Breast Cancer Awareness
Month Activities
Advances in Treatment
For Prostate Cancer:
The Future is Now
October 25, 7:00 p.m.
Take Back Control!
November 15, 7:00 p.m.
Stroke Therapy:
An Update
November 28, 7:00 p.m.
There are many career opportunities available at Milford Regional. Begin your search now!
Tell a Friend...
Tell a friend about this newsletter.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.
VitalSigns is published bimonthly by the public relations and marketing department at Milford Regional Medical Center, 14 Prospect Street, Milford, MA 01757. Material contained here is intended for informational purposes only. If you have medical concerns, consult a physician or other healthcare professional.
Confidentiality
We respect your confidentiality and do not share your email
address with anyone.
October 2011 U.S. News & World Report has named Milford Regional Medical Center a Best Regional Hospital! Recognized for clinical excellence in three adult specialties – ear, nose and throat, gynecology, and orthopedics, Milford Regional performed close to the level of nationally ranked U.S. News Best Hospitals. Read more.
What is an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and how does it work?
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a small device that is placed in your chest which uses electrical pulses or shocks to help control irregular heartbeats. A problem with any part of the heart’s electrical system can cause irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. ICDs use electrical pulses or shocks to treat life-threatening arrhythmias that occur in the ventricles (the heart’s lower chambers).
ICD's are often recommended for patients who...
- have had a ventricular arrhythmia before
- have had a heart attack that damaged the heart’s electrical system
- survived a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
- have certain heart conditions that put them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest
- have a congenital heart disease even though they have never had a ventricular arrhythmia.
An ICD has wires with electrodes on the ends that connect to your heart chambers. The ICD will continually monitor your heart rhythm. If the device detects an irregular rhythm in your ventricles, it will use low-energy electrical pulses to restore a normal rhythm. Read more.
Are there differences in symptoms of a heart attack for men vs. women?
Yes, women often have different symptoms of a heart attack than men. Men most often report pain or pressure in the chest. About one-third of women actually experience no chest pain at all when having a heart attack. If they do have chest discomfort, they often don’t perceive this as their primary symptom or they may describe it as indigestion. Read more.
Maintaining a Healthy Diet is Key to
Staying Heart Healthy
For many years the food pyramid was the graphic used in the United States to show different food groups and how much of your diet should come from each group to maintain a healthy diet. The US Department of Agriculture, has recently replaced the pyramid with a colorful plate called MyPlate. The plate is divided into 4 sections for fruits, vegetables, grains and protein, with a circle on the side for dairy.
The big message is that fruits and vegetables take up half the plate, with the vegetable portion being a little bigger than the fruit section and the grain section is slightly larger than the protein section. The divided plate promotes eating a variety of foods, some more than others, and discourages super-sizing portions.
Maintaining a healthy diet is important in keeping “heart healthy” along with physical activity. For more information about the new dietary guidelines go to MyPlate.gov.
Certified Lymphedema Therapists on Staff
Lymphedema occurs when the lymph system is damaged or blocked. It is the build-up of fluid in soft body tissues causing swelling. This can happen as a result of cancer, cancer treatment with radiation or when the lymph nodes are removed. Most often lymphedema occurs in an arm or a leg, but can affect other parts of the body. Milford Regional currently has three certified lymphedema therapists on our physical therapy staff to meet our patients’ individual needs. We are one of a few in the area that provides lymphatic therapy by certified therapists which includes compression, exercise and manual lymphatic drainage.
Golf Classic Raises $295,000 for Adolescent Health
Milford Regional’s 22nd Annual Golf Classic held on Wednesday, August 31, was a record breaking tournament raising $295,000! Proceeds from this year’s event, which include $52,000 from the WMRC Radiothon, will directly benefit Adolescent Health Services and the Oliva Patient Comfort Fund for cancer care. The Medical Center owes this success to the tremendous generosity of the community – sponsors, supporters and volunteers. Read more.
Don’t Miss Mélange!
The Pharaoh’s Mélange, to be held on Saturday, October 29 at Milton CAT headquarters in Milford, will support expanded emergency services at Milford Regional Medical Center.
Travel back in time to discover hidden treasures, and discover the wonders of the ancient Egyptian court. Guests to this royal auction and gala have proven themselves worthy by their vision and foresight, and like you, appreciate what’s unique, precious and truly valuable. Because secrets will be revealed; the promises of the past and the surprises of the future will be made known; a feast will be served and music will delight you, creating a mood of mystery, majesty and mighty memorable fun. Let’s put Tut to shame, shall we?
To purchase tickets for this event, please click here.
Milford Regional’s active medical staff, consisting of over 200 doctors, is highly qualified to treat you and your family through life’s ups and downs. Whether you need a primary care physician or a specialist, you can be assured of the best possible care.
If you need a primary care physician, please call our Physician Referral Line at 1-888-DRS-HERE (1-888-377-4373). Our Referral Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, has access to physicians who are accepting new patients. You may also call our Referral Line to find a specialist.
See our list of Primary Care Physicians who are accepting new patients. It is important to note that not all physicians accept all insurances. Please call the physician’s office directly to find out if they accept your insurance plan.
Hospitalists
A hospitalist is an internal medicine physician who is specially trained to provide medical care to patients during their stay in the hospital. Since primary care physicians see patients in their office during the day, they may not be readily available to evaluate patients admitted to the hospital. Our hospitalists conduct examinations, make diagnoses, order tests or treatments, consult specialists and prescribe medication. They will communicate with your primary care physician during your hospital stay. Hospitalists are in the Medical Center 24 hours a day, seven days a week caring for patients. Read more about each of our hospitalists.
