Third Annual Multiple Sclerosis School Offered Free at Norwood Hospital

The free lectures offer advice and information for those living with the effects of M.S.

The third annual Multiple Sclerosis School addressing issues facing those living with multiple sclerosis is being offered free at Norwood Hospital starting in March. The school is led by Salvatore Napoli, MD, neurologist and medical director of the hospital’s Multiple Sclerosis Center. Three lectures will run monthly from April through June 2011. These lectures will cover some of the medical and cognitive aspects of living with the disease. All lectures begin with registration at 6:00 p.m. and run 6:30 -8:00 p.m. in the Abraham-Sieracki Conference Room at Norwood Hospital. Each lecture will conclude with a question and answer session, and light refreshments will be served. To register, call Cynthia Margeson at 781-551-5812. The lectures …

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The Hospital Corner

Poll Shows Connection Between Technology and Lack of Sleep

National Sleep Foundation Releases Annual Sleep in America Poll Exploring Connections with Communications Technology Use and Sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation has released the findings of a poll showing the impact of communications technology on sleep. The 2011 Sleep in America poll finds pervasive use of communications technology in the hour before bed. It also finds that a significant number of Americans aren’t getting the sleep they say they need and are searching for ways to cope. Among the findings: The study also found technology preferences vary between baby boomers (46-64 year olds), generation X’ers (30-45 year olds), generation Y’ers (19-29 year olds) and generation Z’ers (13-18 year olds): According to Frank Conahan, MD, director of Norwood Hospital’s Sleep Center, which is a member of the National Sleep Foundation, “We are seeing these same trends in our…

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The Hospital Corner

Simple Steps to Help You Lose Weight

A guest column from Caitlin Melia, Clinical Nutrition Manager at Norwood Hospital.

As we reach the end of the winter season (hopefully) I know many are thinking about warmer weather, vacations and, of course, bathing suit season. In order to stay healthy and happy, here are some helpful tips from Norwood Hospital staff on losing that winter weight. Eat More Colors: Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Try and get different colors for added nutrition, especially bright orange and dark green. Keep a Food and Exercise Journal: Studies have shown that people who track their food and activity lose more weight than the non-trackers. Stop Drinking your Calories: One of the easiest calories for most people to cut out is the wasted calories on sugary drinks, juices and sodas. Stick mostly to water or other sugar free…

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Norwood Hospital Weight Loss Surgery Center Earns National Accreditation

Hospital continues work in battling morbid obesity.

The weight loss surgery center at Norwood Hospital has been accredited as a Level Ib facility by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network (BSCN) Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for its laparoscopic banding program. This designation means that Norwood Hospital has met the essential criteria that ensure it is fully capable of supporting a bariatric surgery care program and that its institutional performance meets the requirements outlined by the ACS BSCN Accreditation Program. “We are very pleased to receive the Level Ib accreditation for our enhanced capabilities in weight loss surgery,” said Margaret Hanson, Norwood Hospital president. “The program provides an important and much needed service to our community…

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Hospital Opens New Cardiac Lab

The lab will be used for specialized emergency heart care and some new procedures.

Norwood Hospital is announcing the opening of its new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories (Cath Lab) next month. The $7 million dollar, 7,675 square foot facility will be used for emergency and elective cardiac surgeries. Procedures such as emergency coronary artery angioplasty and stenting, which the hospital has offered since 1999, as well as elective angioplasty, which it has offered since 2006 as part of the Department of Public Health Trial. The labs will also be used for diagnostic catheterizations, peripheral angioplasties and implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators. "With this world-class facility, we will provide a new level of cardiac care to our community, building on the tremendous success of our interventional cardiac …

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The Hospital Corner

Medicine at its Compassionate Best

Guest column by Patricia Gavin, elder life specialist, and Norwood Hospital's administrator for the LifeBox project.

Two years ago, Norwood Hospital and 13 community health partners realized they had a unique opportunity to improve care for patients at all levels of care. "Physicians are trained to assess a patient's physical condition," said Carla Oberst, MD, of Norwood Hospital. "But to make our care truly compassionate, we also need to see beyond the medical facts and find out who our patients are as people." Help from the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center The group applied for and received a grant from the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center to record a patient's personal information – wishes, values and goals – and convey them to other community caregivers. The grant was the largest ever given by the Schwartz Center, and acknowledges the challenges healthcare …

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Week in Review, Nov. 28 - Dec. 3

In case you missed out this week, here's a round up of Norwood Patch's top headlines.

Norwood started off the week with an extravaganza - the annual Holiday Extravaganza to be exact. Be sure to check out the Patch photo gallery from that event and the video of the F. Holland Day Holiday House Tour! In the courts this week, the Norwood man accused in several violent robberies from 2009 pleaded guilty to eight counts of information of armed bank robbery on Monday in U.S. District Court, while the president of Norwood-based Systemic Research Inc. pleaded guilty to defrauding the National Science Foundation. In county court, a former Norwood resident was sentenced to five years in jail for throwing Molotov cocktails into several Walpole buildings in 2005. Three Norwood Hospital doctors were chosen for Boston Magazine's 2010 '…

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Norwood Makes 'Top Hospitals' List

For the second year in a row, Norwood Hospital was named to the Leapfrog Group's prestigious list.

For the second consecutive year, Norwood Hospital has been named to The Leapfrog Group's Top Hospital list. It is one of 53 "urban" hospitals nationwide to be named to the 2010 list, five of those coming from New England, including Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton.  "We are extremely honored to be recognized two years in a row by the prestigious Leapfrog Group for being a top hospital for quality care," said Margaret Hanson, Norwood Hospital president. "I want to credit our physicians and staff for their hard work on behalf of our patients and community." The selection is based on a survey, this year filled out by 1,184 hospitals nationwide. The survey is the only national, public comparison of hospitals on key issues, including …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today, Dec. 1

Actually four things you need to know and a shameless plug - forgive us.

1. Pick up a copy of the latest Boston Magazine - published yesterday - to see their Top Docs 2010 feature, including three of Norwood Hospital's finest physicians. 2. The Cleveland School's My Grandma's Coffee Cake fundraiser order forms are due today. Cakes will be available for pickup next week. 3. The Norwood Writer's Group will meet in the Trustees Room of the Morrill Library tonight at 7:00 p.m. 4. Tickets are available for the Norwood High School Madrigal Choir Banquet at Norwood Elks Hall this Friday, Dec. 3. Tickets are $35.00 per person and reservations for tables of ten are available. All proceeds benefit the Norwood Music Students. For more information call: 781-440-5916. 5. Norwood Patch wants to hear about your holiday …

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Three Norwood Doctors Chosen for 'Top Docs'

Boston Magazine released their annual Top Docs feature today, including three from Norwood Hospital.

Each year Boston Magazine releases a list of the best doctors in the Boston area and for the second consecutive year, three Norwood Hospital doctors have made the cut. Obstetrician/gynecologist John Al-Jamal, MD, of Dedham, pediatrician Jonathan Caine, MD, of Westwood, and internal medicine specialist Savitha Gowda, MD, also of Westwood, join the ranks of almost 600 doctors across 55 specialties listed in this year's issue. "We are very pleased to have three physicians named to Boston Magazine's prestigious annual list," said Margaret Hanson, Norwood Hospital president. "The hospital has been honored with several regional and national awards in the last two years, in large part because of the excellence of our physicians."  Al-Jamal …

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Kiersten Barry

11:24 pm on Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Congratulations to Dr. Al-Jamal, Dr. Caine, Dr. Gowda. And, to everyone who works and volunteers at Norwood Hospital.   more ›