News

March 23, 2018

Free Head and Neck Cancer Screenings Offered at Holy Family Hospital

Gentry Thatcher, MD, and a board certified ENT from New England Ear, Nose, Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery, will be offering free head and neck cancer screenings at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen on Thursday, April 19, 2018, from 1 to 3 p.m., in the Ground Floor Outpatient Clinic, Suite G39.

Those who smoke, chew tobacco, consume alcohol, or have a prior history of head and neck cancer, have a greater risk of developing head and neck cancer. Symptoms include a lump, a sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice.

According to Dr. Thatcher, the vast majority of head and neck cancers are related to tobacco use, making it one of the most preventable diseases.

To schedule a free screening appointment with Dr. Thatcher, please email [email protected] or [email protected], or call Jill or Nancy at 978-687-0156, ext. 2101. Appointments are required. Holy Family Hospital’s Methuen Campus is located at 70 East St. in Methuen, MA.

About Holy Family Hospital
Holy Family Hospital is one of only 44 hospitals nationwide to earn the 2017 Top General Hospital Award from The Leapfrog Group, and is the only hospital in the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire to earn this distinction for performance on national standards of quality and safety. Holy Family Hospital is a 385-bed acute-care hospital with three campuses: Holy Family Hospital – Methuen, Holy Family Hospital- Haverhill and Andover Surgery Center. Both full-service hospital locations provide comprehensive inpatient, outpatient and 24/7 emergency services to the greater Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire. Holy Family Hospital, the proud recipient of the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission and the Leapfrog Group “A” Hospital Safety Grade, is the first hospital in Massachusetts to earn Advanced Certification in Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery by The Joint Commission, and is Nationally Recognized by BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts as a Blue Distinction Center® Plus for excellence in hip and knee replacements and as a Blue Distinction Center® for Spine Surgery. Our Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center has been named a Center of Excellence six years in a row by Healogics. The hospital’s strengths include orthopedic care, cancer care, neurology/neurosurgery, general surgery, thoracic and pulmonary care, urologic surgery, ENT surgery, wound care and hyperbaric medicine, maternity care, and behavioral medicine.  Holy Family Hospital is part of Steward Health Care, a fully integrated national health care services organization committed to providing the highest quality of care in the communities where our patients live. Steward operates 36 community hospitals in ten states that employ approximately 37,000 people and regularly receives top awards for quality and safety. The Steward network includes more than 26 urgent care centers, 42 preferred skilled nursing facilities, substantial behavioral health services, over 7,300 beds under management, and more than 1.1 million covered lives through the company’s managed care and health insurance services.

About Steward Health Care
Steward Health Care, the largest private hospital operator in the United States, is a physician-led health care services organization committed to providing the highest quality of care in the communities where patients live. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Steward operates 39 community hospitals in the United States and the country of Malta, which regularly receive top awards for quality and safety. The company employs approximately 40,000 health care professionals. The Steward network includes more than 25 urgent care centers, 42 preferred skilled nursing facilities, substantial behavioral health services, over 7,300 beds under management, and approximately 1.5 million full risk covered lives through the company's managed care and health insurance services. The total number of paneled lives within Steward's integrated care network is projected to reach 3 million in 2018.

Steward's unique health care service delivery model leverages technology, innovation, and care coordination to keep patients healthier. With a culture that prioritizes agility, resourcefulness, and continuous improvement, Steward is recognized as one of the world’s leading accountable care organizations. The Steward Health Care Network includes thousands of physicians who help to provide more than 12 million patient encounters per year. Steward Medical Group, the company's employed physician group, provides more than 4 million patient encounters per year. The Steward Hospital Group operates hospitals in Malta and states across the U.S. including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.