Health + Wellness Magazine Spring 2018

▶ Spring Program Listings Inside!

Health + Wellness

Living healthier together.

Spring 2018 | cheshiremed.org

A TEAM WORKING WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

At Farnum Rehabilitation Center, patients are surrounded by a team dedicated to their personalized care plan.

Medical Center Update

Making Healthy Choices

Health Education & Support

Making a Difference

Community partnerships are key to health and wellness

Tips for taking care of our eyes and the benefits of chair yoga

Don’t miss this Spring’s line up of programs

Community involvement has a big impact

FROM THE CEO/PRESIDENT/CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

Cheshire Medical Center Updates

Stewardship of resources and developing partnerships are key to sustainability.

As this issue is going to print, debates and concerns about healthcare in our nation persist while we continue the work of establishing high-value, quality care in a system that is sustainable. Sustainability is a word heard often here at Cheshire Medical Center and represents a main component of our organization’s 3-Year Strategic Plan (outlined in the Winter 2018 issue of Health + Wellness). Providing access to a continuum of healthcare services to meet the needs of our local community is the steady work of balancing and leveraging resources and partnerships.

As good New Englanders, we understand the value of making the most of our resources. In that spirit, we are consistently reviewing how we work and function as an organization, seeking ways to improve our processes to better meet the needs of our patients in an effective and efficient manner-with patient safety at the forefront.

A recent example of process improvement put into action is taking place in our Emergency Department (ED). Looking to improve patient flow in our ED, we found an opportunity in the triage process. When registering in our Emergency Department, patients first see a triage nurse for evaluation to determine the acuity of their condition.

In Emergency Departments, the highest acuity patients must be treated first. We found that by partnering one of our ED providers with the triage nurse, the low acuity needs of some patients seeking care could be addressed immediately in that first contact.

Clinical and non-clinical teams at Cheshire are partnering with Advisors of the Patient and Family Advisory Council to find creative solutions and points of improvement to the patient experience and increase efficiencies, both of which are essential to our sustainability. The Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) is a volunteer group of patients and family members in the community. This issue features a profile of a PFAC member (see page 16) and an opportunity to learn about becoming a member of the PFAC (page 13 in the programs listing).

Our close partnership with the Cheshire Health Foundation and its engagement with our community is key to our efforts to provide quality care and be a sustainable healthcare resource for the region. I am grateful for the generous contributions of community members and our employees through the Cheshire Health Foundation that have made it possible for Cheshire Medical Center to bring the Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ system technology to patient care.

As a non-profit medical center, we rely upon partnerships with organizations and businesses, volunteers, and donors in our community-to ensure safe, quality healthcare remains an asset in the region. The pages of Health + Wellness magazine celebrate these partnerships through stories, spotlights, and informational opportunities in each issue.

Don Caruso, CEO/President/Chief Medical Officer

2 Spring 2018 | Health + Wellness

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE

Partnerships to reduce prescription drug abuse The Center for Population Health at Cheshire Medical Center, in partnership with Monadnock Family Services, Phoenix House Keene Center, Monadnock Voices for Prevention, and the Keene Serenity Center, has received a three-year $900,000 grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Rural Health Policy to address prescription drug abuse by creating a Behavioral Health Partner Network.

The goal of the new network will be to bridge the current gaps in communication between physicians, mental health providers, addiction treatment centers, and recovery agencies, creating a model of community-based service and cross-referrals among the partners in the program. The network will enable the partners to better manage and monitor those patients with chronic controlled substance prescriptions, reducing the occurrence of prescription drug overuse, misuse, and abuse.

The three-year grant work will strengthen healthcare provider relationships, expand capacity for providing medication assisted treatment (MAT), and enhance existing services.

Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ at Cheshire Thanks to the generous support of our community and employees through the Cheshire Health Foundation, Cheshire Medical Center is adding new technology to the Medical Surgical, Progressive Care, Farnum Rehabilitation Inpatient, and the Women’s and Children’s Health Units.

The Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ remote monitoring and clinical notification system relays patients’ vital health information to a monitoring station, providing valuable information between bedside rounds from medical staff. Early detection and

UPDATE FROM THE CENTER FOR POPULATION HEALTH AT CHESHIRE MEDICAL CENTER intervention through the Masimo system can shorten patients’ hospital stays and prevent escalation to Intensive Care.

Turn to page 18 to learn more about how the Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ system will benefit patients at Cheshire Medical Center.

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

Appointment scheduling feature with myD-H Established patients with any one of Cheshire’s Family Medicine practices in Keene, Walpole, or Winchester can now schedule office visits and physicals with their provider online using the myD-H patient portal.

This new feature is accessible through the “Schedule an Appointment” option on the myD-H home page. Patients may choose the provider with whom they want to schedule an appointment. Providers listed are those the portal user has seen in the past 2 years. This feature should be used only for non-urgent appointments. Those needing assistance with a myD-H portal can contact Dana Carley, Patient Portal Concierge at (603) 354-5454 extension 2446.

Turn to page 12 to read about the upcoming FREE education class offered to the community entitled Learn How to Navigate myD-H—Cheshire Medical Center’s Patient Portal.

HEALTHCARE SERVICES UPDATE

New Optical Shop hours Cheshire Medical Center’s Optical Shop, located next to the Cheshire Medical Center Ophthalmology office, and the Walk-In Care clinic in the Center at Colony Mill at 149 Emerald Street in Keene, has new hours.

The Optical Shop is now open MondayThursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This week, I mark the end of my first year in my role here at Cheshire Medical Center. I can hardly believe a year has passed. If I have learned anything in my career in advancing population health, it is that partnerships are central to everything we do. We talk a great deal about partnerships in the pages of this magazine. Our work in the Center for Population Health depends on them. As we seek to address major issues like healthcare and addiction, nationally and in our local communities, the need for strong partnerships becomes more and more evident. I’d like to point out a few of the partnerships featured in this issue of Health + Wellness.

Our Worksite Wellness Program is working closely with local businesses and organizations to enhance key areas of wellness for their employees. The program’s advisors help business leaders identify what they are doing well and to develop strategies for areas of improvement. While healthy eating and physical activity may be universally understood components of health, the program advisors also provide support in key areas such as family-friendly environments and building resilience. You can learn more about the program in the Healthier Together Spotlight on page 17 of this issue.

The Health Education programs in this issue of Health + Wellness features education opportunities with four of our Medical Center colleagues sharing their unique expertise outside of the clinic environment. Martin Gross, MD, Urology; Nancy Johnson, MD, Pain Clinic; Robert Majkut, MHS OT/L, CHT, Farnum Rehabilitation Center; and Serena Shomody, DPM, Podiatry are sharing clinical education to support health and wellbeing in our community.

Since 2014, Center for Population Health staff have been building relationships with community partners around the escalating issue of addiction.

Through deep collaboration with Monadnock Family Services and Phoenix House Keene Center, Cheshire Medical Center submitted a proposal for a grant to address prescription drug abuse in our region by creating a Behavioral Health Partner Network. A three-year grant was awarded and the network has grown to include partners Monadnock Voices for Prevention and the Keene Serenity Center. The recently awarded grant funding has enabled network partners to begin the work of developing a process for referrals and defining how network services will be utilized. Antioch University New England will provide evaluation of the effectiveness of the services of the network and to support improvements. The goal, as these organizations come together, is to continue to grow the Network and evolve our systems to aid in addiction prevention.

Shawn LaFrance, Vice President of Population Health & Health Systems Integration

Health + Wellness | Spring 2018 3

Cheshire Medical Center FEATURE STORY

AT FARNUM REHABILITATION CENTER

Trusting relationships with caring expert staff helps patients meet their goals.

“M Claire Simpson shows off her strength as she reconnects with Occupational Therapist, Cindi Zipoli.

Every member of the staff at Farnum Rehabilitation Center is passionate about delivering quality care with the goal to return each of their patients to their highest possible level of function and independence. And in Farnum’s inpatient unit, that commitment can be seen from day one, as the care team begins working with patients and their families to develop a coordinated plan of care-with the goal of utilizing each patient’s individual strengths and abilities to achieve an optimal level of independence.

As the only comprehensive acute inpatient physical

that offers the advantage of being located in a hospital setting.

The Farnum Outpatient Center provides services for adults and children with physical and/or developmental disabilities causing functional limitations including mobility, self-care, communication, and swallowing deficits. From cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, to sports medicine and industrial rehabilitation, the Farnum professionals work with patients and physicians to provide the right services and treatment plan to meet each individual’s rehabilitation goals.

For Claire Simpson, a recent visit back to the inpatient

rehabilitation unit in Southwestern New Hampshire, Farnum

unit where she received rehabilitation care, brought smiles

provides highly specialized care close to home for patients in

and hugs as Claire was greeted by many of the staff who had

the Monadnock Region. That personalized rehabilitation care

worked closely with her to regain her strength and mobility to

is provided in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment

return home. Here’s her story.

4 Spring 2018 | Health + Wellness

Whether the need is acute inpatient therapy, or outpatient therapy, Farnum provides adults and adolescents comprehensive individualized care to help patients achieve their rehabilitation goals and get back to what matters to them.

Our best moments are when we can “return patients to their homes. Some of our patients come here with no expectations of being able to go home and they and their families are elated with their progress and ability to manage on their own. That’s a success for us and our patients.

”

- John Ditri, MD, Medical Director of Farnum Rehabilitation Center

I

t started last September with pain, then weakness, in her hips.

“I thought it was a pinched nerve, but it got so bad that I went to the emergency room at my local hospital in Springfield, Vermont,” says Claire Simpson, 63. “They referred me to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.”

Initially hospitalized for nine days, Simpson was eventually diagnosed with acute motor axonal neuropathy, a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Guillain-Barre is a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves.

Weakness and tingling in the extremities are usually the first symptoms and they can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing the entire body. Simpson was experiencing such

pain and weakness in her legs and arms that she couldn’t walk, and needed assistance to transfer from her hospital bed to a wheelchair, and to carry out the activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing.

While there’s no cure for the various forms of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a treatment called plasmapheresis can speed recovery and reduce the condition’s severity. Simpson began undergoing this treatment at DartmouthHitchcock; it involved removing the liquid part of her blood (plasma) and separating it from her blood cells. The blood cells were then put back in her body, which would manufacture more plasma to make up for what was removed. Plasmapheresis works by ridding plasma of antibodies that fuel the immune

system’s attack on the peripheral nerves.

Rehabilitation therapy is another key component of recovery, so Simpson was referred to the Farnum Rehabilitation Center at Cheshire Medical Center. Farnum is what’s called an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility.

It provides a higher level of care than a skilled nursing facility in that patients must be able to tolerate at least three hours of therapy a day, they are seen by a physician every day, and there is around-the-clock nursing care by registered nurses (RNs).

“When Claire first came to us, she was quadriparetic—she had muscle weakness affecting her arms and legs and was confined to a wheelchair,” explains physiatrist John A. Ditri, MD, a board-certified specialist in

Health + Wellness | Spring 2018 5

Each patient has a “unique treatment plan

specific to their needs, which is implemented by an interdisciplinary team that flexes to best support the patient’s goals.

The entire team gathers weekly for a bedside conference with patients and family to go over progress and next steps.

”

- Amoriel E. Robinson, BSN, RN Clinical Leader at Farnum Rehabilitation Center

6 Spring 2018 | Health + Wellness

physical medicine and rehabilitation, and medical director of the Center. “She also had some involvement of her face, which affected her speech and ability to eat and swallow.

“Our aim was to get her functionally independent, maximize her neurological recovery, and prevent secondary medical problems,” he adds.

Simpson puts it this way: “I wanted to get walking again. And come home.”

She began physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-swallowing therapy with Farnum’s team of skilled professionals. Her first few weeks weren’t easy, however. She was readmitted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock twice because her condition worsened. And each time she returned to Farnum, it was like starting over with her rehabilitation therapy.

“But once they got her plasma treatment figured out, she started making slow but Farnum Rehabilitation Teams steady neurological gains,” Dr. Ditri says, noting that she underwent weekly, then Farnum Rehabilitation teams consist of the biweekly plasmapheresis treatments, following roles: traveling by ambulance from Farnum to Dartmouth-Hitchcock each time.

Patient and family The patient and family are considered “Everyone was so positive and very the most important members of the encouraging,” Simpson says of her Farnum rehabilitation team. team. “The process of therapy is so intimate, everyone became like family.”

Physiatrist “Tricia (Patricia Toomey, PT) was Physiatrists evaluate and treat my physical therapist, and she had a rehabilitation patients. They are medical doctors trained in the specialty of knack of knowing how far to push me Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation without going over and making me feel and are responsible for designing and discouraged,” she relates.“Each session coordinating comprehensive, patientleft me on a high note.” centered treatment plans with other team “Cindi (Cindi Zipoli, OT) was my members. occupational therapist, and she was amazing, getting me back into the real Rehabilitation Nurse world, able to dress and bathe myself,” she The Rehabilitation Registered Nurse continues. specializes in rehabilitative care and assists the patient in achieving maximum “And all my nurses were great, keeping independence. The focus is on medical my spirits up,” she adds. care, prevention of complications, and “You couldn’t keep Claire down,” patient and family education. says Terry Hebert, RN, CRRN, who was Simpson’s primary nurse during her stay.

Physical Therapist “She had a couple of setbacks while here, but The Physical Therapist helps restore it didn’t stop her from giving 110 percent function for patients with problems every day. She never quit.” related to movement, muscle strength, exercise, joint function balance, and Another member of her care team was coordination. social worker Lois Kitz, LICSW. “My focus is on family support— although we all overlap a lot—and discharge planning,” she says.“We set an initial discharge date within a few days of admission and put it on the calendar. And then the entire team meets every week to see if that’s still achievable.”

These team meetings are a hallmark of the highly coordinated multidisciplinary care Farnum provides.

“We meet at the patient’s bedside once a week, and include family or friends at the patient’s request,” Kitz explains. “We update everyone involved on how things are going, and identify any areas that need more attention.”

“We also can bring in other specialists, when appropriate, to help manage medically complex patients without interrupting their rehabilitation,” Dr. Ditri notes.

“Plus, we have the ability to arrange for behavioral health team visits for psychological

support, something Claire took advantage of for a while,” Kitz says.

“This unit really sees each patient as an individual and in a holistic way, and we’re able to tailor care to their unique needs,” she continues. “We feel privileged to be invited into their lives to help deal with this crisis that’s occurred, and brighten the horizon for them.

It’s an upbeat, encouraging place,” she adds.

Family is an integral part of the care team, too.

“Claire’s husband Derek was here every day,” Kitz says. “He was very much her advocate and was willing to do a lot for her, including dealing with the insurance company. We told him he didn’t have to take that on, but he felt it was something he could do.”

“I felt included, and that my concerns were heard as well,” Derek says. “And I felt confident in what they were doing for Occupational Therapist Claire. They’re so in tune with what’s going The Occupational Therapist helps restore on and your needs.” function for patients with problems This sense of teamwork extends related to activities of daily living through beyond the walls of the center and into the the therapeutic use of functional community, ensuring that each patient has activities. the necessary services in place for a seamless Speech Therapist and successful transition from Farnum to The Speech Therapist helps restore home. During her 27-year tenure at Farnum, function for patients with problems Kitz has forged important partnerships with related to cognitive, communication, and these vital resources. swallowing issues.

“I’m on a first-name basis with virtually all the home healthcare, outpatient rehab, Recreation Therapist local nursing homes, and community The Recreation Therapist coordinates service organizations not just here in Keene therapeutic recreation programs to help promote social skills and leisure activities. but throughout the region,” Kitz says.

Simpson was discharged to home on Social Worker January 12, four months after her first The Social Worker acts as a liaison for emergency room visit. In rehab parlance, the patient, family, and rehabilitation she was “contact guard assist,” which meant treatment team. The social worker helps she only needed someone close by to help provide support and coordinate discharge steady her when she performed functional planning and referrals. tasks. She was using a walker, and could go Behavioral Health up and down stairs.

The Behavioral Health Team supports the To sustain her hard-won progress, emotional needs of patients and families Simpson initially did outpatient through the process of treatment, and occupational therapy twice a week in helps address issues such as depression Claremont, near her home, then “graduated” and adjustment to disability. to physical therapy twice a week. When we spoke in mid-February, she was able to walk independently, relying on the wheelchair only when she went out or got tired.

“With her outpatient therapy, she will continue to improve,” Dr. Ditri notes.

“People come to Farnum having suffered something that’s often sudden and lifechanging—things like spinal cord injuries, head injuries, brain tumors, strokes, conditions like Claire’s—and their world is turned upside down,” Kitz says. “We offer them a lot of compassion along with excellent medical care to help them become more independent.”

Simpson and her husband are believers.

“We absolutely felt that the people at Farnum were partners in my care,” Simpson says.

“We were right to put our trust in them. They do an absolutely amazing job.”

Visit cheshiremed.org/farnum to learn more about Cheshire Medical Center’s comprehensive rehabilitation services.

Healthier Together SPOTLIGHT Like all of the patients at Farnum Rehabilitation Center, Claire Simpson received care from a coordinated team. Below are some of the members of Claire’s team featured in the story.

John A. Ditri, MD

Board-certified Specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Director of the Farnum Rehabilitation Center

Terry Hebert, RN, CRRN Rehabilitation Nurse at Farnum Rehabilitation Center

Patricia Toomey, PT Physical Therapist at Farnum Rehabilitation Center

Cindi Zipoli, OT

Occupational Therapist at Farnum Rehabilitation Center

Lois Kitz, LICSW

Social Worker at Farnum Rehabilitation Center

Health + Wellness | Spring 2018 7

Making Healthy Choices TIPS & TOOLS

Two simple approaches to purposeful self-care.

Maintaining healthy eyes.

This can help reduce eyestrain.

Your eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best.

The National Eye Institute offers these simple tips for maintaining healthy eyes well into your golden years.

Clean your hands and your contact lenses– properly.

To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate.

Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect many common eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration in their early stages.

Know your family’s eye health history.

It’s important to know if anyone in your family has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary.

This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.

Eat right to protect your sight.

Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.

If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

8 Spring 2018 | Health + Wellness

Wear protective eyewear.

Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity.

Quit smoking or never start.

Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.

Be cool and wear your shades.

Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Give your eyes a rest.

If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.

Visit cheshiremed.org/ophthalmology to learn more about Cheshire Medical Center’s comprehensive ophthalmology services and to see a video with Dr. Janet Aug, OD sharing helpful information about the importance of protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Relax, breathe, and energize with chair yoga.

As we age, we may experience certain changes and limitations in range of motion, level of flexibility, and balance. Chair yoga is an accessible form of exercise for almost everyone, regardless of age or level of physical fitness, and can provide a number of benefits for your physical and mental well-being.

Anyone with mobility or balance limitations, especially seniors, may appreciate the benefits of chair yoga, which involves performing specific yoga poses while using the support of a chair.

Consult your doctor if you have any medical concerns that may affect your ability to perform chair yoga.

Healthier Together SPOTLIGHT

Thinking better about osteoarthritis can help improve functioning.

Here are a few of the potential benefits that come with practicing yoga at any age: Increased flexibility and circulation Flexibility is something that should be worked on over time and we increase our flexibility through stretching. When stretching, listen to your body. Know the difference between discomfort and pain. Find the modifications that work for you.

Strengthening of muscles you haven’t used in a while A yoga practice can help you strengthen your core muscles—your legs, hips, abdominals, pectorals, shoulders, spine and neck—thereby making daily activities easier.

Improved balance Certain chair yoga poses can be beneficial to improving balance, increased focus, and better stability.

Mindfulness and body awareness Mindfulness and yoga go hand in hand. When we take time to check in with our bodies and our breath, we become more mindful and present.

Turn to page 13 to learn about the FREE 3-week Introduction to Chair Yoga series offered to the community starting April 11th and to find out how you can register to reserve your spot. Don’t delay!

This series fills up fast.

One of the four free education programs available this season presented by specialists of Cheshire Medical Center Robert Majkut, MHS, OT/L, Certified Hand Therapist at the Farnum Rehabilitation Center, will be offering a free class for community members experiencing osteoarthritis affecting the hands, providing education to pathology, joint preservation principles, adaptive techniques, and proper use of splinting.

Robert Majkut, MHS, OT/L, Certified Hand Therapist at the Farnum Osteoarthritis Rehabilitation Center (OA) occurs when joint cartilage breaks down between bones, causing pain, stiffness, and decrease in function in one’s everyday activities. Although it is the most common form of arthritis, affecting over 30 million adults in the U.S., women over age 50 are most likely to develop OA. “Education is empowerment,” says Majkut, “When people understand the anatomy and the pathology of OA and understand what is happening, they are able to better manage their pain and improve their function, allowing them to get back to doing what they enjoy.”

Several years ago, Majkut was inspired by the Healthy Monadnock mission (then Vision 2020) to promote wellness in the Monadnock Region. Considering OA’s effect on his patients’ quality of life, he wanted to reach more people in the community with good information to help them preserve the joints in their hands.

Majkut began offering an education class to help community members better understand the degenerative disease and help preserve their joints. This year, the well-attended class, Managing Osteoarthritis of the Hands and Thumb, will be held on May 22nd.

Turn to page 15 to learn about the FREE Managing Osteoarthritis of the Hands and Thumb education class offered to the community on May 22, and to find out how you can register to reserve your spot.

Health + Wellness | Spring 2018 9

Health Education & Support SPRING PROGRAM LISTINGS

Together, we can be our healthiest.

These classes and programs are brought to you by the Center for Population Health (Center)

Please join us!

At Cheshire Medical Center, we believe that the health and wellness of every member of our community matters. And we are committed to being community partners in support of healthy and resilient living for all.

Please join us for one or more of this Spring’s line-up of programs designed to provide learning opportunities and supportive connections with others on similar paths to optimal wellbeing.

at Cheshire Medical Center and are part of the many ways we are working to help our community be one of the nation’s healthiest.

Cheshire Medical Center established the Center for Population Health as a department dedicated to guiding and facilitating the implementation of community-based health and wellness projects and policies, integrating our clinical care into these efforts, and providing resources for education, outreach, and support to individuals, families, work-sites, schools, and the community.

The Center for Population Health is part of the Leadership Council for a Healthy Monadnock, a group of 30+ individuals representing schools, organizations, coalitions and businesses that oversees the Healthy Monadnock Community Engagement Initiative. All of the Center’s project priorities align with the Healthy Monadnock initiative and Cheshire Medical Center is a proud Organizational Champion.

REGISTER TODAY!

Reserve your place by calling (603) 354-5460 or visiting health-wellness.cheshiremed.org/ events.

10 Spring 2018 | Health + Wellness

Programs

Health Education and Support for the Monadnock Region.

Health Education & Support | Spring Program Listings

Spring 2018

Our Spring programs are listed in chronological order and fall into three major categories: + Healthy Living with a focus on topics that support our overall health

+ Resilient Living with a focus on topics that support our overall wellbeing

+ Community Involvement with a focus on supporting active engagement with our community for the health and wellness of all

Please note if a program is suited for either seniors in our community or families with children. Icons at the end of listings help you find a perfect fit: S = open to all, but may be of interest to seniors N = special focus on nutrition = consider enjoying a healthy, affordable meal at the Art Nichols CafĂŠ after the program. If you are 60 years or older use your senior passport for a discounted meal.

All programs are held at Cheshire Medical Center, 580 Court St., Keene, NH unless otherwise noted.

All programs require registration and are free, unless otherwise noted. If special accommodations are required for you to attend any of our programs, please call the Center for Population Health at (603) 354-5460.

Health + Wellness | Spring 2018 11

Health Education & Support SPRING PROGRAM LISTINGS + Healthy Living

Whole Foods Series

Danielle Beauchemin and Bennington Wentworth, Keene State College Dietetic Interns Attend one or both classes.

Part 1: Can’t I Just Take a Supplement?

You may have heard the Hippocrates quote, “Let food be thy medicine.” But what about dietary supplements? Can they offer us the same benefits as whole foods? In session one of this two-part series we’ll look at vitamins and minerals important for healthy aging and what foods they are found in.

We will also discuss when it is appropriate to talk with your primary care physician about using supplements. S N Thursday, April 5 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Auditorium A Part 2: Whole Foods Cooking After a recap of session one, we’ll get cooking using a variety of whole foods from each food group. You’ll be able to identify which foods are offering which nutrients, the benefits of increasing the nutrient density of your diet, and how to incorporate them into your meals at home. Bring some containers so that you can bring home leftovers. Note: Part 2 has limited space. Pre-registration required. S N Thursday, April 19 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Joslin Foods Lab, Keene State College

+ Healthy Living

“Lessons from the Wild” Sonya LeClair, Certified Health Coach, The Reluctant Enthusiast What might the American Beaver, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Snapping Turtle, and Porcupine have to teach you about improving your own health and well-being? Join us to find out and learn more about how to build a healthier lifestyle using lighthearted inspiration gleaned from the great outdoors.

Participants will receive practical tips on finding local hiking spots and how to take actionable steps towards making healthy habits work for them.

Thursday, April 5 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Auditorium A

REGISTER TODAY!

Reserve your place by calling (603) 354-5460 or visiting health-wellness.cheshiremed.org/ events.

12 Spring 2018 | Health + Wellness

+ Community Involvement

Green Dot Bystander Training Carolyn Crane, Vicky Pitman, D’Vorah Kelley and Lesley Johnson, Green Dot Trainers Imagine a map of your community where each red dot on this map represents an act of power-based personal violence (physical or sexual violence, stalking, bullying, child abuse, or elder abuse). Now imagine adding a green dot in the middle of all those red dots on your map. A green dot is any action that promotes safety for all our citizens and communicates utter intolerance for violence. A green dot is pulling a friend out of a high risk situation, displaying an awareness poster in your room or office, or striking up a conversation with a friend or family member. A green dot is simply your individual choice at any given moment to make our world safer.

This 5-hour Bystander Training is designed to equip you with the necessary connection, knowledge, and skill to increase proactive and reactive bystander behaviors. Appropriate for anyone age 16 and over, the training uses video, role-plays, and other exercises to maximize the level of engagement of participants and help them apply the concepts in the curriculum to their own lives, and practice the skills they need to be proactive bystanders. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

Choose a date: Saturday, April 7 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

North Conference Room 2 Saturday, May 5 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

North Conference Room 1 Saturday, June 2 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

North Conference Room 2

+ Healthy Living

Learn How to Navigate myD-H—Cheshire Medical Center’s Patient Portal Dana Carley, Patient Portal Concierge, Cheshire Medical Center Cheshire Medical Center has an online patient portal that makes managing your health information and communicating with your doctor and health care team easy and convenient.

In this session, we’ll walk through how to: 1) request a myD-H account, 2) access your information, and 3) use the features within the portal.

Already have an account? Bring a laptop or tablet for a handson experience navigating your portal to view your records, request and schedule appointments, request medication refills, ask questions of your healthcare team, receive appointment reminders, and viewing test and lab results.

Choose a date: Tuesday, April 10 10:00-11:30 a.m.

North Conference Room 1 Wednesday, May 9 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Auditorium B Monday, June 11 5:00-6:30 p.m.

North Conference Room 1

Introduction to Chair Yoga Betty Christiansen, Certified Yoga Instructor Chair Yoga is a gentle form of yoga practiced sitting in a chair or standing, using a chair for support. As with other forms of yoga this exercise helps to reduce stress, and to improve balance, strength, and flexibility. Perfect for anyone new to yoga or for anyone who is uncomfortable getting onto the floor. S 3-week series: Wednesdays, April 11-April 25 4:30-5:30 p.m.

United Church of Christ (UCC) in Keene, 23 Central Square.

Note: Please enter by the double doors at the rear of the church. Free parking is available in the lot behind the church, and metered parking on Washington and Vernon Streets.

+ Healthy Living

Be Tobacco Free!

Kate McNally, MS, CTTS, Cheshire Coalition for Tobacco Free Communities, Center for Population Health, Cheshire Medical Center Nicotine addiction is one of the hardest addictions to conquer, but you can do it. This seminar will give you the tools you need to quit and the support you need to remain tobacco free. If you’re ready to give it a try, we’re here to help.

Choose a time: Thursday, April 12 12:00-1:30 p.m. or 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Auditorium A & B

+ Healthy Living

Healthy Living with Diabetes: Self-Management Training Patti Schuman, RDN, LD, CDE, Cheshire Medical Center Learn more about diabetes—each session covers different aspects of diabetes self-care, including but not limited to diabetic complications and how to avoid them, what to eat, activity and diabetes control, stress management, and goal setting. Get practical self-care tips along with support and suggestions from others with diabetes. Spouses and significant others are encouraged to attend. Call 354-5454 ext. 3815 for more information or to register. Preregistration is required. S N Choose a 4-week series: Tuesdays, April 17-May 8 9:00-11:00 a.m.

North Conference Room 2 Wednesdays, May 23-June 13 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Auditorium A

+ Healthy Living

Advance Care Planning: It’s About the Conversation!

Jennifer McCalley, MSW, ACHP-SW Program Coordinator, Honoring Care Decisions or Nicole Boudle, RN, and Lori Guyette, RN, Collaborative Care Nurses, Cheshire Medical Center What if a sudden illness or injury left you unable to speak for yourself? Who would you want to speak for you? What would you want them to know about your values and wishes?

Advance care planning is a process that helps any adult at any state of health think about your values and goals; consider health care choices you may have to make in the future; talk about your choices with your doctor and your loved ones; and make or update a written plan for the future (advance directive). Join us in a thought-provoking conversation to help make your wishes known. Learn vocabulary, reflect on your values, choose a healthcare agent, explore goals for treatment, and take the first steps toward completing an advance directive. You will have the opportunity to complete or update your advance directive if you are ready or sign up for a 1:1 meeting with a trained Honoring Care Decisions facilitator for a more in-depth conversation. S Choose a date: Wednesday, April 18 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Auditorium B

Health Education & Support | Spring Program Listings

+ Healthy Living

Thursday, May 24 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Auditorium B Wednesday, June 20 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Auditorium B

+ Community Involvement

Make a Difference as an Advisor to Cheshire Medical Center Dawn Welshman, Cheshire Medical Center Cheshire Medical Center’s Patient and Family Advisory Council brings together patients, family members, and medical center employees in an effort to promote a culture of patient and family centered care and enhance the care experience. What do Advisors do? They participate in committee work, bringing a patient perspective to planning and decision making, and support the creation of information or education materials with input and feedback. Additionally, Advisors may partner with staff on special projects, such as helping launch a new initiative or plan a patient space. Learn more about the Patient and Family Advisory Council and what is takes to become an Advisor. Light refreshments will be served.

Wednesday, April 18 6:30-7:30 p.m.

North Conference Room 2

Health + Wellness | Spring 2018 13

Health Education & Support SPRING PROGRAM LISTINGS + Healthy Living

How to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally!

Patti Schuman, RDN, LD, CDE, Cheshire Medical Center Did you know that high blood pressure can silently damage your heart, brain, and kidneys for years? Learn how to choose and prepare nutritious foods that taste good while increasing your chances of lowering or eliminating the need for blood pressure medication. N Choose a date: Thursday, April 19 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Auditorium A Thursday, May 17 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Auditorium B

+ Resilient Living

Gathering Happiness in the Golden Years

Jennifer Begley and Tom Stearns, PhD., Cheshire Medical Center’s Resilient Living Team Every chapter through our lives brings challenges as well as rewards, and each is an opportunity to gain wisdom that we can bring to the next chapter. This workshop will focus on the “wisdoms” and skills that have been shown to be most effective as we make our way through the “Golden Years”. S Thursday, April 26 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Auditorium A

+ Healthy Living | Family & Parenting

Kids in the Kitchen: Breakfast for Dinner

Lindsay Schwartz and Ben Wentworth, Keene State College Dietetic Interns Everyone loves “Brinner”! Join the KSC Dietetic Interns as they teach you creative ways to enjoy your favorite breakfast foods twice in one day! N Thursday, April 26 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Joslin Foods Lab, Keene State College

+ Resilient Living

Train Your Brain, Engage Your Heart – Building Resilience and Well-being

Jennifer Begley and Tom Stearns, PhD., Cheshire Medical Center’s Resilient Living Team Ongoing stress has a negative effect on health, happiness, and relationships. Resilience is the ability to adapt well to stress and to even thrive amidst adversity. Through four weekly sessions we will dig more deeply into the following areas: • Varieties and practice of attention training and mindfulness • Evolving understanding of how our brain/mind works and how that informs practices that build well-being • How to increase day-to-day positive experience and “take in the good” • Enhancing capacities that foster positive interactions and connections with others

14 Spring 2018 | Health + Wellness

• Facilitating a sense of meaning in everyday life Sessions will include presentation of relevant content, small group discussion, and the creation of a personal plan to bring these practices into your daily life. Each session builds upon the previous one. We strongly encourage participation in all sessions. 4-week series: Tuesdays, May 1-22 5:00-6:30 p.m.

North Conference Room 1

+ Healthy Living

Fermented Foods Series Dani Cuddeback and Mary DiGioa, Keene State College Dietetic Interns Fermented foods have been around for centuries but have recently gained attention in health food stores in part because new research suggests that these probiotics can have positive effects on your gut health. Join us for this two-part series on feeding your gut microbiome with preand probiotics. Attend one or both classes. Note: Part 2 has limited space.

Part 1: Healthy Gut, Happy You Part one will summarize the history and science behind fermented food. Then we will review what the latest research has to say about its effectiveness in promoting gut health and how these whole foods compare to the supplement form. S N Thursday, May 3 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Auditorium A & B Part 2: Fermentation and Cooking Kefir, kombucha, kimchi--any of these foods sound familiar?

In part two you will put your new-found knowledge into practice with the opportunity to taste fermented foods. This cooking class will also incorporate ingredients that naturally contain pre- and pro-biotics. Missed part one? No worrieswe’ll have a short recap. Preregistration is required. S N Thursday, May 17 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Joslin Foods Lab, Keene State College

+ Healthy Living

Understanding Erectile Dysfunction Martin Gross, MD, Urology, Cheshire Medical Center Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a frustrating condition in which a man can’t get an erection and/or keep it long enough for sexual intercourse. Join Dr. Gross, our specialist in male sexual health, to learn more about the many solutions that are available.

Gentlemen and ladies are welcome to this inspiring and hopeful session. S Tuesday, May 8 6:00-7:30 p.m.

North Conference Room 2

+ Healthy Living | Family & Parenting

Nancy Johnson, MD, Pain Clinic, Cheshire Medical Center

Lindsay Schwartz and Ben Wentworth, Keene State College Dietetic Interns

Living with Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a complex and chronic condition characterized by pain and tenderness all over the body. Join us to learn more about the nature of Fibromyalgia and its management.

Information will be provided regarding ways in which individuals can assume an active role in the management of their symptoms. Friends and family members are welcome to attend.

Thursday, May 10 6:00-7:30 p.m.

North Conference Room 1

+ Healthy Living

First Steps in Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

Registered Dietitian/Diabetes Educator and Exercise Physiologist, Cheshire Medical Center During this free one hour informative program learn what steps can be taken to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Practical tips are provided. S N Monday, May 21 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Auditorium A

+ Healthy Living

Managing Osteoarthritis of the Hands & Thumbs Robert Majkut, MHS OT/L, CHT, Cheshire Medical Center Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hands and thumbs is a common problem affecting many middle-aged and senior adults. Proper care of this condition includes management of symptoms using joint preservation principles and adaptive techniques.

Education is a primary component of conservation treatment of hand arthritis. Join us to learn how OA can affect the hands and thumb, and self-care including splinting and activity modifications to manage pain, improve hand function, and preserve joints. S

Kids in the Kitchen: Cultural Foods Class

Join the KSC Dietetic Interns as they take you on a trip around the world, exploring flavors from other cultures. This hands-on cooking class will encourage everyone to try new foods that might become family favorites. N Thursday, May 24 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Joslin Foods Lab, Keene State College

+ Healthy Living

Be Good to Your Feet: Common Foot & Ankle Problems

Serena Shomody, DPM, Podiatry, Cheshire Medical Center Did you know that foot and ankle complaints result in more than 5.3 million visits to doctors each year? Join Dr. Shomody as she provides tips to help you be good to your feet. You’ll learn about everyday foot and ankle problems such as bunions, hammertoes, heel pain, flat foot, and common ankle pain. You will also learn about the cause, symptoms, and treatments for plantar fasciitis (also known as “heel spurs”).

Thursday, May 31 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Auditorium A & B

+ Healthy Living

Know the 10 Signs of Memory Loss: Early Detection Matters

Carrie Amorim, Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/ New Hampshire Chapter

+ Healthy Living

As we age, there can be changes to our memory. Yet memory loss or behavior changes severe enough to disrupt daily life are not a typical part of aging. Knowing the 10 Warning Signs can help determine if it’s important to speak to your doctor and get a diagnosis for yourself or someone you care about.

Join us to learn the “10 signs”, because early detection matters! S

Kim Lauer, Medicare Counselor, Monadnock ServiceLink

Tuesday, June 5 5:30-7:00 p.m.

North Conference Rooms 1 & 2

Tuesday, May 22 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Auditorium A & B

Welcome to Medicare Turning 65 soon? Need help understanding Medicare? This workshop will focus on the fundamentals of “How Medicare Works” and is designed for anyone who is close to Medicare age, or people who may be retiring and switching from Employer Group Health Insurance to Medicare. S Tuesday, May 22 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Auditorium A & B

REGISTER TODAY!

Reserve your place by calling (603) 354-5460 or visiting health-wellness.cheshiremed.org/ events.

Health Education & Support | Spring Program Listings

+ Healthy Living

+ Healthy Living

Slips, Trips, and Falls—Oh No!

Sharil Cass, PT, DPT, Board Certified Neurologic Specialist, Cheshire Medical Center A slip or fall can have serious consequences as we get older.

Join us for an interactive, evidence-based presentation for adults who are at risk of falling. You’ll learn about factors that increase the risk of falling and review strategies to keep you safe at home. We’ll discuss the importance of exercise, medication review, vision screening, footwear, and home safety. S Thursday, June 7 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Auditorium A & B

Health + Wellness | Spring 2018 15

Making a Difference NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

Volunteer members of the Patient and Family Advisory Council bring important input and perspective.

Cheshire Medical Center believes that understanding patient and caregiver perspectives is key to achieving desired results for all involved: patients and their families, staff, providers, and the community. Our Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) helps us strengthen the partnerships we have with our patients and the communities we serve as we continue to improve our efforts to provide high value care, close to home, with compassion for every patient every time.

having a seat at “the...my table with the staff of Cheshire Medical Center brings the patient to the table, too.

What is a Patient and Family Advisory Council?

“Our PFAC is a group of dedicated patients and patient family members who partner with staff and physicians to promote the best health care for the community,” explains Dawn Welshman, PFAC Liaison at Cheshire Medical Center. ‘Advisors’ input helps assure that the view and perspectives of patients and their families will purposefully inform the Medical Center’s decisionmaking. They do this by working with staff and leadership on committees and projects that help us in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of services and programs needed in our health care facilities and in our community, and by collaborating with Cheshire in the development of policies, spaces, and education materials to support our commitment to patient-centered care.”

”

-Katherine Cox, PFAC Advisor Pictured is Katherine Cox, community member and volunteer Advisor on the Patient and Family Advisory Council at Cheshire Medical Center.

Meet one of our PFAC Advisors Katherine Cox, a freelance writer from Westmoreland, NH, shares her skills and her insights as a member of the community, volunteering on the Patient and Family Advisory Council at Cheshire Medical Center.

“I’m a strong believer in the importance of community service and the value volunteers

16 Spring 2018 | Health + Wellness

bring to their communities,” says Cox. Cox also worked with a team to create a space on the inpatient Thompson Unit for “My family and I have been with Cheshire families and patients to meet during their Medical Center for many years, and I wanted stay. Care and support from family is an to contribute to improving communication important part of a patient’s healing, but between the medical center and its patients privacy and space and families.” can be a challenge in As a PFAC “Partnerships between PFAC Advisors the inpatient units. member, Cox has and medical center staff are mutually “The new room is been involved in large and sunny, several projects. beneficial-helping staff to better with a television Most recently, she understand and meet the needs of and other amenities was a part of the our patients enables us to provide our and welcoming communications patients a better healthcare experience.” furniture. It’s a team during the wonderful place for rollout of the -Dawn Welshman, PFAC Liaison, Cheshire Medical Center families to gather Medical Center’s or for patients to new electronic health go to, if they’re able, when they want some record system, EPIC. privacy”, says Cox of the project.

The communications team was tasked with PFAC members range in age and developing strategies to keep Medical Center background to bring a diverse perspective to patients and staff up to date on what the healthcare at Cheshire Medical Center, and computer conversion would entail and how it expand the voices of patients and families. would affect them.

Healthier Together SPOTLIGHT

Worksite wellness: a positive impact felt by our whole community.

They bring valuable insights, constructive advice, and feedback to improve patients’ experiences with the Medical Center. Our Advisors are committed to Cheshire’s mission of being a sustainable regional healthcare resource and dedicated to fostering positive relationships with our healthcare system and the community. The input from our PFAC is invaluable.

“On every project, the staff have been welcoming and interested in what I have to say,” says Cox of the experience, “But even more important than my input, which is always received with interest and respect, is the fact that my having a seat at the table with the staff of Cheshire Medical Center brings the patient to the table, too.”

Cheshire Medical Center is hosting an education and information session on the evening of Wednesday, April 18, Make a Difference as an Advisor to Cheshire Medical Center. “I’m excited to raise awareness in our community of the national movement in healthcare to partner with PFAC and opportunities at Cheshire Medical Center.” says Welshman who is facilitating the event.

“We’re hoping to expand the diversity of Cheshire’s PFAC. Our goal is to include voices from different walks of life and experiences.”

In addition to learning more about the PFAC and the process to becoming an Advisor, attendees at the education and information session will hear Advisors share their stories and experiences as members of Cheshire’s PFAC. Turn to page 13 to learn about the upcoming information session, Make a Difference as an Advisor to Cheshire Medical Center.

And visit cheshiremed.org/pfac to see more details about the council.

Collaborating with local organizations to focus on health and wellbeing in the workplace.

As a community partner dedicated to advancing the mission of the Healthy Monadnock initiative, Cheshire Medical Center offers resources to support the shared goals of optimal health and wellness that the initiative represents. One example of this support is the Worksite Wellness Program offered to employers in our community to assist them in evaluating and enhancing their worksite wellness efforts.

Worksite Wellness Advisors from the Center Tammy Dwyer for Population Health at Cheshire Medical Center Engagement Manager, collaboratively work with organizations throughout the Center for Population Health region, taking leaders through a four-step process, which at Cheshire Medical Center begins with an assessment of current wellness efforts using an assessment tool based on the Centers for Disease Control worksite scorecard.

This assessment and the resulting report and recommendations focus on five areas of health and wellness: tobacco-free and family-friendly environments, physical activity, healthy eating, and building resilience.

“The report-out is my favorite part. I get to witness the discovery process that the leaders go through.

I see everything from surprise that they are doing so much already to support their employees, to newfound Megan Welnak awareness. One CEO offered maternity leave, but never Worksite Wellness Advisor, thought about paternity leave. An HR Director decided to Center for Population Health at Cheshire Medical Center subsidize the healthy snacks in their vending machines, making those items cheaper for their employees to purchase,” says Tammy Dwyer, Engagement Manager, “It’s exciting to see organizations experience how simple and straightforward efforts can have a positive impact.”

Organizations that commit to evaluating their wellness efforts become Organizational Champions of the Healthy Monadnock initiative and can earn Healthy Designation Badges for meeting the criteria of the five focus areas. Organization Champions also have access to an array of resources from the Worksite Wellness Program-including policy development, communication strategy, environmental changes, and employee engagement.

Visit healthymonadnock.org to find out more about Healthy Monadnock Champions and how you can get involved. To learn about how a worksite wellness program can have a significant impact of your employee’s health and wellbeing, email workplacewellness@ cheshire-med.com.

Health + Wellness | Spring 2018 17

Making a Difference NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

Together, we are bringing life-saving technologies to keep patients even safer.

Every day at Cheshire Medical Center, we are focused on providing exceptional care for our patients, with patient safety at the forefront.

For these reasons, we seek to integrate stateof-the-art technologies into patient care to achieve the best possible outcomes.

The generous support of our community through the Cheshire Health Foundation is enabling Cheshire Medical Center to add a new technology to the Medical Surgical, Progressive Care, Farnum Rehabilitation Inpatient, and the Women’s and Children’s Health Units-the Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ remote monitoring and clinical notification system.

“Thanks to an overwhelming response from the community and employees at Cheshire Medical Center, we have reached our goal of $225,000 to purchase the patient bedside monitoring system,” said Jim Boden, Director of Annual Giving for the Cheshire Health Foundation, “We are grateful to all who gave and who have helped make this possible.”

Imagine if, just as you were to experience a subtle change in your health status, a skilled medical team could see as it was happening and address it immediately. This is what Masimo provides for patients and the medical staff trusted with their care.

This early detection and intervention can shorten patients’ hospital stays and prevent escalation to Intensive Care.

18 Spring 2018 | Health + Wellness

How Masimo Works

The painless Masimo sensor is placed on the patient’s body, such as on a finger.

The sensor continuously relays patient health information to a central monitor.

From the monitoring station, nursing staff can view the vital health information of each patient in the unit. In addition to providing valuable information to the monitoring station between bedside rounds from medical staff, the system allows for alerts from bedside devices to be sent directly to the Vocera communication devices worn by nurses.

“I am grateful for the community support that will allow us to bring Masimo Patient SafteyNet™ technology to our patients and staff,” says Amy Matthews, MS, RN, CNML, Senior Director of Patient Care Services at Cheshire Medical Center, “The continuous

monitoring, easily accessed display of information, integration to the patient’s medical record, and high alert notifications directly to nurses, does more than improve patient safety, it supports the clinical team efficiency.”

Cheshire Medical Center will be the second hospital in New Hampshire to integrate this technology into patient care.

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH has been using the Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ system for the past 10 years. The nursing staff at the academic medical center speak enthusiastically about the benefits of the “extra eyes and ears” they have on patients with Masimo.

Cheshire Medical Center and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center are affiliate members of the DartmouthHitchcock Health System.

Healthier Together SPOTLIGHT

Gathering as a community to raise awareness and support.

Upcoming Sports Medicine 5K benefits local schools and families.

I am grateful for the “community’s investment in this technology, and for the many partnerships that make quality healthcare close to home possible.

”

-Amy Matthews, MS, RN, CNML, Senior Director of Patient Care Services at Cheshire Medical Center

In the photo: Amy Matthews, MS, RN, CNML, Senior Director of Patient Care Services at Cheshire Medical Center and Jim Boden, Director of Annual Giving, Cheshire Health Foundation with the Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ monitor.

To learn more, go to health-wellness. cheshiremed.org /masimo to watch a video from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Nursing, demonstrating the Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ monitoring system.

Cheshire Health Foundation cultivates and stewards charitable support to advance the health and wellness mission of Cheshire Medical Center.

To learn more about the foundation and about the Spring 2018 Annual Fund campaign to provide patient care lifts for Cheshire Medical Center patients, visit cheshirehealthfoundation.org.

Join us for this year’s Annual Sports Medicine 5K Walk/Run and Kids’ Fun Run, scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 2018. At this popular event, competitive athletes can race in our 5K run, fitness walkers can set goals and reach new Register for this year’s 5K at levels of accomplishment, and children cheshirehealthfoundation.org/5K. can experience the exhilaration of crossing the finish line in the half mile fun run. Proceeds raised will benefit Sports Medicine at Cheshire Medical Center and help ensure we can treat our local athletes with up-to-date rehabilitation equipment and supplies to prevent and treat injuries.

Bald is Beautiful fundraiser to mark its tenth anniversary with annual event on May 5th, 2018.

Over the past nine years, participants in Bald is Beautiful have raised over $300,000 to support cancer patients receiving treatment at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center/Kingsbury Pavilion at Cheshire Medical Center. That’s a lot of hard work and generosity-and a lot of hair!

Now in it’s 10th year, this fundraising event will once again bring together family and friends, neighbors and coworkers to sponsor the generous efforts of participants who-with their supportive gesture of shaving Make your donation or register to begin their head-help diffuse the stigma of your fundraising at bald-is-beautiful.org. baldness associated with illness and raise much needed funds to support local cancer patients.

All ages are welcome to participate. Individuals, business/organization teams, and non-business teams can register online at bald-is-beautiful.org.

Can I participate in the event without shaving? Of course!

In addition to raising funds for local cancer patients, participants with 10 or more inches of hair can donate their hair to Locks of Love. This can be done instead of, or in addition to, shaving your head. Or, express your passion for this cause by sharing your experience of how cancer has touched you or a loved one on your fundraising page at bald-is-beautiful.org. And, of course, you can sponsor an individual or team by making a donation online, through a participant, or at the event.

To learn more about how your donation to Bald is Beautiful supports Cheshire Health Foundation’s Patient Relief Fund and Cancer Care Fund, visit cheshirehealthfoundation.org.

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Learn more at locksoflove.org.

Health + Wellness | Spring 2018 19

Your health + wellness matters to us.

That’s why we’ve created a new source of local inspiration and information supporting healthy and resilient living in the Monadnock Region.

Visit health-wellness.cheshiremed.org to find out more and sign up to receive a monthly e-mail full of helpful tips and tools, along with information about local learning opportunities and support offerings to help you live your healthiest.

health-wellness.cheshiremed.org Living healthier together.