VNA Care Network & Hospice (VNACN) recently held a briefing for members of the Worcester delegation at the Worcester headquarters.  The purpose of the briefing was to introduce members of the delegation to both VNACN as well as Atrius Health.  In particular, the purpose of the meeting was to familiarize members about both groups as employers and as health care providers, offering home care, hospice care as well as primary care to many vulnerable patients living in Worcester and throughout Massachusetts.

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Medicare Access and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) Reauthorization Act,  (H.R. 2), by a vote of 392–37 to permanently replace Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) and returned stability to physicians and Medicare patients. We would like to publicly thank all of the members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, all of whom voted to support this important piece of legislation.

Unfortunately the Senate has decided to defer voting on the measure until it returns April 13 from a two-week break. 

I think we can all agree it’s been a rough winter, but spring will come and we’ll be shedding some of those layers of clothes. When that happens, our thoughts often turn to eating healthier, so, in anticipation of the warmer weather, we’ve pulled together some of our most popular posts about nutrition. Whether you’re looking to shed some pounds, get tips to help you eat healthier or prevent or manage a chronic illness,

An often painful disorder that affects millions of women, endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis) is a condition where tissue that normally lines the uterine cavity or womb grows outside of your uterus or womb where it doesn’t belong. The clumps of tissue that grow outside your uterus are called implants.

When you have endometriosis, the implants of tissue outside your uterus act just like the tissue lining your uterus. During your menstrual cycle, they get thicker,

Need a helper at the grocery store? Tired of doing all of the shopping alone? Grab a SMArt Kid! After this month’s SMA, they are now well informed about the healthiest ways to shop at the local grocery store. They will remind you to keep in mind these simple rules before you and your family head out to the supermarket:

• Be prepared (have a list and plan recipes for the week)
• Don’t go hungry (you’ll avoid being tempted by free samples,

For years, doctors have used a PSA blood test to screen men for prostate cancer. The test measures a protein made by the prostate gland, called a prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

But the PSA test can do more harm than good. Here’s why:

In July 2014, Kim met with Heather Gangloff, her physician assistant (PA), for what was supposed to be a routine physical exam. But after feeling something unusual in Kim’s abdomen, Heather suggested that she see a gynecologist and promptly scheduled an appointment. Just two days later, Kim found herself in Dr. Farah Shafi’s office to discuss the results of an ultrasound.

Kim knew Dr. Shafi. Two years prior, an ultrasound revealed four non-cancerous fibroids that Kim and Dr.

More than 16 million seniors are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, which is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide seniors with their Part A and Part B benefits. In recent years, Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown tremendously due to its exceptional model of coordinated care.

Medicare Advantage patients benefit from a team-based approach that focuses on primary care and prevention.

When Shannon and her wife, Jess, decided to have a baby, Shannon knew she would require help getting pregnant but found that bringing a bundle of joy into their lives was far from easy.

Shannon’s Harvard Vanguard primary care physician, Dr. Mahmooda Qureshi, suggested she meet with Dr. Christine Skiadas, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and a subspecialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, to guide her through the process of conceiving.

Many people suffer from frequent, severe headaches, including migraines. These headaches need careful treatment, with a focus on prevention. Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent and treat your headaches.

• Limit use of over-the-counter pain drugs. If you are taking them more than two days a week, cut back.
• Avoid using prescription drugs containing opioids or butalbital, except as a last resort.

It is easy to use too much pain medicine.