“What are the Health Care Challenges on the Cape and how is Cape Cod Healthcare addressing them?”
“Kudos … for presenting yesterday’s forum. All three speakers were compelling. You HAD to listen to them. Really makes you proud to be blessed to live here.”
L. C., Orleans, MA, 11/17/17
Over 75 people attended this important and informative forum on the status of medical treatment and care for all Cape Codders. A phenomenal leadership panel from Cape Cod Healthcare presented the state of medical services and treatment here on the Cape and explained what is yet to come.
Our panelists were:
Michael K. Lauf, President and CEO, Cape Cod Healthcare. CCHC is a regional health system with more than 450 physicians and 5,300 employees. The system is comprised of two-acute care hospitals, four outpatient centers, the largest home health services agency on the Cape (VNA), a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, an assisted living facility and numerous health programs. Mr. Lauf spoke about changes in the healthcare industry and how they affect the residents of the Cape, and how Cape Cod Healthcare is preparing for them:
- Update on CCHC
- Overview of clinical programs
- Overview and update on facilities
- The future of healthcare
Dr. Donald A. Guadagnoli, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Guadognoli came to Cape Cod Healthcare in 2012. In 2016, he was appointed by the University of Massachusetts Medical School as Associate Dean for Medical Education at Cape Cod Healthcare. He was also appointed Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology for the medical school.
Dr. Guadagnoli talked about the Quality of Life Initiative and the need to prepare for end-of-life issues and why they are important.
Dr. Elissa Thompson, MD, board certified cardiologist with Cape Cod Healthcare Cardiovascular Center, is medical director of cardiac rehabilitation at Cape Cod Hospital and the new Cape Cod Healthcare Heart Failure Clinic. Dr. Thompson spoke about the #1 killer of people in America — heart disease — and new, innovative ways for cardiac rehab and keeping Cape residents out the hospital and alive. She discussed:
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- CCHC Heart Failure Clinic
Photos from the forum. Click here to see more photos