2007 Annual Report - Sturdy Memorial Hospital

PR E S I DE N T ’ S ME S S A G E
STRONG AND STABLE IN FISCAL YEAR 2007
Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 was an outstanding one for Sturdy Memorial
Hospital. We met our goals of providing optimum quality patient care
and outstanding service to our communities. We also addressed some
challenges and developed some exciting new programs. Moreover,
we surpassed our financial goals.
LANDMARK HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION
Massachusetts Health Care Reform became a reality in FY 2007.
We fully supported the program, including informing our patients
about Health Reform products and helping them establish eligibility.
At the end of calendar 2007, 1,815 people in our primary service area
had enrolled in Commonwealth Care.
CLINICAL EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS –
EXCEPTIONAL CARE AND SERVICE
Sturdy Memorial continued to seek ways to improve clinical efficiency
and effectiveness in FY 2007.
Making data available to the public is important and we participated in
every major quality reporting initiative of which we were aware in FY 2007.
Finally, the Hospital was granted a full, three-year accreditation by the
Joint Commission.
AN EXCEPTIONAL MEDICAL STAFF
We have a large, successful, and loyal primary care physician base
appropriately sized for the number of patients they serve. This group of
skilled professionals utilizes and supports our expert team of specialists.
In FY 2007, we welcomed four primary care physicians and an emergency
physician. One of the most significant recruitment and programmatic
successes achieved in FY 2007 was the establishment of Sturdy Orthopedic
& Sports Medicine Associates and the hiring of three outstanding,
fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons. Attracting and retaining dynamic,
well trained doctors is essential to maintaining our clinical quality and
financial stability.
Nursing and technical staffing throughout the Hospital remained strong
with low vacancy and turnover rates. Proudly, our nurse staffing was
comparatively rich in FY 2007. According to annual comparative
data from the Massachusetts Hospital Association (MHA),
our medical/surgical units worked hours per patient day
Computerization is a constant challenge and a major
“We
succeeded
again
(WHPPD) placed us in the top quartile in the state.
financial investment, and we continued to implement
Pediatrics was also in the top quartile. Our ICU
this year thanks to dedicated
clinical programs which enhanced our ability to care
WHPPD were at the median, where almost all
Hospital employees, volunteers,
for patients with our computerized systems as well
hospitals in the state clustered.
as enhanced our communications about care.
supporters, and our talented
FY 2007 was the eighteenth year of our Quality and
medical staff. It is their combined We continued the high school and community college
education partnerships, mentoring opportunities, and
Service Excellence Committee Program (QSEC), through
unwavering commitment that
career development programs in place.
which we strived to improve service and quality in
In June, we opened our state-of-the-art radiation therapy facility, The Shields
Radiation Oncology Center in Mansfield, through our joint venture
with Shields Health Care Group and Morton Hospital.
makes us an exceptional
hospital.”
measurable ways. The goals were ambitious. For example,
community
we were able to ensure the standard of care for acute cardiac
intervention was met. In working closely with Rhode Island
Hospital (RIH), we routinely got our patients with appropriate
cardiac conditions from the door of our Emergency Care Center (ECC) to a
cardiac intervention in 90 minutes or less. Operating room staff conducted
a “time out” before surgery 100% of the time. Patient falls were reduced
below those experienced in the prior year. These are just of few of the
meaningful initiatives Sturdy Memorial had in place to improve quality
and ensure safety.
The Hospital’s Adverse Events Initiative (AEI) Committee, now in its
thirteenth year, reviewed clinical processes and responded to opportunities
to prevent errors from reaching patients.
We enhanced our capabilities in the event we are struck with a flu
pandemic. We now keep a fourteen day supply of basic supplies and
pharmaceuticals, which are rotated to avoid expiration. One hundred
portable beds were purchased so that we can expand our capacity at
Attleboro High School should there be a need to run an offsite hospital.
We began a multi-year acquisition of ventilators. In addition to getting
the Hospital organized for a flu pandemic, our experts spoke to civic
and public safety groups during the year to further educate them about
flu pandemic.
We continued two major public education campaigns: stroke education
and Activate Attleboro. Stroke education is important because the
public is dangerously unaware of the signs and symptoms of stroke,
and the need for prompt medical attention. We participated in initiatives
with the Attleboro YMCA to motivate children and adults to live more
healthily, and to do more and eat less.
We monitored patient satisfaction through the country’s leading patient
satisfaction firm, as we have for more than 16 years, and continued to
receive outstanding results. Our inpatient and Emergency Care Center
scores were at or above the 90th percentile for two and three quarters,
respectively, for the year. Feedback received from patients helps us identify
areas where we are excelling and those where we may need improvement.
STEADFAST COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Sturdy Memorial provided numerous free and low-cost
screenings, and education programs, sponsored children’s
sports teams, and served as the major or primary sponsor at 19
community, family-oriented events in FY 2007.
CONTINUED FINANCIAL SUCCESS
The Hospital had an extraordinary year financially; its 22nd consecutive
year with a gain from operations. The bottom line from current year
operations was $10,923,811. Operating expenses for the year totaled
$128 million. The Hospital delivered $6.3 million in uncompensated
care for services provided to those who could not or would not pay.
WORKING TOGETHER IS HOW WE SUCCEED
We succeeded again this year thanks to dedicated Hospital employees,
volunteers, supporters, and our talented medical staff. It is their combined
unwavering commitment that makes us an exceptional community
hospital. I am proud to work with professionals who continually strive
to provide excellent care and good service to our patients and our
communities. I am also grateful to our supporters and to the loyal
members of our communities who choose us for their care.
Sincerely,
Linda J. Shyavitz
President and Chief Executive Officer
A YEAR
FOR
In recent years, leadership at Sturdy Memorial Hospital
has been a popular theme in our annual reports. And
with good reason. Thanks to the Hospital’s disciplined
and visionary leadership, we have thrived. Sturdy
Memorial has operated in the black for 22 consecutive
years. Our financial stability has enabled us to prudently
acquire powerful diagnostic tools and technologies,
which in turn have helped us attract the kind of excellent
clinicians any hospital in the nation would be proud to
have on its staff.
There is a genuine desire at Sturdy Memorial to excel.
It’s part of the culture. We are generally at the forefront
in implementation of quality and safety initiatives, long
before they are required by regulatory or legislative
measure. Delivering high quality care efficiently and
with compassion, being respectful of the differences
that make us all unique, and supplying overall service
excellence are cornerstones of the care we provide.
Being a health care leader is also partly the result
of our exposure at the regional and state level. It is
not uncommon for Sturdy Memorial to get involved
when a legislative or regulatory issue arises that could
potentially have a negative impact on our medical
community and patients. Moreover, we support activities
that will benefit our constituents. We never sit by idly
and wait for the outcome. Additionally, we continually
seek opportunities to share our professionals’ leadership
expertise and make the voice of community hospitals
heard. In fact, our folks are so good at this, that they
often are courted to high profile leadership positions.
Two examples of this follow:
In 2007, Dr. Bruce Auerbach, Vice President & Chief
for Emergency & Ambulatory Services, became the
president-elect of the Massachusetts Medical Society,
and Marita Prater, RN, our Director of Nursing and
Nursing Quality Improvement, was named president of
the Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives.
To have these two extraordinary people leading these
prestigious organizations is a testament to the skills of
Dr. Auerbach and Ms. Prater and the esteem in which
they are held by their peers in the medical community,
and also to Sturdy Memorial Hospital.
EXTENDING O
Dr. Bruce Auerbach: “Hospitals like
Sturdy Memorial have their fingers
on the pulse of the community.”
When he
joined
our staff
two
decades
ago, it’s a
fair bet
that Dr.
Auerbach didn’t see himself heading
up one of the nation’s oldest and
most respected medical societies in
2007. A career at a big urban teaching
hospital might seem more likely to
lead down that road.
Dr. Auerbach sees it differently.
“In fact, we’re perfectly positioned
to fill this kind of role. Here in a
community hospital, we’re on the
medical field’s front lines. We’re
often the first to see what’s going on
in health care. Whether you’re talking
about the cost of health insurance,
workplace safety, environmental
issues that have health implications,
whatever, we see it all and we see it
right away. We’re less insulated and
isolated than we would be in a giant
medical center. There are just fewer
layers between us and the people
who come to us for care.”
The Massachusetts Medical Society
(MMS) obviously agrees with Dr.
Auerbach’s assessment. After several
years of involvement in the Society’s
Bristol-North District, he was
nominated to be the society’s vice
president in 2006. Such a nomination
typically entails one year as V.P.,
followed by a year as president-elect
and a year as president. Such a system
ensures a smooth transition between
presidents from year to year. In
2008, Dr. Auerbach will be serving
his term as president.
The president’s role at the MMS
gives whoever holds it a rare
opportunity to be a forceful advocate
for issues he or she feels should be
addressed to strengthen the delivery
of health care in Massachusetts. He
or she interacts with the policymakers at the state and national
level and can make the difference
between a topic being publicly
debated or being moved to a
back burner.
So what issues does President-Elect
Auerbach intend to focus on during
his presidency? There are three
main ones:
• To promote his belief that it is an
honor to be a physician. Undeniably
and whatever the specialty, the practice
of medicine brings with it new
challenges and frustrations as our
society wrestles with vexing questions
of universal insurance coverage and
reimbursement. But Dr. Auerbach
believes that nothing can undermine
the deep sense of fulfillment and
satisfaction that a career in
medicine offers.
• To address shortages in the medical
workforce, especially the shortage of
UR
LEADERSHIP
primary care providers, who are still the
system’s backbone.
• To ensure that the general public and
public health officials have taken the steps
necessary to be prepared for large-scale
emergencies.
When asked about how his experience at
Sturdy Memorial will influence his presidency,
Dr. Auerbach says, “I’ve gotten a tremendous
education in virtually every aspect of the
health care system here. I don’t think I will
do a single thing during my presidency that
I couldn’t trace back to something I’ve
learned here.”
Marita Prater, RN:
“The commitment at
Sturdy Memorial is
very profound.”
The summer of
2007 was a busy
one for Marita
Prater, RN. In
May, she joined
our hospital as
Director of
Nursing and
Nursing Quality
Improvement.
And in June,
she was named
president of the Massachusetts Organization
of Nurse Executives.
In both roles, Ms. Prater’s top priority is to
eliminate mistakes in the hospital environment
and to make sure any errors that do happen
do not impact patient care.
In fact, her zeal for the topic is what led her
to Sturdy Memorial in the first place.
Sturdy clinicians assume important leadership roles in the state
medical community; guide and impact health care policy
“Sturdy is voluntarily participating in a
national program called Patients First.
This is a program designed to come up
with ways to prevent certain kinds of errors.
The commitment to error prevention here is
really very profound.”
“Every department has to come up with
annual quality goals, so it’s a process. As
good as we are, everyone here knows we
can always get even better. And they’re
willing to do the work to make sure we do.
My experiences here give me a unique point
of view on how errors can be prevented,
and I think that will be invaluable in my
role as president of the Massachusetts
Organization of Nurse Executives.”
Ms. Prater’s presidency will run through
June, 2008. Does she have any suggestions
for simple things we all can do to improve
care? Indeed she does.
“First, patients must partner with their
hospital and take an active role in their care.
Know your medicines. Know why certain
therapies are being recommended. Ask
questions and keep asking questions until
you understand. No one can advocate for
you better than you. So be involved.”
“And you know what else? This one’s simple.
Wash your hands often. That is the single
most important thing we can do to keep
from getting sick or to avoid spreading
germs to others.”
Those comments seem to encapsulate
Ms. Prater’s approach to her roles at
Sturdy Memorial and at the Massachusetts
Organization of Nurse Executives: she has
a firm grip on the big picture. As well as
the small one.
PATIENTS ARE SAYING...
WOUND CARE CENTER
The service provided at the Sturdy Memorial
Hospital Wound Care Center is second to
none. I am referring not only to the service,
but also the dedicated staff of doctors, nurses,
and front desk employees who, with their
compassion, patience and kindness, made
my visit as comfortable as possible. – Ed S.
EMERGENCY CARE CENTER
A trip to the ER is something all parents
dread, but the professionals at Sturdy
Memorial took what is usually a lengthy,
unpleasant visit and made it quick, efficient,
and while not enjoyable, at least not
so difficult. – Molly P.
CARDIAC REHAB
Everyone who works at the Cardiac Rehab
facility is incredibly knowledgeable and has
found a way to provide a personal and
friendly touch to the important work they
do. I learned a great deal about safe exercise,
and now feel equipped to approach exercising
after my surgery in a sensible and
healthy way. – Lyle P.
GENERAL
When my mother, suffering from emphysema,
came to Sturdy Memorial, the physicians, as
well as the nursing, respiratory, social work
and housekeeping staff did everything they
could to bring my mother, and my family,
comfort and relief. Each and every person
who came into her room touched us in a
positive way and I will always think of the
Hospital fondly for that. – Pat M.
C O M M U N I T Y B E N E F I T S 2007
AARP 55 Alive Driving Course
Activate Attleboro, in partnership with
Attleboro YMCA
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
America’s Junior Miss Volunteer
American Red Cross Blood Drives
Answer is Fitness Orthopedic Lecture
Attleboro Council on Aging Bingo
Attleboro Council on Aging
Case Management Education
Attleboro Food Bank
Attleboro Halloween Party
Attleboro High School Career Day
Attleboro High School-Based
Health Center
Attleboro High School Vocational School
Senior Project
Attleboro YMCA Corporate
Step Challenge
Babysitter Training
Basic Arrhythmia Classes
Basic Cardiac Life Support
Blue Plate Dinner Specials
Breast Cancer Support Group
Breast Cancer Walk
Breastfeeding Classes
Breastfeeding Support Group
Breathing Club
Cancer Information Line
Cancer Screenings –
Cervical, Prostate, and Skin Cancer
Cancer Support Group
Cancer Survivors’ Day
Car Seat/Car Bed Program for Infants
Childbirth Education Programs
CPR Classes
Cradle Care 24-hour Info Line
Diabetes Education
Diabetes Support Group
Emergency Preparedness
Awareness/Community Education
EMT Education and Training
First Aid Training
Flu Pandemic Education
Foxboro Family Night
Foxboro Founders Day
Foxboro High School Career Day
Future Nurses’ Day
Health Agent Educational Meetings
Health Care News Interviews & Columns
Health Care Reform Informational Sessions
Health Screenings
“HealthyChoices” Program for School Children
Healthy Heart Fair
Healthy Kids Day (Attleboro, Foxboro,
N. Attleboro, Seekonk)
Infant Massage
Kids’ Parties
Kripalu Yoga
Kyle’s Walk
Lactation Consultation
Look Good, Feel Better
MADD Red Ribbon Project
Mansfield Arts in the Park
Mansfield Concert Series
Mansfield Halloween Parade
Medical Library
Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tour
Multiple Sclerosis Support Group
Multiple Sclerosis Walk Sponsorships
Multiple Sclerosis Advocacy/Home Visits
Medical Profile Cards
Needle Exchange Program
New Moms Group
Newspaper in Education
National Reading Week – Guest Readers
North Attleboro Block/Beach Party
North Attleboro Historical Society
Breakfast Volunteer
Norton Concert Series
Norton High School Career Fair
Nursing Education Programming
Nutrition Education and Outreach
Older Driver Evaluation Program
Ostomy Support Group
Parkinson’s Exercise and Wellness Group
Partners & Caregivers of Patients with
Cancer Support Group
Perinatal Bereavement Services
Physician Referral Line
Plainville Fall Festival
Poison Control and Prevention Kits
Prostate Cancer Support Group
Pulmonary Patient Social Activities
Reach Out and Read (ROAR)
Robinson School (Mansfield) Career Day
Safety Helmet Donation to Safety Officers
Science Fair Judging (misc. area schools)
Seekonk Concert Series
Seekonk Council on Aging Bingo
Seekonk Health Fair
Seekonk Library Sleep Disorders Program
Sibling Classes
Sleep Apnea Educational Programs
Sleep Apnea Informational & CPAP Fair
Speaker’s Bureau
Sponsorship of Families at the Holidays
Sports Team Sponsorships
Stark Nursing Scholarship
Stroke Support Group
Student Shadowing Programs
Student Intern/Extern Programs *
Sturdy Day at Capron Park
Summer of Work and Learning Program
Take Our Children to Work Day
Tri-County PCA Cooperative
Education Program
Regional Vocational Technical High School
Advisory Board
Trip to Jane & Paul’s Farm
Uncompensated Care – $6.3 million for
those who could not or would not pay
United Way
Valet Parking
Vial of Life
Visually-Impaired Support Group
Volunteer Day Lunch
Volunteer Essay Contest
Volunteer Quilting Guilds (pillowcases for
children after surgery)
VNA Community Fair
Wellness Programs
Wheaton College Shadowing Program
Wheaton College Wellness Fair
WIC Health Fair
Youth Mentoring Programs
Youth Volleyball Coach
* we serve medical and nursing students
as well as student interns from more than
50 schools and colleges.
Sturdy Memorial’s employees, medical
staff and volunteers don’t just care for
the community; we care about it too.
We’re involved in a wide variety of activities
that benefit our neighbors.The following are
the programs we participated in during
Fiscal Year 2007.
SERVING COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS
Membership in, collaboration with and
appointments to the Boards of community
organizations allows Hospital staff to
share their expertise.
American Cancer Society
Area Community Council Board
Attleboro Council on Aging Board
Attleboro Area School to Career
Partnership Board
Attleboro Area Chamber of
Commerce Board
Attleboro Arts Museum Board
Attleboro High School Career and
Technical Education Advisory Board
Attleboro Planning Board
Attleboro Rotary Club
Attleboro YMCA Board
Brown University Medical School
Preceptor Program
Bristol Community College
Bristol County Homeland Security
Task Force
Children Lead Action Project Board
Community College of RI – MLT Program
FAIR (Friends of Attleboro
Interested in Revitalization)
Hockomock Area YMCA
International Association for Healthcare
Security and Safety, Boston Chapter
Larson Senior Center
Lincoln Tech Advisory Board
Mansfield Board of Health
Mansfield Gift Committee
Massachusetts Service Alliance
New England Society for Healthcare
Materials Management
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Region 5 Hospital Consortium for
Emergency Preparedness
Rhode Island Lab Science Licensure Board
Ronald McDonald House Board,
Boston Chapter
SADD
Southeastern Massachusetts Homeland
Security Regional Council
Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical
High School Advisory Board
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
MT Program
United Way Board
Women & Infants’ Perinatal
Loss/Research Study
Yankee Alliance
S TURDY O RTHOPEDIC &
S PORTS M EDICINE A SSOCIATES
KEEPS US MOVING FORWARD
Marco Dirks, MD
Hand Surgery
Medical School:
University of Vermont College
of Medicine
Training:
University of Vermont Medical
Center Hospital
Fellowship:
Hand Surgery – State University
of New York at Syracuse Health
Science Center
Saul Magitsky, MD
Adult Joint Reconstruction
& Arthroscopic Surgery
Medical School:
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Training:
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center
Fellowship:
Adult Joint Reconstruction –
Rush University Medical Center
How do you know it’s time to see an orthopedist?
James Snead, MD, of Sturdy Orthopedic & Sports
Medicine Associates, offers an interesting guideline:
you’ll know a condition needs treatment when it
changes your life. For example, when you can’t get
down on the floor to play with your grandkids, or
when you find yourself
avoiding climbing a
few stairs.
Dr. Magitsky’s expertise is in adult joint reconstruction
and arthroscopic surgery. He earned a medical
degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and
completed his residency training at Kingsbrook
Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn. Dr. Magitsky
did his adult joint reconstruction fellowship at Rush
University Medical Center in Chicago, which
is renowned for its cutting-edge orthopedic
surgery techniques.
Such conditions make
patients appreciate a
healthy musculoskeletal
system. This system,
consisting of the bones
and their joints as well
as the muscles that
attach to them, is the
body’s frame. Even the
simplest movements,
like rising from a
chair, depend on its
functioning smoothly.
And because the
typical person
performs literally thousands of these
movements every day, even a small
impairment can have a huge impact.
Fortunately, the extensively trained
physicians and medical professionals
at Sturdy Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Associates
(SOSMA) can help people keep their bodies in
motion. SOSMA offers comprehensive care
to patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain, whether it’s the
acute pain that can be felt after a
car accident or fall, or the less
intense but ever-present chronic
pain that may result from performing the same movements day
in and day out at work. Treatment
options may range from physical therapy
to surgical procedures such as joint replacements.
Dr. Snead, whose focus is
on sports medicine and
arthroscopic surgery, earned
a medical degree from
Indiana University School
of Medicine. He completed
his residency training at
the Ochsner Clinic in New
Orleans and a sports medicine
and arthroscopic surgery
fellowship at Union
Memorial Hospital in
Baltimore. Dr. Snead also
worked with the Baltimore
Ravens during their 20042005 football season and is
qualified to manage bone,
joint, and sports injury
issues. He offers same-day
sports injury appointments.
Dr. Snead notes that unlike some medical problems
that are called “silent” due to their lack of obvious
symptoms, musculoskeletal issues make
themselves known by causing pain.
So patients seek treatment a bit
more readily than they do for
conditions that aren’t painful.
Even so, patients still labor under
the misconception that living with
pain is inevitable as we age. “Not
so,” assures Dr. Snead. “With today’s
procedures, recovery times are shorter and
many conditions we see are quite responsive to
treatment. Hip replacements today typically last for
years. No one should have to live with chronic pain.”
“No one should
have to live with
chronic pain.”
James Snead, MD
Sports Medicine &
Arthroscopic Surgery
Medical School:
Indiana University School
of Medicine
Training:
Ochsner Clinic & Foundation
Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana
Fellowship:
Sports Medicine & Arthroscopic
Surgery – Union Memorial
Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
The team of physicians at SOSMA includes Drs.
Marco Dirks, Saul Magitsky, and James Snead.
Dr. Dirks is a hand surgeon who earned a medical
degree from the University of Vermont College of
Medicine and trained at the Medical Center
Hospital of Vermont. He specializes in problems
associated with the hands and completed his hand
surgery fellowship at SUNY/Syracuse Health
Science Center.
Sturdy Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Associates
opened in August 2007 and has quickly become
the orthopedic practice of choice for area physicians
and patients. For more information or to make an
appointment, call (508) 226-2213.
S TROKE AWARENESS
Stroke can happen to anyone, at any time. During a stroke, the blood
supply to your brain is cut off and oxygen isn’t getting to your brain,
which can cause brain cells to die. Recognizing the symptoms and
seeking emergency treatment can help minimize damage. Time is vital
so people need to become familiar with the signs of stroke so they can
quickly provide assistance if needed.
According to the National Stroke Association (NSA), these are the
most common signs of stroke:
• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or leg –
particularly on one side.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden changes in vision in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
If you or a loved one experiences any of these
symptoms, call 911 or get to a hospital
To find a new
immediately. Early treatment may
physician in your area,
decrease the amount of damage to
brain cells and decrease the amount
please call Sturdy Memorial
of disability caused by stroke. When
Hospital’s free Physician
brain cells are dying, every second counts.
To find out more about your stroke
risk visit the National Stroke Association
website at www.stroke.org, and speak
with your primary care physician.
Most people associate emergency
room visits with traffic accidents,
heart attacks, and sudden bouts
of serious illness.
U SE S AFETY S ENSE TO
AVOID C OMMON M ISHAPS
In reality, home injury is one of
the most common reasons people
find themselves in need of
emergency services. Preventable
household accidents account for
approximately 20,000 fatalities
and 21 million doctor and
emergency visits each year.
• Know the Poison Control Center number:
1-800-222-1222.
Falls, poisonings and burns
are among the most common
injuries. Children and the elderly
are more likely to be seriously
injured by accidents in the
home, but no one is immune.
Precautions for these avoidable
accidents are often neglected
because they take place in the
safety and comfort of your
own home. Here are some
quick tips for safeguarding
yourself and your loved ones
from home injury:
• Make sure medications have not expired.
Check with your local pharmacy for proper
disposal options.
Referral Line at
(508) 236-8500.
• Make sure
your miniblinds meet
current safety standards.
• Keep stairs, steps, landings and all floors clear.
• Install locks on cabinets containing
medicines, cleaning products, and other
potential poisons.
• Use non-slip mats or adhesive safety strips in
the bathtub or shower, and non-skid mats
and rugs in all rooms.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a silent killer.
Protect your family with CO detectors in
addition to regular smoke detectors.
• Use bright lights at the top and bottom of
stairs, and night lights in other rooms during
the evening hours to prevent bumps and falls.
• Develop and practice a fire escape plan.
• Never depend on an insect screen to keep
your child from falling out a window.
• Lower your water heater temperature to
120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalds
from tap water.
• Always be within arm’s length of your
child(ren) when they are near standing water,
including bathtubs.
• Check outlets and extension cords to make
sure they aren’t overloaded.
• Install large, reflective house numbers in a
highly visible area to help rescue vehicles find
your home in the event of an emergency.
For more comprehensive information about safety, log on to www.cpsc.gov/tips.html.
M ANSFIELD H EALTH C ENTER
C ELEBRATES
25
Y EARS !
Anniversaries mark special occasions,
remind people of something lost or,
simply, define the word commitment.
The Mansfield Health Center (MHC)
is celebrating its 25th Anniversary of
commitment to the community; a true
milestone in the ever changing world
of health care.
A C C R E D I T A T I O N S / L I C E N S U R E
The Mansfield Health Center opened
its doors at 200 Copeland Drive in
December, 1982. Lila Hodges, who
sought to honor her grandmother, Mary
Ann Sturdy Keach, made a financial
donation and requested that the funds
be used to provide medical services to
community residents. In keeping with
the family’s wishes, Mansfield Health
Center has been operating a full service
outpatient medical practice which offers
routine office visits as well as a walk-in
urgent care program, and has been
proudly serving the people of Mansfield
and its surrounding communities for
the past 25 years.
S TURDY M EMORIAL AND
AT TLEBORO YMCA
C OLLABORATE FOR A
H EALTHY C OMMUNITY
Sturdy Memorial Hospital is licensed by the State of
Massachusetts to provide acute care hospital services. Sturdy
Memorial Hospital is proud to be accredited by the following:
American Association of Blood Banks
American College of Radiology
American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer
College of American Pathologists
Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Massachusetts Department of Public Health for Radioactive Materials
Primary Stroke Service – Department of Public Health
Rhode Island Department of Health (Cytology)
The Joint Commission
Corporate Member
American Association of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehab (AACVPR)
American Hospital Association
Massachusetts Association of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehab (MACVPR)
Massachusetts Hospital Association
Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals
Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, FDA Certified
Mammography Facility
There is a bold new collaborative
initiative to get adults on the road to
healthy lifestyles. Sturdy
Memorial Hospital adult
care physicians have
begun prescribing, to
patients in need, the
Attleboro YMCA Fresh
Start program.
How it works is that
participants are individually
assigned a YMCA Fresh
Start coach who will help
them assess their wellness
lifestyles and guide them
to make choices that will
lead to reducing unhealthy
risk factors associated
with inactivity and poor
nutritional habits. The ten-week Fresh
Start program is not a weight-loss or
exercise program but designed to aid
people in their efforts to live healthy
lifestyles.
Patients who qualify
are given a written
prescription which they
then bring to (or call)
the Attleboro YMCA
to schedule their first
appointment. There is
a registration fee of $50
and a weekly fee of
$10. The fees include
a lifestyle assessment,
pedometer, weekly
coach meeting, and
a ten-week YMCA
membership. Financial
assistance is available.
For more information, please call
(508) 222-7422, ext. 124.
L E A D E R S H I P 2007
SHV, INC.
OFFICERS
Karen Bodell
President
Michael Poissant
Chairman & Treasurer
Betty Larson
Clerk
BOARD MEMBERS
Mary Ellen Fauth
Betty Larson
Robert Mangiaratti
Raymond Petit, MD
Michael Poissant
Linda Shyavitz
Christopher Sweet
STURDY MEMORIAL
ASSOCIATES, INC.
OFFICERS
Mark Robbin, MD
President
Joseph Casey
Treasurer
Linda Shyavitz
Clerk
BOARD MEMBERS
Bruce Auerbach, MD
Steven Bensson, MD
Michael Poissant
Mark Robbin, MD
Ralph Schlenker
Linda Shyavitz
Richard Smith, MD
STURDY MEMORIAL
FOUNDATION, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Hugh Mason
President
Michael Poissant
Vice President &
Chairman of the Board
Richard Crawford
Treasurer
John Scarpellini
Clerk
BOARD MEMBERS
Richard Crawford
Mayor Kevin Dumas
Robert Kearney
Brian Kelly, MD
Barry LaCasse
Hugh Mason
Lisa Nelson
Thomas Noel
Timothy O’Neill
Daniel Pietro, MD
Michael Poissant
Mark Robbin, MD
Ethel Sandbach
John Scarpellini
Ralph Schlenker
David Schwartz, MD
Linda Shyavitz
Thomas Sprague
STURDY MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL
BOARD OF MANAGERS
M. Justin Loew, MD
Secretary/Treasurer
Daniel Pietro, MD
Medical Director
Bruce Auerbach, MD
Ambulatory Care
Mark Lebovits, MD
Anesthesiology
Joseph DiCola, MD
Cardiology
Joal Camelio, DMD
Dentistry
Mark Young, MD
Family Practice
Kenneth Kaplan, MD
Imaging
OFFICERS
Steven Bensson, MD
Medicine
Michael Poissant
Chairman of the Board
Ralph Philosophe, MD
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Joseph Casey
Treasurer
John Scarpellini
Clerk
BOARD MEMBERS
Richard Crawford
Mayor Kevin Dumas
Robert Kearney
Brian Kelly, MD
Barry LaCasse
Hugh Mason
Lisa Nelson
Thomas Noel
Timothy O’Neill
Daniel Pietro, MD
Michael Poissant
Mark Robbin, MD
Ethel Sandbach
John Scarpellini
Ralph Schlenker
David Schwartz, MD
Linda Shyavitz
Thomas Sprague
STURDY MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sharon Jezard, MD
President & Chair
J. Jeffrey Poggi, MD
Vice President
David Schwartz, MD
Immediate Past President
Kevin Bowman, MD
Orthopedics
Richard Smith, MD
Pathology
Bradford Germain, MD
Pediatrics
Richard Statman, MD
Surgery
Peter Pleasants, MD
At-Large Member
Mark McGuire, MD
At-Large Member
George Waters, MD
At-Large Member
Linda Shyavitz
Chief Executive Officer
(Ex Officio)
STURDY MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Joseph Casey
Treasurer &
Chief Financial Officer
Lisa McCluskie
Director of Marketing
& Planning
Delphia Moscartolo
Vice President for
Patient Services
Daniel Pietro, MD
Medical Director
Kevin Poirier
Director of Development
Alice Polley
Vice President for
Clinical Services
Fiscal Year
2007 Statistics
Patients admitted ......6,815
Patient Days: ..........28,989
Births ........................1,019
Average length of stay ..4.2
Emergency visits ......50,072
MHC visits ..............24,753
Occupational Health
visits ........................14,516
Laboratory tests ....434,343
Physical/Occupational
Therapy visits ..........26,925
Radiology tests ........44,564
Speech therapy visits ....905
Mammograms ........12,073
Ultrasounds ............10,490
Employee FTEs ............984
Volunteer hours ......65,206
Cardiac rehab visits 13,194
Pulmonary rehab
visits ..........................3,325
Linda Shyavitz
President &
Chief Executive Officer
Wound Care Center
visits ..........................4,566
Bruce Auerbach, MD
Vice President &
Chief for Emergency &
Ambulatory Services
We welcome your comments and
suggestions on issues or services.
Please send them in writing to:
Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Attn: Public Relations Department
P.O. Box 2963, 211 Park Street,
Attleboro, MA 02703
www.sturdymemorial.org
Cheryl Barrows
Vice President for
Human Resources
Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 267
Providence, RI