2004 Hartford Hospital Annual Report

Report to the Community
TThis year marked a significant milestone for Hartford Hospital
as we observed the 150th anniversary of our founding.
Highlights of our yearlong celebration included a special
Black and Red Ball, the creation of a book and video on the
hospital’s history, numerous employee-focused events and
activities, and the Medical Staff’s sponsorship of the
Connecticut Forum on Ethics. Many thanks to everyone
who helped make this landmark year such a memorable one.
We had other reasons to celebrate, as well. In January,
Hartford Hospital received the coveted Magnet Recognition
for Excellence in Nursing Services from the American Nurses
Credentialing Center. Fewer than 100 hospitals have earned
this prestigious award. The distinction reflects well on Nursing
and the entire hospital. It will help us continue to attract staff
of the very highest caliber.
There was more good news in February, when we
learned that the hospital had received a very positive report
following a review by the Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Every member of the
hospital community can be proud of this achievement.
This year saw the launch of several new programs.
Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living opened the Memory
Disorders Center to provide evaluation and early detection of
dementia. As a result of our acquisition of St. Francis’ partial
hospital and school programs, The Institute now has a second
satellite location of the Grace W. Webb School. The Webb School
at Bloomfield provides special education and clinical services to
students in grades 8 through 12. July saw the opening of our
state-of-the-art Simulation Center, which provides invaluable,
hands-on professional education using realistic manikins,
sophisticated software, and exact replicas of trauma, emergency
and intensive care units. The Board also approved the creation
of an Ambulatory Surgery Center at West Hartford’s Blue
Back Square. The center is expected to open in late 2006. In
Newington, the staff of Jefferson House has taken on management
of Cedar Mountain Commons, our independent- and
assisted-living residence.
We continue to enhance quality of care through leadingedge
technology. This year we became the first medical center
in Connecticut to use an advanced robotic device, the da Vinci
Surgical System, to perform minimally invasive prostate
surgery. Soon Hartford Hospital will become the first to use
the device for cardiothoracic procedures, as well.
Several significant appointments occurred this year,
including: Laurine Bow, Ph.D., as Vice President of Research;
Orlando Kirton, M.D., as Director of Surgery; Steve O’Neill as
Vice President of Information Services; and Joel Sorosky, M.D.,
as Director of Women’s Health.
As we close one chapter of the hospital’s history and
begin to write the next, I look forward to continued collaboration
among the Board, Medical Staff and management. It will take
all of us, working together, to ensure that Hartford Hospital will
meet the health care needs of this and future generations.
John Meehan
President and Chief Executive Officer
HARTFORD HOSPITAL