RESIDENT
THE STURDY REPORT
and CEO
summer 2014
When you put your health
in someone's hands, there's
a sense of security you might
get sitting in that doctor's
office, seeing the diplomas
and physician awards on the
wall. The medical journals
bookended by an MD-engraved
desk plate. Other motifs
symbolizing healing and
wellness, like the exercise
ball doubling as an
office chair.
Move these clinical
undertones into the
corner office at
Sturdy Memorial
Hospital, and
that trust and
reassurance
has a much
broader
reach.
Dr. Bruce Auerbach
Dr. Bruce Auerbach, Sturdy’s new President
and CEO, has an extensive background that’s
both clinical and administrative, and has been
rooted at the Hospital since 1987.
Credibility
At Sturdy, Dr. Auerbach’s previous role was
Vice President and Medical Director and, before
that, Vice President and Chief for Emergency
and Ambulatory Services. An accomplished,
board certified Emergency Medicine physician,
he is also a past president of the Massachusetts
Medical Society and the Massachusetts Chapter
of ACEP (American College of Emergency
Physicians). He received his undergraduate
education and medical degree at Temple
University in Philadelphia.
“Dr. Auerbach’s wide variety of training gives
him a unique, valuable medical perspective to
the role of leading this Hospital,” says Timothy
O’Neill, Chairman of the Board. “Clinical and
leadership experiences exposed him to the
workings of the Hospital and health care system
at every level. His credibility comes from his
profound insight and concern for what patients
need as well as his strategic, bigger-picture
vision for the entire organization.”
continued on page 2...
Sturdy Memorial Hospital | Amazing Medicine. Surprisingly Close.
Dr. Auerbach candidly admits he misses treating and
interacting one-on-one with patients. But he also loves
the business side of things. “It was a difficult decision,
but transitioning to this role was a natural progression
in my career; one I’m very excited about. While I no
longer directly help a handful of patients at a time, I’m
indirectly helping thousands by continuing Sturdy’s
tradition of putting in place strong, smart individuals
and programs essential to our communities.”
In this top post, what also stands him in good stead is
his ability to juggle several responsibilities at once.
“I’m not sure whether it was innate or developed
during my emergency medicine training, but being
able to multitask, to assess multiple situations and
make decisions quickly in a fast-paced, ambiguous
environment, prepared me well for this role,” says
Dr. Auerbach. “Now I’m in a position where I can gauge
changes within and outside the Hospital, and modify
directions where the institution needs to go.”
Outlook
As President and CEO, Dr. Auerbach’s primary
objective is to “ensure Sturdy continues to run as a topquality organization that provides services our patient
base needs in an effective and fiscally responsible manner.”
Safeguarding Sturdy’s future comes at a time when
health care systems and providers across the State
and nation face escalating challenges and deeper
reimbursement cuts from the Federal government and
private insurers. “But Sturdy is in a good position to deal
with the turmoil facing health care delivery over the next
few years,” says Dr. Auerbach. “We have a committed
organization where everyone—our senior management
team, medical staff, nurses, administrative staff, and
others—collaborates, communicates, and removes any
NEW
Medical
Believing that health care should remain a local
phenomenon, it’s a priority of Dr. Auerbach’s to enhance
our community partnerships with local YMCAs,
emergency medical services, and the Community VNA,
etc. as well as affiliations with subspecialty providers
and tertiary care facilities, to continue to supplement
what Sturdy offers. Having a robust assemblage of local
services spanning the health care system—be it wellness
or preventive care, hospital services, or long-term care—
means residents don’t have to travel far for what they need.
This teamwork mentality is something Dr. Auerbach
finds invaluable at Sturdy. “It doesn’t exist everywhere,
and it’s one of the reasons why I’ve stayed here so long.
Collaborating to provide what’s best for our patients and
communities is the foundation of Sturdy’s continued
success.”
Leading by example, Dr. Auerbach stands for an open
leadership style and encourages, considers, and credits
others’ input. Time and again he has proven himself an
approachable and trustworthy leader, a genuine team
player, and a sound decision-maker.
Qualities that bode well for Sturdy’s future.
Dr. Carlos Rueda
In June, Dr. Carlos Alberto Rueda became Sturdy’s new
Vice President, Medical Director & Chief Medical Officer. Board
certified in Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Rueda joins us from the
Greater Hudson Valley Healthcare System in Middletown, NY,
where he was the Chairman and Medical Director, Department of
Psychiatry. He received his medical degree from the Universidad
el Bosque in Columbia and completed his residency and fellowship
training at St.Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York
City. Dr. Rueda also holds a Master of Business Administration from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In his role as Medical Director, Dr. Rueda provides management support to the
medical staff; is a member of the senior management team; and is responsible for the
supervision of the Medical Staff Office, Hospitalist Program, the Risk Management
Department, several outpatient specialty services, and the Attleboro High SchoolBased Health Center.
DIRECTOR
2
waste from the system that doesn’t improve care. All
so we can continue to provide optimum-quality care as
cost-effectively as possible.”
Whereas some hospitals have been acquired by larger,
for-profit entities to stay afloat, Sturdy has the fiscal
discipline to maintain its independence as a locally
controlled, not-for-profit organization. “Being locally
controlled allows us to make decisions in the best interest
of our own communities and workforce, versus letting
someone far-removed, based out of perhaps Boston
or New York, even California, call the shots,” says
Dr. Auerbach. “I don’t see any scenario in which this
would change.”
Values
AND
OLONOSCOPY
...continued from page 1
cancer
Prevention
Colonoscopy involves a physician looking through the entire length of the rectum and colon with a
scope to detect and remove polyps and other abnormalities.
With that image in mind, it might be easy to postpone getting a colonoscopy.
But colonoscopy is the gold standard test for colorectal cancer (cancer of the large intestine).
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the lifetime risk of getting colorectal cancer is one
in 20, and it is the third most common cancer excluding skin cancers.
There is some good news, however: since more
people have been getting colonoscopies, the
incidence of colorectal cancer has plunged 30
percent in the last decade among those ages 50
years or older.
Still, not enough people are getting screened.
Screening Recommendations
Approximately 25 percent of Massachusetts
residents don’t get colonoscopies as frequently or
early as they should, if at all. More people need
to follow the ACS screening guidelines: men and
women over 50 should get a colonoscopy every
10 years; the start time earlier and the frequency
higher for people with a family history of cancer.
According to Dr. Mark Robbin, board certified
Gastroenterologist, “Most forms of colorectal
cancer are slow-growing. By testing every 10
years, colorectal cancer can be detected and
diagnosed in its early and most treatable stages.”
By the time symptoms—changes in stool, rectal
bleeding, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight
loss—develop, the disease is often in a more
advanced and life-threatening stage.
Healthy lifestyle behaviors help prevent cancer.
“But colorectal cancer has many unmodifiable
risk factors, making regular screening necessary,”
says Karen Messier, MSN, RN, AOCN, Oncology
Program & Clinical Manager. The risk is higher
among men, adults over 50, people with a family
history of the disease, African Americans, and
people with type 2 diabetes.
What makes people most reluctant about
colonoscopy is the purgative part; preparations
involve taking laxatives to cleanse the colon and
rectum. “All things considered, brief and slight
unpleasantness every 10 years after age 50 is
really the only drawback to colonoscopy, while
its capacity for saving lives certainly outrivals
that,” says Dr. Sonia Uchman, board certified
Gastroenterologist.
Colonoscopy at Sturdy
In its commitment to providing area residents
with the most sophisticated diagnostics and
treatments available for colorectal cancer, Sturdy has
a state-of-the-art Endoscopy Suite in which nearly
3,000 colonoscopies are performed each year.
And recently, Attleboro Gastroenterology
Associates (AGA), formerly Attleboro
Gastroenterology, P.C., was added to Sturdy
Memorial Associates. AGA, which provides
evaluation of gastrointestinal function and
treatment for disorders, is comprised of board
certified Gastroenterologists Drs. Cohen, Robbin,
and Uchman. The Practice is located at 150 Emory
Street in Attleboro and can be reached by
calling 508-222-2021.
3
2013 Members
Chairman’s Circle
($25,000+)
Covidien
Ernest H. Augat Charitable
Foundation
President’s Circle
($10,000-$24,999)
Demoulas Foundation
Fred M. Roddy Foundation, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Kelson
Roddy-Holden Foundation
Blackstone Orthopedics &
Sports Medicine
Milford E. Bliss*
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Boehm
The Boston Foundation
Brewster Ambulance Service
Bristol County Savings Bank
Buck Global Investments Advisors
Cammack LaRhette Consulting
Joe and Buffy Casey
Walter and Lynda Cekala
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.
Collins, Smith & O'Connor
THE
Sturdy
SOCIETY
Donald McGinty and
Catherine White
Medline Industries, Inc
NewCorr Packaging
The Norking Company, Inc.
Northeast Electronics, Inc.
Park Anesthesia, Inc.
Dr. Bruce Phillips
Purity Linen Services
Radiation Therapy of
Southeastern MA, LLC
Rockland Federal Credit Union
Samsonite Corporation
Mr. and Mrs. Paul F. Cochrane
Virginia M. Coppola
Dean Foods Company
William J. Florentino and
Timothy Allard
Holman Insurance Agency
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Kayata
Donna N. Kimmel
Dan and Betty Larson
Marcam Associates
Carolyn and John Medgyesy
Mercer Human Resource
Consulting
(
The Sturdy Society was created in 2013 to commemorate Sturdy Memorial
Hospital during its 100th Anniversary and to recognize the generosity of its
staff, community members, and its philanthropic partners. Following are
members of The Sturdy Society from calendar year 2013.
Donations and commitments made as of June 23, 2014 to
the Amazing Medicine, Surprisingly Close Fund
Amazing Medicine
fund
Surprisingly Close
Sturdy Memorial Hospital, evermindful of the needs of its patients
and area residents, continually works
to enhance health care services
that are vital to our communities.
Introduced earlier this year, the
Amazing Medicine, Surprisingly
Close Fund is a source of unrestricted
support for Sturdy’s mission of
maintaining clinical excellence and
outstanding service. Funds raised
supplement our already successful
way of delivering top-notch, costeffective health care, and are
appropriated when and where they
are of best use.
Jonah Abrams and Sara Chung
Carol Hamblet Adams
Robin Allard
Connie M. Andresen
Marco and Ines Arismendi
Charyn J. Armstrong
Joan and Alan Ashley
Bruce Auerbach, MD and
Robin S. Richman, MD
Michele A. Auerbach
Janet Benson
Judy K. Benson
Janet and Fred Bianchini
Dr. and Mrs. John F. Biernacki
Leona Bizier
Kathleen and Robert Blackledge
Claudia Bliss
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas K. Bliss, Jr.
Karen A. Bodell
Sandra and Erick Boehmler
Russ Bogdan
Dane Bonin
Timothy and Barbara Bonin
Cynthia A. Bonollo
Robert M. and Carol Brandon
Suzanne J. Delpape
David and Mary Denneno
Joseph DiCola, MD
Eugene DiGiovanni, MD
The Honorable John J. and
Mrs. Susan G. Dolan
Kim Donohue
Tara Lyn Erwin
Ana and John Faria
Susan Ferrari
Peter Fischer, MD
Donna Fitzpatrick
Margaret and Joseph Flocco
William J. Florentino and
Timothy Allard
Deborah Flynn
Felicia Fontaine
Roger Forman
Anthony Forntino
Elizabeth Gaulin
Emilio G. Gautieri, Jr.
Marcy Gittle
Maureen Gorman
Steven and Rebecca Gousie
STURDY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION report
annual
Innovator ($5,000-$9,999)
Coverys
Thomas H. and Eleanor M. Cuddy
CVS Caremark
Dr. Joseph DiCola
EasCare
Farrell Backlund Insurance Agency, LLC
Curt and Mary Ellen Fauth
Advocate ($2,500-$4,999)
Fidelity Investments
Kevin and Kim Cryan
Roger Forman
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC
Pathology Associates of Sturdy
HarborOne Bank
Memorial Hospital Inc.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Rich A. Smith, MD
Income Research & Management, Inc.
Johnny's Produce, Inc.
Sustainer ($1,000-$2,499)
Bob and Linda Kearney
AA Medical Equipment Co.
Brian Kelly, MD and Pamela Kelly
A.I.M. Mutual Insurance Companies Laborers International Union of North
Arden Engineering Constructors, LLC
America
Attleboro Medical Associates
Larson Tool & Stamping Company
Atwill & Conroy Dental Associates LeachGarner
Bruce Auerbach, MD and
Leaders For Today
Robin S. Richman, MD
Liberty Mutual Foundation Match
Bank of America, N.A.
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
Barrow, Hanley, MeWhinney &
David C. Manoogian, Esq.
Strauss, LLC
Mansfield Bank
Marathon Company
Anonymous
Greenwood Emergency Vehicles
New England Patriots Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy J. O'Neill
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph P. Schlenker
4
Schneider Electric
Seix Investment Advisors
Sensata Technologies
Linda J. Shyavitz
Starkweather & Shepley
Insurance Brokers, Inc.
Stericycle
Sturdy Employee Giving
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Thresher
ThyssenKrupp Elevator
T.R. Miller Company
Tufts Health Plan
Wasatch Advisors
Mr. and Mrs. F. Thomas Westcott
Willow Tree Poultry Farm
Michael C. Wright
Friend ($500-$999)
The Allied Group
Anonymous
James M. Barry
Boston's Best Coffee Roasters
Bristow Electric Company, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Armand J. Brunelle, III
John and Mike at Carroll
Advertising
Delphia Moscartolo
Northeast Data Destruction,
LLC
Donald A. Pierce, DDS
Jay Poirier
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Poissant
Prime Laminating, Inc
Mark Robbin, MD and
Lois Robbin
Rick Salmonsen
W. B. Mason Co., Inc.
* Deceased
(Names appear as
requested by The Sturdy
Society Members)
According to Bill Florentino, Director
of Development, “The Amazing
Medicine, Surprisingly Close Fund
was created to give our community
members an opportunity to donate
to the Hospital, with confidence
that their support is directly used to
maintain exceptional patient care.
Through the generosity of many
individuals and a few charitable
foundations, the Amazing Medicine,
Surprising Close Fund has already
received over $309,000 in support.”
These funds further ensure Sturdy
will continue to provide top-quality
medical care. “We are grateful to all
our supporters for joining the Sturdy
family,” says Florentino. “Together we
will continue to keep Sturdy a strong,
locally controlled, independent
community hospital that provides the
quality and breadth of services and
care that our patients deserve.”
Kathleen Brastow
Barbara Brigham
Jennifer Bryant
Elizabeth Cadle
Karen Campbell
Rita Canuel
Ann Marie Carberry
Carol A. Carignan
Joe and Buffy Casey
Kimberly and Angelo Cavalieri
Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Cekala
Alice Chamberlain
Patricia A. and Paul F. Cochrane
David A. Cohen, MD
Collins, Smith & O’Connor
Donald and Patricia E. Conaway
Jerry Coogan
Virginia M. Coppola
Kasey Costa
Ronald Crutcher
Tom and Ellie Cuddy
Denise M. Cuneo
Timothy and Lisa Daggett
Richard and Jane Davis
Marianne Dawson
Lewis R. DeCesare
Anayda DeJesus-Cruz, MD
Ruth C. Gower
Lawrence Greb, MD and Marcia Greb
Kathleen Grieder
Janice Grochmal
Dianne Gustafson
Kathi and Ray Hague
Hazard Family Foundation
Maureen and James Herget
Rebecca M. Heroux-LeBeau
Geoffrey and Nancy Holczer
Edward and Kimberly Holt
Mary Hourigan and Dr. Philip A. Hourigan
Ed Hurley
Susan Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip R. Jones
Colleen and Robert Jost
Kenneth Kaplan, MD
Linda Katibian
Mardi and Jerry Katz
Greg Kayata
Barbara Kelley
Brian Kelly, MD and Pamela Kelly
Dennis and Michelle Kelly
Donna Kimmel
Frederick and Debra King
continued on page 6...
5
Amazing Medicine, Surprisingly Close Fund
Donors, Continued
David Kirshner and Betsy
Frauenthal
William D. Kirsner
Barbara A. Langan
Betty and Daniel Larson
Mr. and Mrs. William Larson
George Lauro, MD and
Sylvia Lauro, MD
Jennifer F. LeBlanc
Mark Lebovits, MD and
Susan Lebovits
John and Joan Lepper
Jeanine and Michael Levinson
Carol and John Levis
Curt and Patricia Ley
Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation
Matthew J. Loew, MD
David and Toby London
Lucy G. Lukoff
Dr. and Mrs. Kenkre G. Mahesh
Nina Malekio
Dianne Marshall
Mariah Marshall
Mimi and Hugh Mason
Lorraine and Michael McCarthy
Lisa and Rick McCluskie
Albert and Katherine
McCreery
Cathy-Ann L. McGovern
Sandra McGowan
Paula J. Mercier
Anne Messier
Karen and Ernest Messier
Kimberly Messier
Andy and Maureen Metters
Mr. and Mrs. Leo O. Michaud
Barbara Miele
Christina Mikal
Lea T. Moitoso
Eduarda Moniz
Bruce Montgomery
Lynn and Kenneth Moore
Lisa and John Morais
Robin Morris
Eva Morrison
Delphia Moscartolo
Sharon Mullane, MD
Karla Nardelli
Mario Nazare
Karin and Paul Nerney
Suzanne and Paul Nordstrom
Edmond and Nicole Nunes
Mary Lee Nunes
Ashley O’Brien
Charles W. Oliver
Timothy and Jeanne O’Neill
Janice and Ronald Pacheco
Alain Paré
Elizabeth Paré
6
Jordyn Paré
Cheryl Patrice
Beverly A. Paulhus
Debbie Pereira
Diana Perretta
Dawna J. Perry
Raymond D. Petit, MD
Venessa Petit
Amy and Jim Pfeffer
Dr. Bruce Phillips
Dr. and Mrs. Rudolph W. Pierce
Elizabeth and Kevin Poirier
Alice Polley
Lillian and Tony Pospisil
Marita Prater
Bruce A. Provencal
Christopher Quinn, MD
Mark Robbin, MD and
Lois Robbin
Sandra and Bill Roberts
Susan Rogala
Loretta M. Romero
Susan Rounds
Mary C. Roy
Michael D. Sacco
Andrew Samel, MD
Paul W. Scanlon
Elise and Christopher Servant
Francis Shirley
Linda J. Shyavitz
Debbie Silva
Mr. and Mrs. James J. Silva
Jay and Cathy Silva
Jonathan J. Smith
Julia and Eric Smookler
Sam Solomon
David A. Spoor
Thomas M. Sprague
Staples Foundation
Michele Sullivan
Susan Therien
Christina Thomas
Jennifer Thomson, MD
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Thresher
Kathy Trier
Deborah A.Valente-Gildea
Barbara Vieira
Gloria Vignone
Jane Walsh
Anne and Philip Weiner
Jimmy Whelan
Catherine White and Donald
McGinty
Betsy H. Whitfield
Helaine Dietz Wolpert, MD
Michael Wright
Rachel Wulf-Silver, MD and
Brian Silver, MD
Mark Zullo, MD and Dorothy Zullo
(Names appear as requested by Donors)
The medicine cabinet. Intended to hold things that
treat and heal, it’s becoming a receptacle for ways
of getting high, getting in the zone, and getting into
serious trouble. Prescription abuse and misuse as
well as use of illegal drugs such as heroin are raising
alarms across the country—according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overdose
death rates have tripled since 1990. The CDC
and the Massachusetts Department of Public
Health (MDPH) consider abuse of drugs that
sharpen thoughts or take the edge off,
even cloud reality altogether, a public
health epidemic. And we’re working
to treat it at the local level.
Off-Label Uses
toDRUG
ABUSE
ANTIDOTES
“When people abuse or misuse prescriptions,” says
Dr. Matthew Plosker, board eligible Family Medicine
physician, “they’re intentionally using these medications
in ways other than prescribed.” This means taking
medications prescribed for someone else, taking a larger
dose than prescribed, taking medications in a different
way than prescribed (crushing tablets and snorting
or injecting them), or experimenting with them for
recreational or mind-altering purposes.
The drugs of choice involved in prescription abuse fall
into three categories:
• stimulants or “uppers” that treat issues like
attention deficit disorder (e.g. Ritalin and
Adderall)
• sedatives/tranquilizers or “downers” that treat
anxiety and sleep disorders (e.g. Valium, Xanax,
and Ativan)
• narcotics or opioids that relieve pain (e.g. Vicodin,
OxyContin, Percocet, and Morphine)
While these prescription medications effectively treat
disorders or pain, some people are taking advantage of
their off-label use. Stimulants like Adderall (nicknamed
“Addy”) are popular among teenagers and college
students because of their cognitive- and motivationenhancing properties, helping them focus, study, pull
“all-nighters,” and enhance academic and athletic
performance. Those same stimulant-abusers, among
other people, can then become dependent on sedatives
to relax and sleep.
“As for opioids,” says Dr. Plosker, “these drugs work
by blocking the transmission of pain messages to the
brain. Because opioids also affect the brain regions that
mediate pleasure, they have strong euphoric properties,
creating a detachment from not only pain but also stress,
desires, and activity.” Heroin, an illegal drug derived
from Morphine, is an opioid with strong euphoric,
analgesic (pain relief), and anxiolytic (antianxiety) effects
and is also highly addictive.
Accessibility
Over the last few years, the accessibility of stimulants,
sedatives, and opioids has surged. “Nationwide,
physicians have increased their prescribing, particularly
of opioids for chronic noncancer pain, focusing more
on patients’ right to pain management and less on
consequences or safer alternatives such as physical
therapy or anti-inflammatories,” says Dr. Plosker.
According to Dr. Brian Patel, Associate Chief of the
Emergency Care Center (ECC) and board certified
Emergency Medicine physician, “Patients could present
to multiple physicians, specialists, and emergency
departments with pain-related complaints like
back or dental pain, or to refill controlled substance
prescriptions with histories or explanations that can’t
be confirmed such as ‘my medications were stolen’ or
‘I lost my pill bottles.’” Nicknamed “doctor shopping,”
this method of obtaining controlled substances from
multiple practitioners increases drug accessibility, as
does “drug diversion,” wherein people accept, buy, or
steal medications from friends or relatives who were
prescribed the drugs.
In many cases, unfortunately, the allure of the feelgood high outweighs the risk of addiction or death. Even
stigma isn’t an effective deterrent. Prescriptions are legal,
so misusing them can seem irreprehensible, and though
heroin is illegal, its attraction is its potency and low cost.
What we’re doing, then, is building more imposing
obstacles.
Surveillance and Treatment
To help prevent drug abuse at Sturdy, “physicians
and pharmacists utilize a state online resource called the
Massachusetts Online Prescription Monitoring Program,
which allows us to see what controlled substances
patients have filled anywhere in Massachusetts,” says
Dr. Patel. When patients ask for prescriptions from
multiple providers, this raises red flags, leading the
providers to reassess patients’ prescriptions and
appropriate dosages. “And we limit the amount of
controlled substances that patients are given in the ECC.
If, for example, patients are given a prescription for pain
management of a back injury, they receive enough to
last a couple days until they can get to their primary care
physician for further management of their condition.”
“Our primary care physicians also follow best practices
for monitoring chronic opioid compliance, including
conducting random requests for pill counts and spot urine
checks to test drug levels,” says Dr. Plosker. Absence or
low levels of prescribed medications could indicate drug
diversion, or raised levels could imply drug abuse. “And
we urge our patients on controlled substances to sign
contracts agreeing to only go through us—their primary
care physicians—for these prescriptions.” Staff in the
ECC can reference these contracts.
As for immediate treatment of overdosing, “we provide
supportive care in the ECC until the effects of the drugs
wear off,” says Dr. Patel. Some of the symptoms that
could result are respiratory distress, sudden cardiac
arrest, unconsciousness, seizures, hallucinations, and
death. “Overdose treatments include use of ventilators;
antidotes like Narcan, which reverses the effects of
opiates; medications to stop seizures; and sedatives to
prevent agitated or aggressive patients from hurting
themselves or others.”
Bottom Line
The effects of drug abuse range in severity and can
worsen over time. Drug abuse can impair relationships,
work, daily duties, and properly caring for children as
well as long-term health, causing problems like liver
damage and heart disease. The effects can segue into
more acute and life-threatening ones, such as driving
under the influence and overdosing.
Helping patients overcome their addiction early on is
critical. If you’re worried about your own or a friend’s or
family member’s drug use, talk to your doctor or visit the
MDPH website at www.mass.gov/dph for substance
abuse resources and services.
7
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PROVIDENCE, RI
PERMIT NO. 880
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discharge
individual
needsinstructions and educational resources personalized to
individual needs
Quiet Initiative
Initiative
Quiet
Another key initiative at Sturdy is to reduce noise
Another
key initiative
at Sturdy
is to
reducecan
noise
throughout
the Hospital
so that
patients
rest
throughout
the
Hospital
so
that
patients
can
rest
and recover in a calm, quiet atmosphere. Methods
andtorecover
a calm,
quietstaff
atmosphere.
Methods
reduceinnoise
among
and visitors
include:
to reduce“quiet”
noise among
and visitors
include:
displaying
posters;staff
limiting
use of overhead
displaying
“quiet”
posters;
limiting
use of
overhead
paging;
providing
patients
with
earplugs;
piloting
quiet
paging;
earplugs;
piloting
quiet
hours;providing
dimming patients
lights onwith
inpatient
floors
at night;
and
hours;
dimmingstaff
lightsthrough
on inpatient
floors and
at night;
and
reminding
newsletters
meetings.
reminding staff through newsletters and meetings.
Look for us in the community this summer. Learn more at www.sturdymemorial.org/events_community.html.
Look
for us in the community this summer. Learn more at www.sturdymemorial.org/events_community.html..