Welcome to Valley Medical Group

 

Valley Medical Group Patient News

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FALL 2023 VACCINE INFORMATION (pdf version)

COVID-19 VACCINES
The FDA and CDC have approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine. The updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. Valley Medical Group supports vaccination and the CDC recommendations.

ADULT PATIENTS: Adult patients please contact your local pharmacy for the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

PEDIATRIC PATIENTS: Valley Medical Group expects to receive COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months thru 18 years in the near future.

FLU VACCINES:
Valley Medical Group has received flu vaccines and recommends the flu vaccine for all ages.
Valley Medical Group provides vaccines during medical appointments and scheduled “flu clinic” appointments.

RESPIRATORY SYNCTIAL VIRUS (RSV) VACCINE
The CDC has recently recommended that patients 60 years and older consider getting the new RSV vaccine when it becomes available this fall. RSV is a virus that causes an upper respiratory infection that can lead to hospitalizations and associated complications, including death. Patients who are at greatest risk from the infections are those with heart disease, chronic lung disease, immunosuppressed patients and/or patients living in long term care facilities. Valley Medical Group supports you getting this vaccine if you have one of these conditions. Please contact your local pharmacy for the vaccine.

BEYFORTUS MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY MEDICATION

Beyfortus is a prescription medicine used to help prevent a serious lung disease caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in:

• Newborns and babies under 1 year of age born during or entering their first RSV season.

• Children up to 24 months of age who remain at risk of severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.

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Valley Medical Group expects to receive Beyfortus when it is made available through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.

 

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                                           THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING VALLEY MEDICAL GROUP!
 

Valley Medical Group has been selected in several categories in this year’s Daily Hampshire Gazette Readers Choice Awards:

 

Winner: Best Family Doctor/General Practice

Finalist: Best Physical Therapy

Finalist: Best Podiatry Practice, Dr. Erskine

 

We are thrilled to be selected by patients and community members for the honor and privilege to provide your medical care.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) launched a statewide survey to improve community health. The 2023 Community Health Equity Survey was co-designed with residents and community partners across the state and examines the root causes of health outcomes to identify community strengths, gaps, health needs, concerns, inequities, and unintended consequences related to public health crises. Responses will be gathered through early fall 2023.

 

DPH’s Community Health Equity Initiative will use the survey findings to build on the state’s efforts to provide access to social and economic opportunities that keep people healthy, like affordable housing, reliable transportation, and nutritious, affordable food. The information you share will help DPH and community partners determine how best to allocate funding, improve programming, and develop policies to address health inequities. 

 

Who should take this survey? This survey is intended for anyone over the age of 14 who lives in Massachusetts. DPH specifically seeks to hear from communities who have been impacted by health inequities. 

 

How to take the survey: You may take the survey with a computer, phone or tablet. It will take around 15-25 minutes to complete. You can choose to complete the survey in Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese (simplified or traditional), English, Haitian Creole, Khmer, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can also take the survey in American Sign Language later this summer.

 

Link for the survey: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/take-the-community-health-equity-survey

 

Let’s make sure the voices of Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties are represented in this data.

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May 9, 2023

 

Dear VMG Community,

 

Massachusetts is lifting the health care mask mandate as of the end of the day May 11th.  Given these changes and public health recommendations, Valley Medical Group is making the following changes:

 

• May 12th:  End of the mask mandate at Valley Medical Group.  Masks will no longer be universally required for patients, staff or practitioners who do not exhibit signs of respiratory illness.  

• Anyone who wishes to wear a mask is welcome to do so.

• Masks will still be required for individuals with signs of respiratory illness or concern for Covid-19.

  

We understand that there will be a range of reactions to these decisions.  We hope that as a community we can continue to support and respect one another and allow each person to navigate their personal safety, as they deem appropriate. 

 

Thankfully, we are now in an era where things have shifted, we have substantial population-level immunity from infection and vaccines, treatments that work, and currently a variant of Covid-19 virus that is less dangerous.  We will continue to remain apprised of updates in best practices and ask for your cooperation when policies and procedures need to shift or be updated.

 

Take care,

 

Dr. Marguerite Gump

Medical Director 

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Valley Medical Group’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee Mission

 

Our DEI Committee’s mission is to foster a culture that includes and values diverse social identities where staff and patients feel welcome working and receiving services in our organization. We value diversity and inclusion and strive to interact with our patients and staff equitably with respect and dignity.

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We commit to support our mission by seeking feedback and revising our policies and procedures, and we will continue to provide all members of our organization with the tools necessary through dialogue and education, to participate in the work of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization.

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