By: Dr. Frank MacMillan – March, 2016 Acid or proton-pump inhibitor drugs (PPI) are among the most widely prescribed medicines in the world. They include brand names such as Nexium, Dexilant, Prilosec, Protonix, and generics such as omeprazole and pantoprazole. The first medicines in this class of drugs were first available in the late 1980s. […]
The Massachusetts House of Representatives took a number of important measures in addressing the ongoing opioid abuse crisis in the Commonwealth. The House passed comprehensive legislation that incorporated aspects of Governor Baker’s bill, the Senate opioid bill, input from the medical community, and input from families who have been affected by this scourge. The House […]
By: Paul Murano – March. 2016 One presidential candidate the other day was accused of being too pro-life. Is that possible? Can a person value human life too much? If you’ve read this column in the past or have heard the Cheap inflatable water slides Beneath the Surface radio show, you know that I value […]
Our center staffs a range of medical experts with varying skills, specialties and levels of expertise. During your visit, you may hear different people introduce themselves as a physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. When patients are offered medical services by any of these providers, the most frequently asked question is “What is the difference?” […]
By: Tom Duggan, Feb, 2016 Last month, I had the displeasure of spending a day in Waltham at the state’s Board of Registration in Medicine, also known as BORIM. They are a state board appointed by the governor (this board was appointed by Gov. Patrick) to oversee the disciplining of doctors accused of wrongdoing. […]
BOSTON – State Representative Jim Lyons (R-Andover) today offered an amendment to allow doctors and care givers the power to involuntarily hold overdose victims at a hospital or drug treatment facility for an initial three day period to receive emergency treatment. The amendment, put forth by Rep. Lyons and Rep. Shaunna L. O’Connell (R-Taunton), was […]
By: Dr. Frank MacMillan – Jan. 2016 Years end is a good opportunity for us to look back and take stock in what is good and what is not so good. Yes, the turning of the calendar year is an artificial boundary, but why not use this as an opportunity to leave the old behind […]
Though we have enjoyed an extremely mild fall, we know all-too-well that winter in New England can quickly sneak up on us and inflict a lot of misery. In addition to backbreaking shoveling and worrying about the snow piling up on our roofs, winter weather causes other issues that we may not necessarily immediately consider […]
By: State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell – Jan. 2016 We have an opportunity in coming weeks in the Legislature to send the Governor a comprehensive piece of legislation to further address the opioid crisis. Legislative action to date includes substantially increased funding for: treatment post-detox; Community Mental Health Centers for both adults and youth; and […]
By: Rick Bellanti – Jan. 2016 I received a great question this week and thought I’d address it here this month since it’s the start of the New Year, when everyone is gearing up with their 2016 New Years Resolutions. Where do you get your motivation from and how do you maintain it to not […]
State Representative Jim Lyons (R-Andover) today supported the repeal of a 1989 law requiring individuals to forfeit their driver’s license for five years for certain drug-related offenses. The current law is seen as a deterrent to individuals convicted of minor drug crimes who try to secure employment or treatment following their release from prison. The […]
By: Dr. Padmanabhan – December, 2015 In November’s Valley Patriot, I laid out the reason underlying the false government narrative that prescribing pain medicine to patients is the cause of the increasing number of overdose deaths. I was encouraged that finally after 2 years of drum-beating the false government narrative and concealing the massive impact […]
By: Dr. Frank MacMillan – December, 2015 As a college student in the mid 1980s, I studied and received my bachelor degree in economics prior to attending medical school. Also In the mid 1980s, I took note that one component of the new wave in health care was insurance paid prescription drug coverage. As a […]
BOSTON—The clinical director of a home nursing agency was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with her role in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud Medicare. Janie Troisi, 66, of Revere, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to three months in prison and three years of supervised […]
By: Tom Duggan – Dec. 2015 Serving more than 1,500 meals per month and having room to shelter only 50 people per night, the Daybreak Homeless Shelter in Lawrence is in severe need of additional funding as well as a new facility. According to Psychological Center CEO, Carina Pappalardo, the Daybreak Shelter serves 1,600 homeless […]