Acknowledging Health Equity Pioneers
In observance of Black History Month, Spectrum Health Systems is honoring some of the people who have improved access to care and worked to address treatment disparities affecting the Black community. Just as the Black community has faced economic and educational injustices, it has also faced healthcare inequalities. In the ...
Nicole Orlando Smith Discusses Her Return to Spectrum
Nicole Orlando Smith applied for a role at Spectrum Health Systems on a whim in 2014. She had comprehensive experience working in mental health—addressing issues like depression and anxiety after earning a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on trauma—but she had no direct experience in addiction ...
The White House Hopes to Curb Overdoses by Unveiling New Dashboard
Last month, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy unveiled a new data dashboard in partnership with the National Highway Safety Administration to track non-fatal opioid overdoses. The dashboard uses a map to display Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data collected in each state and U.S. territory. The effort ...
A Letter from Our President: Kurt Isaacson Reflects on 2022
2022 was an interesting year in healthcare. With much of the world finding its footing in the ‘new normal,’ providers were hard at work continuing to keep clients and patients safe while deciding which pandemic-era policies and practices were here to stay, and which could be discontinued. This was no ...
Get to Know Lisa Blanchard, Chief Clinical Officer
With a background in both the clinical and administrative sides of behavioral health care, Lisa Blanchard knows that making treatment accessible is key to affecting positive change amid the addiction epidemic. It’s a philosophy that she embodies in her role as Chief Clinical Officer at Spectrum Health Systems, where she ...
Jeannie Saunders Reflects on Leaving—and Coming Back—to Spectrum
Coming from a billing background in the healthcare industry, Jeannie Saunders first joined Spectrum Health Systems in 2016. She had been unsatisfied with her previous position and a friend that worked at Spectrum had encouraged her to apply. Jeannie followed the recommendation, and the next thing she knew, she was ...
Get to Know Jonathan Miller, Chief Information Officer
For the last two decades, Jonathan Miller has worked to develop IT systems for nonprofits in the healthcare space. Now serving as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Spectrum Health Systems, Jonathan’s critical role has been to oversee the management and execution of the organization's information technology strategy. Before joining the ...
Get to Know Damaris Diaz, Spectrum’s Credentialing Manager
Based in Worcester, MA, Damaris Diaz has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She’s a diligent worker and life-long learner, but her most defining characteristic is her genuine interest in helping people find the help they need. It’s this combination of traits that makes her such a ...
From Medical Records Clerk to Rising Licensed Practical Nurse
We’re proud to introduce Carmen Villanueva, a Skilled Nursing Facility Recovery Support Navigator with Spectrum Health Systems. A Worcester resident, Carmen worked as a personal care assistant for years, visiting clients, mostly seniors, in their homes to administer care. Personal care assistants play an important role in healthcare, but work ...
National Recovery Month: Rapid Access Treatment Program
This year’s National Recovery Month theme is recovery is for all. While there are still several barriers to treatment access for those battling addiction, one of the most prevalent might just be the inability to access help precisely when an individual is ready to pursue recovery - a window of ...
National Recovery Month: Everyday Miracles, Peer Recovery Support
This year’s National Recovery Month theme is Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community. Recovery for all requires meeting individuals where they are, without judgement, and providing well-rounded resources and outlets for support. Addiction is a life-long disease, which means that for most, successful long-term recovery relies ...
National Recovery Month: A Look at Spectrum’s Adolescent Program
As part of National Recovery Month in September, we are spotlighting the missions and roles of our varied programming, as a full continuum of accessible treatment options is crucial for truly making recovery possible for all. Located in a family-style home in Methuen, Mass., Spectrum’s Bright Futures Program is a ...
National Recovery Month: A Look at Spectrum’s Outpatient Services
As part of National Recovery Month in September, we are spotlighting the missions and roles of each of our areas of service, as a full continuum of accessible treatment options is crucial for truly making recovery possible for all. Our outpatient services, with 15 locations throughout Massachusetts, play a vital ...
Recovery High Schools Offer Struggling Teens a Path to Sobriety and Success
For many teens, the transition to high school can be a stressful time. This is especially true for teens who are struggling with substance use disorders. Fortunately, the burgeoning recovery high school movement offers a compelling alternative where teens can complete their coursework while also receiving the support they need ...
Local College Partnerships Deliver Key Employee Benefits
Offering robust, ongoing professional development opportunities is one of the important ways we keep our team, at every level, on the forefront of behavioral health. In so doing, we are also able to fulfill our mission of providing the highest quality of services while being an outstanding place to work. ...
