Newton-Wellesley Hospital roundup

A few things from Newton-Wellesley Hospital:

* The Newton-Wellesley Hospital Charitable Foundation has announced it will hold HopeWalks, a 3.5 mile walk to benefit the Integrative Support Services offered at the Vernon Cancer Center,  on Sunday, September 26.  Newton-Wellesley Hospital wants to make the Center’s services available to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

The HopeWalks route will begin and end at the hospital, and all ages are welcome. Check-in is at 9:00am, with the walk beginning at 10:00am. Susan Wornick, of WCVB TV 5, will be the Honorary Master of Ceremonies. Walkers and their families will enjoy a hospitality tent, entertainment, food, and prizes given to largest teams and participants who raise the most money. There is no minimum donation amount required to participate. All walkers who raise $500+ are considered “Super” walkers, and those who raise $1,000+ are considered “Power” walkers.

The online registration fee is $20 per walker. For those who register by paper or on the day of the event, the registration fee is $25. Children 12 and under are free. All registered walkers will receive a HopeWalks t-shirt. Teams, individual walkers, and virtual walkers (those who cannot walk on the event day itself) can register online at www.nwh.org/hopewalks.

* Wellesley’s Ann Kennefick was recently given the CAREFirst award at Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s  Shipley Auditorium, recognizing her performance based on the CAREFirst attributes of compassion, attitude, responsibility, and excellence. Kennefick has been with Newton-Wellesley Hospital for 20 years, where she currently works as a nurse practitioner and nurse educator in the Diabetes Management Department.

Kennefick has spoken on a variety of health topics over the years including How Lifestyle Changes Impact Your Health/Blood Sugar; Coaching for Better Health; and Inpatient Hyperglycemia.

* The hospital plans to open an ambulatory surgery center for outpatient orthopaedic procedures at the Grossman’s lot in 2012. More from the Townsman and Globe.