can be an excellent and effective tool in tracking symptoms, severity and frequency of migraine attacks. Triggers can usually be found based on analysis of the headache diaries and should be avoided as much as possible. Make sure you share this diary with your physician.

What medications work?

There are two ways to treat migraine headaches: acute therapy, of which there are classes of medications to abolish a headache right away; and preventive therapy, of which there are several options.

The three classes of medications that treat a menstrual migraine effectively are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), Triptans, and Ergots. As a general guideline, if at least 80 percent relief from headache pain is not achieved after taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen or Advil, for a period of 4-6 hours, or if treatment needs to be used continuously for more than two days, you should contact your physician as prescription treatment may be suggested.

A quick note, taking pain relievers for an extended period of time can lead to other serious side effects such as liver damage and stomach ulcers, therefore their use should not be long-term.

Naproxen sodium is the first line NSAID treatment for the treatment of migraine and usually does the trick.

Preventive medications.

Preventive medications used include b-blockers, calcium channel blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, NSAIDS, hormonal therapy (hormonal and oral contraceptives, estrogen topical patches and gels) and rarely GnRH agonists. Short-term prevention is effective in women with predictable menstrual cycles. Perimenstrual treatment such as Naproxen or Frovatriptan with monthly regimens can work. Estrogen treatment has also proven to be effective to try to prevent the sudden drop in estrogen levels that accompanies the onset of menses and the prevailing headache. All such medications carry potential risks that must be considered and the benefits of alternative therapies should be reviewed together with your physician prior to starting treatment.

Treatment can help restore your quality of life.

Migraine is a common, complex and bewildering malady, affecting nearly 28 million Americans and often associated with substantial disability. Menstruation often is a significant trigger of migraine in women and causes major disruption in women's quality of life. Multiple treatment options are now available for both acute and prevention of migraine that help restore the function and quality of life in women with menstrual migraine. Menstrual migraines, yes really.

Please credit:
Christian S. Pope, DO, FACOG
Diplomate, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
HealthCare for Women, Inc., New Bedford and Mattapoisett

Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke's Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.

]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:33:12 -0400 july-8-|-health-column-local-physician-answers-qu http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/070709.html

Pictured left to right: Bethany Bates, Michael Grinnell, scholarship recipients, Maria Resendes, scholarship committee member, Eric Dibiasio-White, Shelby Soule, Chelsea Brown, scholarship recipients, Marilyn Roderick, scholarship committee member.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — The Auxiliary of Charlton Memorial Hospital recently announced $5,000 in scholarship awards for individuals who are pursuing a career in health care.

The Auxiliary presented five $1,000 scholarship awards to area high school seniors at a reception held on June 10 at Bittersweet Farm in Westport, Mass. The awards were presented by the scholarship committee made up of Marilyn Roderick, chairperson, Marion Greer, Maria Resendes, and Susan Smith.

The 2008-2009 Auxiliary of Charlton Memorial Hospital winners are:

• Bethany Bates, a graduate of Westport High School, who will be attending the University Rhode Island in North Kingston, R.I. to pursue a degree in pharmacy.
  

• Chelsea Brown, a graduate of Dighton Rehoboth Regional High School, who will be attending the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. to pursue a degree in kinesiology (human kinetics).
  

• Eric DiBiasio-White, a graduate of Somerset High School, who will be attending the University of Massachusetts in Amherst to study pre-medicine.
  

• Michael Grinnell, a graduate of Durfee High School, who will be attending the University of Massachusetts in Amherst to study pre-medicine.
  

• Shelby Soule, a graduate of Apponequet High School, who will be attending Salve Regina University in Newport to pursue a degree in nursing.
  

The Auxiliary of Charlton Memorial Hospital is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to render service to Charlton Memorial Hospital, its tax-exempt subsidiaries, its patients and to assist in promoting the health and welfare of the community. The Auxiliary raises money throughout the year by hosting fundraisers, a spring fashion show and various cake, jewelry and apparel sales. They also run the hospital gift shop with all proceeds going toward the hospital. For more information or to join please call 508-679-7038.

The New England Society for Healthcare Communications bestowed eight of the awards, including gold award recognition for the gastric bypass advertising campaign, public relations campaign for the St. Luke's Shuttle program and the Annual Meeting video.

The other seven awards were presented by Healthcare Marketing Report magazine and included a gold award for the cardiac surgery public relations program, specifically the coordination of "HEARTSTOPPING: A five-part series" from The Herald News that followed a local patient through open heart surgery at Charlton Memorial Hospital; and a silver award for Southcoast's "Breathe Better" campaign created to limit smoking on hospital property and raise public awareness on the health benefits of quitting.

"Southcoast's Marketing & Public Relations team consistently displays the ability to creatively and effectively reach out to the communities of the South Coast region. These awards recognize the top-quality work our team produces and also honors our success in communicating important health information to our community members," said Jim Rattray, Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs for Southcoast Health System.

Current Southcoast ad campaigns can be viewed online at www.southcoast.org/news/ads.html. All of Southcoast Hospital's ads, publications and public relations programs are produced in-house by Southcoast's Marketing & Public Relations team. Southcoast has won multiple awards in these competitions numerous times over the past nine years.

Massachusetts Society of Otolaryngology

The advisory read, "FDA is alerting consumers that Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size, a discontinued product that consumers may still have in their homes, have all been associated with long lasting or permanent loss of smell (referred to as anosmia)." http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PublicHealthAdvisories/ucm166059.htm
Important note: This advisory does not concern oral zinc tablets and lozenges taken by mouth. The FDA has a helpful site on drug disposal.

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm

According to this advisory, these Zicam products have been associated with the loss of smell in 130 patients while hundreds more have filed similar complaints. So what is Zicam? How could the FDA have not known about this possible side effect and why is sense of smell so important?

Zicam is produced by Matrixx Initiative and is promoted as a cold remedy that is marketed as a product that will lessen the intensity of cold symptoms, such as congestion and runny nose. Zicam's active ingredient is zinc. Some of the products are swallowed and some of the products are placed directly into the nose using a gel or a swab. As a homeopathic product, it falls outside the tight scrutiny of the FDA. Homeopathic remedies are typically diluted drugs made from natural ingredients. The public perception is that they are safer than drugs, but many homeopathic remedies can have serious side effects. In fact, hundreds of these remedies have been implicated in health problems ranging from thinning of the blood to nausea to attempted suicide and now in the case of Zicam, the loss of smell. The Zicam products that are directly applied to the nose are the ones the FDA has cited.

Smell is important. Most people do not realize the extent of smell and often confuse taste with smell. In fact, taste is very basic. The tongue and the taste buds generally distinguish between salty, sour, sweet and bitter. Everything else is smell. Food tasters will actually sniff the food first and then exhale through their nose in order to appreciate the "taste" of food. Not only does smell bring pleasure to eating and enjoying things like flowers and perfumes, it also serves to warn and protect us against danger. For example, when people lose their ability to smell they might not notice a gas leak or recognize spoiled food.

There are many common reasons to lose one's sense of smell. A cold can temporarily or in rare cases, permanently cause the loss of smell. Any structural problems with the nose, such as polyps or a deviated nasal septum, can also affect a person's ability to smell. More serious things like head trauma or brain tumors, can also cause the loss of smell. Some people are born with a limited sense of smell.

Most people have the most accurate sense of smell between the ages of 30 and 60 and unfortunately, many people lose this ability as part of the aging process. Drugs and chemicals can also injure the neurons responsible for the sense of smell. An interesting note, one of the most widely used drugs that injures smell is tobacco smoking. In the case of Zicam, it is believed that the active ingredient Zinc may be the offender.

Therefore, what should one do if they have a cold and would like to safely alleviate some of their symptoms? I would recommend the old fashioned, tried and true use of sinus irrigations with salt water. There are many over the counter sinus rinse kits that are safe to use such as the nettie pot. There are also homemade recipes with Kosher salt and baking soda. Our recipe is available on our website www.northeastent.com. If your cold is severe or lasts longer than expected, see your doctor.

Please credit:
Wendy B.R. Stern, MD
Northeast Ear Nose and Throat
Otorhinolaryngologist at St. Luke's and Tobey hospitals

Massachusetts Society of Otolaryngology

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital has teamed up again this year with area Domino's Pizza stores in a "Pizza for a Pint" promotion during the month of July.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Domino's Pizza again this July," said Ralph K. Ito, Ph.D., Director of Laboratory & Pathology, Southcoast Hospitals Group. "Domino's commitment and support of Southcoast's blood donor program is a great gift to the community and further ensures that our local blood supply is strong."

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.

Lead by Nelson Hockert-Lotz, owner of the Domino's Pizza stores on Kempton Street and Rockdale Avenue in New Bedford, participation will include all Domino's in Bristol County — Fall River, New Bedford, Somerset and Taunton. Anyone who donates blood at the Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital, or at any of the community blood drives hosted by the Southcoast Blood Bank, during the month of July will receive a certificate for a free large one-topping pizza redeemable at all Domino's located in Bristol County. The offer is good for any pick-up order or can be combined with a home delivery order. The certificate will not be recognized for home delivery orders of a large one-topping pizza alone.

Check out these great events:

Bay Sox kick-off event Friday, June 26

Southcoast Hospitals Night at the New Bedford Bay Sox will be Friday, June 26. The Southcoast Health Van will be conducting health screenings and holding a blood drive. Domino's Pizza will kick-off the July promotion by offering certificates for a free, large one-topping pizza at this event when they donate blood. Please remember to bring two forms of identification if you plan to donate. (The official Domino's Pizza promotion will begin on July 1, 2009.)

AHA! Night on Thursday, July 23

As part of the July promotion Southcoast Hospitals will be sponsoring AHA! Night on Thursday, July 23, in downtown New Bedford. The Southcoast Health Van will be conducting health screenings and holding a blood drive. All donors will receive a free pizza voucher. Please remember to bring two forms of identification if you plan to donate blood.

Where to donate

The Southcoast Blood Bank: The Southcoast Blood Bank is located at St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page Street, New Bedford, off the main lobby. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 2:30 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment call 508-961-5320 (www.southcoast.org/bloodbank/).

Community Blood Drives: Southcoast hosts blood drives throughout the region on the Southcoast Health Van and at local businesses. The schedule can be found online at www.southcoast.org/van/ or by calling 508-961-5320.

Follow Southcoast Hospitals on Twitter (@SouthcoastHosp) to receive daily updates with the Southcoast Health Van's location.

Slightly more common in women than in men, spider and varicose veins are unsightly and cause pain, swelling, fatigue, skin discoloration and non-healing sores. Many people find they need to sit down in the afternoon and elevate their legs to relieve these symptoms. In more severe cases, venous insufficiency and reflux can cause darkening of the skin and sores that may be very difficult to treat.

"The problems arise because the valves in the veins become incompetent, impairing normal flow of blood from the legs to the heart," said Michael Merport, MD, Interventional Radiologist at Southcoast Hospitals Group. "The screening is quick and the results will determine whether the patient is a candidate for EVLT. This minimally invasive procedure is beneficial to the patient because it is less invasive and can eliminate the need for surgery or vein stripping."

Performed by an interventional radiologist, the screening consists of an ultrasound of the leg to assess the venous anatomy, vein valve function and venous blood flow changes, which can assist in diagnosing venous insufficiency. These results will determine whether a patient is a candidate for the quick, minimally invasive procedure.

"The condition is very common. Age, family history of varicose veins and multiple pregnancies are the most common risk factors accelerating and worsening varicose veins," Dr. Merport said. "The EVLT treatment is FDA approved and takes less than an hour to perform. It is an outpatient procedure that in most cases provides immediate relief of symptoms."

Patients interested in endovenous laser treatment can call the Center for Women's Health at 508-998-0625 to schedule a consultation with an interventional radiologist. More information on EVLT can be found at http://www.southcoast.org/radiology/evlt.html.

In addition to the June screening, Southcoast Hospitals will also be hosting a free screenings in Fairhaven on Saturday, August 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gloria & Company, 211 Alden Road in Fairhaven. Register by calling Gloria's at 508-999-1899. Walk-ins are also welcome.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group has taken steps to increase community health care awareness by using social media vehicles such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, email and RSS feeds.

"Southcoast is always looking to make sure we make it easy for our community members and patients to connect with us," said Jim Rattray, Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs for Southcoast Health System. "We are keeping up with the way people are getting their news and information by using the latest and most popular social media methods. It helps us stay in touch with our community in an easy and convenient way."

Adding to its award-winning Southcoast eNews monthly email newsletter, Southcoast recently launched new social media channels that allow the public to keep up to date with the latest news at all three hospitals. In the past few months, the number of "followers" and "friends" has nearly quadrupled.

"Southcoast's weight-loss surgery program has been using an online discussion forum for several years," Rattray said. "The space offers the program's more than 1,000 patients an opportunity to share diet, recipes, exercise tips and connect with others who are on the same journey."

Rattray also noted the hospital's "E-Mail a Patient" program has become a very popular way for loved ones and friends to send greetings to patients while they are hospitalized.

Social media generally refers to Internet-based vehicles to allow users to send out and receive information from others. It is free to sign-up for an account and everyone is invited to follow Southcoast on Twitter, join Southcoast's Facebook page, subscribe to Southcoast's RSS feeds or watch videos on Southcoast's YouTube channel. With a Web browser or the proper third-party software (also free in most cases), the updates can be received on your computer or mobile phone.

Southcoast has grouped all of its social media links at www.southcoast.org/connect/.*

"As the use of social media evolves, we will continue to update or direct content that is more tailored for the individual outlets," Rattray said. "Right now followers can read daily tweets about news and events, including free health screenings, or watch Southcoast's TV ads and videos on our YouTube channel. Our goal is to keep the information fresh and informative no matter what method you choose."

Recent posts on Southcoast's Twitter feed include health tips, the Southcoast Health Van's daily schedule, links to news articles and advance notice of free health screenings. Southcoast even runs periodic contests and giveaways for followers, including chances to win tickets to a New Bedford Bay Sox game.

* Direct links:

• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SouthcoastHosp

• Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nctahf

• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SouthcoastHospitals

• RSS: www.southcoast.org/connect/rss.html
  

Dermatologist, Richard Waldman, MD, who specializes in the treatment of skin disease and disorders, along with registered nurses will conduct the screenings and provide information on skin cancer prevention and area services for cancer patients. Space is limited, pre-registration for the screening is required. To register please call the Jarabek Treatment Center at 508-679-7056.

According to Judith Pearson, clinical nurse manager of the Jarabek Treatment Center, which specializes in outpatient hematology and oncology, skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and can have different appearances depending on the type of growth.

"Skin cancer is directly related to sun exposure," Pearson said. "And it's not just the summer sun that is dangerous. It is important to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays no matter the season and to have your skin checked during your regular health checkups."
The American Cancer Society recommends a cancer-related checkup, including a skin exam when you have your regular health exams. For more information about skin cancer visit: http://www.southcoast.org/summer/skin.html.

Southcoast Hospitals provides oncology services at the Jarabek Center for Diagnosis & Treatment at Charlton Memorial Hospital, The Oncology Center in North Dartmouth, St. Luke's Hospital and the outpatient department at Tobey Hospital.

As part of Southcoast's commitment to cancer care in the community, new multidisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses and affiliated health professionals have been formed to address particularly serious cancer problems affecting our communities. Southcoast hosts screenings throughout the year at the three hospital locations and on the Southcoast Health Van. For a schedule of free screenings or programs in your area visit www.southcoast.org/calendar/.

"Southcoast has a long tradition of recognizing and congratulating employees for their long-standing commitment to providing quality patient care and services — and I am proud to help continue that tradition," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "Approximately 900 Southcoast employees are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. That's what makes working at and going to a Southcoast hospital so special — the sense of neighborliness and family that accompanies great care and decades of experience. Thank you to all of our Southcoast employees for all you do for our patients — and each other — every day"

Southcoast Hospitals' employees are recognized at five-year intervals for years of continuous service based on their date of hire. This year Southcoast celebrated 898 anniversaries with the following milestone achievements of 45, 40 and 35 years:

Celebrating 45 years (by hometown):

Fall River
Elaine Wilcox
Educational Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



New Bedford
Verna Arruda Aguiar
Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital



Somerset
Jeannine Levesque
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Wareham (2)
Patricia Bell
Laboratory, Tobey Hospital



Ruth Haskell
Environmental Services, Tobey Hospital



Westport
Sharon Santos


Laboratory, Charlton Memorial Hospital

Celebrating 40 years (by hometown):

Acushnet (4)
Margaret Ferreira
Imaging Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Raymond Lemery
Food & Nutrition, St. Luke's Hospital



Gerard Perron
Materials Management, St. Luke's Hospital



Constance Lemery
Imaging Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Assonet
Sally Berthelette
Rehab Nursing Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



East Freetown (2)
Kathleen Gonsalves
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Kathleen Konelick
Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital



Fairhaven
Jeanne Fontinha
Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital



Fall River (5)
Richard Beland
Respiratory Care, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Cheryl Donnelly
Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital



Maureen Gauthier
Occupational Health, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Judith Pearson
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Nancy Wright
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



New Bedford (7)
Glenn Martin
Central Processing, St. Luke's Hospital



Mary Ann Rogers
Admitting, St. Luke's Hospital



Janice Selley
Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital



Linda L. Silva
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Susan Telesmanick
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Jean Wing
Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital



Susan Wood
Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital



North Dartmouth (2)
Louis Velazquez
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Carol Ziarnik
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Portsmouth, R.I.
Deborah Medeiros
Perioperative Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Rehoboth
Geraldine Laforge
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



South Dartmouth
Elizabeth Turner
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Somerset (2)
Claire Almeida
Laboratory, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Sally Doucette
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Swansea
Barbara Cummings
Perioperative Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Tiverton, R.I.
Carol Renaud
Perioperative Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



West Wareham
Esther Roe
Maintenance & Engineering, Tobey Hospital



Westport (2)
Stephen Major
Respiratory Therapy, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Patricia Nicolan


Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital

Celebrating 35 years (by hometown):

Acushnet (6)
Rita Amaral
Respiratory Therapy, St. Luke's Hospital



Doreen Cormier
Food & Nutrition, St. Luke's Hospital



Roberta Fuller
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Rosemary Hubert
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Laura Paulson
Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Infusion



Helen Prachniak
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Assonet
Diana Rodrigues
Quality Data, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Berkley
Jane Rego-Kalif
Laboratory, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Bristol, R.I.
Patricia Francis
Pharmacy, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Dartmouth (6)
Duarte Araujo
Maintenance, St. Luke's Hospital



Irene Casey
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Joan Nesse
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Margaret Ouellette
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Linda Quirk
Outcomes Management, St. Luke's Hospital



Jane Zexter
Care Coordination, St. Luke's Hospital



North Dighton
Elaine Clarke
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Fairhaven (3)
Janet Santos
Imaging Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Gail Smith
Health Information Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Catherine Henebury
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Fall River (10)
James Almond
Materials Management, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Dora Boyd
Information Systems, Charlton Memorial Hospital



David Harrington
Respiratory Therapy, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Maria Hill
Perioperative Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Dorothy Masse
Perioperative Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Norman Mello
Materials Management, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Dawn Miville
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Luis Sousa
Perioperative Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Nancy Vandal
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Kay Watson
Perioperative Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



East Freetown (4)
Lionel Duarte
Security, St. Luke's Hospital



Susan Hirshlag
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Beth Robbins
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Sandra Sylvia
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Little Compton, R.I.
Margaret Chretien
Outcomes Management, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Marion
Karen Correia
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



New Bedford (17)
Jeanne Bernard
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Donna Brasseur
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Steven Brennan
Purchasing, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Debra Chmiel
Communications, St. Luke's Hospital



Eileen Connor
Imaging Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Debra Cruz
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Ann Goulart
Information Systems, St. Luke's Hospital



Jane Howland
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Rosemary Marshall
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Debra Mello
Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital



Michael Mello
Food & Nutrition, St. Luke's Hospital



Fatima Oliveira
Food & Nutrition, St. Luke's Hospital



Patricia O'Neale
Information Systems, St. Luke's Hospital



Roger Ouellette
Laboratory, St. Luke's Hospital



Sandra Rego
Graphic Arts, St. Luke's Hospital



Hilda Sud
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Maribeth Turner
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Plymouth
Judith Allison
Patient Services, Tobey Hospital



Portsmouth, R.I.
Anne Pimentel
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Rehoboth
Edward Darowski
Imaging Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Sagamore
Janice Luizzi
Perioperative Services, Tobey Hospital



Somerset (5)
Susan Beaulieu
Pharmacy, Charlton Memorial Hospital



David Camara
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Joanne Ganem
Environmental Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Joann Souza
Laboratory, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Karen Souza
Health Information Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Swansea (6)
Gail Laberge
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Marjorie Lasson
Laboratory, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Paul McCormack
Imaging Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Phyllis Rutkowski
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Debra Souza
Patient Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Judith St. Pierre
Information Systems, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Taunton
Donna Berthelette
Perioperative Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Tiverton, R.I. (2)
Elizabeth Faria
Health Information Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Julia Kosinski
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Wareham (2)
Donna Cattabriga
Patient Services, Tobey Hospital



Valerie Young
Perioperative Services, Tobey Hospital



Westport (5)
Kathleen Arruda
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Patricia Arruda
Imaging Services, St. Luke's Hospital



Carol-Lee Chretien
Patient Services, Charlton Memorial Hospital



Debra Desmarais
Imaging Services, Southcoast Hospitals Group



Patricia Freitas


Care Coordination, Charlton Memorial Hospital

Pictured left to right: Josephine Praino, Tobey Hospital Guild Scholarship Chair, Danielle Bruno, Janine Price, Brittany Nyman, scholarship recipients, and Ronna Santoro, Tobey Hospital Guild President.

WAREHAM, Mass. — The Tobey Hospital Guild recently announced $3,000 in scholarship awards for individuals who are pursuing a career in health care.

Tobey Guild Scholarship Chairperson Josephine Praino presented three $1,000 scholarship awards to three high school seniors at a reception held May 28 at the Mezza Luna Restaurant in Buzzards Bay, Mass.

"We wish the recipients continued success in their academic studies. It is always a difficult decision, but you all stood out among the best," Praino told the recipients.

The 2008-2009 Tobey Guild Scholarship winners are:

• Danielle Bruno, a graduate of Carver High School, who will be attending the University of Massachusetts in Amherst to pursue a degree in nursing.

• Janine Price, a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School, who will be attending the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth to pursue a degree in nursing.

• Brittany Nyman, a graduate of Wareham High School, who was awarded the Mary Ann Patrick Scholarship, who will attend Salve Regina College in Newport to pursue a degree in nursing. This scholarship is named in memory of artist and Tobey Hospital Guild member, Mary Ann Patrick, who passed away this year. Her husband, Phillip Patrick, presented the award to Nyman.

The Tobey Hospital Guild also presented Southcoast Hospitals with a check in the amount of $50,000. According to Guild President Ronna Santoro, $25,000 represents the last payment of the Guild's pledge to purchase an anesthesia machine for Tobey's Makepeace Maternity Center and the remainder will be used to help purchase fetal heart monitors for the Center.

"The Tobey Hospital Guild is proud to help mothers and newborns begin life with all the advantages made possible by today's technology. During these challenging economic times, it is especially important that we remember our mission to support our local community hospital," Santoro said.

The Tobey Hospital Guild is a great way for people to become involved in their community hospital. The mission statement of Southcoast's Auxiliaries and Guild is to render services to the hospital, its patients and its tax-exempt subsidiaries and to assist Southcoast Hospitals Group in promoting the health and welfare of the communities it serves.

Members serve as ambassadors to the community on behalf of the hospital. For more information, please contact Agatha St. Amour at 508-961-5353 or E-mail: sainta@southcoast.org.

Therese M. Mulvey, MD Physician Leader for Oncology Services Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group today announced the recruitment of key clinical leadership, including a renowned medical oncologist and nationally recognized expert as physician leader, for its new comprehensive cancer treatment program in Fall River and Fairhaven.

"We have recruited top-tier clinicians with a wealth of experience at top academic institutions around the country to lead our new comprehensive cancer program," said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group. "These physicians bring to Southcoast a commitment to combining the very best in cancer treatment, technology and expertise to meet the growing needs of our region's cancer patients."

Leading the clinical team is Therese M. Mulvey, MD, a board-certified physician in medical oncology and internal medicine, who will serve as the Physician Leader for Oncology Services for Southcoast's new Centers for Cancer Care. The Fall River center opens in July and the Fairhaven site in 2011.

Dr. Mulvey, who will join Southcoast in July 2009, is currently with Commonwealth Hematology Oncology in Quincy, Mass., New England's largest private cancer care network, where she has practiced since 1991 and served as its president.

Dr. Mulvey has dedicated her career to providing state-of-the-art community-based care for cancer patients. As the Physician Leader for the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care, she plans to continue her affiliations with many leading academic medical centers to ensure that patients of the South Coast region have access to high-quality oncology services and leading-edge clinical cancer research without having to travel. Her philosophy is to empower patients to receive high-quality care in their own communities, with shared decision making among specialists and patients. Dr. Mulvey will serve as the Physician Leader for the two Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care.

"The Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care will greatly benefit from Dr. Mulvey's strong leadership and vision for a comprehensive, community based oncology program," Hovan said. "Dr. Mulvey has dedicated her career to bringing ‘big city' medicine to the inner city and suburbs. Recognizing the great need for personalized, high-quality cancer care services locally, she shares Southcoast's mission to meet the needs of our diverse communities by providing high-quality care, close to home."

Dr. Mulvey began her career at Carney Hospital in Boston and served as an attending physician at Quincy Hospital and Milton Hospital. She has also been a consulting physician at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.

She received her education and post-graduate training at several tertiary facilities in Boston, including a research and clinical fellow in hematology and oncology from Massachusetts General Hospital, and a clinical fellow in hematology and oncology from Tufts-New England Medical Center, where she also performed her residency. Dr. Mulvey received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine.

She has published numerous articles, abstracts and book chapters and most notably serves as the Associate Editor for The Journal of Oncology Practice. She is the Immediate Past Chair of American Society Clinical Oncology's Clinical Practice Committee and is an Associate Professor for the Department of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine where she has received "Excellence in Teaching" awards.

For several years, she was named one of Boston Magazine's "Top Doctors" for Medical Oncology and Hematology ["The Top Doctors 2006, 2008" and "Best Docs 2007"].

Teresa Boyle, MD, Radiation Oncologist

Teresa Boyle, MD, Radiation Oncologist, will be joining the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care in Fall River, beginning in July, and at the future Fairhaven center. Dr. Boyle is a board-certified physician in radiation oncology and internal medicine and joins Southcoast from Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Tex., an affiliated institution of the Texas A&M Health Science Center.

She served as Chief Resident of Radiation Oncology at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, where she then served as Clinical Director of Lymphoma Service and Head & Neck Service.

Dr. Boyle performed her post-doctoral training at St. Elizabeth's Hospital and her residency in Internal Medicine at Carney Hospital, both in Boston. She received her Bachelors Degree from St. Mary's College in South Bend, Ind., and her Masters Degree in Education from Tufts University in Medford, Mass. She received her Medical Degree from Loyola University of Chicago.

She has published articles, abstracts and book chapters in numerous medical journals that are nationally recognized by her peers on topics such as breast cancer, lung cancer and the use of radiation therapy in various modalities.

Todd F. Roberts, MD, Medical Oncologist

Todd F. Roberts, MD, MSc., Medical Oncologist, joins Southcoast from Hematology and Oncology Specialists, LLC, in New Orleans, where he currently serves as Director of Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Tulane University Hospital and Clinics with their stem cell transplant program in New Orleans.

Dr. Roberts is a board-certified physician in medical oncology. He has a fellowship in bone marrow transplantation from Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, where he also served as Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology under the Tufts University School of Medicine affiliation. He received his Medical Degree from the University of Toronto in Canada and performed his internal medicine internship at Harvard Medical School at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. He performed his internal medicine residency at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Roberts' current areas of research include stem cell transplantation, leukemia, myelodysplasia (MDS, formerly known as "preleukemia"), Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma (cancer that begins in plasma cells).
He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. He has served on numerous committees and boards and is currently a member of Hematology and Oncology Specialists Medical Research Committee.

Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care

Southcoast announced plans to open the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care in Fairhaven with a satellite location in Fall River last year. The Centers for Cancer Care will provide comprehensive treatment of cancer and blood diseases with a seamless link to the region's premier health care provider, Southcoast Hospitals Group.

"It is important that we create a seamless link between the two centers as a way to further ensures a collaborative approach to patient care. It will also give our patients access to a multi-disciplinary team of specialists and caregivers that can work together on the best course of treatment," Hovan said.

There is a growing need for cancer treatment in the region and Southcoast is committed to making sure patients have access to the very latest technology and care delivered by a dedicated and experienced staff. Currently patients in the eastern section of the region must settle for a patchwork of care providers and, in many cases, travel great distances for cancer treatments, many of which require daily visits.

The Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care will provide a full range of oncology services including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, lab and radiology services and patient supportive services, such as nutrition counseling and complementary therapies.

The center in Fall River will open in July 2009 at the Charlton Memorial Hospital site and the Fairhaven site is scheduled to open in 2011. Drs. Mulvey, Boyle and Roberts will begin seeing patients in July at the Fall River location.

Additional information on Southcoast's cancer program can be found on our website at www.southcoast.org/cancercare/.

For more information or to register, call Catherine Wrobel, Bereavement Coordinator at 508-984-0202.

About Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Infusion

Southcoast Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care & Infusion Services is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, certified through the Medicare program and accredited by The Joint Commission.

]]> Mon, 18 May 2009 17:05:57 -0400 may-18-|-southcoast-hospice-widows-widowers-suppo http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/051309.html Southcoast Blood Bank with a resolution recognizing the years of support and peace-of-mind the blood bank brings to the South Coast communities. The resolution was offered by Brian K. Gomes, Councilor-at-Large; City Council President John T. Saunders; Linda M. Morad, Councilor, Ward One, and Jane L. Gonsalves, Councilor, Ward Five.

City Councilor Brian K. Gomes presented representatives from the Southcoast Blood Bank, past and present, with an honorary resolution for their years of dedicated service. Left to Right: Ralph K. Ito, PhD, Administrative Director of Southcoast Hospitals Laboratories & Pathology; John Laverty, MD, Medical Director of St. Luke's Laboratory & Pathology; City Councilor Brian K. Gomes; Nancy Chadbourne, Team Leader of Southcoast Blood Bank; Cheryl Cannon, St. Luke's Laboratory Site Manager, and Nancy Vital, retired Blood Bank Recruiter for Southcoast Blood Bank.

"There are many good reasons to commend and support the Southcoast Blood Bank's Blood Donor Program, but perhaps the most compelling is that Southcoast is the only local donor site that directly benefits the residents of the South Coast region — keeping our local blood supply strong so it is there when the community needs it," said Gomes, who presented members of the Southcoast Blood Bank with the resolution at the City Council meeting on April 23.

John Laverty, MD, Medical Director of the St. Luke's Laboratory & Pathology, and Ralph K. Ito, Ph.D., Director of Laboratory & Pathology for Southcoast Hospitals Group, accepted the award for the Southcoast Blood Bank.

"We are grateful to the New Bedford City Council and the many New Bedford city employees and businesses that support the Southcoast Blood Bank throughout the year," Dr. Ito said. "They are the 'heroes' of our city. We depend on your continued support — but most of all your friends, neighbors and family members depend on your support. When you give blood locally you save a life locally."

The resolution also highlighted the many individuals in the city of New Bedford who have made Southcoast's blood donor program a success. Totaling some 38,500 units of blood over a five-year period, the resolution outlines the following members of the community who donate to the Southcoast Blood Bank on an ongoing basis:

• City Hall, District Court and the District Attorney's Office — 198 blood donors.
  
• New Bedford Police Department — 127 blood donors.
  
• New Bedford Fire Department employees — 124 blood donors.
  
• New Bedford business sector has 97 organizations who participate and host blood drives through the year.
  

  
  

The Southcoast Blood Bank at St. Luke's Hospital is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or call 508-961-5320 to make an appointment.

The Southcoast Health Van hosts blood drives throughout the region. The schedule can be found online at www.southcoast.org/van or by calling 508-679-7131.

]]> Wed, 13 May 2009 15:24:11 -0400 3AE493C9-879C-45BE-9C25-B137C5535E62-63407-0001ABFF25A4F2F0-FFA http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/051209.html Operation Clean Sweep and the St. Luke's neighborhood group, Neighbors Eager for Enlightened Development (NEED), on Saturday, May 16, (rain date May 23).

Spreading throughout New Bedford's Ward 5, the group will kick off the clean-up from their staging area located in the St. Luke's parking lot on the corner of Hawthorn and Page streets.

Volunteers are still needed, please pre-register before the clean up by calling 508-979-1493 or visit www.operationcleansweep.net.

"This is the first time in Operation Clean Sweep's history that a private organization approached us about doing a neighborhood clean-up," said Lynn Coish, Team Leader of New Bedford's Operation Clean Sweep. "We hope this will encourage more businesses and organizations to take a proactive role in giving back to the community and hosting their own neighborhood clean-up day."

Jim Rattray, Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs at Southcoast Health System, said the hospital and NEED wanted to show all of the neighbors their ongoing support and dedication to beautifying the neighborhood.

"Southcoast is excited to host the St. Luke's clean-up day with New Bedford's Operation Clean Sweep and the neighborhood group, NEED," Rattray said. "It's a great way for our employees and their families to thank the neighbors for the support over the last several years. We know this will be a successful event for our neighborhood and for New Bedford. It is our goal to eventually host clean-up days at all three of our hospital sites."

According to Rosalie Baker, who co-chairs the neighborhood group, NEED, with Priscilla Demers: "The neighbors welcome the opportunity to work together with St. Luke's Hospital to make our neighborhood a better, more beautiful place for all of us. This clean-up is a tangible example of how neighbors and institutions, like St. Luke's Hospital, can collaborate for everyone's benefit."

Southcoast will provide refreshments and pizza for lunch from Domino's Pizza, Operation Clean Sweep's "official pizza." A live broadcast will take place during the event on FUN 107 by JR, of "JR & Sharon in the Morning." Volunteers will also receive a coupon redeemable at St. Luke's Hospital for a cup of award-winning clam chowder served on clean-up day or any Friday.

The Southcoast Health Van will also be onsite from 8 to 11 a.m. to provide free health screenings and a blood drive.

]]> Tue, 12 May 2009 12:29:43 -0400 00D12036-DB8F-47D6-95EF-073AE55A08D7-56034-00018341B61004D9-FFA http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/051209.html Operation Clean Sweep and the St. Luke's neighborhood group, Neighbors Eager for Enlightened Development (NEED), on Saturday, May 16, (rain date May 23).

Spreading throughout New Bedford's Ward 5, the group will kick off the clean-up from their staging area located in the St. Luke's parking lot on the corner of Hawthorn and Page streets.

Volunteers are still needed, please pre-register before the clean up by calling 508-979-1493 or visit www.operationcleansweep.net.

"This is the first time in Operation Clean Sweep's history that a private organization approached us about doing a neighborhood clean-up," said Lynn Coish, Team Leader of New Bedford's Operation Clean Sweep. "We hope this will encourage more businesses and organizations to take a proactive role in giving back to the community and hosting their own neighborhood clean-up day."

Jim Rattray, Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs at Southcoast Health System, said the hospital and NEED wanted to show all of the neighbors their ongoing support and dedication to beautifying the neighborhood.

"Southcoast is excited to host the St. Luke's clean-up day with New Bedford's Operation Clean Sweep and the neighborhood group, NEED," Rattray said. "It's a great way for our employees and their families to thank the neighbors for the support over the last several years. We know this will be a successful event for our neighborhood and for New Bedford. It is our goal to eventually host clean-up days at all three of our hospital sites."

Southcoast will provide refreshments and pizza for lunch from Domino's Pizza, Operation Clean Sweep's "official pizza." A live broadcast will take place during the event on FUN 107 by JR, of "JR & Sharon in the Morning." Volunteers will also receive a coupon redeemable at St. Luke's Hospital for a cup of award-winning clam chowder served on clean-up day or any Friday.

]]> Tue, 12 May 2009 09:50:59 -0400 0E60A300-6331-4BE7-B8E4-C8664BDBC837-54677-00017A916FD84067-FFA http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/swineflu.html Swine Flu Information

Download a fact sheet on Swine Flu from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (PDF):
English | Portuguese | Spanish | Khmer

Last Updated:
Thursday, April 30, 2009
9:30 p.m.
(Next update as needed)

At Southcoast, your health matters — and so does your peace of mind.

Southcoast's mission is to deliver the safest, highest quality care and services to our patients. We take pride in the excellent care we provide every day, and value the opportunity to be your local connection to critical health information and services.

Over the past weeks, our community members have asked many questions relating to the global swine flu outbreak. Rest assured that Southcoast has dedicated significant resources to monitoring the local situation and staying apprised of the ever-changing national and international situation.

What is Southcoast doing?





Southcoast continues to monitor the latest information, guidelines and events coming from our public health officials. Here are highlights of what is taking place behind the scenes:

• The hospital is working internally on a number of priorities, including diligent surveillance and screening by our health care providers, infection prevention personnel and laboratories.
  

  
  

• We continue to update our employees on the many levels of care necessary for this type of outbreak, including how to screen and report "suspected cases" of swine flu and how to treat and care for such cases.
  

  
  

• We are constantly evaluating our current supplies that assist in prevention, protection and mitigation of an outbreak that may affect one person to multiple people. This ranges from masks and gowns to beds and medications. We report this information across the three hospital sites and externally to public agencies. An important part of this process is ordering additional supplies and coordinating with the state regarding access to antiviral supplies.
  

  
  

• We are participating in regional, state and national emergency planning. Open lines of communication and coordinating efforts with Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Emergency Preparedness Bureau and Southcoast Emergency Preparedness Planning Partnership continue to be an essential part of our emergency preparedness. It is important to remember, the hospital's Emergency Preparedness Committee meets throughout the year to coordinate drills and plan for all types and levels of emergency incidents.
  

  
  

• Our Public Information Officer is working closely with our local media outlets to provide the most up-to-date information regarding the hospital's readiness and role as well as any important information that our community members need to know about their local health care services.
  

  
  

Where to find local information on the swine flu?







Southcoast Hospitals Group posts information on our website on a regular basis.

We encourage you to follow us on Twitter or by RSS feed.

• Southcoast Hospitals Twitter feed.
  

  
  

• Southcoast Hospitals RSS feed.
  

  
  

• City of New Bedford Health Department.
  

  
  

Where to find the facts on swine flu?





When in question it is always best to refer to the experts.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) or your own Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) provide daily if not hourly, updates on the following websites.

We have highlighted a few items that you will find on these informative sites:

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health swine flu page
  

  
  

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health blog
  

  
  

What you can do to stay healthy

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
  

  
  

• Practice good "cough etiquette" by coughing or sneezing into a tissue, or into your elbow instead of into your hands.
  

  
  

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  

  
  

• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
  

  
  

What are the symptoms of swine flu?






The symptoms in people with swine flu are similar to normal human seasonal influenza and include:

• Fever.
  

  
  

• Cough.
  

  
  

• Headache.
  

  
  

• Runny nose.
  

  
  

• Lack of appetite.
  

  
  

• Myalgias (muscle aches and pains).
  

  
  

• Lethargy (tired feeling, low energy).
  

  
  

Conjunctivitis (a type of eye infection) has been reported, but is not common.

Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions and invasive bacterial infection. Symptoms in children may differ. Please check the DPH website.

The criterion for detecting swine flu is evolving. At the current time, DPH is asking that clinicians consider swine influenza infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with febrile respiratory illness and who are:

• Within 10 days of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or
  

  
  

• Within 10 days of travel to community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza A(H1N1) cases, or
  

  
  

• Living in a community where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza cases.
  

  
  

Am I contagious?





Persons with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be considered potentially contagious for 1 day before to up to 10 days following illness onset or until about 24 hours after symptoms are resolved. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

Protecting yourself and others







Patients should call their physician office before going to the office if they suspect they may have influenza so that proper precautions can be taken when they arrive. If possible, patients should try to be scheduled at the beginning or end of the day.

Surgical masks have been placed at the Southcoast hospitals entrances for patients with respiratory symptoms. Any patient presenting at the hospital who is experiencing flu-like symptoms should use a mask and proper hand hygiene.

What if I recently traveled to Mexico or other places in the U.S. where cases have been confirmed?

• Returning from Mexico or other places in the U.S. where cases have been confirmed, but you have no symptoms — you do not need to take action. Individuals should monitor themselves for flu-like symptoms and call their physician if their status changes.
  

  
  

• Returned from Mexico with respiratory symptoms, flu-like symptoms, fever, should stay at home and contact your health care provider by phone.
  

  
  

What if I have not traveled anywhere, but think I may have symptoms?





DPH is suggesting that you consider the symptoms outlined at www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu and call your physician to be screened.

What if I have the flu?





Those with swine influenza or any other respiratory illness who are stable can and should be cared for at home to avoid further spread of the disease.

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention swine flu page: The agency's goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by the new virus.
  

  
  

• CDC's Interim Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home is available at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_homecare.htm.
  

  
  

• An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the U.S.
  

  
  

World Health Organization (WHO)






The World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system.

The current WHO phase of pandemic alert is 5.

The WHO uses a 6-phased approach to their pandemic alert system. According to the WHO website: Phases 1–3 correlate with preparedness, including capacity development and response planning activities, while Phases 4–6 clearly signal the need for response and mitigation efforts.

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

(Sources: The Center for Disease Control, World Health Organization and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health: Swine Flu Alert DPH 4-30-09)

]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:35:15 -0400 E4574B28-5B9F-46F6-B2FE-A89729451E21-13188-00004B3F4A076123-FFA http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/swineflu.html



Download a fact sheet on Swine Flu from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (PDF)

The following statement from Joyce Brennan, spokeswoman for Southcoast Health System, on swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or "swine flu."

"Southcoast, like many hospitals across the nation, has been working diligently in response to the potential threat of swine flu.

"Southcoast is participating in statewide planning for hospitals and community health centers lead by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) in response to the public health advisory issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) yesterday.

"Over the past several days, DPH officials have communicated information on swine flu to health care providers around the state giving them guidelines on, what symptoms to look for, and how to report suspected cases. [Southcoast will not be reporting suspected cases publically.] Southcoast will continue to work closely with public health officials to ensure that our local health care providers have the latest information and that we are adequately prepared.

"As a general precaution, we are also requesting that patients and people who must visit with cold or flu symptoms wear surgical masks while at the hospital. Surgical masks are available at each of the hospitals main lobby entrances and emergency department entrances."

Hospital emergency preparedness:

Southcoast has a detailed system-wide plan for the response to pandemic outbreaks. The hospitals have been participating in regional and statewide preparedness drills, preparations and planning in the event of any type of pandemic. A regional group in the state meets on a regular basis including members of Southcoast, to coordinate efforts across multiple disciplines, agencies, facilities and other hospitals.

Where to get accurate information?

State and government agencies monitor public health issues on a frequent basis. When in question it is always best to refer to the experts such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the facts. Information can be found on their websites and is usually updated as soon as new information becomes available.

• U.S. CDC Swine Influenza Website:
  http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/
  

  
  

• Massachusetts-Specific Information as well as links to CDC:
  http://mass.gov/dph/
  

  
  

]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:02:58 -0400 FFC663E8-2370-409B-B1CE-D14650F16ECB-965-000009AC8E0392C1-FFA http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/swineflu.html

The following statement from Joyce Brennan, spokeswoman for Southcoast Health System, on swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or "swine flu."

"Southcoast, like many hospitals across the nation, has been working diligently in response to the potential threat of swine flu.

"Southcoast is participating in statewide planning for hospitals and community health centers lead by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) in response to the public health advisory issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) yesterday.

"Over the past several days, DPH officials have communicated information on swine flu to health care providers around the state giving them guidelines on, what symptoms to look for, and how to report suspected cases. [Southcoast will not be reporting suspected cases publically.] Southcoast will continue to work closely with public health officials to ensure that our local health care providers have the latest information and that we are adequately prepared.

"As a general precaution, we are also requesting that patients and people who must visit with cold or flu symptoms wear surgical masks while at the hospital. Surgical masks are available at each of the hospitals main lobby entrances and emergency department entrances."

Hospital emergency preparedness:

Southcoast has a detailed system-wide plan for the response to pandemic outbreaks. The hospitals have been participating in regional and statewide preparedness drills, preparations and planning in the event of any type of pandemic. A regional group in the state meets on a regular basis including members of Southcoast, to coordinate efforts across multiple disciplines, agencies, facilities and other hospitals.

Where to get accurate information?

State and government agencies monitor public health issues on a frequent basis. When in question it is always best to refer to the experts such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the facts. Information can be found on their websites and is usually updated as soon as new information becomes available.

• U.S. CDC Swine Influenza Website:
  http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/
  

  
  

• Massachusetts-Specific Information as well as links to CDC:
  http://mass.gov/dph/
  

  
  

]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:53:56 -0400 C8A30F23-B6B3-4916-B48F-F1E24688035F-960-00028684B6FF23B7-FFA http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/042109.html Southcoast Diabetes Management Program will be hosting a seminar on the latest advancements in insulin delivery technology including insulin pumps and glucose sensors. The free program will take place on Tuesday, May 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at White's of Westport, 66 State Road in Westport. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited, please call 508-679-7143 for more information and to register.

The Southcoast Hospitals Group Diabetes Management Program is nationally recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for its state-of-the-art quality of diabetes self-management education programs. The program offers diabetes self-management education for Types 1 and 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes classes are held at all three hospital sites and cover the following topics: Basics of Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes, Glucose Monitoring, Lifestyle Changes, Medication Management, Nutrition, Survival Skills and Weight Management.

]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:33:39 -0400 805F2BF6-C97D-4562-B42E-3527529FA8DE-11720-000090F96B3BFECB-FFA http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/042009.html "Dancing with the New Bedford Stars," a benefit for digital mammography services at St. Luke's Hospital.

The star-studded evening will be held on Friday, May 8, at White's of Westport, 66 State Road, Westport, beginning at 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy a four-course meal, consisting of hors d'oeuvres, salad and a choice of a savory chicken piccata or fresh salmon wrapped in apple smoked bacon. "Bittersweet Kiss," a warm brownie tart with chocolate ganache over a layer of raspberry coulis and white chocolate sauce, topped with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream will be served for dessert. People's Liquor Warehouse in Fall River has generously donated a selection of pairing wines to accompany the meal.

Ashly (DelGrosso) Costa, professional dancer for three seasons on the hit ABC show "Dancing with the Stars," will judge and choreograph some of the dancers including a special youth performance. Additional studios participating include Susan's Dance Studio in Fairhaven, Gotta Dance Studio in New Bedford, Lee Terry at Healthtrax Ballroom and the Dancer's Edge in Dartmouth.

Headlining the evening will be Jay and Mark Kruger, from NBC's "The Biggest Loser;" Miss New Bedford 2009 Ashley Bendiksen; Marguerite "Gig" Lang, wife of New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang; Dr. & Mrs. James O'Rourke; Peter E. Berthiaume, New Bedford City Assessor; Michael Riccardi of Riccardi's Restaurant in New Bedford and Fairhaven; George Benoit Jr. of Legacy Financial Group and daughter, Angelique, and Deborah Grenon.

Joining Costa at the judges' table is David Adelberg, MD, Sharon Fogaren of JR & Sharon in the morning on FUN 107 and Sharon Oliver. Pete Braley, morning host for WBSM will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Two tickets to the television show "Dancing with the Stars" in Los Angeles will be part of the evening's silent auction. All proceeds to benefit the $100,000 pledge made by the Auxiliary in support of new state-of-the-art digital mammography machines at St. Luke's Hospital.

Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased by calling Agatha St. Amour, Southcoast Hospital's Director of Volunteer Services, at 508-961-5752 or online at www.southcoast.org/give/.

]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:20:49 -0400 3349D822-0623-4CAF-B22A-54784593C86F-11603-0000904523AAEC4E-FFA http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/040809.html

A basic vascular screening can help detect a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD). If left untreated, PAD can increase risks of heart attack and stroke. People who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes have an increased risk for PAD and should be screened on a regular basis.

Appointments are required and can be requested by calling 800-497-1727. Space is limited and appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. No walk-ins on screening days.

FALL RIVER SCREENINGS
Charlton Memorial Hospital
363 Highland Ave., Fall River

Wednesday, May 6
5 to 7 p.m.
Southcoast Health Van at Charlton Memorial Hospital (main entrance)



Wednesday, May 27
5 to 7 p.m.
Southcoast Health Van at Charlton Memorial Hospital (main entrance)



Wednesday, May 28
5 to 7 p.m.
Southcoast Health Van at Charlton Memorial Hospital (main entrance)



Wednesday, June 10
5 to 7 p.m.
Southcoast Health Van at Charlton Memorial Hospital (main entrance)



Wednesday, June 24
5 to 7 p.m.
Southcoast Health Van at Charlton Memorial Hospital (main entrance)

Thursday, May 14
5 to 7 p.m.
Southcoast Health Van at Tobey Hospital



Thursday, June 11
5 to 7 p.m.
Southcoast Health Van at Tobey Hospital

Tuesday, May 5
5 to 7 p.m.
St. Luke's Hospital, off main lobby



Tuesday, May 19
5 to 7 p.m.
St. Luke's Hospital, off main lobby



Tuesday, June 2
5 to 7 p.m.
St. Luke's Hospital, off main lobby



Tuesday, June 9
5 to 7 p.m.
St. Luke's Hospital, off main lobby

]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:17:56 -0400 3DB268D5-EEFC-44C0-8E8B-E9DED9A3D449-64780-00017F4C41C3ECA2-FFA http://www.southcoast.org/news/releases/2009/040709.html "Oral cancer is a major health problem in this country and one that most people aren't aware of," said Wendy Stern, MD, a surgeon at St. Luke's and Tobey Hospitals and a member of Northeast Ear Nose & Throat in North Dartmouth.

"It is vital that people — especially those who smoke — learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of this cancer and our screening offers a great opportunity for both education and a chance for early detection."

Dr. Stern noted that tobacco — including smokeless tobacco — and alcohol use are risk factors for head and neck cancers.

According to National Cancer Institute and the Yul Brynner Head & Neck Cancer Foundation, 85 percent of these cancers are linked to tobacco use. The foundation was created 20 years ago after actor Yul Brynner launched a crusade to educate the young people of the world on the effects of tobacco and its relationship to mouth and throat cancer. Brynner died in 1985 after a public fight with lung cancer.