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‘Avenue of Hope’: New Treatment Being Tested in Worcester Shows Promise for Postpartum Depression
For some women, postpartum depression can cast a long shadow over what they thought would be the happiest time of their life. “I should be happy, why am I not happy?”, said Shalea Niles of Dorchester as she described how she felt after the birth of her third child. “It...
Mass. Health Officials: Passenger on Boston-Bound JetBlue Flight Had Measles, Prompts Health Alert
Here’s How To Fix Primary Care for the Highest-Need Patients
Massachusetts health care, often praised for its excellence, is experiencing systemic strain. Our primary care infrastructure is falling woefully short, with many people unable to access a provider.
In unanimous vote, Worcester health board pushes vaccinations, dismissing RFK Jr. stance
The Board of Health wants the public to know about the importance of getting vaccinated against infectious diseases.
In a 5-0 vote Monday, the board directed the city Public Health Department to develop a plan to inform residents about vaccines and wants the plan presented during the board's next...
UMass Memorial to buy Groton property for new Nashoba Valley emergency facility
After UMass Memorial Health previously announced it would open an emergency department in the Nashoba Valley region in the wake of Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s closure, the Worcester-based system is taking next steps to acquire a Groton site to open a satellite emergency facility.
UMass Memorial Health couple preparing for the 129th Boston Marathon
Lauren Murphy is preparing to run the Boston Marathon and she’s got her husband Brian Rettger by her side.
“This is my third marathon in six months," Murphy said. "But Brian is actually the one who got me into running during COVID.”
UMass Memorial Health To Open Emergency Department in Wake of Nashoba Closing. Here’s Where
UMass Memorial Health confirmed it will build an emergency department in Groton to help fill the health care void left after last summer's closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center.
Mass. physician assistants want more autonomy in providing health care. Why it matters
Facing a statewide health care workforce shortage, advocates for physician assistants spoke last week at the State House to support legislation that eliminates restrictive supervision requirements, as they aim to expand care access in underserved areas.
Care delivery changes reshaping hospital landscape
The splintering of Steward Health Care last year resulted in the transfer of six hospital campuses, the closure of two others, and a reshaping of the state's health care world. That might be just the start of a rethinking of the role hospitals can play in Massachusetts, Health and Human Services...
I grew up working in hospitals. I love hospitals. I hate to see them close. The sad fact is, across our country, there are 1,300 critical access hospitals -- there's one in Massachusetts, in Athol -- and a third of those hospitals were projected to close.
Kate Walsh | Health and Human Services Secretary
Updated HIPAA rules aim to bolster healthcare security
To bolster security for healthcare workers and patients, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed updates to HIPAA regulations. The proposed adjustments come amid rising worries about the growing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks that have compromised sensitive...
CHAI embarks on post-deployment monitoring for AI as FDA oversight lags
In the absence of a federal framework to monitor the impact of artificial intelligence in the clinic, the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) is stepping in on post-deployment oversight.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lacks the capability to assess how models are performing in the real world after...
Ticking Clock for Home Care
Hospital at home programs have been a bright spot in the healthcare landscape for the past several years. They allow patients to receive inpatient-level care at their homes instead of a traditional hospital. Once a rarity, they’ve popped up across the country as a way to lighten the burden on brick...
[Expiration of the waiver would be a] huge step backwards in terms of our capacity challenges in the state, in terms of health equity, in terms of how we care for rural populations in particular.
Constantinos Michaelidis, MD | Medical Director, Hospital at Home
Measles, myths and more: Fighting false claims in disease control
At first, it sounded like an isolated and tragic incident, but one perhaps too far away to cause any worries here in New England: an outbreak of measles in Texas, resulting in two deaths.
UMass Memorial Reaches Hospital-at-Home Milestone; Alper Reflects on Program’s Keys to Success
At a time when health systems are under increasing pressure to improve care delivery models, UMass Memorial Health has reached a significant milestone in its Hospital-at-Home program, admitting its 3,000th patient. This initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Eric Alper, Senior Vice President, Chief Quality...
We were at a point where our hospitals didn’t have enough space for the people that needed to be there. By moving acute-level care into the home, we believed we could provide safe, effective treatment while reducing the burden on our facilities.
Eric Alper, MD | Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer, and Chief Clinical Informatics Officer
The Challenges of Chronic Cough
Chronic cough remains a persistent challenge for clinicians and patients, given the wide range of potential causes and confusion regarding symptoms, according to experts.
One of the key features of chronic cough is its duration of 8 weeks or longer, which makes the cough less likely to be associated...