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Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Closing Day marked the official start of the Northampton-based hospital’s system-wide affiliation with Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Peter Slavin, president of Mass General, noted that “we are pleased that Cooley Dickinson Hospital has become part of Mass General and look forward to working with the board, management, physicians, and staff to help preserve and enhance the outstanding care that patients and families in Western Mass. have counted on for so long.” Pictured here, CDH employees pick-up T-shirts that commemorated the day.

Residents of the Arbors at Westfield showed their support for breast-cancer research and Noble Hospital’s Comprehensive Breast Program in a walk around the front greens of the Arbors. While most residents finished three laps, one resident, Harvey (age 94), finished an impressive five laps. “On the third lap, our activity director made him drink some water, and he just kept going,” said Sondra Jones, Arbors marketing director. When asked why he was motivated to put in such a performance, Harvey replied that it is important to keep moving — a philosophy that has kept him on the move his entire life. As a younger man, Harvey travelled to Hawaii four times and said that his favorite destination spot is New Zealand. Because he believes the key to staying healthy at 94 is to keep moving, he stays active everyday with his fellow Arbors residents by participating in a range of exercise classes.

The Massachusetts Long Term Care Mutual Aid Plan (MassMAP) recently conducted mock facility-evacuation scenarios at East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center. Although rare, the evacuation of a healthcare facility is a complex event requiring significant coordination with the community and region. The focus of these exercises is to evaluate the interaction of the MassMAP members in each region in preparation for internal events (fire, power failures, etc.) and external events (hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes, etc.). The drill focused on communications, tracking of evacuated residents, and handling a large influx of residents at receiving facilities. More than 50 people attended the drill, representing 18 facilities across the Pioneer Valley. Volunteers played the roles of mock residents being evacuated between various facilities. Pictured at far right is Mike Marcus, administrator of East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center, monitoring the command center with other drill participants.