4 HEALTH • Fall 2017
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
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HEALTH
{ From The Editor }
W
orking in business journalism has its pluses and minuses. I
never have to worry about working on Christmas Day since
shirking my gig as a daily newspaper reporter, and angry
phone calls from readers are minimal. On the other hand,
there's less focus on breaking news in favor of in depth coverage, so when
something significant happens, I don't often get to do those big, on-the-
ground interviews.
But once in awhile, it happens. As editor of Central Massachusetts Health, I
also contribute at least one story to every issue, and in the Fall 2017 issue, I
was privileged to interview Elise Wilson, a longtime nurse at Harrington Hospital in Southbridge
who suffered a brutal stabbing attack in June.
I was surprised to learn that Wilson was willing to be interviewed. I couldn't imagine being able to
coherently discuss what had happened just two months after such a violent encounter. Wilson wasn't
just willing to provide a quote or two. She talked to me at length, not just about what happened the
day she was attacked and nearly died, but also about
changes in hospital safety requirements she
hopes will result from her experience.
Most striking was her demeanor. Wilson was composed, upbeat and just plain grateful to be alive.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association, the nurses union which has been trying to get approval for a
law to improve safety for Massachusetts hospital staff for years, is fortunate to have Wilson as a
proponent. Read more on Page 18.
Focus on work, education
This fall, we focus on workforce integration and healthcare education, two broad topics with
no shortage of subjects to cover. On the education front, I opted to write about recent changes to
admission policies that have expanded and diversified the class of future doctors at the University of
Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester (and now, Springfield). UMass Medical welcomed its
largest class ever this fall. Find out what that could mean for the Massachusetts healthcare system on
Page 16. Meanwhile, contributing writer Livia Gershon provides an in-depth look at job prospects
for people on the autism spectrum, with anecdotes from the growing pool of local companies that
are designing hiring programs that target autistic candidates, on Page 14.
Finally, contributing writer Susan Shalhoub summarizes new legislative efforts to regulate
home
care in Massachusetts, which is becoming increasingly important as demand for home care surges.
Shalhoub's sources agree that more regulation is needed, but they also advise caution. Find out why
on Page 20.
This issue, I am also pleased to feature expert perspectives, including a consumer advice column
advising readers on managing the care of aging family members while keeping up with work, and a
Q&A interview with an board-certified behavior analyst who is well-versed in education and work
opportunities for people with autism.
Please also be sure to get up to speed with important industry happenings in our Briefs and
Newsworthy sections. As always, I am grateful for your readership.
- Emily Micucci, HEALTH editor
A nurse's harrowing tale
Central Massachusetts HEALTH is published 4
times a year by New Engand Business Media LLC.
