Showing posts with label hospital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hospital. Show all posts

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Senate Passes Legislation to Enhance Stroke Care System

Senate Passes Legislation to Enhance Stroke Care System

The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday, July 23, 2020, unanimously passed legislation that will help lead to better care and treatment for individuals suffering from stroke.

"The Senate made it a priority this session to ensure our residents have adequate and equitable access to health care options, and this bill builds upon the hard work we have accomplished," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Time is a critical factor when seeking treatment for stroke patients and this potentially live-saving bill would better prepare our health care system so that we are doing it safely and efficiently."

"In Massachusetts, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death, claiming 2,370 lives per year, according to the most recent data from the Department of Public Health (DPH), stated Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health. "Getting patients with strokes quickly to the appropriate hospital is critical to giving patients the best chance to survive. This bill will give DPH the tools to help EMS crews and hospitals work together to create a system where patients are given the highest opportunity to get the lifesaving care they need.  This bill received the strong support of the Public Health Committee, and I hope it can get to the Governor and be signed into law before the end of this session."

"Stroke is a chronic, deadly, and destructive disease that demands action from policymakers," said Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford).  "What is particularly troubling is that in many cases the death and disability is largely preventable.  We must act now to implement necessary reforms so that our loved ones can receive the very best care and treatment.  The things we can do now through this bill are pretty simple and reflect what many medical professionals agree are necessary to modernize our system of care.  Lives are simply more important than the bottom line of any business or desire to maintain the status quo."

"Stroke continues to take a terrible toll on its victims and their loved ones across the state and the nation; it continues to be a leading cause of death," said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R -Gloucester).  "Combating the impacts of stroke depends significantly on a timely response with effective measures, and this legislation creates a framework for that to happen."

The bill, An Act to Prevent Death and Disability from Stroke, would:

  • Direct the Department of Public Health (DPH) and regional EMS councils to annually review protocols to ensure stroke patients are transported to care facilities best equipped to treat them;
  • Directs DPH to publicize regulations that create statewide standard pre-hospital care protocols and statewide criteria for designating hospitals in a tiered system;
  • Requires DPH to publicly post, and annually update, a designated list of stroke facilities on its website; and
  • Establishes a Stroke Advisory Task Force to assist with data oversight, program management and advice regarding the stroke system of care in the Commonwealth
 A stroke is caused by a disruption of blood supply to the brain. While stroke can cause disability or death, identifying the signs and getting immediate treatment can help reduce the long-term effects. Signs and symptoms may include face drooping, arm weakness and difficulty speaking.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 140,000 Americans die each year of stroke. A 2017 survey of Massachusetts adults 35 and older, 3.5 percent of reported suffering from stroke.

The legislation now moves to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Passes Legislation to Enhance Stroke Care System
Senate Passes Legislation to Enhance Stroke Care System

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

In the News: Annie's book store closes; planning underway to allow visitors to long-term care facilities

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Books hold a special place in the heart of Ann Durant -- so much so that they are like members of her family, each variously holding within its whispering, ink-fragrant pages memories of past times spent together or promises of new friendships, new discoveries and new adventures.

So it should come as no surprise that Durant, owner of Annie’s Book Stop on Plainville’s Man-Mar Drive, has been on a very determined mission the last couple of weeks: To leave the collection of books in her second-hand bookstore in equally loving hands.

Durant has found herself in the difficult position of having to close the business her mother -- the late Eleanor Arnold -- opened nearly four decades ago, and that she herself has been operating for nearly 25 years. While she has overcome some significant business challenges over the years, including competing with big box book stores and online book purveyors, the coronavirus pandemic has proven to be too much to surmount.

“Basically, my decision to close is directly because of the pandemic, when you count what it would cost me to stay open,” she said. “I have jumped hurdles -- the big box stores, the online stuff. I’ve always found a way around it, but this ... whether it’s my age or the length of time I’ve done this ... this I couldn’t find a way over it or under it or around it.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200526/a-wonderful-journey-comes-to-end-in-plainville-as-annies-book-stop-closes-amidst-coronavirus-pandemic


"As the state’s economic reopening gets underway in earnest this week, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday that COVID-19 public health data indicates “that we are trending in the right direction,” and the head of the state’s COVID-19 Command Center said plans are in the works to allow people to once again visit their loved ones in long-term care settings.

Opening his first press conference since many consumer-facing businesses were allowed to reopen Monday, the governor highlighted two of the metrics that he has said will be key considerations when deciding when to launch subsequent phases of the reopening plan.

Baker said the average positive test rate is down to about 9% and has “been pretty much in that general vicinity now for about a week.” And the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has shown “a significant decrease over the course of the past two or three weeks,” he said."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200526/medical-advisory-board-working-on-plan-to-allow-visitors-to-long-term-care-facilities-in-massachusetts-again-visitors-were-banned-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak

Video link for May 26 update by Gov Baker: https://youtu.be/X1Dq6fENwtI




Monday, April 27, 2020

Watch "A Message From Hospitals: Don't Avoid Emergency Care" on YouTube


"At the COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, April 23, 2020, Governor Baker joined leaders from the Commonwealth's health care community to make clear that thanks to the shared work to prepare and build capacity, Massachusetts' hospitals are handling the uptick in COVID-19 cases, and are still able to care for patients with other medical conditions."
YouTube Link = https://youtu.be/IWITRRS0WZ4




Saturday, April 11, 2020

Helpful Tips - Preparation for Covid-19 Hospitalization

If a family member is sick at home, they might be at risk of being hospitalized. Please have an emergency "Go Bag" ready for the hospital. Remember, family members and visitors are not being allowed into hospitals so it's best to have it all at the ready.

These tips are worthwhile for all kinds of emergencies, so spending a few minutes now can help you for a long time to come!

Items for your "Go Bag":
  • Written, UPDATED and accurate list of medications: Name, Dose, Frequency, Initials after the name of medication are important too, such as: XL, XR, LA, IR, ER, SR.
  • Cell phone charger
  • List of emergency contacts and phone numbers on paper. If the patient is unconscious and the cell phone is locked or the battery is dead, hospital staff will need this.
  • Primary Care Doctor contact info: Full name, phone number, and office address and the patient's health insurance information, including the insurance company's name, address and phone number, policy ID or policy number.
  • A book (or magazine, downloaded audible book, etc.) to read.
  • Copies of: Health Care Proxy, Advance Medical Directive, Power of Attorney
  • If the patient has a pacemaker or defibrillator: a copy of the pocket information card that states the brand, model number, and MRI compatibility.
  • If the patient has asthma or COPD, bring the inhalers. Hospitals are running out.
  • Extra batteries for hearing aid or other medical devices.
  • Leave copies of important papers on the side of your fridge, with a magnet. EMTs are trained to look there for emergency information in the event you contact 911 but you can't speak when they arrive.

Shared from the Town of Franklin Page
https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/helpful-tips-preparation-covid-19-hospitalization

Helpful Tips - Preparation for Covid-19 Hospitalization
Helpful Tips - Preparation for Covid-19 Hospitalization
 
 

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Harvest Festival Kids' Fundraiser Success!

Hi there! 
Katherine Kurtz (left) Mirabella Carrara (right)
I just wanted to share with "FRANKLIN MATTERS" about the wonderful, and successful day our girls had at their Harvest Festival booth. 
Mirabella Carrara and Katherine Kurtz, both age 9, met in pre-school, forming an immediate bond. They now sit side-by-side in their forth grade classroom at Davis Thayer Elementary. Their philanthropic hearts and love for American Girl dolls gave rise to the idea of selling crafts in order to raise money to buy toys, books and dolls for patients at Boston Children's Hospital, where Mirabella was treated as a baby. 
The girls partnered with American Girl Place in Natick and were able to shop there and deliver gifts to BCH last year. 
crafts sold to raise money

With the local support and encouragement, the girls have decided to make this an annual event and started their efforts early this year. Through sales and generous donations, they raised $342 yesterday, selling hot pink sparkly star ornaments and earrings that they made. They also had a coloring table where children were encouraged to color an official Get Well card. We collected over 50 Get Well cards that will be delivered with our gifts in December. 
Thank you to Franklin for supporting these girls, their great idea, and the children at Boston Children's Hospital
Kellie Carrara (mother)
Franklin, MA

making Get Well cards at the Harvest Festival
making Get Well cards at the Harvest Festival