Vital Signs_ The Community E-newsletter from Milford Regional Medial Center
In This Issue
June 2016
News Brief News
Reduce Your Risk of Having a Stroke

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, someone dies of a stroke every four minutes, and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Some stroke risk factors cannot be changed. As you age, you are at increased risk of stroke. Each year, women have more strokes than men, and stroke kills more women than men. African-Americans are at higher risk of dying of stroke than Caucasians.

Programs
July 14 and August 11
 
Registration is now open! The 10-week session begins the week of June 27th. We offer a variety of aerobic, strength training and yoga classes in Milford and Northbridge. Go to MilfordRegional.org for a full list of classes and to register.
 
Certifications
Monday, July 11

Milford Regional Medical Center
Featured Video  video
What You Should Know About Atrial Fibrillation presented by Dr. Scott Brownstein
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is a very common disorder that affects more than 2.7 million Americans. AFib is associated with a 5 times increase in the risk of stroke and 15%-20% of strokes are attributed to AFib. Watch this video to learn more about how your heart functions and the causes, symptoms and treatment for AFib.

Question & Answer QnA
Are there other ways to keep up-to-date with what is happening at Milford Regional beyond subscribing to this e-newsletter?

Yes, Milford Regional has recently launched a redesigned blog, called TakeCare. The blog features information on services provided by the hospital, articles by hospital medical and administrative staff on topics in the news, as well as a look at what the hospital provides when you are not a patient! Click here to check out our blog.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Patient Story: Cardiac Pacemaker Patient
When Janet Sannicandro first found out that she needed a cardiac pacemaker, she was stunned. She was only 51 years old. Janet was pleased to learn that she was a perfect candidate for a new pacemaker which allows patients to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests. Prior to this technology, patients with pacemakers had to forego an MRI because the powerful magnets interfered with the pacing systems operation. An MRI is an important diagnostic tool for neurologists, oncologists and orthopedic surgeons.
 
Healthy Living Tip Healthy
Sodium Sources - You Might Be Surprised

Salt Shaker
Overall, more than 75 percent of the sodium we eat comes from processed, prepackaged, and restaurant foods. This makes it hard to choose foods with less sodium and to limit sodium because it's already added to food before we buy it. The rest of the sodium in our diets occurs naturally in food or is added by us when we're cooking food or sitting down to eat. The latter makes up only about 10 percent of our total sodium intake, so even if you never use the salt shaker, you're probably getting too much salt.

The top six sodium sources in the U.S. diet include:
  • breads and rolls
  • cold cuts and cured meats
  • pizza
  • soup
  • sandwiches
  • poultry
Surprised? Some of these don't even taste salty! Different brands and restaurant versions of the same foods may have different sodium levels. Some foods come in versions with less sodium, too. Compare labels and choose the product with the lowest amount of sodium you can find in your store.

Information from the American Heart Association
Good Things You Should Know Good
Milford Regional Receives an 'A' in Patient Safety

New Hospital Safety Scores, which assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide and provide the most complete picture of patient safety in the U.S. health care system, were announced by The Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog. Milford Regional Medical Center was one of 798 hospitals to receive an A, ranking among the safest hospitals in the United States. Milford Regional has received four consecutive A's for safety since 2014. Read More

TwoNew Laboratory and Radiology Locations
We are pleased to announce that we have two new laboratory locations to serve you. In Milford, we opened a lab inside McGrath Medical Group at 117 Water Street. The hours are Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm. The second new location is in Hopkinton at the new marketplace - One Lumber Street just off Route 495. This lab is expected to open on June 27, along with a new radiology site adjacent to the lab. The hours will be Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. After these locations open, we will have 12 locations to serve you.

ThreeStroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award
Milford Regional has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital's commitment and success in ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

The appropriate use of guideline-based care for stroke patients includes aggressive use of medications such as clot-busting and anti-clotting drugs, blood thinners and cholesterol-reducing drugs, preventive action for deep vein thrombosis and smoking cessation counseling. The goal is to speed recovery and reduce death and disability of stroke patients.

Milford Regional has also met specific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department. In addition, we have a Telestroke service which allows us to contact specialists from Boston during all hours of the night, if necessary.

About Our Doctors Prime
Milford Regional's active medical staff, consisting of over 250 doctors, is highly qualified to treat you and your family through sickness and in health. Whether you need a primary care physician or a specialist, you can be assured of the best possible care.

If you need a physician, please call our Physician Referral Line at 1-888-DRS-HERE (1-888-377-4373). Our Referral Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For a quick look, see our list of primary care physicians who are accepting new patients. It is important to note that not all physicians accept all insurances. Please call the physician's office directly to find out if they accept your insurance plan.
Stethoscope on a white background
DocGet to Know our Cardiologists
Milford Regional's cardiologists offer an interdisciplinary approach to heart health including specialists in both cardiovascular and cardiac rehabilitation. From diagnosis of a patient's condition to the development of an individualized treatment plan, the focus of our dedicated cardiologists and staff is strongly preventative - managing heart health before a condition becomes serious. View our website to read more about our cardiologists. Just click on their names to see their bio.
Don't miss our exciting new interactive web page
Stay Connected with Milford Regional
 
Engage with us Online
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our videos on YouTube Find us on Pinterest View our profile on LinkedIn

508-473-1190
TTY/TDD: 508-473-5103
Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.