Health

HE A LTH • Winter 2020 5 UMass Memorial to make staff vaccines mandatory UMass Memorial Health in Worcester announced plans Aug. 4 to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for all staff, according to a memo sent to caregivers from President and CEO Eric Dickson. The program, which is set to begin in the fall, will require executives and department chairs to receive their first dose by Oct. 1, and all other caregivers by Nov. 1. Guidelines for medical and religious exemptions will be included in the program. As part of the program, UMass Memorial plans to improve accessibility of the vaccine, especially to those working evening or night shifts, or working remotely. "We have the same mission as we did last spring – to save as many lives as possible during this pandemic – and the vaccine is the best way to do that," Dickson said in the statement. Data shows fewer Kelley Square crashes since peanut redesign The reconstruction of Worcester's notorious intersection may be leading to fewer car accidents, according to crash data from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. This year, there have been seven crashes in a 270-foot radius from the center of Kelley Square's peanut- shaped roundabout. That's a sharp drop from the 18 crashes occurring in the same area during the first six months of 2019, before the construction. In 2016, Kelley Square was ranked by MassDOT as the eighth most crash- prone area in the state, with 148 total crashes from 2014 to 2016. Construction to redesign the complex intersection, which cost $14.7 million, began in October 2019 and was mostly wrapped up by early 2021. In tandem with ongoing construction of the Polar Park baseball stadium and its surrounding properties, the Kelley Square project included increased bike lanes and shortened crosswalks, along with the two-lane roundabout. UMass Memorial reopens command center in light of Delta variant, staffing shortage UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester announced Aug. 11 the reopening of its command center, citing the rise in COVID-19 cases, bed closures, and staffing shortages in its announcement. The command center, which released weekly COVID-19 updates and resources throughout the coronavirus pandemic, will manage operations, track key clinical metrics, and communicate several days per week with updates on the hospital's progress. An aggressive recruitment program and increased space for patients are included in the plans for the center, said UMass Memorial president Michael Gustafson in a statement. Due to the Delta variant, COVID cases are on the rise, with the majority of hospitalizations among the unvaccinated. Additionally, Saint Vincent Hospital closed 100 beds in July due to its ongoing labor dispute with union nurses, pushing more patients to UMass. These crises are compounded with a nationwide labor shortage leaving more than 400 vacant positions at the medical center, said the statement. The command center will be open for an indefinite, extended amount of time, Gustafson said. Hologic to partner with Oprah Winfrey Network on healthcare equity Marlborough health technology company Hologic announced on Aug. 11 a partnership with the Oprah Winfrey Network to address racial dis- parities in health care. Collaboration between OWN Your Health and Hologic's Project Health Equality aims to bring awareness to healthcare dispar- ities affecting Black women. It will provide access to education and preventative tools using Hologic's research. Hologic's Project Health Equality launched in May to address structural and cultural barriers faced by Black Continued on Page 6 Health Care Br iefs Dr. Eric Dickson, CEO & president of UMass Memorial Health Exceptional Care – For Families and Community. notredame healthcare.org 555-559 Plantation 508-852-5800 Contact us to learn more about the mission-driven, not-for-profit difference at Notre Dame Health Care. For Family Notre Exceptional Care – For Families and Community. notredame healthcare.org 555-559 Plantation Street • Worcester, MA 508-852-5800 Contact us to learn more about the mission-driven, not-for-profit difference at Notre Dame Health Care. For Family & Community Notre Dame Health Exceptional Care – For Families and Community. notredame healthcare.org 555-559 Plantation Street • Worcester, MA 01605 508-852-5800 Contact us to learn more about the mission-driven, not-for-profit difference at Notre Dame Health Care. For Family & Community Notre Dame Health Care Contact us to learn more about the mission-driven, not-for-profit difference at Notre Dame Health Care. 555-559 Plantation Street • Worcester, MA 01605 • 508-852-5800 notredamehealthcare.org 81 Hope Avenue, Worcester, MA 01603 • 508.755.2340 • sevenhills.org Seven Hills' supports build confidence, community, independence, and resilience, transforming the lives of children and adults who now use their abilities to overcome challenges and embrace opportunities. Supporting each person to Be Well sets the standard for all of our services, which include: n Behavioral Health n Child & Family n Developmental Disabilities Building the Foundation to BeWell n NeuroCare/Brain Injury n Medically Intensive Care n Residential Options Seven Hills staff provide care with encouragement for everyone to SEE the possibilities, BELIEVE in their abilities, and ACHIEVE their dreams. Oprah Winfrey

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