Health care close to home
Courtesy
Ed Moore, president and CEO of Harrington HealthCare System in Soutbridge
Nothing is as important as your health and the health of your loved ones. Accordingly, you shouldn’t compromise when you choose the right healthcare providers and facilities. However, it’s a challenge to find the perfect formula regarding healthcare factors that are most important to individuals and families—convenience, compassion, and comfort on one hand; and quality, safety, and affordability on the other. The question is: Where can you find the best combination of humanity and technology?
One of the most important considerations is proximity of care. While local healthcare consumers are becoming more sophisticated, there are lingering myths about levels of care. Some people feel that to receive optimal care, they must travel to a major medical center in Boston or Worcester. To be sure, there are instances when large, academic teaching hospitals, which specialize in research and clinical trials, may be preferred acute care options. These circumstances include unknown or unusual diagnoses, rare diseases, and possible insurance coverage matters.
In cases like these, it is important that your local providers and hospitals have affiliations with academic centers to facilitate prompt referrals and coordinate integrated care. For example, Harrington HealthCare System, which is based in Southbridge and serves 21 communities in South Central Massachusetts, has contracts and partnerships with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Boston (for radiology) as well as UMass Memorial in Worcester (radiation oncology services at the Cancer Center at Harrington). Other community hospitals have similar partnerships with large hospitals. For example, Milford Regional Medical Center is host to a Dana Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, and UMass Memorial Medical Center provides services, and virtual patient monitoring, at community hospitals throughout the region.
Close to Home
Beyond these scenarios, it may be surprising that outstanding care is indeed available close to home. Some community hospitals, typically known for their convenience, personalized care, and lower costs, have quality records that rival or even surpass those of the larger, big-city medical centers. And they typically offer the benefits of not having to travel far, fight traffic, or pay for parking. When you’re sick, especially if you’re undergoing debilitating treatments for cancer or other serious, chronic conditions, it certainly makes sense for you to focus on your disease and not stress out when you don’t have to.
We have invested considerably in advanced technology, infrastructure, satellite offices, and outstanding physicians. While it’s gratifying to have been recognized on a regional and national level for our achievements, it is important that we share the Harrington experience with you as a way to inform residents that exceptional care is available nearby. .
When considering a local healthcare provider, we advise you to check other criteria, including the following:
• Wide service area and local, modern facilities, including conveniently located Emergency Departments and urgent care centers;
• Wide offering of inpatient and surgical specialties as well as strong programs for mental health, women’s healthcare, pain management, etc;
• Strong outpatient physician practice for primary care and specialty physicians with offices located throughout the area;
• Active board of directors and auxiliary committee;
• Community involvement;;
• Financial stability
Remember that all community hospitals—and major medical centers, for that matter—are not created equal. For that reason, you should consult with physicians, friends, and insurers. Check physician credentials, including board certification. Review general healthcare resources, including Consumer Reports, Leapfrog, and HealthGrades, as well as cancer information available from the American Cancer Institute and the National Cancer Institute.
When it comes to your health, you need to advocate for your best interests and perform due diligence. What you may find is that the best of all worlds is in your own backyard.
Ed Moore is president and CEO of Southbridge-based Harrington HealthCare System.For more information, visit www.harringtonhospital.org.
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