Cheshire Medical Center

When tragedy rocks a community, adults often struggle with how to talk to kids and adolescents about what has happened—especially when the events involve kids themselves. Cheshire Medical Center psychologist Catherine Schuman, PhD, told The Keene Sentinel she urges parents to ask kids questions like what’s going on at school, what they’re thinking about a situation, and what their experience is, all to get a sense for how they are feeling. “I think at a time of such loss that's really going to ripple through the community, that it's important that we all just slow down, take time for each other and ourselves, take opportunities to talk with each other, check in with each other, support each other,” Dr. Schuman said. “Just be curious and listen to each other and let things bubble up.” (Trigger warning: This article references suicide.) https://lnkd.in/eWxayGrg

As the days get shorter and cooler and kids head back to school, respiratory virus season is just around the corner. With the fall season also comes the need for people to roll up their sleeves for annual COVID-19, flu and RSV shots, proven to be the best way to prevent serious infection. “The severity [of the respiratory infection season] will depend a lot on how many choose to get immunized against each of the respiratory viruses of concern,” Aalok Khole, MD, Cheshire Medical Center infectious disease doctor, told The Keene Sentinel. https://bit.ly/4cEVdML

Ozempic is being called, by some, a miracle drug that transforms thoughts around food. However, skyrocketing demand, limited availability, high costs, and varied insurance coverage raise questions about the new age of weight-loss medicine and treating obesity. Learn more in this “Living Better” newsletter from Dartmouth Health. Follow the link to read the article and sign up for the newsletter today! https://lnkd.in/eGMpTUfa

✨ VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT ✨ Meet Ann. 👋 Ann has been a Cheshire volunteer for 11 years, including 3 years in the Education, Training, and Development department. ✨What do you do here at Cheshire as a Volunteer? "I work in the Education, Training, and Development Department." ✨What is your favorite part of your job as a Volunteer? "I love that the whole department is vibrant, efficient, and able to work so well together to create educational programs for Cheshire Medical Center employees." "It is truly a pleasure and an honor to assist this department achieve its goals in meeting the educational needs of staff members, as well as offering updated training sessions. I also really enjoy helping to prepare the Nursing Orientation Folders for new hires." 💗 Volunteers are essential to helping Cheshire Medical Center fulfill its mission. They welcome visitors, comfort patients, and families, and help with essential jobs throughout our campus. Cheshire caregivers are able to focus on healing patients thanks to the work our volunteers and staff do every day. If you've ever thought about volunteering at Cheshire, visit https://lnkd.in/evMyhPbS to learn more today!

🥇 🥈 🥉 Congratulations to all of our Cheshire Medical Center providers, staff members, and departments who were recognized recently as 2024 Keene Sentinel Choice Awards winners for providing exemplary service and care in our Monadnock Region! 👏 👏 👏 We appreciate your vote of recognition for our efforts to provide quality care close to home, so you can do more of what you love. To read the entire Choice Awards publication and view all of the winners 👉 https://lnkd.in/e88Jc8Ey

👋 Please help us give a warm welcome to Patricia L. Lunardi, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, the newest primary care provider in our Winchester Family Medicine clinic. "I was drawn to nursing because of the incredible opportunity to impact lives by providing holistic, patient-centered care," says Lunardi, who has lived in New Hampshire for over 10 years. "For me, success goes beyond simply treating a disease — it's about improving a patient's overall well-being. I am inspired by the wise words of Hunter 'Patch' Adams: 'You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you'll win, no matter what the outcome.'" She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and continued on to obtain her master's as a Nurse Practitioner and her doctorate degree as a Doctor of Nursing Practice at the same institution, graduating in 2020. She completed her primary care residency through Baystate Medical Center, CVS Health, and the Community Health Center in Massachusetts and dually through Keady Family Practice and Wondrous Roots in New Hampshire. "Whether it is witnessing a decrease in symptoms or small steps toward healing, every bit of progress brings me a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose," she says. "These are the rewarding moments that drive me in my work. This mindset keeps me grounded and ensures I provide care with the same empathy I would want for my own family members during a vulnerable time." Lunardi has extensive experience as a registered nurse and provider in nursing homes, hospitals, home healthcare, primary care, and case management, working with vulnerable populations. Most recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she ran a COVID clinic as a DNP in Keene and has worked locally as a certified wound and ostomy care provider, where she has a special interest in treating and managing wounds of all types. She is also a certified personal trainer and published author. Outside of work, Lunardi enjoys spending time with her young daughter, writing, spending time with her chickens, kickboxing, running competitively, and participating in autocross and drifting events. She looks forward to seeing patients in the Winchester office for Cheshire Medical Center. To read her full provider profile, visit: https://lnkd.in/eDa2-f_K #TeamCheshire #familymedicine #dartmouthhealth

“I continue to be amazed at the level of skill, and willingness of club members to share knowledge and teach others. It’s a great outlet and a great way to spend some time creating something from nature by expressing the beauty of the wood,” says H.E. Guy Burman, MD, a general surgeon and director of Cheshire’s Breast Care Center. Burman is talking about the Monadnock Woodturners, a group of individuals from the region who share a common interest in creating objects on a wood lathe. The group was founded almost 30 years ago by six physicians from Cheshire Medical Center and the group’s longstanding president, Charles Sheaff, a retired woodturning teacher from Keene State College. The Woodturners' work is currently showcased in a glass display case on level 1A of the Medical Center. Read the full story 👉 https://lnkd.in/eunDgS5h #TeamCheshire #woodturning #woodworking

“I was experiencing pain while walking that progressively got worse until I couldn’t even go for a walk,” says Steve Walsh, owner of Davis Oil in Keene. “I thought it was my hip that was out of whack. It had gotten to the point where it was affecting my mobility and exercise routines.” After working with a chiropractor with no progress, Walsh consulted his trusted primary care provider, David Segal, PA-C, who had been practicing family medicine at Cheshire for more than 30 years and had known him for 16 of those years. “Mr. Walsh is a sincere, kind gentleman who is a local businessman, community leader, devoted father, and family man. He gives time to the community.” Segal diagnosed Walsh’s scoliosis, prescribed some anti-inflammatory medications, ordered an MRI, and gave him a referral to Cheshire’s Outpatient Physical Rehabilitation. This is where Walsh met physical therapist Jim Hall, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, and his pain journey started turning around. Read the full story of Steve's battle against back pain and how Cheshire helped him defeat it. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eZJTiQW4 #TeamCheshire #PT #physicaltherapy

👋 Please join us in welcoming Lindsay Perry, MSN, APRN, as one of our newest primary care providers in our Family Medicine department. 👏 👏 👏 Perry, who has spent the last three-plus years at Cheshire as a Registered Nurse in Family Medicine, sees patients in Team D in a teamlet with Sharon Ferugson, DO. "The most rewarding part of my job is when a patient returns feeling relieved that our plan worked," she says. "I want my patients to know that I will go above and beyond to care for them or connect them with someone who can help." Prior to coming to Cheshire, she worked in the Dartmouth Health system at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center since 2015. Perry recently earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Rivier University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Plymouth University. "Family Medicine is diverse and keeps me engaged and always learning. I see Family Medicine as comprehensive healthcare for all ages. I love improving outcomes for my patients. I ensure both patients and their caregivers are involved in decision-making." To read her full provider profile, visit: https://lnkd.in/ekkB2stu #TeamCheshire #familymedicine #dartmouthhealth

At Cheshire Medical Center, we are dedicated to creating a thriving community where everyone has the supports they need to thrive. To achieve this, we focus on health equity by addressing social and environmental factors that impact health, identifying health disparities, and collaborating within our community on initiatives that go beyond the hospital's walls. The Center for Population Health (CPH), a department of Cheshire, is at the forefront of this work, serving as the Principal Supporter of the Healthy Monadnock Alliance, our region's public health network. One of CPH's initiatives involves coordinating collective action, such as creating a map using data from various sources to pinpoint areas in the Monadnock region where interventions can have the greatest positive impact on health. This tool was recently showcased at the national Accelerating Health Equity Conference by CPH's Epidemiologist, Maggie Graul, who underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing health equity. "Health equity work is challenging, and we can't do it alone," Graul says. "That's why we are sharing this tool with others. Everyone in our region can use it to drive collective action to improve community health, regardless of their area of expertise or influence. Together, we can create positive change in our communities." For more information about the Center for Population Health, and the numerous community offering it provides, visit https://lnkd.in/ehQd5ZCR