Events

Medical outreach efforts to the homeless on the Seacoast will soon help more people in need thanks to the donation of a mobile medical van to Families First Health and Support Center by Exeter Hospital.

Families First has been using the mobile medical van one day a week since 2002 to reach the homeless in the Hampton Beach area. The van will be transferred to Families First in September.

The donation of the van stems from Exeter Hospital's goal to provide high quality health care for all residents of the Seacoast, regardless of their ability to pay, said Kevin Callahan, President and Chief Executive Officer at Exeter Hospital.

"In light of the recent economic conditions across the country, the services provided by Families First to the homeless and other underserved community members are now more important than ever," said Callahan. "Families First has proven to be a true integrator of community resources and we are proud to be able to support their ongoing outreach by making this mobile medical van available to them."

Helen Taft, executive director of Families First, said the gift of the van will enable the organization to reach even more people who truly need the services it provides.

"Now that the Hospital has donated the van to Families First, we can use it full-time, greatly expanding access to medical care for homeless people in the Seacoast," Taft said. "We will be able to visit more sites, add hours at existing sites and provide a greater depth of services, such as more dental care and physicals."

Families First's Health Care for the Homeless program currently visits sites in Portsmouth, Dover and Rochester, as well as Hampton Beach. In addition, Families First will continue Exeter Hospital's practice of lending the mobile medical van for use at the Hampton Beach Free Clinic, which operates from September through May.

Patients can get a variety of services on the van from routine physicals to treatment for illnesses to substance abuse counseling. In addition, one of the most important services provided on the vans is care coordination - linking people with free or low-cost community services, including those offered by Families First and other community health centers. The program is not only for people who are living in shelters or on the streets, but for anyone living in temporary housing. This could include staying on a friend's couch, a campground or a winter rental. Patients seen on the van can pay with Medicaid or other insurance if they have it; if not, there is no charge.

Exeter Hospital has been a strong supporter of Families First and their mission. In 2007 and 2008, the Hospital donated $100,000 to Families First. Exeter Hospital has supported the organizations Artists of the Seacoast calendar annually, and more recently partnered with several community organizations, including Families First to prepare the 2009 Community Needs Assessment.

For more information about Families First's programs and services, including the Health Care for the Homeless program, call 422-8208 or go to www.FamiliesFirstSeacoast.org.

Read the article:

Exeter Hospital Donates Medical Van to Families First  (Exeter Newsletter, September 25, 2009)

Exeter Hospital was a Health Check sponsor at the American Heart Association's 3^rd Annual Go Red for Women Luncheon, which took place on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at The Radisson in Manchester.

As a Health Check sponsor, Exeter Hospital provided heart healthy education and conducted the following complimentary screenings for attendees: cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, weight and body composition.

"Exeter Hospital's mission is to improve the health of the community by providing both services and information to residents," said Kevin Callahan, the hospital's president and CEO. "As a Health Check sponsor for the Go Red for Women luncheon, our staff was honored to have the opportunity to provide women of New Hampshire with health screenings as well as education about how to protect themselves and loved ones from heart disease and stroke."

At the Go Red for Women luncheon, more than 450 guests attended and enjoyed health screenings, a luncheon speaker program, emceed by WMUR Channel 9's Kria Sakakeeny and WZID's Nancy Robbins, educational workshops and special "survivor stories" shared by local women survivors. This year's keynote speakers included 10 local women survivors who shared snippets of their inspiring stories including several women from the seacoast.

"The mission of the Go Red for Women campaign is to educate women about the risk of heart disease," said Katy McGrath, this year's event chairwoman and Vice President and Director of Corporate Communications of Charter Trust Company in Concord. "As Chairperson of this year's Go Red for Women luncheon, I have personally and professionally pledged my support and the support of Charter Trust, so that together, we can work toward eradicating this terrible disease."

Exeter Hospital also honored Go Red for Women at the hospital on November 19. Rick Budka, Operations Manager of the hospital's Food and Nutrition department and his staff specially prepared the same heart healthy recipe that Rick demonstrated on WMUR's "Cooks Corner" show on November 7 - Toasted Red Wheat Berry Crusted Talapia with Strawberry Pomegranate Leek Glaze. Strawberry shortcake, heart healthy information and Go Red for Women items will also be available for staff.

To learn more about heart disease please visit the following sites:

Go Red For Women

Cardiovascular Services at Exeter Hospital

To hear the public service announcement, please click here.

Thanks To All Who Participated in "Making Strides" Event. This year's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Exeter was a great success! The American Cancer Society event raised more than $226,000 for cancer research. A total of 1454 walkers and 189 cancer survivors participated in the Exeter walk.

"This was Exeter Hospital's 12th year hosting the Exeter walk, and each year we have seen the numbers increase," said Deb Vasapolli of Exeter Hospital's Community Relations/Marketing Department. "The success of this year's walk is a reflection of the commitment and dedication of so many of our staff. Many thanks to the volunteers and employee coordinators who helped to make the event possible.

"I would especially like to express my appreciation to the staff of Environmental Services, Engineering, Food Services, Safety, Security, and Community Relations for all their assistance prior to, during, and after the walk. We couldn't have done it without them."

On the first day of June with the sun shining and warm temperatures, Exeter Hospital's Center for Cancer Care hosted its 11th Annual Survivor's Day Celebration. Over 200 cancer survivors, along with their families and friends, came together to enjoy the festivities.

The year's sports theme was in recognition of the past year's success of New England teams. Many guests came dressed to support their favorite local athlete, but no one was turned away for wearing an opponent's garb!

The cookout was reminiscent of tailgating parties, and there was also a sports trivia contest. Music was provided by Lee & James Entertainment. Our younger guests were invited to participate in arts and crafts.

Thank you to Camp Lincoln in Kingston, who provided a rock climbing wall for "kids" of all ages. And special thanks to Patrick Reyna, whose artwork was featured on the front of the invitation and the Planning Committee's t-shirts.
We welcome any suggestions for themes for next year.

Lisa Karakostas, Editor
June 19, 2008

EXETER, NH - Exeter Hospital is hitting the road with its new digital mammography van, the only mobile unit of its kind in New Hampshire and one of only two in New England.

The mobile unit will offer digital mammography, the most innovative and accurate technology for detecting breast abnormalities. Digital mammography provides huge benefits over traditional mammography, including shorter exam times, increased comfort, lower radiation, and fewer repeat mammograms due to its greater accuracy.

**Tours of the new, state-of-the-art mobile digital mammography van are available to the media. Please call Mike Gressel at 580-7682 to schedule your tour.**

Beginning July 7th, the unit will travel to Exeter Hospital's off-site locations and to Seacoast-area corporations, ensuring convenience and easy access for women.

"Our mobile unit will provide the same standard of care and service that we provide at Exeter Hospital’s Center for Breast Health, where we also use digital mammography" said Ellen Gerety, MD, of Advanced Diagnostic Imaging at Exeter Hospital.

"Exeter Hospital cares about the health of the community. We're providing easy access to digital mammography, encouraging women to get regular mammograms to detect any abnormalities early," she continued.

Currently, the annual mammography screening rate is 40 percent statewide, and the Exeter Hospital team hopes to raise that number within its service area. Early detection of breast cancer through mammography is the key to successful treatment.

"By locating this technology conveniently within the community - whether in a doctor's office or at a woman's place of employment - we hope to increase the number of women who have their annual mammograms in an effort to reduce their risk from breast cancer," Dr. Gerety added.

Exeter Hospital's digital mammography van is the first - and only - mobile unit in New Hampshire. There is only one other mobile digital mammography unit in New England, at Yale University in Connecticut.

Women who opt to get their mammograms in Exeter's new mobile unit will receive fast, confidential test results, which will also be sent to their primary-care providers, regardless of whether their regular physicians are affiliated with Exeter Hospital.

The mobile unit is staffed by an all-female team of radiology technicians, who have advanced-level certifications in mammography. Test results will be read by board-certified radiologists affiliated with Exeter Hospital and sent out to patients and their physicians within approximately 48 hours after a mammogram is conducted.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 1-888-2-EXETER. Exeter Hospital's digital mammography van was supported in part though a generous donation by the Exeter Hospital Associates.

Exeter Hospital, Inc. an affiliate of Exeter Health Resources is a not-for-profit community based hospital serving the Seacoast region. Exeter Hospital's mission is to improve the health of the community. This mission is supported through the provision of health services and information to the community. For more information call 1-800-4-Exeter, or log onto www.exeterhospital.com and see how the Art of Wellness can create a difference in your life.

To read the Exeter News- Letter article - click here.