2020 was a year full of challenges for healthcare and the nation as a whole. For Milford Regional, the year began with high expectations. We had positioned ourselves well with strong investments in quality care initiatives and physician recruitment. We had completed infrastructure projects and were well on our way to unveiling our new medical records system. The forecast for FY2020 was positive; it was going to be a good year.

Then, the unthinkable happened…COVID-19 arrived at our nation’s doorstep. As its impact rippled across the country, everything turned upside down. We were dealing with an unknown virus that was highly contagious and deadly; however, what I did know was the quality of our physicians, nurses and staff within Milford Regional Healthcare System. Having seen them partner and meet other challenges head on, I was confident that we could not be in better hands. Milford Regional’s disaster plan that had been practiced for years was activated; a Command Center and critical roles were quickly established to provide 24/7 oversight of care, treatment and supplies. Our infectious disease physicians led the charge working tirelessly to administer treatment plans based upon guidance, directives and protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Public Health (DPH). In an effort to address the community’s concerns and provide assistance, a COVID-19 hotline and an online assessment tool to check symptoms were created. Milford Regional Physician Group embraced telehealth to continue serving their patients. Our physicians, nurses and staff demonstrated incredible dedication and compassion to our patients as COVID numbers increased along with the demands placed upon them.

Having withstood the rigors of the first surge, we prepared for an anticipated second surge in the fall which, not surprisingly, emerged full force in November. The difference between the first and second surge was the amount of community spread due to the weather and holidays that encouraged more indoor gatherings. Unlike the first surge, hospital services largely remained open (except for inpatient elective surgeries) to ensure patients receive needed care for conditions other than COVID. Our Urgent Care Centers started seeing unprecedented numbers of patients with COVID symptoms who needed testing or those who needed the test to travel. The number of hospital beds available and the staff needed to care for patients were also severely challenged.

Overall, I would say adaptability and determination best defines those within Milford Regional Healthcare System during our response to the pandemic. Along with our outstanding nurses and physicians, all departments within the hospital from respiratory to the lab to the stockroom and housekeeping (to name just a few), as well as those throughout our physician practices, faced enormous challenges not seen before. In all cases, it was their amazing fortitude and commitment to the community that kept operations running smoothly to ensure patients received the very best care.

On a positive note, the other difference between surges was the introduction of a COVID-19 vaccine. It was the best gift of 2020 to our healthcare workers whose valor during this pandemic cannot be overstated. As our healthcare staff continues to receive the vaccine, it puts us one step closer to the eradication of this deadly virus.

Though the pandemic was all consuming, there were certainly great achievements in programs, services and personnel throughout Milford Regional’s healthcare system that made a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our community. Several of these accomplishments include: opening a new, Level 1B Continuing Care Nursery for the special needs of newborns, expanding our lung cancer screening program; introducing a new pain management program, creating a partnership with Spectrum Health Systems to provide rapid access to medication-assisted treatment to patients of the emergency department and Milford Regional Physician Group practice sites, successfully implementing our new electronic medical record system – MEDITECH Expanse, recruiting key physicians in both primary and specialty care, and effectively adopting telehealth to accommodate the needs of patients during the pandemic. I am very pleased to say that during the many challenges presented in 2020, not only did Milford Regional make such transformative achievements as noted here, we were also awarded an ‘A’ for patient safety by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization, for the fifth consecutive time! You will have the chance to read about all of these outstanding achievements and more within this annual report. 

I cannot be more proud of the unrelenting dedication and service our staff demonstrated during this historic, world-wide pandemic. There are no words that can express my gratitude and that of our senior administrators, Board of Trustees and the community for the commitment and selflessness displayed by everyone within Milford Regional’s healthcare system at an unprecedented time when their calling and expertise were needed most.            

Though 2020 is a year we would rather forget, it’s important that we always remember the heroism displayed by all at Milford Regional during a pandemic that will, one day, be memorialized in history books. As a tribute to the many in Milford Regional who made such a difference to countless numbers of residents within our service area this past year, a video was created to commemorate the extraordinary valor that was witnessed daily by the very best healthcare has to offer…our Milford Regional team. (The link to the video is on the home page of our annual report.)

Looking forward, it is the high quality of our staff that makes me very optimistic about our future. I am confident that as we work together to achieve new and exciting goals set before us for 2021, the possibilities are truly endless.

Edward J. Kelly
President & CEO
Milford Regional Medical Center

In FY 2020, Milford Regional Medical Center leadership put decades of routine disaster drills to the test on March 10, when Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency as COVID-19 cases in the state of Massachusetts were rapidly increasing.

Within hours, Milford Regional Medical Center activated their disaster plan establishing a Command Center with key personnel to oversee around-the-clock care, treatment and supplies. An online assessment tool was launched to help community members check their symptoms. A dedicated hotline manned by clinical staff was set up to answer community concerns about COVID-19. Drive-thru COVID-19 testing was soon available at Milford Regional Medical Center. In addition, a 3,800-square-foot alternate care site was constructed on campus to ensure availability of extra space should a potential surge in COVID-19 patients require it.

While COVID-19 gripped Milford Regional Healthcare System and our entire community, Milford Regional leadership was also mindful of the important program and service initiatives that were in motion for 2020. In addition to opening Milford Regional’s Level 1B Nursery and new pharmacy expansion, a wide array of programs and services were shepherded to fruition to ensure that our community’s healthcare needs will continue to be met far into the future.

Level 1B Nursery Approved

Milford Regional has been licensed and approved by the Department of Public Health to operate a Level 1B Continuing Care Nursery within The Maternity Center. The new designation allows Milford Regional to provide a broader range of services to newborns that require additional specialized care and support. Milford Regional’s Level 1B nursery is designed to accommodate the extra care, comfort and needs of late preterm babies at 35 weeks and beyond, as well as those with health issues. 

Milford Regional’s Level 1B Nursery is equipped with the latest technologies, including:

• Cardiopulmonary monitors
• LED phototherapy lights for elevated bilirubin levels
• Radiant warming units
• Resuscitation and stabilization care centers
• IV infusion pumps
• Isolettes
• Donor milk
• Oxygen therapy

Those who lead and work within The Maternity Center at Milford Regional have been diligent and focused in their effort to achieve a Level 1B designation and we congratulate them for their dedication to serving the newest members of our community with the very best care.

Pharmacy Expansion

Milford Regional’s Pharmacy expansion completed both phases of construction in FY 2020, bringing this important department to 4,570 square feet, which more than tripled its size. The expansion includes a new, state-of-the-art compounding suite which meets upcoming pharmacy regulations. This area includes seven rooms: two sterile compounding rooms (one for hazardous, one for non-hazardous), one anteroom (where employees suit up for sterile compounding), two storage/staging areas, a nonsterile compounding room and a changing room. The pharmacy workspace includes a new carousel, providing key storage for medication, space for unit dose packaging, computer and non-computer workstations, refrigerator and freezer capacity and other needed storage. The new Milford Regional Pharmacy also includes a new vestibule, dedicated pharmacist pod, offices and breakroom.

Comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program

Milford Regional has partnered with Brigham and Women’s Hospital to provide world-class thoracic surgery on our campus since 2002 and has performed lung cancer screenings since 2012. However, with the introduction of Brigham and Women’s Thoracic Surgeon Brian Whang, MD, as Chair of Thoracic Surgery on Milford Regional’s medical staff, the hospital made an investment to develop a comprehensive lung cancer screening program (done with low-dose computed tomography) to discover lung cancer at its earliest stage with the best possible outcome.

The world-class program employs leading-edge surgical technology that includes the revolutionary SPiN Thoracic Navigation System™ which allows our thoracic surgeons to accurately navigate to lung nodules, and then biopsy nodules that were previously unreachable due to their size or location. The program also offers a comprehensive tracking system that follows each patient throughout their care and the expert input of a pulmonary lung nodule review board. Dr. Whang is joined by an experienced team that includes Thoracic Surgeon Matthew Rochefort, MD;  Physician Assistant Chris LeSiege, PA; and Lung Cancer Screening Coordinator Kristine Lacourse.  With this highly regarded team in place, patients can be confident that their care will be comprehensive, thorough and timely.

Bridging the Gap – Substance Use Disorder

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that emergency rooms see nearly 4.6 million drug-related visits per year. Of those, 45 percent of patients report drug misuse, including nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, use of illicit drugs, and alcohol-use disorder. Dr. Jeffrey Hopkins, medical director of Milford Regional’s emergency department, was instrumental in helping Milford Regional create a partnership with Spectrum Health Systems, Inc. Spectrum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment, provides rapid access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to patients of the emergency department (ED) and other MRMC-affiliated patient care sites. Through this collaborative effort, Milford Regional and Spectrum are bridging the gap between emergency care and primary care offices for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and longer-term addiction treatment. To alleviate the increasing pressure put on its ED, Milford Regional now refers patients seeking help for opioid addiction to Spectrum Health Systems’ nearby center, located at 200 Main Street in Milford. The center now acts as a “bridge clinic” between the two providers. Their patients receive individualized care that is specific to their addiction from Spectrum’s top clinicians and behavioral health professionals.

The Center for Pain Medicine Opens at Milford Regional

Milford Regional Medical Center opened a new clinic offering a comprehensive approach to pain management focused on alleviating symptoms, restoring function and encouraging emotional health. Brigham and Women’s Center for Pain Medicine at Milford is led by Medical Director Victor Wang, MD, PhD and Edward Michna, MD. These two physicians have stellar reputations and medical expertise from several outstanding tertiary care centers within the United States.

Dr. Wang is board certified in both neurology and pain medicine and holds appointments in both the anesthesiology and neurology departments at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In addition, Dr. Wang is an instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Michna performed a residency in anesthesia and a fellowship in pain medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  He is board certified in anesthesia, pain medicine and palliative care. Dr. Michna is an assistant professor in anesthesia at Harvard Medical School and is the Director of the Pain Trials Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

The Center for Pain Medicine offers a multi-disciplinary team approach that works with primary care physicians, spine surgeons and other specialists to provide a thorough and individually tailored program for patients to manage their pain. At the Center for Pain Medicine, the team offers services that include anesthesiology, psychiatry, psychology, nursing, neurology and physical therapy to treat a variety of conditions including back pain, abdominal pain, vascular pain, headaches, neuropathic pain, neck pain, pancreatitis, pelvic pain, cancer pain, peripheral neuropathy and chronic post-surgical pain.

MEDITECH Expanse is Here!

As FY 2020 came to an end, Milford Regional achieved successful implementation of its new MEDITECH Expanse electronic medical record (EMR) system. This state-of-the-art EMR platform enhances patient care through a full integration of their medical information within the hospital that allows clinicians to view one continuous record throughout their stay. The quality of care and safety is positively impacted through an improved patient and provider experience.  Patients’ medical information in both the inpatient and outpatient setting are now coalesced within one record. In addition, the EMR increases the safety of care delivery through enhanced clinical decision support, improved access to information, improved transitions, improvements in efficiency and elimination of redundancies. The system also communicates seamlessly with other health care facilities and systems through a connection to the Common Well Health Alliance, a Health Information Exchange.

Milford Regional Medical Center and Milford Regional Physician Group have long been in a unique position to recruit highly regarded physicians. Known as one of the country’s safest hospitals, Milford Regional is often the community medical center that is regularly first in the region to invest in leading edge technologies. Combine this innovation with its strong partnerships with the most trusted academic medical centers in New England and Milford Regional is known as a great choice for physicians. Physician recruitment for Milford Regional Medical Center and Milford Regional Physician Group continued throughout 2020, with well-respected physicians joining our organization from the country’s top institutions, bolstering key specialties.

Neurologists Join Milford Regional Hospital Staff

Eliezer Sternberg, MD and Aditi Ahlawat, MD, joined Milford Regional’s active medical staff and established Milford Regional Neurology, a Milford Regional Physician Group practice located within the Medical Center.

Dr. Sternberg, who graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine, was awarded Resident of the Year from Yale-New Haven Hospital and went on to complete fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital in Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy. He has won multiple teaching awards and has written widely about neuroscience in various medical journals, as well as being featured in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and other national media outlets. In addition, he has written three books and his research focuses on how the neurosciences shed light on the mysteries of consciousness and decision-making.

In September, Dr. Ahlawat joined Milford Regional from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Neurology where she completed her residency and fellowship. Prior to her work at Beth Israel, Dr. Ahlawat received the Senior Thesis Excellence Award at Brandeis University, where she focused on Lafora Disease, a rare form of epilepsy. She earned her medical degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and received the Medical Student Prize for Excellence  by the American Academy of Neurology and the Research Travel Grant from the Neurocritical Care Society for her research on penetrating traumatic brain injuries. Her research on POEMS syndrome, a rare disease affecting multiple organ systems, earned her the 2014 New England Case Report of the Year. Together these two fine physicians have expanded Milford Regional’s Neurology Department to meet the high demand for services throughout our service area. 

Orthopedic Surgeon Joins Milford Regional Hospital Staff

Geoffrey Stoker, MD, a member of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, joined the active medical staff at Milford Regional. Fellowship-trained in hip and knee replacement at world-renowned New England Baptist Hospital, Dr. Stoker completed his undergraduate studies at Boston College, earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis and completed his orthopedic residency at Tufts Medical Center, where he received the Henry Banks Outstanding Orthopedic Resident Award.

Offering innovative surgical options customized for each patient, Dr. Stoker’s practice and his surgeries at Milford Regional focus on partial and total knee and hip replacement, including revision procedures. He evaluates and treats patients with a variety of hip and knee problems, such as arthritis, avascular necrosis, and other joint conditions. He has a special interest in preoperative optimization for medically complicated patients and enhanced recovery after surgery, including same-day, outpatient joint replacement.

UMass Medical Center Neurosurgeons Join Hospital Staff

Fostered through our valued affiliation  with UMass Memorial Healthcare System, UMass Neurosurgeons Ziev Moses, MD, and Justin Slavin, MD, joined the active medical staff at Milford Regional to meet the increasing demand for experts in neurosurgery.

Dr. Moses graduated from Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, New Hampshire with a degree in medicine in 2012. He completed a neurosurgery training program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital through Harvard Medical School. He continued his training with a fellowship in neurophysiology at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School and a second fellowship in neurosurgery – spine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.  Dr. Moses’ clinical interests include degenerative spine disorders, minimally invasive spine surgery and spinal reconstruction.

Dr. Slavin earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland in 2008, where he also performed a neurosurgery residency. His training continued with a fellowship in spinal neurosurgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Dr. Slavin’s clinical interests include degenerative spine disorders, minimally invasive spine surgery and spinal microsurgery.  He is an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Brigham and Women’s Pain Medicine Specialist Joins Hospital Staff

Milford Regional’s strong partnership with Brigham and Women’s Hospital has paved the way for Dr. Edward Michna to become part of Milford Regional Medical Center’s active medical staff and join Dr. Victor Wang, medical director of Brigham and Women’s Center for Pain Medicine at Milford, in an expansion of our in-demand pain management clinic.

Dr. Michna graduated with a degree in medicine from JMDNJ-Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey in 1991 after earning a law degree from Seton Hall Law School in Newark. Dr. Michna completed an internship at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey, and then performed a residency in anesthesia and a fellowship in pain medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He is board certified in anesthesia, pain medicine and palliative care. Dr. Michna is an assistant professor in anesthesia at Harvard Medical School and is the Director of the Pain Trials Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

New Milford Regional Medical Center Physicians

Milford Regional Physician Group 2020 Progress and Recognitions

Focus on Re-Engineering, Telehealth and Recruitment

In a year like no other, the coronavirus pandemic swept our nation as Dr. Patrick McSweeney took over the reins as president of Milford Regional Physician Group (MRPG). Although FY 2020 brought significant challenges to the healthcare system, MRPG was able to quickly adapt to a completely new environment; most notably was the abrupt transition to providing telehealth visits at all MRPG outpatient offices. Providers and staff did an amazing job of re-engineering office practices to accommodate the needs of our community while ensuring the safety of patients and staff. As patients began to return to MRPG practices, staff again adapted quickly to PPE use, implementation of social distancing protocols, and screening of all patients prior to entering facilities, all measures to ensure the safety of both patients and the MRPG team.

MRPG Welcomed New Physicians and Advanced Practitioners

Even during this unprecedented time, MRPG continues to expand access to care through our service area by recruiting many new providers:            

• Several primary care physicians joined MRPG this year, including: Karina Reynolds, MD, Community Pediatrics of Medway; Melissa Mahr, MD, Hopkinton Primary Care; Kevin Anderson, DO, Northbridge Primary Care; and Deborah Derderian, DO, MHA, Mendon Internal Medicine.

• Equally successful was MRPG’s recruitment of primary care nurse practitioners including:  Elyssar Saad, NP, Franklin Primary Care; Matt Rozanski, NP, McGrath Medical Group; Rachel Lien, NP, Franklin Family Medicine; Nancy Nagda, NP, Community Pediatrics of Milford; Ryan McGovern, NP, Blackstone Valley Family Physicians; Lauren Abric, NP, Bellingham Medical Associates; Noressa Santomenna, NP, and Colleen Ammidown, NP, Hopkinton Internal Medicine & Pediatrics.

• New specialty practices were formed, with the additions of Milford Regional Neurology and Eliezer Sternberg, MD and Aditi Ahlawat, MD; Milford Regional Orthopedics and Geoffrey Stoker, MD; as well as Milford Regional Urogynecology and Diego Illanes, MD.

• MRPG’s Hospitalist program continues to flourish, with the addition of: Ish Gupta, MD; Niharika Singh, MD; Mahawa Sam, MD; Terry Huynh, MD; Heather Gustafson, PA; Samuel Snyder, PA; and Geraldo Silva, NP.

• In Urgent Care, MRPG added Michael Murphy, MD; and Reynold Dahl, MD, who transitioned from primary care. Milford Regional Urgent Care also welcomed Rosemary Kirousis, NP.

• MRPG’s Surgical Physician Assistant Program added: Michelle Ristuccia, PA; Nury Flynn, PA; Ashley Palmer, PA and Bradley Kozub, PA.

• Specialty practices added Jill Vonnegut, NP, to Milford Regional Infectious Disease and Anne Marie Caron, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, GS-C, to Palliative Care.

Moves

Diabetes Education was welcomed to the MRPG family, with Caron Grupposo and her team moving from the hospital to their new home at 12 Uxbridge Road in Mendon.

MRPG Recognition

Wicked Local/Gatehouse Media once again recognized a number of MRPG practices in their annual Reader’s Choice Awards, including Blackstone Valley Family Physicians, Community Pediatrics of Medway, Franklin Pediatric & Adolescent Care, Franklin Primary Care, and Mendon Internal Medicine. Many MRPG providers were also recognized with this high honor, including Emmett Clemente, MD; Kathryn Cohan, MD; Reynold Dahl, MD; Chantal Dewey, MD, MPH; Carrie DiRamio, MD; Mary Lyons, MD; Erika Pommett, MD; Elena Smagina, MD; and Monica Woodward, MD.

Milford Regional Physician Group has always excelled in quality measures as compared to national and local benchmarks. With the onset of the pandemic, patients’ ability to get preventive screenings and routine testing related to their condition were impacted. Since the reopening of our practices and hospital testing, MRPG’s providers and population health coordinators have been working diligently to get the highest risk patients in for necessary screenings.

Milford Regional Physician Group was named to the Harvard Pilgrim Honor Roll. Harvard Pilgrim selects Honor Roll practices based on their points earned on 15 quality measures across three domains of clinical care affecting both adult and pediatric patients: acute, chronic and preventive care.

Milford Regional Nationally Recognized for Patient Safety

Milford Regional was once again awarded an ‘A’ in The Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2020 Hospital Safety Grade. This is the fifth consecutive ‘A’  Milford Regional has received in this national recognition of hospitals who actively protect patients from harm and providing safer health care. Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

U.S. News & World Report Names Milford Regional a High Performing Hospital

Milford Regional has been recognized as a High Performing Hospital for 2020-21 by U.S. News & World Report. The annual Procedures & Conditions ratings, now in their 6th year, are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for common conditions and elective procedures. Milford Regional earned “High Performing” ratings for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure, in recognition of care that was significantly better than the national average, as measured by factors such as patient outcomes. “High Performing” is the highest rating U.S. News awards for those types of care. For the 2020-21 ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 10 procedures and conditions.

Milford Regional Receives Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

Milford Regional has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for another consecutive year. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. Milford Regional earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

Milford Regional has also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.

Top 100 Hospital in New National Index    

Milford Regional Medical Center is one of the top 100 hospitals in the country according to a new hospital index released in 2020 that ranks hospitals based on value of care provided, quality of care and civic leadership. The Lown Institute Hospitals Index places Milford Regional as 86th nationwide in its ranking of 3,300 hospitals and 300 hospital systems. The national list is based on a variety of factors including community benefits, pay equity and inclusivity, as well as mortality, re-admissions, patient safety, patient satisfaction, and avoiding the overuse of procedures with little or no clinical benefit.

Milford Regional Voted #1 Hospital in the Region

Milford Regional was once again awarded a “Regional Favorite Gold Award” by WickedLocal.com in their annual Readers’ Choice Awards. The distinction is based on voting results from their readers for their “#1 Choice” in a variety of categories. This year, Milford Regional retained its position as the region’s number one choice in healthcare further exemplifying the much-appreciated support from our community.

Milford Regional Medical Center’s Community Benefits Program is based on the results of the triennial Community Health Needs Assessment conducted in FY 2018. Through that process, four priority areas were defined: Behavioral Health/Substance Use Disorder, Health Care Access, Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention, and Violence Prevention. The Community Benefits Leadership Team, working with the Community Benefits Advisory Committee which includes residents from across our service area, created a three-year Strategic Implementation Plan to address those four priority areas.

Continuing Our Commitment to the Community

FY 2020 brought Milford Regional closer to the end of the current three-year plan with many unanticipated changes due to the global pandemic. A significant step was made to address substance use disorder in our region and events were held to provide education and training on pressing health topics across the lifespan – from vaping to elderly mental health issues. Just as the program hit its stride, the onset of the COVID-19 crisis forced the cancellation of many planned programs. However, in the face of adversity comes opportunity. Milford Regional responded quickly to the needs of the community that were highlighted by the health emergency and continues to adjust its community benefits programming where necessary.

Some of the achievements in the past year…

• Milford Regional Medical Center worked jointly with Cornerstone at Milford Senior Living to plan and present The Dementia Experience, a program that uses sensory modifications and role-playing activities to depict real-life situations that a person living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia would face. The program was free to the community and was attended by more than 40 people at the Milford Senior Center.

• Milford Regional worked with the Central Massachusetts Tobacco Free Community Partnership, school districts within our service area and Valley Chapel to offer a program to address the health effects of vaping, and what signs to look for to know if a teen is using electronic vaping products. The program was offered in October 2019 and was attended by approximately 30 parents, educators, teens and social workers.

• Milford Regional Medical Center continued to fund fitness classes at the Milford Youth Center’s After School Program throughout the school year. Each class ends with a healthy snack. A new addition to the line-up this year was Pound, an aerobic and strength workout using weighted drumsticks.

Community Health Network Area

Milford Regional has maintained its strong working partnership with the Community Health Network Area Region 6 (CHNA 6) and is represented on the organization’s Steering Committee. In FY 2020, nearly $200,000 was awarded in grants to local non-profit agencies and organizations. The grants are largely funded by money from Milford Regional through the state’s Determination of Need process that was required when building the Meehan Family Pavilion in 2015.

Among the grant recipients are:

• Riverside Community Care Outpatient Center for a yoga and self-awareness training program to help high school students manage stress and anxiety.

• Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Inc. to embed a clinician at Stacy Middle School in Milford to provide mental health counseling during school hours.

• Abundant Care Inc. to provide personal products for the underserved and immigrant populations.

• Hockomock Area YMCA for a Centralized Model for School Food Pantries in Milford.

• The Franklin Food Pantry for a community garden.

In June, as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began to be felt in earnest, the CHNA 6 Steering Committee – decided to offer Emergency Grants related to COVID-19. These grants were offered monthly in an effort to be responsive in a timely manner to emerging community health needs. From June through September, $122,227.40 was awarded to 14 agencies to fund various programs to address increased food insecurity, to support telehealth services (especially for mental health providers and social service agencies) and many other COVID related needs.

Looking Ahead…

In FY 2021, Milford Regional will be conducting its next Community Health Needs Assessment and will create another three-year Strategic Implementation Plan to address those needs.  The work to be conducted over the next year will provide valuable insight to not only how the Medical Center was able to effect change within our region, but how the health needs of our community have evolved over the same time period.

Milford Regional Medical Center, Inc.
2020 Board of Trustees

OFFICERS

Robert L. Kilroy  Chairman
Andrew L.  Salmon  Vice Chairman
Laura A. Mann  Clerk
Gordon A. Lewis  Treasurer
Edward J. Kelly  President and Chief Executive Officer
James N. Papadakos  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

TRUSTEES Barbara A. Auger; Vascen J. Bogigian; Denise H. Brookhouse; John J. Burns; William G. Burrill; Anthony M. Consigli; Richard J. Daly, MD; Jamie E. Doucette; Jeffrey B. Hopkins, MD; William G. Muller, MD; and Beverly A. Swymer

TRUSTEE EMERITUS The Honorable Francis J. Larkin

Milford Regional Physician Group
2020 Board of Trustees

OFFICERS

Kevin P. Meehan  Chairman
William G. Burrill  Clerk
Edward J. Kelly  President and Chief Executive Officer MRMC
Patrick R. McSweeney, MD  President MRPG

TRUSTEES Jane R. Curl, MD; Jeffrey B. Hopkins, MD; Robert L. Kilroy; Tina M. Robakiewicz, MD, and Monica S. Woodward, MD

Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation
2020 Board of Trustees

OFFICERS

Andrew L. Salmon  Chairman
Shefali Desai  Vice Chairman
Edward J. Kelly  President and Chief Executive Officer
James N. Papadakos  Treasurer
Bill Fredericks  Clerk
Emily J. Quinn  Executive Director

TRUSTEES Mark A. Abate; Vascen J. Bogigian; Christina W. Brabazon; Vanessa E. Burrill; Michael G. Carroll; Alberto A. Correia; Robert P. DeVita; Thomas J. Evans, MD; John R. Ferrari; Matthew R. Fisher; Christopher D. Foley; Tony Khoury; Scott Lerner; William G. Muller, MD; John Peters III; David M. Price; Lynn Tokarczyk and Doreen T. Trottier

This annual report is a publication of the Milford Regional Public Relations, Marketing and Communications Department.

Terri L. McDonald
Vice President of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications

Donna M. Boynton
PR/Community Benefits Coordinator

Tim Jones
Social/Digital Media Coordinator

Kathy A. Marceau
Marketing and Website Coordinator

Glenn Perry
Morin’s Studio
Photography

The McCoy Group
Copy and Design