As Nicole Anderson plucked the strings of her harp, Sarah Sullivan of Marshfield took a deep breath and relaxed into her bed. The worries, fears, angst of being in a hospital bed seemed to leave Sullivan’s body for just a few brief moments, as Anderson’s fingers moved back and forth; creating a soothing sound that filled the room.

When Anderson finished her song, she looked at Sullivan and they both shared a moment.

“That was beautiful,” Sullivan said. Sullivan then looked at everyone else in the room, “wasn’t that just beautiful?”

Seemingly every day, we hear tragic stories detailing the opioid crisis in cities and towns throughout Massachusetts. This epidemic has had a devastating effect on individuals, their families, and our communities. 

However, another equally devastating crisis is hidden in plain sight: Alcohol abuse and addiction.

At South Shore Hospital, we’ve found that alcohol use disorders bring in more patients into our Emergency Department than do opioids. 

South Shore Hospital, part of South Shore Health System, successfully concluded the second-phase of its major construction project to enhance the Critical Care platform in Weymouth with the opening of the Intermediate Care Unit, located on on Pratt 6.

New moms at South Shore Health System are making the biggest difference for patients all over the United States. 

South Shore Hospital, part of South Shore Health System, recently became the first hospital in Massachusetts to participate in a Placenta Donation Program through a leading biopharmaceutical company which is developing regenerative medicine and biologic therapies utilizing human placenta tissue to help patients in wound care, surgery, and sports medicine get their lives back on track. 

South Shore Medical Center patients who live in the greater Braintree area now have an option a little bit closer to home.

In July, South Shore Medical Center opened an office in Braintree at 340 Wood Road, offering an array of services, from adult primary care to laboratory services.  

The kids may be heading back to school, but they'll have to save those new fall clothes for a few weeks as the region deals with potentially record-breaking heat.

Anxious feelings triggered by transitions are normal and expected, but with one out of eight children presenting with an anxiety disorder, back-to-school anxiety can be even more problematic for some. 

As a child psychologist, I hear about a wide range of anxious thinking among my patients: What if I don’t have any friends in my class? I heard this grade is tough, what if I don’t do well?  If I don’t do well, I won’t get into a good college and then I won’t get a good job. What if there will be class presentations or the teacher calls on me? What if I have no one to sit with at lunch? I can’t go. I won’t go. 

Sending a child off to college is a big change for any family. Amid all the tuition payments and searching out the best roommate, students and parents can easily forget to think about what this transition means for your child’s relationship with a primary care provider (PCP).

Most college freshmen are in their late teen years, so families may struggle with whether to maintain the existing relationship with a child’s pediatrician for a few more years, or if it’s time for your young adult to find an internist or family medicine doctor. And, if your child does look for a new doctor, should it be on-campus or closer to home?

South Shore Medical Center pediatrician Jeremy Warhaftig, MD, says that he often advises his patients and their parents to maintain a relationship with a doctor at home, whether it’s with a pediatrician or a doctor that sees adult patients.

 Have you ever tried topping off your favorite dessert with a few berries? Fruit has a naturally sweet flavor and it is a good source of fiber. Berries are high in antioxidants and they make an excellent addiction to a rich cake.

There is nothing quite as refreshing as a fruit smoothie on a hot summer day. The nutrition team at South Shore Hospital recommends this delicious blend of fruit, Greek yogurt, and the milk of your choice to leave you feeling your best!