Merrimack Valley Hospital rated a good value
Merrimack Valley Hospital earned Best in Value Hospitals, 100 Best Value Hospitals and 100 Best Kept Secrets from Data Advantage Corp., a company that rates hospitals around the country using its Hospital Value Index scorecard. MVH was rated on the quality of its care; efficiency of its care and affordability, including the prices it charges; patient satisfaction according to the experiences of its patients, and the comprehensive reputation of the hospital as measured by the public perception. More than 1,500 general acute-care hospitals in 100 of the country's largest cities were studied. MVH scored in the top quartile within its market.
Books can help fight cancer
A local Relay for Life chapter is raising money for the American Cancer Society through donations of books, CDs, DVDs, videos and audio books.
A "Got Books" bin has been set up at Burke's Ice Cream, 558 River St., in Haverhill. Purple and yellow signs direct donors to the bin in the ice cream shop's parking lot.
Got Books, a Lawrence-based company, repurposes the donations by giving them to libraries, hospitals, teachers or troops overseas, or by selling them in book sales and online.
A portion of the proceeds of the sales are donated to charity.
Nursing home advocates training: Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley is hosting a free three-day Nursing Home Advocates Training Sept. 22 through 24 in the Elder Services offices at 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence. Sessions will last from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. Light refreshments will be served. At the conclusion of the training, participants will be certified by the commonwealth of Massachusetts as nursing home ombudsmen for Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley. Nursing home ombudsmen help protect the rights of nursing home residents, visiting nursing homes regularly to resolve issues on behalf of residents. The one-year commitment includes three days of training, monthly supervision, and dedicated hours each month for nursing home visits. Limited space is available. Reservations are strongly recommended. For information or to make a reservation, call Gerry Proulx at 978-946-1445.
ICE your phone: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2003, 900,000 emergency room patients could not provide information because they were incapacitated. To prevent this, it recommends that people ICE — In Case of Emergency — their telephones by entering emergency contact information into their cell phones so paramedics or police can contact the designated relative or friend in an emergency. To do this, type the acronym "ICE" into your cell phone, followed by a name, then save the phone number. Be sure to tell the person you have chosen that he or she is your ICE contact. And apply an ICE sticker to your phone. Stickers are available through Joel Berg on Wednesdays or Fridays from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Citizen Center. For information, call Berg at 978-374-2390.
Health Quarters offers a free, three-month supply of birth control with the pill, patch, ring or shot to new patients at its 215 Summer St. center, after a required clinical assessment. The exam can be paid for with a sliding-fee scale or billed to MassHealth and some insurance plans. After the introductory period, patients can continue to obtain their brand name birth control method from Health Quarters at prices below most pharmacies. For information, call 800-892-0234 or visit www.healthq.org.
HealthQuarters, 215 Main St., Suite 16, offers free, rapid HIV testing and counseling, and free pregnancy tests. Benefits of rapid HIV testing are: results within an hour, which eliminates return visits for test results; availability of post-test counseling during the same visit; and the ability to start medical care more quickly for those who test positive. Results are anonymous and confidential. HealthQuarters offer low-cost birth control and over-the-counter Plan B, gynecological exams, cancer screening and a sexually transmitted disease clinic. For an appointment, call Kelly at 978-521-4444.
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Women's Health Network of VNA Care Network and Hospice links uninsured and underinsured, income-eligible women to free mammograms, pap tests and cardiovascular screenings at participating hospitals, mammography sites, physician groups and health clinics. The program is open to women who live in Massachusetts and are ages 40 to 64. Younger and older women may also qualify for some services. All inquiries and services are confidential. Immigration status is not considered. The program is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. For more information, call 888-663-3688, ext. 1340.
Volunteer counselors needed: The Muscular Dystrophy Association seeks volunteer counselors to assist youths with neuromuscular diseases and help them enjoy week-long summer camps. Applicants must be at least 16 and able to lift and care for a young person between the ages of 6 and 21. Each volunteer counselor becomes a companion to a camper and helps with daily activities like eating, bathing and dressing, as well as recreational activities like arts and crafts, swimming and horseback riding. For an application or to learn about other ways to support MDA's summer camp program, call 800-572-1717 or visit www.mda.org/clinics/camp.
Volunteers needed: The SHINE Program at Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley is looking for volunteers to become certified SHINE counselors. Counselors provide no-cost health care information, assistance and counseling to Medicare beneficiaries of all ages. Individuals are required to complete the 50-hour certification program that prepares them to communicate accurate, up-to-date information during counseling sessions. Volunteers must be willing to make a three- to four-hour-a-week commitment to the program. For more information, call 800-892-0890.
Red Cross training: The American Red Cross has newly revised training programs and materials for all First-Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillation and emergency cardiovascular care courses. Simplified and flexible courses with stimulating teaching techniques like "practice-while-you-watch" instruction. Participants utilizing the First-Aid/CPR/AED for the workplace and the First-Aid/CPR/AED for schools and communities will learn CPR skills while practicing along with a video. The Red Cross encourages everyone to be trained and certified in First-Aid and CPR/AED. Receiving training through a certified instructor helps to ensure proper knowledge and skills in an emergency. For more information or to contact your local Red Cross chapter, visit www.redcross.org.
Breast cancer assistance: VNA Care Network provides help to women with breast cancer who need financial assistance for medications, co-payments, transportation to treatment and other things that increase access to treatment and support recovery. Women must be residents of eastern or central Massachusetts to qualify. The program is funded by the Massachusetts Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For information, call 888-663-3688, ext. 1264.
Panic disorder help: A program to help anyone with panic disorders, anxiety or agoraphobia is offered by Panic Relief Inc. The sessions will be in Haverhill on Mondays, noon to 1 p.m., and Wednesdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. For information, call 732-940-9658.
Merrimack Valley Hospital: WE CARE cancer support group meets the third Tuesday of every month, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the hospital atrium. This group supports cancer patients and their family and friends. For information, call 978-521-3651. Blood-pressure clinics are the first and third Friday of every month, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., in the hospital auditorium. Blood-pressure clinics are open to adults of all ages. For information, call 978-521-8550.
WIC program: Women, Infants and Children is a nutritional education program that provides nutrition and health education, healthy food and other services free to Massachusetts families who qualify. For information, call 978-374-2191.
