Many Cape Codders have chosen to live here because of life-quality issues, and good health is one of them. There are a number of facilities that help us stay healthy; more and more of those facilities have been able to offer us sophisticated health-care services that once required a trip to Boston. Those who live and work here are also concerned with being able to meet the health-care needs of visitors. And the Cape has a relatively high percentage of elderly residents who need access to health care. For those reasons, rescue units in every town are well equipped and well prepared, with extra staff on hand or on call in the busy summer months. Medical clinics as well as many family practices accept walk-in patients.
Cape Cod is also a place where venerable traditions and promising innovations have met in the formation and growth of Cape Cod Healthcare, which began in 1996 with the merger of Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital. This health system serves all 15 towns along the 70-mile peninsula that is the Cape.
If you have a major medical emergency, dial 911 to reach a rescue unit. For home visits, screenings, and a variety of other services, the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is a great resource. VNAs on the Cape, which are all affiliated with Cape Cod Healthcare, may be reached at (800) 631-3900 or www.vnacapecod.org.