Page 35 - Healthcare News Mar/Apr 2021

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Wellfleet Offering Free Narcan, Naloxone to Student Plan Members
SPRINGFIELD — Wellfleet Insurance is offering student health-plan members access to Narcan and naloxone at no cost in 2021, as part of its industry-exclusive student drug formulary.
Wellfleet, a Berkshire Hathaway insur- ance carrier, is allowing current student health-plan members one dose per year of either Narcan nasal spray or a generic naloxone injectable from in-network
pharmacy providers at no out-of-pocket cost.
Opioid and drug-related overdoses have surged amid the pandemic, with more than 40 states reporting increases in opioid-related mortality, according to the American Medical Assoc. By age group, the CDC says young adults aged 18 to 25 are most prone to abusing prescription drugs.
“We’re seeing the opioid crisis reaching college campuses across the country,” said Jennifer Stevens, director of Pharmacy
at Wellfleet. “While Wellfleet has worked with pharmacy providers to ensure the safe, appropriate use of opioid prescrip- tions, we realized we needed to provide easy access to this life-saving medication.”
While first responders carry Narcan, it’s often friends, family, or bystanders who
discover an individual experiencing an opioid overdose — and response time is crucial. Administering Narcan is a simple process that requires little training, but its typical cost of $50 or more per dose can be a barrier.
“Adding Narcan at $0 co-pay empowers students to easily equip themselves with medicine that can save lives, on and off campus,” Stevens said.
AIC Professor, Students Participate in International OT Conference
SPRINGFIELD — American Interna- tional College (AIC) Associate Profes-
sor of Occupational Therapy Said Nafai served as chairperson for the third annual Occupational Therapy Assoc. of Morocco (OTAM) conference on March 20, which addressed the need for physical and mental rehabilitation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of this year’s event was “Turning Challenges into Opportunities.”
Nafai was born and raised in Morocco
and received his doctorate from Boston University. Considered the “Father of Occupational Therapy” in Morocco, he
is president of OTAM, the Moroccan delegate to World Federation of Occupa- tional Therapists, and chair of the Arab Occupational Therapy Regional Group
to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. In addition, he is a certified lymphedema therapist and provides occu- pational-therapy services in rehabilitation hospitals and facilities. He is a member
of the GATE Community, a group of the World Health Organization that aims to improve access to assistive technology worldwide.
Seven AIC students currently enrolled in the master’s program for occupational therapy joined nearly three dozen experts from five continents in presenting. Third- year graduate student Kimberly Putnam called the event “a wonderful opportunity for occupational-therapy practitioners and students to connect, share ideas, and learn
from one another.”
Janelis Rodriguez, a second-year stu-
dent in the OT program, added that “the opportunity to collaborate on the latest occupational-therapy practices among highly renowned practitioners across the globe is both an honor and reflection
of the great things occurring within the School of Health Sciences right here at AIC.”
Second Chance Home Care Opens Its Doors in East Longmeadow
EAST LONGMEADOW — Second Chance Home Care, located at 200 North Main St., Suite 4 South, East Longmeadow — a non-medical home-care agency that serves the elderly, special-needs, and au- tism population — held a grand-opening ceremony on March 18. Town Manager Mary McNally was in attendance to cut the ribbon and welcome Veronica Ander- son, director of Second Chance Home Care, to East Longmeadow.
“We are proud to open our second location here in East Longmeadow,” Anderson said. “Second Chance Home Care was founded in 2011 with the goal of providing individuals and their loved ones with personalized, in-home care services. We are excited to be serving Hampden County. The peace of mind for our clients is paramount, and we are hopeful families will continue to see the advantages of keeping their loved ones independent in
their homes and communities.” Second Chance Home Care recently
received accreditation from the Home Care Alliance. Agencies seeking accredita- tion are required to submit documenta- tion to show that they meet standards established by the alliance. The standards were developed over several months in consultation with an advisory task force representing agencies throughout the Commonwealth. Training requirements,
administrative protocols, and business practices are among the categories that the alliance reviews for accreditation.
Second Chance Home Care provides a full spectrum of home-care services ranging from assistance with daily living, special needs, and autism respite services to just a little help at home.
Bay Path BSN Program Receives High Marks for Return on Investment
LONGMEADOW — For prospective students and parents alike, there is one question that needs to be answered when it comes to college tuition: will a particu- lar degree provide a return on the tuition investment it will take to earn one? For Bay Path University, OnlineU.com has answered that question, ranking its online bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program as sixth in the nation for online BSN programs with the highest return
on investment. With many of Bay Path’s
RN-to-BSN students working full-time, time and money are important factors when considering and planning to return to school.
“As a career-oriented university, we focus not only on preparing our graduates for their professions, but also on prepar- ing them for life after graduation,” said Maura Devlin, Bay Path’s associate vice president and dean for Undergraduate Studies. “The financial implications from a large amount of tuition debt can really
impact how successful college graduates can be and the types of risks and decisions they feel confident making as they navi- gate the first years in their professional fields. As we develop academic programs and curricula, we plan for prospective students’ outcomes from many different perspectives, not just in our RN-to-BSN program, but in all our academic offer- ings. Not only are our students getting
an excellent education, but they’re doing so in a way that truly sets them up for
success.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports
that employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 7% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, with the American Assoc. of College of Nurses encouraging a BSN as the mini- mum education requirement for nursing professionals.