May news from Whittier Health Network

Apr 30, 2026 2:55 pm

MAY 2026

Our monthly newsletter is dedicated to keeping you informed about people, news and events at our hospitals and transitional care units in Haverhill and Westborough, MA. At Whittier, we are dedicated to your well-being!

Patient Success | Whittier Westborough

Richard Marrone, Jr.’s recovery: "Being pushed is the reward" 💪👏

We’re inspired by Mr. Marrone’s story of recovery after a bad car accident in November 2025. His journey took him from the ICU to long-term acute care and inpatient rehabilitation at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital-Westborough, and then to home! Read his story and see his success video on our faceook page.

See video

Patient Success | Whittier Bradford TCU

Lisa’s mom Diane and her recovery from knee replacement 💪👏

Diane had a complex recovery after knee replacement surgery, but Whittier’s transitional care unit helped her get back on her feet (with a green tag walker!) and return home. She had nothing but good things to say about the hospital where her daughter Lisa works.

Outpatient Success | Whittier Westborough

Elaine was our latest “Outpatient Graduate!”

Elaine came to our outpatient department to recover after a stroke. She exceeded all expectations in physical therapy in such a short time, and finished her therapy a few weeks ago. 💪 Her wit and humor brought so much joy to the clinic. We already miss having Elaine in physical therapy, and we wished her all the best!

More about Outpatient

Celebrating Staff | Whittier Bradford

Darlene Nunez was our March Distinguished Service Award winner👏

Darlene Nunez, CNA, consistently demonstrates a positive attitude and strong compassion toward both patients and coworkers. She takes pride in keeping rooms clean, organized, and welcoming, and is always willing to lend a hand whenever needed. Her teamwork, leadership qualities, and caring nature make her a valued employee who is respected by both staff and patients. We were proud to recognize Darlene for her outstanding service and contributions!

Therapy Dogs | Whittier Bradford

Meet Keiko, a therapy dog in training! 🐕‍🦺

Keiko is almost done with her coursework to graduate as a therapy dog!

She visited Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital-Bradford with her owner/handler Lesley Galipeau (at left) and dog trainer John Forbes of Great Bay K9. Lindsey, one of our outpatient admissions coordinators, was thrilled to pet Keiko while she was here. We hope Keiko will visit again to complete her training and bring our patients joy on a regular basis!

Service Spotlight | Inpatient Acute Rehabilitation

Whittier Rehabilitation Hospitals’ IRFs give hope to individuals who need intensive acute rehabilitation after a hospital stay.

Our patients who require resource-intensive care in an inpatient setting receive 24-hour medical supervision and treatment. This model is recognized as the gold standard in the field of rehabilitation. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), IRF patients have more successful outcomes and discharge home with fewer hospital readmissions, in contrast to other rehabilitation models and settings.

National Stroke Awareness Month | Act FAST!

Why is it important to BE FAST with a stroke?

A person loses as many as 2 million nerve cells for every minute they don't receive medical treatment during a stroke. The letters BE FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, and Time) can help you recognize the sudden signs and symptoms of an acute stroke in you or someone else and call 911 for help as soon as possible.

Did you know?

• Our hospitals’ dual certification as LTAC and IRF allows us to treat all patients regardless of the level of rehabilitative care they require or qualify for under medicare guidelines. We can tailor each of our patients’ rehabilitation programs to improve progression toward their goals so they may get back to their previous lives. Read more.

• Did you know that a spouse or family member can tour our hospitals? We encourage family members to tour the hospital prior to their admission. Prospective patients can contact their case manager or call the hospital directly to schedule a tour with our admissions teams at (978) 372-8000 (Bradford) or (508) 870-2222 (Westboro).

• Did you know that Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital-Westborough offers Outpatient Physical Therapists mother’s hours? A PT career at Whittier offers flexibility along with quality, consistency, and a sense of purpose. We’re happy to consider early shift hours versus later shift hours depending upon an applicant's availability....because we know life happens outside of work, too! Click this link for our Outpatient PT job listing and below for other positions.

Mark your Calendar! | Events at Whittier

National Nurses Week | Let a Nurse Know!

Did a Whittier nurse help you with exceptional care?

Did one of our nurses go above and beyond during your physical recovery and rehabilitation? Contact us at Bradford or Westborough and we’ll pass along your accolades to them during Nurses Week.

May Health Observances

Older Americans Month 👴👵

National Stroke Awareness Month 🧠

Mental Health Awareness Month 💚

National Arthritis Awareness Month 🤏

Lyme Disease Awareness Month 🦌

Brain Tumor Awareness Month 🧠

ALS Awareness Month 🎗️🧠🧊

May 6-12: National Nurses Week 🩺☤♡

May 10-16: National Women’s Health Week 🚶‍♀️

May 10-16: National Skilled Nursing Care Week

May 27: National Senior Health + Fitness Day 💪