- Clinical Services
- Advanced Wound Care
- Balance and Hearing Institute
- Bariatric / Weight Management
- Behavioral Health Services
- Cancer Center
- Diabetes and Nutrition Center
- Digestive Health
- Family Birthing Center
- Heart Center
- Imaging
- MidState Medical Group
- Neuroscience
- Occupational Health
- Orthopaedics
- Sleep Care
- Spine and Pain Institute
- Stroke Center
- Surgical Center
- Total Joint Education Program
- Travel Clinic & Infectious Diseases
- Women's Health
- Emergency & Urgent Care
- Clinical Services
Our new, larger, state-of-the-art Emergency Department was specially designed to shorten wait times.
ALWAYS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY
You are important to us, and providing quality, safe care to every patient every time is at the heart of what we do. That's why our staff, clinical and non-clinical alike, is fully committed to excellent care and a positive patient experience. At MidState, we are always looking for ways to improve your care. We are on the cutting-edge of all best practices and participate in all national endeavors that promote quality and patient safety. We strive to be the best we can be to ensure the best possible outcome. You can find quality in:
In independent patient satisfaction surveys, MidState Medical Center consistently ranks among the best hospitals in the state and the nation. And, as further testament to MidState's longstanding commitment to quality and excellence, the Hospital continues to be the proud recipient of a variety of awards and commendations.
Here is a list of our most recent awards.
Patient Safety
When you're in the hospital, you expect quality, safe care. And you should. But do you know what's going on behind-the-scenes to ensure that your care is as thorough as possible? MidState's Patient Safety Council meets monthly to discuss and evaluate ways to enhance the care of our patients. This interdisciplinary team focuses on matters such as fall prevention, proper patient identification, medication management, and various others. MidState is committed to improving patient safety through the implementation of several best-practice initiatives:
Falls are the leading cause of injury to patients in hospitals. The primary goal of healthcare workers at MMC is to identify patients at risk to fall and keep them safe from harm.
Why am I on Fall Precautions?
Every patient admitted to MMC is assessed by a nurse. Your nurse determined that placing you on Fall Precautions would keep you safe from harm during your hospitalization.
What increases my risk of falling?
There are many reasons why patients are at risk to fall in a hospital. These reasons may include:
- Poor vision or hearing
- Difficulty with balance, walking or foot problems
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Use of multiple medications or certain medications for sedation, pain, sleep, or blood pressure control
- Environmental hazards such as wet floors, IV tubing, oxygen tubing, catheters, phone cords, or clutter in your room
- Procedures or surgery that affect your balance or ability to walk
What can I expect?
When you are placed on Fall Precautions, you can expect to see an apple on the door frame of your room.
You can also expect that staff will use bed and chair alarms to help us keep watch over you. This equipment will be used when staff is not in the room, even if you have family or other visitors in the room.
Staff will be sure that your call bell and personal items are within reach before they leave the room.
Did you know that the most falls occur when patients try to get to the bathroom without assistance?
What can I do to decrease my fall risk?
- Never get up without staff assistance - “Call before you fallâ€Â
- Wear safe shoes or non-skid slippers when out of bed
- Tell staff about your daily routine and bathroom habits
What can family/visitors do to decrease the patient’s risk of falls?
- Bring in glasses, hearing aids, and safe shoes
- Share with staff any history of falls, confusion or if you notice new confusion/dizziness. Suggest ways to keep the patient safe.
- Call a staff member to the room if the patient needs repositioning or assistance to the bathroom – do not assist the patient yourself
- Do not turn off the bed or chair alarm
Home Safety
MMC also wants you to be safe at home as your chances of falling are high during the first month home from the hospital
What Else Should I know?
Talk with your nurse, your home care provider or your doctor about ways to prevent falls at home. There are many things that can be done to keep you safe.
Remember: spending time with your loved one in the hospital can help decrease falls.y
The mission of the FAST Team is to reduce the death and disability that can occur as a result of a stroke. When someone suffers a stroke, every minute counts. Quickly recognizing the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) may make all the difference in someone achieving a more favorable outcome. This highly trained team is able to promptly evaluate the patient and conduct specific laboratory and imaging tests, which allow for a diagnosis to be made along with the administration of the latest stroke therapies.
Medication reconciliation is the process of comparing a patient's hospital medication orders to all of the medications that the patient has been taking at home. This reconciliation is done at hospital admission and discharge to avoid medication errors. Our patients hold a vital role as a member of the healthcare team in the medication reconciliation process. Each patient discharged to home receives an updated wallet card with a list of all their medications to take at home. This wallet card should be carried with the patient, and when admitted, will be used as the primary source for the patient's medication history
The Rapid Response Team is in place to assist patients, families, visitors and staff when emergency assistance is needed. Should a patient's condition change dramatically, extension 8400 is dialed and a team consisting of a nurse manager or nursing coordinator, advanced practiced registered nurse, and respiratory therapist responds immediately to perform an assessment and any necessary treatment. This year MidState implemented the family-activated Rapid Response Team, allowing a patient or a patient's family member the ability to call a Rapid Response Team if there is a change in patient status.
The longer you lay in a hospital bed, the greater your risk for skin problems, or bed sores. MidState has specific protocols in place to help prevent the occurrence of bed sores. All patients are evaluated for their risk of skin breakdown on hospital admission and continuously throughout the day. For patients whose mobility is compromised, nurses reposition the patient every two hours. Staff may also use special cushions, creams and products to maintain the skin's condition. An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, who specializes in skin care, is also available to evaluate any concerns with a patient's skin.
Before any surgery at MidState, the entire surgical team takes a "time out" to review several items including: verifying your name, the procedure to be performed, any allergies you may have, and the correct side or site of surgery. This process begins when you are first interviewed by the MidState staff for surgery and continues into the operating room. The SurgiCenter has placed large safety posters in patient waiting areas to remind patients how they can play an active role in their own safety prior to surgery.
Resources for you
MidState Medical Center is committed to partnering with consumers to improve health and safety. Hospitals engage in many activities to keep patients safe, but there are many things you can do to help.
MidState is working with partners including the Connecticut Hospital Association, Connecticut Department of Public Health, and others to promote awareness of patient safety strategies and empower patients to be more active partners in their care. As the first step in this statewide effort to engage patients in safety, we have developed a wallet medication card in order to assist consumers in maintaining an accurate record of the medicines they take and other important information. It is critical that your healthcare providers have complete information about your medical history and current medications, and we encourage all consumers to use the wallet medication card or a similar tool to track this information. The wallet medication card and instructions are available in two formats by clicking on the links below.
Click here for Wallet Medication Card (PDF version).
Click here for Wallet Medication Card (Microsoft Word version).
The first format (PDF) is for consumers who will print the card and complete it by hand. The second format (Microsoft Word) is for consumers who would like to download the card as a Microsoft Word document and save it to their own computer for filling out electronically before printing.
In this test, X-ray film is replaced by solid-state detectors that convert x-rays into electrical signals similar to those in digital cameras. Electrical signals used to produce images of the breast can be seen on a computer screen.
To get the most out of your mammogram, you should know your risk for breast cancer.
A well-assembled first-aid kit can be help you respond quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency. That's why the American Red Cross advises you to keep one kit in your car and at least one at home, stored in an easy-to-retrieve location that is out of the reach of small children. Children old enough to know the purpose of the kit should be informed about its whereabouts.
How to Assemble Your Own First-Aid Kit
You can purchase an assembled first-aid kit at your local drugstore, or you could put one together yourself. A proper kit should include:
Give Your Kit a Check-up
Check your kits every three months to make sure that batteries are still operating and expired supplies are replaced. Prepare children for medical emergencies in age appropriate ways. The American Red Cross offers several programs designed to help children understand and use first-aid techniques in case of an emergency. -source Mayoclinic.com
You can browse our list of community resources to learn more about the towns we serve. The following links will provide you with information on the economic and lifestyle landscape of the Greater Meriden community.
Local Chambers of Commerce
Local Citys and Towns
Local Newspaper
State Resource
No one likes to think about the threat of an emergency, but planning for a potential crisis is vital for your safety and well being. To aid in emergency preparedness planning, MidState Medical Center is providing you - the community - with a variety of tools to ensure that, in the event of an actual emergency, you know what steps to take.
This information comes to you as part of a larger initiative, entitled MidState Ready, in which the hospital strengthens its emergency procedures and protocols. It is our hope that by providing these tools to you, you will take an active role in your own safety.
Below you'll find information on emergency supply kits, communication plans, and a variety of other materials to assist in your preparation. Together we can make our community stronger. MidState's ready. Are you?
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides information on what to include in an emergency supply kit, how to formulate a family plan, and what to consider when planning for special populations like children. Click each of the links below for more information:
Preparing for People with Disabilities and Special Needs
How prepared are you? Not sure. Find out your Readiness Quotient (RQ) brought to you by The Council for Excellence in Government. This brief assessment helps you gauge what still needs to be done to protect yourself.
Test your Readiness Quotient
The American Red Cross has made available a list of necessary tips to consider when preparing an evacuation plan. They also have created an emergency contact card to carry in your wallet in case of an emergency.
Preparing an Evacuation Plan
Emergency Contact Card - Wallet Size
The Connecticut Department of Homeland Security has produced a list of all local emergency management contacts in the state. Organized by town, it is a great resource if you have any questions or concerns on your town's emergency plans.
Experts report that 50% of all patients make potentially dangerous mistakes when taking their medications. Here are some tips to follow. Keep track of the names (both generic and brand names) and dosages of any medications you take. If you need large print directions, ask. If the directions are confusing, ask your doctor or pharmacist for an explanation. Even if you don't receive special instructions, avoid common medicine mistakes like crushing or chewing medications without checking with your doctor or measuring doses with a kitchen spoon instead of a measuring spoon. Ask about the potential for drug interactions. Even a glass of grapefruit juice can hinder the effectiveness of certain medication. Keep on the directed dosage schedule for best results.
For more information or to receive a free medication-tracking card, contact MidState Medical Center at 203 694 8735.
Visit The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services website for further information on how we compare with other hospitals.
