Backus and Windham hospitals reported the addition of specialists and subspecialists, increased access for patients, earning national recognition for quality and safety and the expansion of ambulatory services on the shoreline and western Rhode Island as highlights during a joint annual meeting of hospital corporators held on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

The meeting held at the Hartford HealthCare East Region System Support Office in Norwich announced highlights including:

• Windham Hospital and Backus were awarded an ‘A’ for The Leapfrog Group’s latest Hospital Safety Grade rating. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harm to patients in their care. Windham and Backus were the only hospitals in the Eastern Connecticut to receive the top grade.

• Backus was the only hospital in the state and one of only 460 nationwide to receive the Patient Safety Excellence Award from HealthGrades. The Patient Safety Excellence Award recognizes hospitals that have the lowest occurrences of 14 preventable patient safety events. These hospitals are in the top 10 percent in the nation for patient safety.

• Increased access to providers with the addition of specialists and sub-specialists in the areas of neurology, neurosurgery, movement disorders, pain management, cardiology, heart failure, vascular surgery, electrophysiology, medical oncology and the opening of Tallwood Men’s Health, a comprehensive service with offices across eastern Connecticut designed to help connect men with related specialties including urology, sleep disorders, cardiology, bariatrics and behavioral health.

• Renovations have been completed or are underway at Backus and Windham hospitals and off sites including; a more modernized main entrance and corridors at Backus with artwork highlighting the history of the hospital, the city of Norwich, staff and innovation; a new infusion center at Backus set to be completed in 2020; a new HVAC system at Windham Hospital with plans for the addition of a pharmacy in the cancer center at 5 Founders St. and a complete renovation of the sterile processing department is in the works.

• The expansion of ambulatory offerings on the shoreline including the opening of a new 24,000-square-foot health center in Pawcatuck with primary care, rehabilitation and session space.  Construction also got underway at the new multi-specialty and primary care center in Mystic. The 47,000-square-foot facility off of Coogan Boulevard will be a hub for neuroscience and cardiology with specialists and subspecialists in neuromuscular neurology, neurosurgery, movement disorder, pain, cardiology, electrophysiology, heart failure, and vascular surgery, along with full imaging, primary care, and concierge medicine.

Speaking to the more than 100 hospital corporators, supporters, local officials and hospital and regional leadership, East Region President Donna Handley congratulated staff for their continued recognition as industry leaders in quality and safety but said there is no room for complacency.

“While it’s important to celebrate these recognitions, we must always strive for complete perfection when it comes to patient safety,” Handley said.  “This is why our system goal for safety in 2020 is zero harm and zero preventable deaths.  This is the commitment we owe to our patients and their families.”

Hartford HealthCare Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Mike Daglio told the crowd about the continued expansion of the Hartford HealthCare institutes and the addition of specialists, subspecialists and services to the region in the areas of cardiology, neuroscience, oncology and urology. He said the health system is focused on recruiting more providers to the east in 2020.

“I’m happy to report that our leadership team in the East has Backus and Windham ready for this unprecedented growth,” said Daglio.  “Whether through their high standard for quality and safety, attracting and retaining a talented workforce or forecasting need and executing on capital projects to accommodate our expansion, I’m confident that our hospitals and their outpatient locations will continue to be the foundation of the care we provide.”