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In an emergency, it is helpful to have important medical and contact information close at hand. Download our File of Life, fill it out and keep it handy so that your medical team can offer safe care fast.

 

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MetroWest Medical Center has earned top designation for Coronary Intervention!

MetroWest Medical Center is proud to be named One of America’s Best Coronary Intervention Hospitals for 2023 by Healthgrades! This distinction places us in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for coronary intervention. We are also a 5 star recipient for our treatment of respiratory failure and a 5 star recipient for treatment of sepsis for 11 years in a row.

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About MetroWest Medical Center

Welcome to MetroWest Medical Center.  Our two hospitals in Natick and Framingham offer advanced diagnostic and treatment options for a wide range of healthcare needs. We have been serving our community for over 125 years, and we are committed to providing high quality, compassionate care, at a location close to home.

Whether you come to our hospitals for emergency care, to receive cancer treatment, for surgery, to share the birth of your baby with us, or for any other medical need, you can expect to receive excellent, comprehensive care from our highly skilled, award winning, physicians and staff. We are committed to earning the trust of every patient, family, and community member that walks through our doors by ensuring that our care meets the highest possible standards of care, every time.

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News & Announcements

It’s No Trick to Safely Carve Your Halloween Pumpkin

Oct 27, 2023

It’s Halloween time again! And you know what that means. Children (and some adults) dressing up as the latest super hero, scary ghost or fairy-tale princess, collecting and eating lots and lots of candy, and the all-important carving their pumpkin. It just wouldn’t be a festive Halloween without these gourd-like fruits cut into ghoulish faces or fanciful designs, and lit by candles. But it won’t be a fun occasion either if you don’t take the proper precautions to avoid injuries while carving your jack-o'-lantern.

“Because pumpkins are both slippery and tough, cuts can easily occur if the knife gets stuck in the rind, force is used to dislodge it, and the supporting hand accidently gets sliced in the process,” says Dr. Lisa Sotir, Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine for MetroWest Medical Center. “Despite best intentions, wounds to the fingers or palm could cause damage to arteries, nerves or tendons, and require anything from a bandage if they are shallow, to stitches, or even surgery if a tendon is cut.”

Dr. Sotir offers the following tips to avoid hand injuries while still creating a jack-o'-lantern worthy of display on your front porch.

  • Don’t let children carve pumpkins. Instead, they can draw a pattern on the pumpkin, or help scoop out all the seeds and pulp. Make sure an adult does all the actual cutting.
  • Use the right tools. Don’t use your good kitchen knives because they are more likely to get stuck in the thick rind. Opt for pumpkin-carving tools that are specially designed to saw through rinds, poke holes, and scoop out the insides.
  • Don’t rush and be sure to carve your pumpkin in a well-lit area so you can see what you are doing. Carve away from your body and keep your hands dry so you don’t slip while holding a knife or other cutting tool.

“If you do cut your finger or hand, apply direct pressure to the injury and keep it elevated above your heart,” says Dr. Sotir. “Bleeding should slow down or stop in about 15 minutes. If it doesn’t, you may need to seek emergency medical care.”