Southcoast Health

Experiencing a stroke can be life-changing, as it was for Lisa Feitelberg-Costa of Westport. Following her stroke in 2020, Lisa received surgical and rehabilitation treatment from caring physicians, nurses and staff at Southcoast Health. Her care team not only helped her improve physically to the point that she now can drive, they also empowered her to give back to others affected by strokes. In 2024, Lisa founded Stroke Buddies & Friends, a support group with the mission: Facing our challenges together, embracing our new normal. Today, the group has more than 100 members and meets monthly at the Westport Council on Aging. Lisa’s gratitude for Southcoast Health and the providers who have helped her is as strong as ever. And she is thrilled to be achieving an important goal. “I vowed that if I survived, I would honor everyone who helped me during my recovery process.” This is her story: https://lnkd.in/eA-Auicd

We’re proud to announce Southcoast Health Orthopedics recently received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for the Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification – a prestigious recognition of our commitment to safe, high-quality orthopedic care. Annually, this exceptional team performs more than 4,000 orthopedic procedures, including over 1,000 joint replacements and 2,000 outpatient procedures. “Earning this recognition at all three Southcoast Health hospital sites demonstrates the elevated performance and successful outcomes for our patients that our team works toward achieving every day,” said Michael Langworthy, MD, Chief of Orthopedics at Southcoast Health. “We are incredibly proud of our orthopedic program that offers a complete array of nonoperative treatments along with regenerative and reconstructive surgery options.” This certification, awarded in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, highlights the comprehensive, life-changing care and service patients receive at Southcoast Health Orthopedics for hip and knee replacements. Please join us in congratulating this team! To learn more about this recognition please visit: https://lnkd.in/edhaA_YV

At Bryant University’s 2025 Physician Assistant Studies Commencement, Jay Schachne, MD, FACC, a Southcoast Heath System Trustee, professor and esteemed cardiologist, was presented with the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, formally recognizing his contributions to advancing healthcare across the region. Dr. Schachne has more than 35 years of experience practicing cardiology in the Greater Fall River community, and throughout his career played an influential role in the development and advancement of the Southcoast Health Heart & Vascular program at Charlton Memorial Hospital. Speaking at the ceremony, he shared three key pieces of advice with the graduating class as they embark on their professional journey: 1. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, work together and remember that medicine is a team sport. 2. When you see something clinically new, read about it at the end of the day to prepare yourself for the future. Never stop learning. 3. Make sure you care for yourself and include balance in your life. This is not an easy profession, but it is rewarding. “In my experience, working in medicine never felt like a job, and it is the biggest honor for people to put their trust in you.” Dr. Schachne shared with the graduates. “Being able to change the trajectory of someone’s illness and not only prolong but improve the quality of their life is extremely rewarding. In this role, you must really dedicate yourself and it is a humbling responsibility when a patient turns to you during their most vulnerable time.” On a personal note, he also recognized his daughter Elana, who is a member of the second graduating class of the Bryant Physician Assistant Studies program. “After receiving a strong foundation right here, I couldn’t be prouder or more impressed with her,” he said. Elana now works in critical care in the ICU at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. After retiring from practicing cardiology at Southcoast Health three years ago, Dr. Schachne continues to serve southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island through teaching cardiology at Bryant University and cardiology and doctoring at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He also established two cardiology clinics in Providence that mostly serve Spanish-speaking patients and is an active member on the Southcoast Health System Board of Trustees. In each of these roles he enjoys working with his colleagues to help address the health needs and challenges of the community. To learn more about this recognition, please visit: https://lnkd.in/e-jXfxXc

Congratulations to Southcoast Health Pain Management in Fall River on their Service Excellence Award for the highest increase from the previous quarter for listening! Based on patient feedback, the Service Excellence Award recognizes a team or department from across our system that has created an exceptional experience by embodying our service behaviors. "I think this speaks to the fact that we are a team. The people who work here really enjoy each other. They come to work every day to take care of patients and support each other as we go through this journey." - Dr. M. Richard Pavao Have you had a positive experience you’d like to share, or know a Southcoast Health team you’d like to shout out? Tell us in your post-care NRC Health Survey or email us at patientexperience@southcoast.org.

Recently the Southcoast Health perioperative teams gathered to celebrate all surgical locations earning the prestigious Go Clear™ Award by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation. This national recognition underscores Southcoast Health’s unwavering commitment to providing a safe and healthy environment for both patients and surgical staff by effectively eliminating the hazards of surgical smoke. “We are proud to earn the AORN Go Clear™ Award and this recognition reflects our ongoing dedication to the health and safety of our patients, providers and staff. Eliminating surgical smoke is a critical component of our comprehensive safety program, and this award validates our efforts to provide the highest quality care in an optimal environment,” said Dennis LaRock, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Physician Officer at Southcoast Health. Surgical smoke, a hazardous byproduct of laser and electrosurgical procedures, poses significant health risks to those exposed. Southcoast Health recognizes the importance of eliminating this risk and has taken proactive steps to ensure a smoke-free surgical environment. Please join us in congratulating this team! To learn more about this recognition please visit: https://lnkd.in/eNG_cGvg

We are proud to announce that Southcoast Health’s Radiation Oncology program was awarded a three-year reaccreditation from the American College of Radiology at the Fall River and Fairhaven Southcoast Health Cancer locations. “Following the American College of Radiology’s audit of our program, the surveyors shared extremely positive feedback. This high praise is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team, with whom I am honored to work with every day to help improve our patients’ outcomes,” said Patrick J. Gagnon, MD, MS, Chief of Radiation Oncology and Chief Medical Information Officer at Southcoast Health. “When you come to Southcoast Health Cancer for treatment, you can rest assured you are receiving the best care, treatments and personalized service. Earning this reaccreditation is another example of how Southcoast Health is committed to providing the most advanced technology and treatments directly to our communities across the South Coast region.” Radiation oncology (radiation therapy) is a specific type of cancer treatment that uses high-energy radiation to treat cancer. A radiation oncologist may use radiation to cure cancer or to help relieve pain. It is often used in addition to other cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and immune therapy throughout a patient’s care journey. To learn more about this recognition please visit https://lnkd.in/gh7T8qhv

Meet Stephanie Sinclair, MD, a Hospitalist at Tobey Hospital and a Southcoast Health President’s Award for Excellence honoree. Stephanie believes that More than medicine means finding balance. “As a nighttime hospitalist, I really get the chance to get close with my patients. I get to see life as a whole circle. I deliver babies when needed and am there to deliver a feeling of calm during someone’s last moments. I also really love the balance my work gives me,” says Stephanie “I have three little girls and I love being with them! I bake with them, pick them up from school and have all the special moments I can. Then I get to head into work at night to do the best job in the world. And the icing on the cake is that I work with the best people! We are all for one and one for all.” Please join us in celebrating this wonderful achievement and Stephanie’s commitment to delivering exceptional care and service to our patients and our community. To learn more about our President’s Awards for Excellence honorees, visit: https://lnkd.in/ezn-ejCr

This spring, Southcoast Health Primary Care Physician Stephen Finney, MD, was recognized as the 2025 Family Medicine Educator of the Year by the Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians. He was nominated for this award by a Southcoast Health colleague for the exceptional work he does mentoring medical students who participate in clinical rotations with him every six weeks. “My favorite part of having the students with me is watching them discover everything you can do in primary care. It is rewarding to see how many of them learn they are interested in pursuing a career in this specialty throughout their experience,” said Dr. Finney. “I strongly believe that the upcoming generation of physicians holds the key to the future of healthcare, with primary care playing a pivotal role in our healthcare system's success.” Please join us in congratulating Dr. Finney on this accomplishment.

Last week, Southcoast Health officials, community leaders and GE HealthCare representatives came together to celebrate the installation of the first in the nation, most current unit in the GE HealthCare PET/CT Omni Legend imaging portfolio, the Omni Legend 21 cm PET/CT system. “It’s not an overstatement to say that GE HealthCare’s PET/CT Omni Legend with a 21-centimeter detector field of view is more than just an acquisition – it’s a game-changing step forward in bringing advanced imaging technology to our patients,” said John Mungovan, MD, Chair of Radiology Imaging Services at Southcoast Health. “This unit enables faster scan times so we can see more patients each day and allows Southcoast Health clinicians to detect cancers earlier in their progression, which can lead to improved patient outcomes.” The new advanced PET/CT imaging suite at Southcoast Health Cancer in Fairhaven will provide cancer, cardiology and neurology care to our community. The new space consists of a comprehensive 4-room imaging suite thoughtfully designed with the patients’ and imaging team’s needs in mind. It is divided into a patient preparation room, quiet areas to relax before the scan and the imaging area where the unit is located. “I've often talked about how one of our priorities for growth is investing in technology for the benefit of our patients, and the acquisition of the Omni Legend 21cm PET/CT system delivers on that promise in a big way. I’m extremely proud that Southcoast Health is the first healthcare organization in the nation to offer this iteration of the advanced unit to patients,” said David O. McCready, President and CEO of Southcoast Health. “There’s no doubt this investment keeps us at the forefront of medical innovation, reinforcing Southcoast Health’s role as a leader in high-quality, patient-centered care.” “We are excited to support Southcoast Health in their effort to advance oncology, cardiology, and neurology capabilities in the communities they service utilizing this advanced PET/CT system,” added Shane Penzone, Market Vice President of New England for GE HealthCare. “The ability for health providers like Southcoast Health to empower their clinicians and serve their patients with technology that can shorten scan times leading to faster care and increase diagnostic accuracy is a big win for New England and the state of Massachusetts.” To learn more please visit: https://lnkd.in/erRPvWM5

Southcoast Health has been voted Best Place to Work 7 years in a row -- come see why! You’re invited to an exclusive Open House Hiring event for Registered Nurses, New Grad RNs, CNAs, ED Technicians and Nursing Students. Stop in anytime between 8-11am or 2-5pm on: • Wednesday, April 9 – St. Luke’s Hospital, New Bedford, MA • Thursday, April 10 – Tobey Hospital, Wareham, MA • Friday, April 11 – Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River, MA Sign-on bonuses up to $15,000! Take advantage of on-the-spot interviews, hospital tours, meet-and-greets with managers and staff, and learn more about our benefits offerings. Visit southcoast.org/WorkHere to register today. Walk-ins are also welcome. Tell your friends and family!