WELLFLEET — A white Audi sedan operated by Greta Einig, 74, drove into the Outer Cape Health Services (OCHS) office on Route 6 shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 18, […]
Outer Cape Health Services
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
OCHS Proposes New Addiction Recovery Clinic in Wellfleet
In-person therapy would be added to outpatient addiction program
WELLFLEET — The first clinic in the region to offer intensive in-person counseling to patients battling substance use disorders is currently in the works and would operate in the building […]
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Hospital Expansion Could Trigger Abortion Access Review
The Dept. of Public Health could put pressure on Cape Cod Healthcare
HYANNIS — A proposed $137-million expansion of Cape Cod Hospital could potentially be held up or denied by the Mass. Dept. of Public Health (DPH) because the hospital’s parent organization, […]
HEALTH CARE
Seasonal Urgent Care Clinic Opens in Orleans
Threat to Outer Cape Health Services feared
ORLEANS — Cape Cod Healthcare, the organization that owns both of Cape Cod’s hospitals and most of its medical offices, expanded its territory in the direction of the Outer Cape […]
HEALTH
With Case Counts Growing, Provincetown Gets MPV Vaccines
Large allocation of doses will help protect working people, says Cyr
PROVINCETOWN — Nationwide, the news about monkeypox continues to get worse. Case counts are still doubling every 10 days or so: 42 in Massachusetts, 156 in New York, and 9,647 […]
PRIMARY CARE
Outer Cape Lives in Health-Care Limbo
New patients wait six months for an appointment at OCHS
Jenny Muschinske and her husband moved from New York to Wellfleet in March 2020. Then, she got pregnant. Suddenly, finding a local doctor became urgent. She had been “seeing” her […]
TREATMENTS
A SOAP Program Designed to Keep Patients Clean
An increase in reimbursements from MassHealth is ‘financial game changer’ for OCHS
PROVINCETOWN — Outer Cape Health Services has begun offering a form of intensive outpatient treatment to help people with addiction disorders. The Structured Outpatient Addiction Program, or SOAP, provides group […]
THE ROAD TO NORMAL
Glimmers of Hope for Vaccinations on the Outer Cape
Community health centers could provide alternative to mass sites
PROVINCETOWN — When it comes to allocating Covid resources, Cape Cod has been treated like a distant afterthought. The state hasn’t opened a free Stop the Spread testing site here, […]
WELL-BEING
Provincetown Outlines Extensive Mental Health Plan
Pot impact fees could fund $500K response to community needs
PROVINCETOWN — Health Director Morgan Clark presented a five-year plan to the select board last month that aims to dramatically increase access to mental health and substance abuse treatment. The […]
HOPE IN A VIAL
Long-Awaited Covid Inoculations Begin for Health Workers
A sense of hope, a little guilt, and renewed optimism
PROVINCETOWN — Dr. Andrew Jorgensen received a much-hoped-for gift just before Christmas this year, in the form of an initial dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. He’s on track for […]
PERSPECTIVE
Community Fund Takes Off in Wellfleet
Help with unexpected financial emergencies is the goal
WELLFLEET — Dan Silverman’s years of responding to local emergencies with Wellfleet’s Fire and Rescue Dept. gave him a unique perspective on the town’s population, which barely tops 3,000. “You’re […]
COVID TESTING, PART 4
County to Open Affordable Testing Sites
Falmouth, Hyannis will open next week; OCHS sites to follow
PROVINCETOWN — Cape Cod’s struggle to get expanded access to Covid testing took a big step forward this week. Legislators and county leaders announced that drive-through testing sites will open […]
HEALTH
Where to Get Your Flu Shot on the Outer Cape
A temporary shortage at CVS is said to be resolved
Although the much-trumpeted vaccine for Covid-19 vaccine is still unavailable, flu shots can be had at multiple locations on the Outer Cape. And this year, just like every other year, […]
HEALTH
MassHealth Clients Find No Dental Care on Outer Cape
The OCHS−Harbor Health practice will not reopen
WELLFLEET — Liberty Schilpp’s middle-school-age children have already had four different dentists and are about to meet number five, this one in South Dennis. The problem is not a dearth […]
NO FREE LUNCH
Summer Food Program Takes a Hit From Covid-19
About 600 children go without lunch for a day
After a kitchen worker tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, the region’s entire federally supported free lunch program, which spans Harwich to Provincetown, was shut down on Monday. Thirteen staffers […]
