TRURO — Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough for the piercing inhalations or “whoops” that punctuate its painful coughing attacks, has re-emerged in New England this year after four […]
Health & Healthcare
MENTAL HEALTH
ARPA-Funded Behavioral Health Clinician Serves the Outer Cape
Short-term counseling is free, designed as a bridge to longer-term care
EASTHAM — Even in the best of circumstances, accessing mental and behavioral health care can become a Herculean journey. The country’s mental health care system is byzantine, there are rarely […]
PARENTING
Piecing Together Postpartum Care on the Outer Cape
Nurses, doulas, and support groups provide reassurance and company
TRURO — On a Thursday morning in early December, Rana O’Laughlin arrives at Jelena Duarte’s house, greeted by Pickle the cat and Duarte’s 18-month-old daughter, Vera. The atmosphere is subdued, […]
MENTAL HEALTH
ARPA-Funded Behavioral Health Clinician Serves the Outer Cape
Short-term counseling is free, designed as a bridge to longer-term care
EASTHAM — Even in the best of circumstances, accessing mental and behavioral health care can become a Herculean journey. The country’s mental health care system is byzantine, there are rarely […]
PUBLIC HEALTH
Officials Want Handlers of Rabid Raccoon to Seek Care
If tests show the animal was from here, wild animals will be vaccinated in spring
EASTHAM — A dead raccoon that turned up on Smith Lane with a face full of porcupine quills on Nov. 17 tested positive for raccoon variant rabies — a variant […]
HEALTH CARE
Deadline Looms for Blue Cross Medicare Clients
Patients can still pay ‘out-of-network’ rates at Outer Cape Health
WELLFLEET — As the Dec. 7 deadline to change Medicare Advantage plans approaches, over 500 patients of Outer Cape Health Services (OCHS) must decide whether to choose a new plan […]
HEALTH CARE
BCBS Drops OCHS From Its Medicare Plans
Blue Cross move may be a strategy to increase profits
WELLFLEET — On the first day of open enrollment for Medicare recipients to choose a health-care plan, Catherine Hess received a notice that her current insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, […]
ELDER CARE
Healey Signs Long-Term Care Bill Into Law
State will have new powers over owners of nursing homes
PROVINCETOWN — Last month, a long-term care reform bill that had failed to pass during the legislature’s normal session, which ended July 31, became law after the state House and […]
RECOVERY
A New Wellness Center Offers In-Person Support
Its focus is on helping those affected by substance use disorder
WELLFLEET — Outer Cape Health Services has opened a new behavioral health facility in Wellfleet. It will be open year-round to help people recovering from substance use disorder. The A.I.M. […]
PUBLIC HEALTH
Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Fall Short
Lack of ‘herd immunity’ risks outbreak of preventable diseases
The immunization of children entering kindergarten against preventable diseases in all four towns on Outer Cape Cod lags far behind statewide averages. In both Truro and Provincetown, less than 80 […]
GRAY AREA
Outer Cape Health Restructures as It Loses Top Staff
Financial operations will require an overhaul, says CEO Archer
WELLFLEET — Outer Cape Health Services is regrouping after a rash of staff departures over the past several months left the organization with a shortage of top leadership and primary […]
CANINE ALERT
Cannabis Toxicity in Dogs Is Increasing on Cape
Even small amounts can harm dogs that find and ingest it
TRURO — After a morning walk on Ballston Beach over the July 4th weekend, Heather Murray noticed her four-year-old Portuguese water dog, Maple, behaving strangely. “She was just sort of […]
KINSHIP CAREGIVERS
Grandparents Care for More Than 10% of Cape Children
A hidden burden made heavier by the opioid crisis and lack of services
ORLEANS — Carla Koehl, the executive director of the Cape Cod Foster Closet, set out one year ago to answer a simple question: how many kids living on the Cape […]
MENTAL HEALTH
With Clinicians Overbooked, Agencies Try to ‘Triage’ the Delays
When access to therapists is months away, nonclinical care can help, leaders say
WELLFLEET — When Dikke Hansen decided to “semi-retire,” giving up her position as director of behavioral health at Outer Cape Health Services in 2021 and taking up part-time work as […]
A SENSITIVE ISSUE
At a Forum on Temporary Signs, Opinions Are Few But Strong
Town leaders put temporary sign bylaw on hold while they assess public opinion
TRURO — After a controversy over election signs this spring resulted in multiple calls to the police dept., the town is still not enforcing its bylaw on temporary signs, according […]
