| Heartsaver CPR AED
December 9 at 6 p.m.
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Living Life Now...At its Best
Presented by Dr. Tina Robakiewicz and Kimberly Morse, PA-C |
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As the temperature continues to drop this does not mean you can't have fresh produce. In the article by
Huffington Post it describes fruits and veggies that are in their prime this time of year. Each one has its own nutritious benefits to help you fight off the cold and flu season.
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Chicories
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Root Vegetables |
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Jicama |
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Winter Squash |
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Cabbage |
Learn more about these foods. |
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In This Issue
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November 2015
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News on Vaccines
It is that time of year again. These beautiful, New England autumn days we have been experiencing are getting shorter, reminding us of the winter months ahead. It is time to make sure you and your family are properly vaccinated to provide protection from what could be a severe illness. There are a few new facts that may be of interest to you, depending on your age.
FLU
It is recommended that most people six months and older receive a flu vaccine each year. People who are at greater risk of complications include pregnant women, young children, and people 65 and older. For those 65 and older, there is a new vaccine referred to as the high dose vaccine. According to the CDC, this vaccine contains four times the amount of antigen as the regular flu shot and is associated with a stronger immune response following vaccination (higher antibody production). Preliminary studies suggest this may translate into greater protection against flu disease. The high dose vaccine should be available at your doctor's office or local pharmacy. Check with your physician to see if this vaccine is appropriate for you.
Pneumonia
A variety of organisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi can cause pneumonia. It is particularly dangerous for those under 2, over 65 and those with weakened immune systems. It is an infection that inflames the air sacs in your lungs and symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. There is a new recommendation from the CDC for those over 65 - to get two vaccines - PVC 13 which protects you from 13 strains of pneumococcus bacteria and PPSV 23 which protects you from 23 strains. These two vaccines should be given one year apart.
If you are 65 or older, talk to your primary care physician about these vaccines and which one you should obtain and when. Read more from the CDC about these pneumococcal vaccines.
Shingles
Shingles is a virus that causes a painful rash. It most often occurs on either the right or left side of your torso. It can be quite painful and generally will last 2 - 6 weeks. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus which is the same virus that causes chicken pox. If you have had chicken pox, the virus remains dormant in your body, but it could reactivate as shingles.
Your risk of shingles increases as you get older. The CDC recommends that people 60 years old and older get the shingles vaccine whether or not you recall having chicken pox (unless you have a weakened immune system). This vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by 51%. The vaccine does not guarantee that you won't get shingles but it will reduce the severity of the virus if you do contract it. It is given in one dose as a shot, and can be given in a doctor's office or pharmacy.
Even if you have had shingles before, you can still receive the shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. The decision on when to get vaccinated should be made with your healthcare provider.
The shingles vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for those 50 and older, but some private insurance companies do not pay for the vaccine for those under 60. Please check with your insurance company prior to obtaining the vaccine. |
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Does anti-bacterial soap provide an added layer of protection from bacteria causing infections?
Antibacterial soap may be slightly more effective than other soaps in removing bacteria when washing hands. More important than the type of soap is the frequency and thoroughness of hand washing. Generally, we do not recommend the routine use of antibacterial soap in bathing, as this may result in skin irritation.
- Michael Newstein, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist
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Patient Stories: Compassionate Companions - A Wonderful Gift
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Compassionate Companion volunteers provide companionship to very ill or dying patients that don't have family or friends available to stay with them all the time. A Compassionate Companion offers comfort through talking, reading or simply sitting with the patient during this difficult time. Grace and her son, William, are forever grateful to the compassionate companions who sat with her dying husband when they couldn't be there.
Read their story.
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Good Things You Should Know
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New Building is Open!
The new building, Meehan Family Pavilion, is now fully operational. The emergency department (ED) was the last to move in on October 28, and is accessed from Route 16. The old emergency entrance (off Route 140) is now closed.
In addition to the ED, the building houses a new intensive care unit and medical/surgical floor. The rooms in the ED and ICU are larger to accommodate the latest technologies and have been furnished so that family members can stay with their loved one. Learn more about the features of the new building.
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Boston Children's Physician Specialists
Parents now have easy access to several Boston Children's physician specialists at Milford Regional. Last fall Dr. David Mooney, general surgeon and Dr. Brian Reagan, gastroenterologist, began seeing pediatric patients at Milford Regional. Endocrinologist, Dr. Abhinash Srivatsa, and urologists, Drs. Richard Yu and Carlos Estrada soon followed, providing office hours here as well.
Most recently two more specialists have been added to this program. Dr. Lisa Bartnikas, pediatric allergist & immunologist, diagnoses and treats children and adolescents with allergic disorders and immunodeficiencies. This can include common allergy-related problems, such as food- and pet-allergies, eczema and asthma, as well as more complex and rare immunodeficiencies.
Dr. Meera Subramaniam, pediatric pulmonologist, provides care for infants, children and young adults with chronic and acute respiratory disorders. She evaluates and treats a wide range of conditions such as severe asthma, chronic lung disease, cystic fibrosis, respiratory infections, sleep-disordered breathing and tuberculosis.
Dr. Bartnikas sees patients in Milford the second and fourth Mondays of the month and Dr. Subramaniam is available for appointments on the second Wednesday of the month. Learn more about pediatric care at Milford Regional and how to make an appointment with one of these specialists.
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Recognized for Excellence in Breastfeeding Care
Milford Regional received the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® Care Award from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners ®(IBLCE®) and the International Lactation Consultant Association® (ICLA®). The award recognizes Milford Regional for its seven maternity nurses who hold the International Board Certified Lactation Consultants® certification (IBCLC®), as well as the lactation program offered on a nearly daily basis for breast-feeding families.
The IBCLC is the leading internationally recognized lactation certification in the world. Certified professionals are highly skilled in helping breastfeeding mothers, and they work with mothers during pregnancy to help successfully initiate breastfeeding. After the child is born, the certified nurses continue to help mothers overcome breastfeeding challenges, and continue to inform and support them as their baby grows. In addition, they assist mothers returning to work or school; help mothers in more unusual situations such as breastfeeding more than one baby at a time, or nursing a sick or premature infant; and help train the nursing staff to manage basic breastfeeding care.
To reach one of our lactation consultants call 508-422-2960 seven days a week. Read more about lactation care at Milford Regional.
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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.
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| 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.
Get to Know our Radiologists
Although radiologists don't often meet patients face to face, they play a crucial role in treating patients and helping them recover from their illness or injury. They are experts at interpreting medical images (from x-rays, CT scans, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine) and correlating those findings with other tests and examinations to recommend further tests or treatments for the patient.
Milford Regional's radiologists are all board certified in diagnostic radiology; many of them are also certified in sub-specialties such as pediatrics, neuroradiology, vascular and interventional radiology. Catch a glimpse of our radiologists - click on their names to obtain their profile. |
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Don't miss our exciting new interactive web page -
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508-473-1190
TTY/TDD: 508-473-5103
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Copyright © 2014. Milford Regional Medical Center | 14 Prospect Street | Milford, MA 01757 | All Rights Reserved.
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