Welcome Back: We’ve Got You Covered

Thank you. As members of the community, you’ve done a remarkable job evolving with the many swift changes across our homes, businesses, schools and health care facilities. This collective action – your sacrifice – has allowed our communities to flatten the curve and avoid a devastating surge to our heal[...]

With Stroke, Seconds Count

Fear and worry. These feelings have gripped us all in one way or another during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Some fear is good, it helps guide us to make safe choices to ensure our health, but sometimes that same fear can disrupt healthy behaviors. As medical professionals, we are concerned our patients may b[...]

Going stir-crazy? Ideas for low-risk outdoor activities

Our bodies, young or old, need to move. It’s tempting during this time of important social isolation and Stay at Home order to sit on the couch and watch a screen. It’s also important to keep our bodies active, even while remaining safely six feet apart. Under the current stay at home orders, you are allowed outside to exercise and d[...]

Telehealth Got Him the Care He Needed

In early April Clayton K. Trimm of North Lawrence, was facing a dilemma. Clayton, 76, was doing what he could to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections — staying home, limiting contact with others and keeping himself and his family safe and healthy. Like others during the ongoing pandemic, however, Clayton found himself fa[...]

What You Need to Know about Telehealth

Did you know that Alice Hyde Medical Center currently has 22 providers in its telehealth program? These providers are connecting with patients remotely, using technology that can help members of our community get the health care services they need to stay healthy, manage chronic conditions, or get the help they need for emerging medical needs. Read More

Soap vs. Sanitizer?

The run on sanitizer makes it clear that people think alcohol cleansers are better than simple soap and water. In the case of COVID-19 this is wrong. Why? Washing with soap and water actually washes dirt or particles away – alcohol based sanitizers just spread things around and relies on alcohol to[...]

Advice from an Infectious Disease Physician on COVID-19: Act Like You Have It

By: Wouter Rietsema, MD - CVPH VP of Population Health & Information Services, Infectious Disease Specialist

As an Infectious Disease Physician and Hospital Administrator, over the past several weeks I have been touting the many ways people can help protect themselves from COVID-19 – hand-washing, avoid touching your face, social distancing.  And then it hit me.  A better way to look at stopping the spread of the virus is to act like yo[...]

Talking to Your Children about COVID-19

It feels like the COVID-19 virus has turned our world upside down. Schools are closed, leaving teachers across our region teaching their lessons in front of a computer or smartphone instead of a classroom. Restaurants are only offering take-out or delivery. There are even digital signs on the highway telling us to stay home. As a regio[...]

Everyone Plays a Part in Keeping Health System Strong

I was on the phone recently with my 28 year-old daughter who lives in the Boston area. I asked her what she was feeling down there related to novel coronavirus or COVID-19.  She said she thought that it seemed like people were going “over the top” with responses. They had just closed the schools in her town after a single confir[...]

Building a Foundation for Less Stress and Good Health

In our society when we think about stress we think of the big stuff—the large, life-altering incidents that turn our lives upside down. But stress can come at us from every angle during even the most routine parts of our daily lives. Of course, a house fire, a car accident or a devastating medical diagnosis for ourselves or a family member[...]