All Entries Tagged With: "health"

Home Care & Hospice of New England, HopeHealth Announce Affiliation That Will Serve Eastern Mass., all of R.I.

PROVIDENCE, RI – Home Care & Hospice of New England (HCHNE) and HopeHealth (HH) have announced that they will form an affiliation that will serve Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts, becoming the largest not-for-profit hospice and palliative care provider in New England.  The move will allow the organizations to advance their shared mission of enhancing the quality of life for people experiencing serious illness and their families.  It will also create a diversified, $75 million dollar regional organization that can thrive in a complex and competitive healthcare environment.

HCHNE is the parent of Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island (HHCRI) and Visiting Nurse Home Care (VNHC).  HHCRI is the second oldest hospice in the nation and a national leader in hospice and palliative care.  Its academic affiliation with Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School for hospice and palliative medicine is the only one of its kind in the country.  HopeHealth, which delivers a wide range of medical care, care management and support services addressing chronic care through end of life in eastern Massachusetts, is recognized as one of the premier hospice providers in the region.

“We are bringing together three organizations with long traditions of providing excellent care for patients and their families,” said Diana Franchitto, who is President & CEO of HHCRI/VNHC and will lead the combined organization.  “This will ensure our long term strength and viability.”

“By combining our talents, resources and complementary services, we will become a stronger, better organization,” Franchitto added.  “Creating this regional entity will also allow us to grow to meet the needs of the people we serve in a much larger area.”

Franchitto noted that David Rehm, President & CEO of HopeHealth will be retiring after a long and distinguished career in the field of hospice and palliative care, including twelve years as President & CEO of HHCRI from 1986 to 1998. “David’s leadership and vision has made HopeHealth a recognized innovator in the region and the nation,” she added.

Rehm noted, “This affiliation was inspired by a common desire to advance our missions.  Achieving a critical mass of combined services as well as an expanded footprint will give us greater financial strength, access to talent and a more robust infrastructure.  It will also allow us to be more efficient and cost-effective – all with the goal of enhancing our ability to deliver high-quality, compassionate care and supportive services in our communities.”

The parent organization will adopt the HopeHealth brand and will have three non-profit subsidiaries, two in Rhode Island and one in Massachusetts.   Once the affiliation is finalized, HHCRI will change its name to Hope Hospice & Palliative Care of Rhode Island and Visiting Nurse Home Care will be Visiting Nurse of HopeHealth.   The Massachusetts organization will be HopeHealth Massachusetts.

The subsidiaries will retain their local Boards of Directors, ensuring their continued community engagement, support and guidance. The parent entity will have a Board of Directors with two co-chairs and equal representation from each organization.  The agreement to join forces has been approved by the Boards of each organization and the parties expect the affiliation to be finalized in early 2016.

Franchitto said, “Over the coming months, we will develop a long-term, integration plan enabling the combined organization to grow, creating more jobs to better serve our patients and their families.”

Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island: Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island (HHCRI) has been a leader in hospice and palliative care for nearly four decades and helps people facing serious illness live with comfort and dignity. Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island is the major teaching affiliate for hospice and palliative medicine for the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. 

Visiting Nurse Home Care: Visiting Nurse Home Care is an independent, non-profit, community-based home health provider located in Lincoln, RI. Founded in 1908, the organization’s tradition continues to be rooted in providing high-quality home care to residents of Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. Visiting Nurse Home Care provides nurses, therapists, medical social workers, and home care aides to over 3,500 patients and families in the community.

HopeHealth: HopeHealth has been enhancing the quality of life for people experiencing serious illness and loss for more than 30 years. Today, the non-profit organization delivers a wide range of medical care, care management and support services throughout eastern Massachusetts. The HopeHealth family of services includes: Hope Hospice; Hope HouseCalls and Specialized HouseCalls; Hope Dementia & Alzheimer’s Services; Hope Care for Kids; Hope Community Care; and Hope Academy. In June 2014, the Massachusetts Pain Initiative affiliated with the organization.

Providence Residents Survey About Children & Obesity 

PROVIDENCE, RI – Between September 10 and September 22, 2015, the American Heart Association surveyed 505 people in a variety of settings across Providence through brief person-onthe-street surveys. Just over half of the respondents (259) were parents of school-aged children and 96 respondents predominantly spoke Spanish.

Candace Pierce, Director of the ANCHOR Project that led this effort, said, “On the positive side, there is very strong public support for polices to increase physical activity among school-aged children. But on the negative side, the general public is overly optimistic about the amount of exercise that children get and they wildly underestimate the health impact of being overweight or obese.”

When parents were asked where their children exercised, 86% responded that they exercised in school during Physical Education (PE) class and 50% believed their children got exercise during recess. In fact, recess takes place only at the elementary school level and children are not required to be physically active during recess. Rhode Island state law currently mandates an average of 100 minutes per week, or 20 minutes per day, split between health and physical education. Parents appear to be unaware of how little physical activity their children actually get during the school day.

“Getting exercise and being active is essential for anyone to stay healthy but it is especially critical for younger members of our community. Not only will exercise will keep you in shape and help you stay healthy throughout your life, it also makes it easier to focus, learn and do well in school,” said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza. “I am committed to providing opportunities for our youth and for all residents to be active and stay healthy.”

The American Heart Association guidelines recommend children have 60 minutes of overall physical activity every day and, for elementary school children, 150 minutes per week of PE year-round. Very few schools, if any, meet this recommendation in the state of Rhode Island. 85% of all those surveyed believed that the state should meet those guidelines for PE in schools. In addition, 89% think that Rhode Island schools should be required to inform parents about how much physical education their children are receiving each week, as well as details about the quality of those PE classes.

“It’s a generational disconnect. Folks who grew up having PE and active recess most days assume that kids are exercising and moving their bodies during the school day as much as we did. The truth is, children are spending much of their time sitting and don’t even walk to and from school anymore. As physical activity dropped off, rates of obesity and overweight have climbed,” according to Pierce.

While schools cannot be expected to solve the problem alone, School District leadership understands the expectation and the opportunity. “Physical activity plays an important role in the healthy development of students at all ages. As these survey results highlight, school is a leading source of this activity for many children in the city,” said Christopher Maher, Interim Superintendent of the Providence Public School District. “Our District is committed to ensuring our students learn, grow and succeed in all areas of their education careers, including physical education.”

One of the most unexpected results from the survey concerned public understanding of how a person’s health is impacted by being overweight or obese. Pierce said, “Given the amount of attention paid to obesity in recent years, we expected that people would have a better sense of how being overweight could be dangerous and even deadly, but more education is obviously needed.”

When asked if they knew anyone who had ever had a health problem from being overweight or obese, remarkably, 63% of those surveyed said that they did not. The number was higher for Spanish speaking respondents (79%) as compared to English speaking respondents (59%). Due to the fact that obesity is a complex disorder and a major health risk factor linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and early death, it was surprising learn how few people made the connection.

It is not likely that the 505 people surveyed don’t know anyone who is overweight or obese, because the rates of both are high in Rhode Island. Results from the 2012 National Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) found that adults in Providence were more likely to be overweight or obese than to be a healthy weight. In fact, nearly 60% of women in Providence were overweight (29.1%) or obese (30.3%), and nearly 65% of men in Providence were overweight (40.5%) or obese (23.8%). According to the report, 61.8% of Providence adults are overweight (34.6%) or obese (27.2%). This shows the need for improving the health of all Providence residents and this the reason why it is so important that children in Providence start early to build life-long healthy behaviors.

There was some good news buried in these survey results which showed that the vast majority (85%) people stated they and their families would use the school-based facilities (playgrounds, tracks, gymnasiums, etc.) for exercise if those were open to the public outside of school hours. 37.1% reported they would use those facilities three or more days a week.

“Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that you live a long, healthy life! Small changes in how active someone is can help them control their weight, improve their moods, maintain strength and mobility, and reduce their risks of developing chronic conditions,” said Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “At the Department of Health we are partnering with cities, towns, and other state agencies to make sure that the environments in every community in Rhode Island encourage exercise and healthy living. No one’s zip code should ever limit their opportunities for physical activity.” Page 3

About ANCHOR Providence:

The American Heart Association was awarded a Centers for Disease Control ANCHOR grant to reduce chronic diseases and health disparities among low-income and minority populations. Given high rates of obesity and overweight, Providence, Rhode Island, was chosen as one of 15 target areas nationwide. Goals are aimed at increasing physical activity among Providence Public School District students, and increasing access to healthy foods and beverages at childcare centers, hospitals, and workplaces located in the city. About the American Heart Association: The American Heart Association’s 2020 impact goal is: By 2020, to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent.

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. For more information about the organization’s local work, visit www.heart.org/sne.

R.I. High School Runners Dress Up, Lace Up for Tufts Health Plan High School Inspirational 3K

PROVIDENCE, RI – On Sunday, September 20, more than 650 student athletes from high schools across the state competed in the 7th Annual Tufts Health Plan High School Inspirational 3K. A race day feature of the CVS Health Downtown 5K, the road race encourages teams to compete in a creative costume contest before hitting the pavement in downtown Providence for a 3K race.

From American pride to social media themes, dozens of high school track, cross country and other sports teams showed off their creative and fun school spirit during the pre-race costume contest. Judges found the East Greenwich High School girls field hockey team to be the most spirited with their “deflate-gate” costumes, earning them $750 for new team uniforms.

“Our High School 3K is a great way to show students that exercise, especially with friends, can be fun,” said Marisa Fusco, Director of Client Services at Tufts Health Plan. “Embracing healthy habits at an early age, like running, plays an important role in lifelong wellness. Tufts Health Plan is committed to helping our community find ways to do this.”

Additional team costume themes included Harry Potter, U.S. women’s national soccer team, ninjas and more. All participants received jump ropes and Frisbees to continue to support fun fitness activities.

About Tufts Health Plan
Founded in 1979, Tufts Health Plan is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage.  Touching the lives of more than one million members, Tufts Health Plan serves members in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, offering health care coverage regardless of age or circumstance.

New England Emergency Medical Training opens doors in East Providence with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – East Providence officials joined in the celebration of an Open House/Ribbon Cutting ceremony recently for the New England Emergency Medical Training (NEEMT) in its new location at 1970 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence.

East Providence City Manager Paul Lemont, Rhode Island State Representative Katherine Kazarian, and City Councilor Bob Britto were on hand to welcome CEO Carol Mansfield to East Providence.

Ms. Mansfield acquired NEEMT recently and plans to expand the school’s offerings. The new  2,500 square foot location will now serve as headquarters for NEEMT and will house some of the growing company’s administrative offices.

According to Mark Haskell, President of Corporate Relations and Government Affairs for Stat/Southcoast EMS and Coastline EMS, the school will be incorporated under the Stat/Southcoast and Coastline umbrella, and will seek to draw students from Massachusetts as well as Rhode Island. Presently, New England Emergency Medical Training primarily prepares individuals for EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and Paramedic examinations. Haskell notes that they may include training in related areas, such as Phlebotomy, CPR, ACLS, PAIS, EKG, CNA; and refreshers that will include CEU Credits, EVOC for ambulance, and OSHA. Additionally, they do “Mock Codes” for contracted medical facilities.

New England Emergency Medical Training currently has 10 instructors, and Haskell said that they expect to increase the number of instructors in the near future.

About Carol Mansfield

Mattapoisett, MA resident Carol Mansfield, who has just completed the acquisition of New England Emergency Medical Training, is the Chief Executive Officer of three ambulance/emergency medical transportation companies and two EMT Training Schools in New England: Stat Ambulance Service Dartmouth, Stat-Southcoast EMS, Coastline EMS, STAT Emergency Medical Training and Coastline Educational Services.

Under Ms. Mansfield’s leadership, the companies have grown from a two-ambulance service in one location into a company with multiple locations in two states with more than 200 employees.

About Coastline Ambulance Services

Coastline is based in East Providence on Dexter Avenue, and provides ambulance services and wheelchair transport, including emergent and non-emergent transportation, and inter-facility transfers.   The firm was acquired in 2012 by Carol Mansfield, CEO of two Massachusetts companies, Stat and Stat – Southcoast EMS. In the three years since Stat-Southcoast has taken over the company, the number of monthly transports have quadrupled and the company has expanded its service area to work with additional hospitals and health care facilities. For additional information on Coastline Ambulance Service, please contact Mark Haskell, President of Corporate Relations and Government Affairs at 508-997-0707.

About Stat/Stat-Southcoast EMS

Stat Ambulance Service and Stat-Southcoast EMS are owned and operated by CEO Carol Mansfield, who has more than 30 years’ industry experience to the region. Stat Ambulance Service is the 911 provider for the Town of Dartmouth, MA. Stat-Southcoast EMS provides backup 911 for the Town of Dartmouth, as well as for the City of New Bedford and the City of Fall River, as well as numerous nursing care and other healthcare facilities. The firms together employ more than 200 people and operate more than 60 ambulances, 30 wheelchair vans, 9 Medical Livery vehicles and 2 Fleet Services. The Stat companies set high standards in the recruitment and training of their Paramedics and EMTs and have a strong, solid record of safety and accomplishment, and they run their own training center for the purpose of helping individuals interested in careers in Emergency Medical Services. The Stat companies maintain headquarters at 360 Faunce Corner Road, Dartmouth, MA, and operate satellite locations in New Bedford and Fall River, MA and Newport, RI.  Stat-Southcoast EMS provides a full range of scheduled and unscheduled healthcare transports to the region.  For additional information, please call Mark Haskell, President of Corporate Affairs and Government Relations, or visit www.southcoastems.com.