4 HEALTH • Winter 2016
C E N T R A L M A S S A C H U S E T T S
Worcester Business Journal Editor
Brad Kane, bkane@wbjournal.com
HEALTH Editor
Emily Micucci, emicucci@wbjournal.com
Digital Editor, Sam Bonacci,
sbonacci@wbjournal.com
Managing Editor
Laura Finaldi
Contributors
Edd Cote, Livia Gershon, Phyllis Hanlon,
Susan Shalhoub
Research Director, Stephanie Meagher,
smeagher@nebusinessmedia.com
Research Assistant, Heide Martin,
hmartin@nebusinessmedia.com
Production Director, Kira Beaudoin,
kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com
Art Director, Mitchell Hayes,
mhayes@wbjournal.com
Senior Accounts Manager
Matt Majikas, mmajikas@wbjournal.com
Custom Publishing Project Manager
Christine Juetten, cjuetten@wbjournal.com
Senior Special Accounts Manager
Mary Lynn Bosiak, mlbosiak@wbjournal.com
Marketing & Events Manager
Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com
Chief Operating Officer, Mary Rogers,
mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com
Accounting Manager, Valerie Clark,
vclark@nebusinessmedia.com
Accounting Assistant, Rae Rogers,
rrogers@nebusinessmedia.com
Collections Manager, Raki Zwiebel,
rzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com
Human Resources, Kim Vautour,
kvautour@nebusinessmedia.com
Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton,
pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com
Associate Publisher, Mark Murray,
mmurray@wbjournal.com
President, Joseph Zwiebel,
jzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com
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HEALTH
{ From The Editor }
W
elcome to the Winter issue of Central Massachusetts
HEALTH. With focuses on speech and hearing and
mental health, we are happy to bring you an issue
brimming with expert insights as well as updates on
important healthcare news.
Like most parents, I try not to take my children for granted. But when my pre-
school-age son has uttered the word "Mommy" for what seems like the hun-
dredth time in an hour, or begs me to tell him yet another story about two talking
foxes I conjured several months ago (sometimes I wish I hadn't), I sometimes
want to ask him for just a few minutes of quiet. But reporting and writing our lead focus story this issue
reminded me that speech doesn't come naturally to all children, particularly those on the
autism spectrum. Thankfully, technology has made it easier for children to communicate with their par-
ents and teachers through the use of apps and tablets. You'll learn more about the important role they
play at school and home on Page 14.
Meanwhile, contributing writer Phyllis Hanlon provides a realistic picture of mental health access
in the outer reaches of Central Massachusetts. Treatment options are growing to accommo-
date a backlog of patients with mental illness and addiction problems. See Page 18.
Saint Vincent update
Saint Vincent Hospital, a Worcester institution that has been recognized for its safety, made head-
lines earlier this fall when officials claimed a surgeon there removed a kidney from the wrong patient.
Contributing writer Susan Shalhoub digs into the details this issue. Find out what investigators,
and the hospital, had to say, on Page 16.
Trump on health care
The November presidential election had major implications for universal health care, signed into
law by President Obama in 2010, no matter who won the race. While Hillary Clinton saw an opportuni-
ty to expand the Affordable Care Act, President-elect Donald Trump said he'd repeal it. It
appears he's backed down a bit, but local healthcare experts still say they're bracing for some big changes
to health insurance policy under the Trump Administration, as HEALTH staff writer and managing edi-
tor Laura Finaldi details in her Page 20 feature.
I can hardly believe we are wrapping up the second year of this magazine. Thank you to our readers
and the local healthcare community for your interest and engagement. In 2017, we look forward to delv-
ing into some fresh topics as we continue to serve as the region's primary source of healthcare news.
- Emily Micucci, HEALTH editor
Winter is coming
Central Massachusetts HEALTH is published 4
times a year by New Engand Business Media LLC.
