Kraft Announces Recall of Capri Sun “Wild Cherry” Flavor Due To Contamination

Kraft Heinz is announcing a voluntary recall of approximately 5,760 cases of Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend beverages.
The voluntary recall comes after diluted cleaning solution, which is used on food processing equipment, was inadvertently introduced into a production line at one of the factories. Only the Wild Cherry flavored Capri Sun products with the case/package information below are affected.

The “Best When Used By” date on the products is June 25, 2023.
The issue was discovered after Kraft Heinz received several consumer complaints about the taste of the affected product. The Company is actively working with retail partners and distributors to remove potentially impacted product from circulation.

Consumers who purchased these items should not consume the product and can return it to the store where it was purchased. Consumers can contact Kraft Heinz from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, at 1-800-280-8252 to see if a product is part of the recall and to receive reimbursement.




Southcoast Hospitals Earn U.S. News Recognition in Massachusetts and Rhode Island

The U.S. News and World Report announced Tuesday, July 26, that Southcoast Hospitals Group – which includes Charlton Memorial, St. Luke’s and Tobey – is ranked #12 on its list of Best Hospitals in Massachusetts and #2 in the Providence Metro Area.

The annual Best Hospitals rankings and ratings, now in their 33rd year, are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive quality care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.

“Congratulations to everyone who helped make this possible! Earning a spot on this list is a major accomplishment, and this recognition represents the outstanding dedication, clinical expertise and compassion you bring to Southcoast each day,” said Ray Kruger, MD, President and CEO of Southcoast Health, in an internal letter. “Thank you for all that you do for our patients and community.”

Nationwide, 493 hospitals were identified as Best Regional Hospitals compared with 531 last year. Southcoast Hospitals Group is one of just 13 out of 105 hospitals in Massachusetts to make the list.

For the 2022-2023 rankings and ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. In the 15 specialties, 164 hospitals were ranked in at least one specialty. State and metro area rankings reflect the highest performing hospitals in the area across multiple areas of care.

Southcoast Hospitals Group ranked as a high-performing system for seven procedures and conditions:

· Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
· Colon cancer surgery
· Diabetes
· Heart attack
· Heart failure
· Kidney failure
· Stroke

U.S. News evaluated each hospital’s performance using a variety of measures such as survival rates, complication rates, patient experience and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals methodology factors in data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American Hospital Association, professional organizations and medical specialists.

For more information, visit the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals.




Southcoast Health Announces New Physician in Chief of Surgical Services

Dennis LaRock, MD, has accepted the position of Physician in Chief of Surgical Services at Southcoast Health, officials announced this week.

In this role, Dr. LaRock will oversee the surgical departments of the Brain and Spine Center, Ear Nose and Throat services, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedics, Plastics, Thoracic Surgery, Trauma and Urology at Southcoast Health.

“Dr. LaRock brings extensive experience managing private practices and a strong dedication to working within the South Coast region, including over 24 years of clinical experience at Southcoast Health,” said Dr. Ray Kruger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southcoast Health in an internal letter.

“Serving in various leadership positions throughout his tenure, Dr. LaRock has continuously demonstrated an outstanding commitment to our patients, staff and community. With his leadership, I am confident that each of our surgical specialties, and the Surgery Care Center overall, will be well positioned for growth and clinical advancement.”

Dr. LaRock will remain clinically active with outpatient offices in Fairhaven and Fall River, and will continue performing surgical cases in Southcoast Hospital Group (SHG) facilities. In addition, Dr. LaRock will continue to co-manage the Southcoast Provider Group (SPG) Urology practice, along with Dr. John Carroll.

“I am honored to accept this new position at Southcoast Health and continue serving the South Coast region,” said Dr. LaRock, Physician in Chief of Surgical Services at Southcoast Health. “In this role, I am excited to continue working to advance Southcoast Health services in support of our mission to provide exceptional care, close to home, for all members of the community.”

Dr. LaRock is board certified in adult and pediatric urology and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Urology. He currently sees patients at the Southcoast Health outpatient offices in Fairhaven and Fall River, performing surgical cases in SHG facilities.

To learn more about Dr. LaRock please click here.




Massachusetts Public Health Officials Confirm 10 New Monkeypox Cases

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced 10 additional cases of monkeypox in adult males within the past seven days, bringing the total number of monkeypox cases in the Commonwealth to 31 Massachusetts residents since the state’s first case was announced May 18.
The 10 cases announced today had their diagnoses between June 30 and July 6 after testing was completed by the State Public Health Laboratory in Jamaica Plain. DPH is working with local health officials, the patients, and healthcare providers to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patients while they were infectious. Individuals with monkeypox are advised to isolate and avoid contact with others until they are no longer infectious. DPH provides public updates on monkeypox in Massachusetts on a weekly basis each Thursday.

During the week of June 27th, DPH received notice from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that Massachusetts is one of 10 U.S. jurisdictions eligible to receive an initial allocation of JYNNEOS vaccine against monkeypox. DPH received its allocation of 2,004 doses on July 5th, and immediately distributed vaccine to four health care providers for administration starting yesterday, July 6th.

Due to extremely limited national availability of vaccine, the JYNNEOS vaccine in Massachusetts remains limited at this time. Vaccination is available to individuals who meet the CDC’s eligibility criteria and who live or work in Massachusetts. Vaccine is prioritized for individuals at greatest risk of exposure to someone with monkeypox. If an individual believes they qualify for monkeypox vaccine, they should contact their healthcare provider. Healthcare providers are responsible for evaluating their patient to ensure that they meet eligibility requirements prior to referring patients for vaccination.

More information on monkeypox vaccination in Massachusetts, including eligibility can be found here.

Current data from CDC indicate that there have been 605 cases of monkeypox virus this year in US residents. Regularly updated case counts can be obtained on the CDC’s website: 2022 U.S. Map and Case Count. There have been no deaths in the US or globally related to this outbreak and patients generally recover fully in 2-4 weeks. Although many of the early cases were associated with international travel, recent cases are not. Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men make up a large proportion of the cases identified to date. However, the risk is not limited to the LGBTQ community, and anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk.

While the virus does not spread easily between people, people can spread the infection once they develop symptoms. Transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids and monkeypox sores, by touching items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.), or less commonly, through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact. In many of the recent cases, the locations of the rash lesions suggest transmission during sexual contact.

Examples where monkeypox can spread and where it does not:

Monkeypox can spread through:

– Direct skin-to-skin contact with rash lesions. Sexual/intimate contact, including kissing while a person is infected.
– Living in a house and sharing a bed with someone. Sharing towels or unwashed clothing.
Respiratory secretions through face-to-face interactions (the type that mainly happen when living with someone or caring for someone who has monkeypox).

Monkeypox does not spread through:
– Casual conversations. Walking by someone with monkeypox in a grocery store, for instance. Touching items like doorknobs.

Clinicians are asked to be alert to the possibility of monkeypox virus infection in individuals who have rash illnesses consistent with monkeypox. Early symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, but rash may be the first symptom. Rash lesions start flat, become raised, fill with clear fluid (vesicles), and then become pustules (filled with pus). A person with monkeypox can have many lesions or only a few. Learn more about how to recognize monkeypox.

Actions for people to consider if they want to reduce their risk from monkeypox include:
– Avoiding large gatherings like raves and dance parties where you may have lots of close body contact with others
– Asking any partner, especially new partners whose health status and recent travel history you are not familiar with, if they have any symptoms of monkeypox
– Staying informed by reading information available on the DPH and CDC websites.

As the CDC advises, if you believe you may have monkeypox, you should contact your health care provider. If you need to leave your home, wear a mask and cover your rash or lesions when around others. Those who live with or care for someone who may have monkeypox should wear a mask and disposable gloves if they need to have any direct contact with lesions and when handling any clothes or bedding if the person cannot do it themselves. They should also wash their hands regularly, especially after contact with the person who is infected or with their clothes, bed sheets, towels, and other items or surfaces they may have touched.

Clinicians should consult with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800 to determine if testing is indicated. Consultation is required before submitting specimens.
For more information about this virus, visit www.mass.gov/monkeypox and www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox.




Southcoast Health nurse to retire after 50 years of service

Lois Wilding, RN, will cap off a nursing career of more than 50 years when she retires from Southcoast Health this weekend.

Known throughout the not-for-profit community health system for her classic headwear – a nursing cap earned when she graduated from Truesdale Hospital School of Nursing in 1972 – the Fall River resident will work her final shift at what is now Charlton Memorial Hospital on Saturday.

“I have had a wonderful nursing career,” Wilding said. “God has given me good health to continue my passion for 50 years.”

Wilding has worked on various units at Charlton Memorial, including medical/surgical and pulmonary. She has served as a nursing supervisor since 2007, first during evenings and then full-time. She has also held positions at the Sarah S. Brayton Nursing Center and in the practice of Southcoast Health Primary Care Provider Dr. Ronald Schwartz, along with stints in home care and school nursing.

“Few people in any profession can say they have dedicated their entire career to one community, and for a nurse, the achievement is even more impressive,” said Dr. Ray Kruger, President and CEO of Southcoast Health. “Southcoast is fortunate to have thousands of outstanding nurses whose skill, talent and compassion place them firmly at the top of their field, and Lois has exemplified this. We will miss her, but we are grateful for her lifelong contributions and wish her all of the best.”

Wilding is famous among her colleagues for sharing inspiring stories and memories that are teachable moments, and she still keeps in touch with many of her patients and their loved ones, said George Barth, RN, Southcoast Health Associate Chief Nursing Officer and Site Administrator at Charlton Memorial.

“Lois has touched the lives of many staff and patients throughout her career,” Barth said. “Her mentoring and advocacy have been a major contributor to the profession of nursing. Lois’s dedication to Southcoast Health will be remembered forever.”




Southcoast Health Welcomes Renowned Cardiologist to the Heart and Vascular Center

Southcoast Health announced today that cardiologist Bruce Brown, MD FACC, officially joined the not-for-profit community health system this month. Board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease, he is now practicing at the Southcoast Health Rosebrook location in Wareham while continuing to provide inpatient consultative service at Tobey Hospital.

“The promise of Southcoast Health has always been to deliver exceptional personalized care,” Dr. Bruce Brown said. “I am honored to be a part of Southcoast, where the health system has committed to providing the advanced cardiovascular care people in our region deserve close to home.”

Practicing in southeastern Massachusetts for over 30 years, Dr. Brown is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. His clinical interests include non-invasive cardiac testing, general outpatient and inpatient cardiology, cardiac rhythm management, congestive heart failure management, preventative cardiology and cardiac wellness.

Moving to the South Coast region in 1991 and starting the first cardiology practice in Wareham, Dr. Brown has maintained a strong connection to the community.

“My philosophy of care is that a physician does not just treat patients but that they become an integral part of the community providing the same level of service that people of the region could expect in a larger city,” he said.

Dr. Brown earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry from New York University and his Doctor of Medicine degree with honors from the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn, Down Medical School, where he also completed his internship in Internal Medicine. He then went on to complete his Internal Medicine residency at the State University of New York, in Brooklyn, NY, and later served as Chief Medical Resident at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ.

Following his residency, Dr. Brown completed his Cardiology fellowship at the Likoff Cardiovascular Institute Hahnemann University Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. Here, he received the Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Brown to Southcoast Health,” said Dr. Peter Cohn, Physician in Chief of the Cardiovascular Care Center at Southcoast Health. “Dr. Brown, while in private practice, has provided exceptional cardiac care to the Wareham community for a number of years. We are very excited that he has joined our team of advanced cardiologists. He will now have the resources at hand to deliver the most up-to-date cardiac care to both his established patients as well as those new to his practice at Southcoast”

To learn more about the Heart and Vascular Center at Southcoast Health please visit www.southcoast.org/services/cardio-heart-vascular.




Massachusetts Public Health Officials Confirm One Additional Case of Monkeypox

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced an additional case of monkeypox in an adult male, the fourth case in the past month. Initial testing was completed late Monday at the State Public Health Laboratory in Jamaica Plain; confirmatory testing will be done at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DPH is working with local health officials, the patient, and the healthcare providers to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patient while he was infectious. The case is currently isolating to prevent spread to others.

Current data from CDC indicates that there have been 65 cases of monkeypox virus this year in US residents; this includes the first identified case in Massachusetts which was confirmed on May 18. There have been no deaths in the US or globally related to this outbreak and patients generally recover fully in 2-4 weeks. Although many of the early cases were associated with international travel, recent cases are not. Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men make up a large proportion of the cases identified to date. However, the risk is not limited to the LGBT community, and anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk.

While the virus does not spread easily between people, people can spread the infection once they develop symptoms. Transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids and monkeypox sores, by touching items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.), or less commonly, through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact. In many of the recent cases, the locations of the rash lesions suggest transmission during sexual contact. Examples where monkeypox can spread and where it does not:
Monkeypox can spread through:
– Direct skin-skin contact with rash lesions. Sexual/intimate contact, including kissing while a person is infected.
– Living in a house and sharing a bed with someone. Sharing towels or unwashed clothing.
– Respiratory secretions through face-to-face interactions (the type that mainly happen when living with someone or caring for someone who has monkeypox).

Monkeypox does not spread through:
– Casual conversations. Walking by someone with monkeypox in a grocery store. Touching items like doorknobs.

Clinicians are asked to be alert to the possibility of monkeypox virus infection in individuals who have rash illnesses consistent with monkeypox. Early symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, but rash may be the first symptom. Rash lesions start flat, become raised, fill with clear fluid (vesicles), and then become pustules (filled with pus). A person with monkeypox can have many lesions or may have only a few. More complete information about how to recognize monkeypox is available here.

“While we are in this current outbreak, and even though monkeypox remains rare, people are encouraged to be mindful of their health,” said DPH State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown. “If you have any symptoms, and especially if you have a rash, it is best to avoid prolonged physical contact with anyone until you are well.”

Other things you can consider to help reduce the risk from monkeypox include:
– Avoid large gatherings like raves and dance parties where you may have lots of close body contact with others
– Ask any partner, especially new partners whose health status and recent travel history you are not familiar with, if they have any symptoms of monkeypox
– Stay informed by reading information available on the DPH and CDC websites

As the CDC advises, if you believe you may have monkeypox, you should contact your health care provider. If you need to leave your home, wear a mask and cover your rash or lesions when around others. Those who live with or care for someone who may have monkeypox should wear a mask and disposable gloves if they need to have any direct contact with lesions and when handling any clothes or bedding if the person cannot do it themselves. They should also wash their hands regularly, especially after contact with the person who is infected or with their clothes, bed sheets, towels and other items or surfaces they may have touched.

Clinicians should consult with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800 to determine if testing is indicated. Consultation is required before submitting specimens.

For more information about this virus, visit https://www.mass.gov/monkeypox and https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox.




Massachusetts Public Health Officials Confirm Two Additional Cases of Monkeypox

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced two cases of monkeypox in two adult men who had close contact with one another. Initial testing was completed late Saturday at the State Public Health Laboratory in Jamaica Plain; confirmatory testing will be done at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Neither case reports a known link to the first case identified in Massachusetts. The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) will lead the case investigations and work with DPH, the patients, and their healthcare providers to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patients while they were infectious. The cases are currently isolating to prevent spread to others.

Current data from CDC indicates that there have been 49 cases of monkeypox virus this year in US residents; this includes the first identified case in Massachusetts which was confirmed on May 18. There have been no deaths in the US or globally related to this outbreak and patients generally recover fully in 2-4 weeks. Although many of the early cases were associated with international travel, recent cases are not. Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men make up a large proportion of the cases identified to date. However, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk. While the virus does not spread easily between people, people can spread the infection once they develop symptoms. Transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids and monkeypox sores, by touching items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.), or less commonly, through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact.

Clinicians are asked to be alert to the possibility of monkeypox virus infection in individuals who have rash illnesses consistent with monkeypox. Early symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, but rash may be the first symptom. Rash lesions start flat, become raised, fill with clear fluid (vesicles), and then become pustules (filled with pus). A person with monkeypox can have many lesions or may have only a few. More complete information about how to recognize monkeypox is available here.

“Although monkeypox infections remain rare, and none of the close contacts from Massachusetts’ first case developed monkeypox during their monitoring period, the CDC is reporting that cases continue to rise across the United States,” said DPH State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown. “It is very important to be aware of the symptoms of monkeypox and to be vigilant. Individuals with concerning rashes should contact their healthcare provider.”

As the CDC advises, if you believe you may have monkeypox, you should contact your health care provider. If you need to leave your home, wear a mask and cover your rash or lesions when around others. Those who live with or care for someone who may have monkeypox should wear a mask and disposable gloves if they need to have any direct contact with lesions and when handling any clothes or bedding if the person cannot do it themselves. They should also wash their hands regularly, especially after contact with the person who is infected or with their clothes, bed sheets, towels and other items or surfaces they may have touched.

Clinicians should consult with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800 to determine if testing is indicated. Consultation is required before submitting specimens.

For more information about this virus, visit https://www.mass.gov/monkeypox and https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox.




Southcoast Health Cuts Ribbon on Tobey Hospital Expansion

The Baldwin Makepeace Emergency Center at Tobey Hospital will open at 12:00am on Wednesday, May 25, Southcoast Health officials announced at a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week.

Until 12:00am on May 25, patients seeking emergent care should continue to enter at 43 High Street. After 12:00am on May 25, patients seeking emergent care should enter at 124 Main Street, where the new Emergency Center is located. As always, please call 911 if you or someone else is experiencing a medical emergency.

The 30,000-square-foot Baldwin Makepeace Emergency Center will feature twice the number of treatment rooms as the current Tobey Emergency Department, which will cease clinical operations late Tuesday night. This increased capacity will include dedicated behavioral health rooms, trauma bays and private overflow spaces.

“Innovation can be found in every single detail of this state-of-the-art, class-of-the-Commonwealth Emergency Center, designed first and foremost for patients but also with visitors; nurses, providers, and staff; and first responders very much in mind,” said Southcoast Health President and CEO Dr. Ray Kruger. “This is the culmination of a long, important journey, and another journey is just beginning as we enter a new era of exceptional care close to home for the residents of – and visitors to – Greater Wareham.”

The Baldwin Makepeace Emergency Center at Tobey Hospital was made possible by an ongoing Capital Campaign, co-chaired by Alice Rice and Mark Perkins, along with major donations from the Baldwin and Makepeace families and significant contributions from hundreds of other benefactors.

“The Board of Trustees, staff, and the entire Southcoast family is grateful for all who have contributed their time, energy, and personal resources to bring us this spectacular medical facility, and we thank the Town of Wareham and Wareham Historical Society for their cooperation and partnership,” Southcoast Health System Chairman Lou Cabral said. “Your collective efforts have been immense, and they will endure for decades to come.”

Vice President of Support Services Phil Oliveira agreed.

“I want to thank Suffolk Construction, Sagamore, Madison Matthew Interiors, Lighthouse Masonry Inc., Horacio’s Welding and Sheet Metal, Glynn Electric, Regal Floor Covering, and the many other trades and vendors involved with this project,” he said. “Thank you to Project Executive Nicole Rosa and all of our Southcoast colleagues, past and present, who helped navigate a global pandemic and supply chain crisis to bring us from conception to completion.”

For more information about the Baldwin Makepeace Emergency Center at Tobey Hospital, please visit https://www.southcoast.org/locations/emergency-services-tobey/.




Health Policy Commission certifies Southcoast Health System’s ACOs under Learning, Equity, and Patient-Centeredness (LEAP) standards

Southcoast Health announced today that the not-for-profit community health system’s accountable care organizations (ACOs) – Southcoast Accountable Care Organization (SACO) and Southcoast Community Alliance (Medicaid ACO) – received ACO Certification under the Health Policy Commission’s (HPC) new certification standards known as ACO LEAP 2022-2023. The standards reflect HPC’s focus on learning, equity, and patient-centeredness.

Southcoast Health’s ACOs first became HPC-certified in 2017, with SACO – its Medicare ACO – launching in 2013. Southcoast Health was in the first cohort of Medicaid ACOs in Massachusetts launching in 2018, which is operated in partnership with Boston Medical Center Health System. Southcoast Health’s two ACOs are responsible for over 40,000 covered lives in the South Coast region.

“The new certification standards required us to show that we’ve integrated health equity and behavioral health into our care management systems,” said Jay Lawrence, MD, Southcoast Health Senior Vice President, Chief Transformation and Innovation Officer and Physician-in-Chief for Primary Care. “Both are integral to meeting the care needs of patients with MassHealth insurance. Southcoast Health will always be committed to ensuring that every single patient, regardless of socioeconomic status, has access to high-quality health care and that we attend to both the behavioral and physical health needs of patients.”

“The ACO Certification program, in alignment with other state agencies including MassHealth, is designed to accelerate care delivery transformation in Massachusetts and promote a high quality, efficient health system. ACOs participating in the program have met a set of objective criteria focused on core ACO capabilities demonstrating dedication to patient-centered care, use of evidence-based and data-driven strategies to improve care delivery, and commitment to addressing long-standing health inequities,” according to the letter received from the Health Policy Commission confirming the certification.

This certification is for the period of January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023.

ACOs are comprised of groups of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers that organize themselves to provide coordinated high-quality care to patients. The goal of coordinated care is to ensure that patients get the right care at the right time, while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors. ACOs are successful when they are able to deliver high-quality care and spend healthcare dollars wisely.

The HPC Accountable Care Organization Certification Program is designed to accelerate care delivery transformation in Massachusetts and promote a high-quality, efficient health system. The program complements existing local and national care transformation and payment reform efforts, encourages value-based care delivery, and promotes investments by payers in high-quality and cost-effective care across the continuum. As of 2021, the Health Policy Commission has certified 16 ACOs that collectively represent 2.9 million attributed commercial, Medicare, and MassHealth patients in the Commonwealth.

The HPC ACO LEAP 2022-2023 standards are designed to allow for a variety of ACO approaches to meeting core principles consistent with the “Learning Health System” framework developed by the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine). This approach is intended to focus on the ACO model as a catalyst for learning and improvement, recognizing that ACO structures, processes, and approaches are conducive to learning and improvement over time.