Lawrence General Hospital is clinically affiliated with:

winter 2013

Choose to Lose through Our New Weight Management ProgramThe Weight Management and bariatric Center at Lawrence General Hospital is a comprehensive weight-loss program that offers patients solutions, education, and support to help reduce health risks and achieve weight loss.

LGH’s Weight Management and Bariatric Center team, led by Abraham Frech, M.D., a general surgeon with specialty training in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery, consists of medical experts who are committed to compassionate, patient-focused care throughout the entire process—from initial evaluation and treatment to follow-up care and lifestyle management.

Our team of clinicians, who focus on nutrition and exercise counseling, diabetes management and endocrinology, surgical options, case management, and social services, can help you achieve the weight-loss success you deserve.

Learn More on Page 2Find out whether you would qualify for

weight-loss surgery and learn more about

LGH’s trusted bariatric program.

Connect with Us:

www.lawrencegeneral.org

So good. So caring. So close.

2 3 4Learn about bariatric surgery

LGH offers Free Valet Parking

new online Health Library

2 www.lawrencegeneral.org Lawrence General is clinically affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and with Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center

Abraham Frech, M.D., a general surgeon with specialty training in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery, helps patients achieve weight-loss success by leading the clinical team at Lawrence General Hospital’s Weight Management and Bariatric Center.

Dr. Frech received his Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, and went on to receive his Doctor of Medicine from the Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Dr. Frech began his postdoctoral training with a residency in general surgery at Brookdale University Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y., where he served as chief resident in 2010. Dr. Frech then completed his training through a clinical fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in minimally invasive surgery and bariatric surgery.

Dr. Frech is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Medical Association, as well as a faculty member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. He has also received prestigious honors that include the Clinical Science Award from the Ponce School of Medicine in 2006, the Trauma Award from Brookdale University Hospital in 2010, the Memorial Award from Brookdale University Hospital in 2011, and the Top Gun Award from the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons in 2012.

Meet LGH’s Trusted Leader in Weight Loss

Want to KnoW More? The Weight Management and Bariatric Center is located at Lawrence General Hospital, 25 Marston St., in Lawrence. Call 978-946-8450 to learn more about our program.

not everyone who is overweight or obese is a candidate for bariatric surgery, but it may be right for some. The National Institutes of Health sets minimum requirements for recommending bariatric surgery as a treatment option. You must be:

100 pounds or more above your ideal body weight, or have a BMI of 40 or greater

At a BMI of 35 or greater with one or more obesity-related health conditions

Knowledgeable about your individual health history and other medical conditions

In order to be considered a candidate for surgery, patients must:

Have made multiple attempts to lose weight, including physician-supervised programs or nationally recognized organizations, such as Weight Watchers

Weigh at least 100 pounds over their ideal body weight with a BMI greater than 35 with comorbidities or greater than 40 with no current comorbidities

Be motivated to undergo a change in lifestyle and eating habits

Be willing to work collaboratively with a team of health care providers interested in your successful journey to a healthier lifestyle

Be between ages 18 and 60. (Those 60+ are screened on an individual basis)

Abraham Frech, M.D.Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You?(continued from page 1)

Whether through medication and exercise or surgical treatment, we'll help you find the option that best meets your needs so that you can achieve the results you want.

about your health 3Lawrence General is clinically affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and with Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center

JudyAnn bigby, M.D., former secretary of Health and Human services in Massachusetts, visited Lawrence General Hospital in September to establish and celebrate the partnership between LGH and the state to bring integrated care and alternative payment options to Massachusetts safety net hospitals.

Dr. Bigby had been a longtime supporter and advocate for LGH. This funding will bring the Hospital’s vision of creating a high-quality, low-cost health system for the Merrimack Valley to fruition.

Under the Delivery System Transformation Initiatives, $628 million has been made available across seven hospitals in the state. LGH is eligible to receive up to $43 million over three years.

The funds will be used to support integrated care programs and services, electronic safety, and quality innovations and infrastructure to support alternative payment options.

Celebrating Partnerships: Funding Will Support Transformation Initiatives

Lawrence General Hospital is pleased to offer FREE valet parking service for all patients and visitors, through a partnership with Curbside Hospitality. Curbside attendants will be assisting with parking at the Hospital’s main lobby. This will ease access to the facility, coordinate traffic at the entrance, and welcome patients at the main entrance with open doors, wheelchair assistance, and a smile.

Curbside Hospitality is the premier parking management and valet company, serving the top hospitals in New England and across the country. “This added service is a result of our continuous focus on enhancing patient relations and patient satisfaction,” says Dianne J. Anderson, President and CEO of Lawrence General Hospital. “We are thrilled to have added complimentary valet parking through Curbside Hospitality to Lawrence General, as they come highly recommended for their commitment to health care hospitality.” Leann Gent, President and COO of Curbside Hospitality Inc., says the Curbside team is honored for being chosen to assist LGH in its pledge to a positive patient experience.

Parking at Lawrence General Hospital Just Got Easier“Our goal is to ensure that every patient and visitor is provided a warm greeting and a helping hand,” says Gent. “We understand that patients may be overwhelmed or anxious when they arrive at a hospital, and often it is our staff they look to first for assistance—we take this responsibility very seriously.”

WE’rE HErE For you! Lawrence General Hospital’s new FrEE valet parking service for patients and visitors runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with all cars parked on the Hospital grounds in a secure, monitored lot.

Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You?

JudyAnn Bigby, M.D., (fourth from right) former Secretary of Health and Human Services in Massachusetts, visits with

Lawrence General Hospital transformation team members.

Lawrence General Hospital is enhanc-ing our online health library to bring you new interactive tools and health resources, directly accessible from www.lawrencegeneral.org. You’ll find information about diseases and conditions, medications, common surgeries and procedures, nutrition and recipes, and timely wellness issues. You will also find a drug reference guide, interactive quizzes, and more interactive tools.

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You Can Make a Lasting DifferenceThere is no limit to the good that we can accomplish together. Every day, people from all walks of life make charitable gifts. When they do so, they make a tremendous difference in their communities and beyond. Currently, 80 to 90 percent of us will make charitable contributions in our lifetime, and some of us will also make charitable bequests via our estate plans.

We are fortunate to live in a community with a strong network of local nonprofits—all unique in their own ways, but alike in their collective effort to benefit the people and families of the Merrimack Valley region. It is up to each of us to help our local nonprofits flourish. Every gift has an impact, no matter what the size—last year we combined more than 1,000 gifts of all sizes to make significant capital and clinical improvements at Lawrence General Hospital!

LGH is able to provide quality health care because of the generous spirit of the Merrimack Valley region. When you are planning your charitable contributions for the year, please consider LGH, either with an outright annual gift, or via gift planning. You can donate to honor a caregiver, a specific clinical unit at LGH, or in memory of a loved one. Your giving truly makes a difference, and impacts not only your family, but also other families in your community who directly benefit from our services.

are you interested in giving? Please contact the Lawrence General Development Office at 978-946-8099, or visit www.lawrencegeneral.org/donate. Thank you for considering investing in your community and Lawrence General Hospital.

Dianne J. AndersonPresident and Chief Executive Officer

Vanessa C. KortzeMarketing and Communications Manager

Andrea C. EobstelMarketing and Communications Specialist

About Your Health is published by Lawrence General Hospital. The information is intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health, not to substitute for consultation with a personal physician. ©2013 Printed in the U.S.A.

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Lawrence General is clinically affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and with Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center

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