- 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.
MIDSTATE NEWS FOR 2011
Below is the latest MidState Medical Center news stories for the current year. Click the [+] next to each title to view that story. You may also visit the the news archive to view stories that occurred prior to this year.
MidState's First Baby of The Year Weighs in at 8 lbs., 4 oz.
MERIDEN - On New Year's Eve, Merly De La Hoz-Cookson danced the night away as she rang in 2012 with husband James Cookson and her family. It was the first time in four months she had danced, after being told not to by her doctor five months into her pregnancy.
"We were dancing a lot," said De La Hoz-Cookson, 31, laughing and recalling the fun she had.
The dancing, she believes, may have begun inducing labor. By 3 a.m. Monday, she and her husband were on their way to MidState Medical Center. Just two hours later, at 5:06 a.m., De La Hoz-Cookson gave birth to Daniel Alejandro Cookson, her first child and the first baby born in Meriden in 2012. The timing came as something of a surprise to the proud parents; Daniel arrived six days before his due date.
For the first time in recent memory, the city's first baby came a day after New Year's. In stark contrast, just two years ago, all 14 rooms in the hospital's birthing center were full of new or expecting mothers. The first woman to give birth that day didn't even have a room when she got to the hospital.
Monday, however, the husband and wife and family members had plenty of space as they spent time with Daniel on his first day. He weighed in at eight pounds, four ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. The boy's father found it difficult to put his emotions into words.
"As a guy, you usually feel one way or another and that's it," said Cookson, 28. "This is just one of those feelings that you can't describe. You just think about how beautiful he is, how he's healthy ... I'm just so proud that I can't describe it."
De La Hoz-Cookson said she was nervous leading up to the birth, but had since calmed down as she held Daniel in her arms, smiling at the baby's every movement.
The Middletown couple has been together since 2005 and married in 2010. They met in an airport in Panama. De La Hoz-Cookson had just traveled to her native Colombia. They chatted, and with multiple flight delays got to know each other. Over time, they built a relationship, leading to marriage. They both work for Tantor Media in Old Saybrook, where Cookson is a sound engineer and De La Hoz-Cookson is a supervisor.
It is believed that Carolyn Vanderbilt was the first baby born in Connecticut in 2012, born at 12:02 a.m. on Sunday at Greenwich Hospital, according to the Greenwich Time newspaper. Born to Greenwich residents Hugh and Roxanne Vanderbilt. Carolyn beat Daniel by more than a full day.
MidState Medical Center Among Qualidigm's 'Communities of Care' Named A Hartford Business Journal Health Care Hero for Advancements in Health Care Prevention
Meriden - Qualidigm, the health care consulting and research organization in Rocky Hill, has been named a 2011 Health Care Hero by the Hartford Business Journal for advancements in health care prevention through its "Communities of Care" Program of which MidState Medical Center is a volunteer participant.
The Hartford Business Journal's annual recognition identifies outstanding leaders in the Health Care Industry who embody heroes through their proven excellence in helping others. This year's judges included representatives from the Healthcare Advocate's Office (OHA), the Connecticut Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Yale University School of Nursing.
MidState Strives to Reduce Hospital Readmissions for Patients with Heart Failure
For close to two years, MidState has worked with Qualidigm as part of Communities of Care; a growing initiative of 12 healthcare communities statewide each comprised of a volunteer nursing home, hospital, home care and physician partners to reduce preventable readmissions to the hospital for patients with heart failure.
"This award-winning effort seeks to improve the quality of care and life for people with heart failure" said Anne Elwell, Qualidigm's vice president for Community Relations. "This is essential since each year nearly five million people in the United States experience heart failure. In fact, hospitalizations for heart failure are one of the nation's most pervasive, costly and life-altering issues that needlessly affect patients' life quality and burden our health care delivery system," Elwell explained.
The collective, coordinated efforts of all participating Community of Care partners - about 150 statewide health care providers including MidState Medical Center - is intended to standardize the provision of care to heart failure patients within and across care settings, and to engage patients and their families as active care partners. The innovation aims at improving patient and family communication with health care providers, accurate medication record keeping, and follow-up care following a patient's discharge from the hospital.
Qualidigm's New Heart Talk Video Series
Toward these key education and communications goals, Qualidigm recently produced and released Heart Talk, an educational video series to prevent avoidable hospital readmissions for health care professionals, nursing assistants and patients with heart failure.
The three-part video series is made possible by funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Jason W. Ryan, M.D., a cardiologist at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, assistant professor of Medicine and co-director of UConn's Heart Failure Center, serves as narrator. The goal of the short, instructional videos is to offer easy-to-understand and consistent information about heart failure. The free films are being used by hospitals, nursing homes, home care and hospice agencies, physician practices, patients and caregivers nationwide and are available at www.qualidigm.org.
The first video is for licensed healthcare professionals; the second is for nursing assistants; the third is for patients, families and caregivers. The videos focus on the key recommendations that, if followed, can help patients with heart failure live a healthier life without unnecessary hospitalizations. The films are in English and will be produced in Polish and Spanish in 2012. Heart Talk videos for patients account for literacy as well as health literacy using easy-to-understand language explained at a sixth-grade level.
"The improvements to medical and communications processes developed by Qualidigm's highly effective Communities of Care can also be used to prevent readmissions for patients with other diseases," said Howard Dubin, MD, Director of the Hospitalist Service at MidState Medical Center. "We know that improved processes can only lead to better health care outcomes and that means happier patients and families," said Dr. Dubin.
About Qualidigm
Qualidigm's mission is to continually advance improvement in the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of health care. The organization is serving in its 26th year as the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization contractor for the State of Connecticut. Qualidigm is also a Patient Safety Organization designated by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. Other clients include the State Medicaid Agencies in Connecticut and Rhode Island, eHealthConnecticut, a statewide Health Information Exchange; academic institutions, national and international health care consulting firms, local and national foundations focused on quality health care, accreditation bodies, providers in all health care settings, payers and purchasers.
Medical Oncologists Transition To MidState Medical Center Medical Oncology & Hematology
Meriden - MidState Medical Center is pleased to announce that Gary Tansino MD, Gerard Fumo MD, and Rajani Nadkarni MD of Medical Oncology & Hematology PC (MOH) have transitioned to MidState Medical Center Medical Oncology & Hematology, effective January 2, 2012.
Our medical oncologists have been a strong partner with our hospital for over 25 years. They are a great asset to our cancer program and have an excellent reputation among patients in our community. This change will give us the ability to further collaborate and coordinate the most effective treatment plans for our patients.
The office for MidState Medical Center Medical Oncology & Hematology will remain in its current location with the same phone number. An interdisciplinary team of hospital staff has been working diligently to ensure a seamless transition for both patients and staff.
MidState Medical Center names 2011 Physician Recognition Award Winners
MidState Medical Center is pleased to announce its 2011 Physician Recognition Award Winners. At the Medical Staff Annual Meeting in 2008, Physician Recognition Awards were presented for the very first time. Offering this prestigious recognition has continued annually, and in what has quickly become a proud tradition at the hospital, three physicians were honored on December 8. Another 25 nominees were also recognized.
Accepting awards were David Ross-Russell, MD for The Matthew Campione Community Service Award; Nirmala Ramadhar-Persoud, MD for The Joseph Goodman Clinical Collaboration and Teamwork Award; and Charles Kim, MD for the Daniel Kahn Clinical Quality Award.
Nominations came from the entire MidState community, including colleagues, staff, patients and patients' families. Each Selection Committee evaluated the nominees against the specific criteria established for each award and then recommended, to the Awards Steering Committee, up to two nominees for consideration. The Steering Committee then made the determination whether any of the awards were made, and to whom.
"Nominations are, in themselves, a significant recognition of accomplishment. Many of our nominees have been nominated by more than one nominator," said Harold Kaplan, MD, vice president of Medical Affairs.
Congratulations to these three outstanding physicians on this achievement.
More information on our award winners:
David Ross-Russell, MD
The Matthew Campione Community Service Award
Dr. Ross-Russell has been a member of our Medical Staff for 20 years, and has always demonstrated a profoundly humanistic approach to patient care. An active participant in Schwartz Rounds, and a long time advocate for ethical and compassionate patient care, he is the only member of our Medical Staff, and one of the first physicians in Connecticut, to be Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care. As the Medical Director for the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team, he had a major role in oversight of primary care for hospice patients in the community. Although a lead physician for a major practice in Wallingford, Dr. Ross-Russell has still made time to help support us in the development of our new Palliative Care Service, where he now also serves as Medical Director.
Nirmala Ramadhar-Persoud, MD
The Joseph Goodman Clinical Collaboration and Teamwork Award
Dr. Ramadhar has clearly made a profound impression on her colleagues, the other members of her healthcare team, and her patients. As attested in one of the multiple nominations she received, "She is an excellent team player and team captain, and patient care is in her soul." A nurse, who has worked with Dr. Ramadhar for several years, says that, "In each capacity, I have witnessed her respect for a holistic team-based approach to coordinated care. Always approachable and reachable, she welcomes questions, comments or suggestions as it relates to a patient under her care." She is also cited for being a skilled clinician who will take the time to provide an important impromptu educational session to empower staff with the information needed to ensure excellent evidenced-based care.
Charles Kim, MD
The Daniel Kahn Clinical Quality Award
Dr. Kim has been a member of our Medical Staff for over 35 years, and throughout that time, has been recognized as an outstanding practitioner in his specialty, and in fact, was nominated by nine different colleagues, patients and staff members. His counsel has always reflected the most current standards of care, evidenced-based medicine and best practices. His consultations are timely and effective, and his skills in the operating room are broadly recognized. In addition, he has graciously and frequently taken on the role of educator to the Medical Staff, particularly as an active participant in Tumor Board discussions. He has promoted and practiced evidenced-based medicine and while usually dealing with the sickest of the sick, has always taken accountability for his patients and their outcomes.
MidState Physicians Praised for the 'great things' They Do
MERIDEN - Physician awards and speeches from the president of the medical staff and chief executive officer highlighted the MidState Medical Center annual meeting Thursday night.
The Physician Recognition Awards have been handed out since 2008. They are given to physicians for their contributions to the hospital through community service, leadership, clinical quality and collaboration.
"This is the fourth year we have handed out these awards," said Dr. Harold Kaplan, MidState's vice president for medical affairs. "So often are physicians called out on the carpet when things go bad, and when they go well, it's just what they are supposed to do. They deserve positive responses for the great things they are doing."
The Daniel Kahn, M.D., Clinical Quality Award was given to Dr. Charles Kim, a specialist in thoracic cardiovascular surgery. He has been on the MidState staff for 35 years, going back to the days of its predecessor, Meriden-Wallingford Hospital. An anonymous nominator wrote that he or she "never met a surgeon so easy to admire and respect."
The Clinical Quality Award is presented to a physician who advocates for improvement in clinical quality and systems.
Dr. Nirmala Ramadhar-Persaud was awarded the Joseph Goodman, M.D., Clinical Collaboration and Teamwork Award. On one of the nomination sheets for her, a colleague said Goodman is "someone I would want as my own physician."
The Matthew P. Campione, M.D. Community Service Award, for a physician who has been instrumental in the development and support of community wellness and health care initiatives was awarded to David Ross-Russell. He has been with the hospital for 20 years and is the first physician at the hospital to be board-certified in hospice and palliative medicine. Ross-Russell has a family practice in Wallingford.
The hospital also recognized eight physicians who have been on staff for 50 or more years.
MidState President Lucille Janatka gave a state of Mid-State address to the packed cafeteria.
"I see that we are meeting and achieving patients' expectations," she said. "We continue to put targets and measures in place and work toward achieving them."
Rajani Nadkarni, president of the medical staff, offered her thoughts on the past year and what she hopes the hospital can improve on in 2012. Nadkarni, who specializes in hematology and medical oncology, was also nominated for a Physician Recognition Award.
"I hope that we can work on collaboration and teamwork," she said. "When I took this job, people said the biggest pain is getting people to play fair in the sandbox. I hate doing that. We are all here from one common goal, which is taking care of patients."
MidState Medical Center holds Annual Meeting and names Crystal Obelisk winner
Meriden - MidState Medical Center hosted its Annual Meeting on Monday, November 14, at the Connecticut Hospital Association in Wallingford. Approximately 150 were in attendance, including members of General Management, our Board of Governors, physicians and other community leaders.
Chairman of the Board Bruce Eldridge offered opening remarks at the meeting. He commented on MidState's growth over the last year and noted "the pleasure of working alongside a group of passionate, committed people who are fully dedicated to MidState's success and quality."
Elliot Joseph, president & CEO of Hartford HealthCare, was also on hand to discuss the Hartford HealthCare vision and how system partners are working together to create more coordinated care for patients across Connecticut.
In addition, president & CEO, Lucille Janatka delivered a presentation on recent hospital's accomplishments. She explained that MidState is "on the road to meeting the Hartford HealthCare vision."
As a result of our clinical excellence this year, MidState received numerous accolades including the Outstanding Achievement Award for quality cancer care, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement, and Anthem's Blue Distinction® Award for quality medical outcomes in spine surgery. "My greatest pride is in our excellent clinical quality and patient safety. It takes every member of the team to reach those high standards," said Janatka.
At the end of the program, MidState presented its annual Crystal Obelisk Award, which since 1991 has honored individuals and groups for outstanding contributions to health care. Radiologist Sherwin Borsuk, MD was named as the 2011 recipient. Dr. Borusk joined the Medical Staff of Meriden-Wallingford Hospital in 1978, and for over 30 years, has served the hospital in a variety of capacities. Most recently, in 2011, he became an active member of the Board's Quality Committee, which sets quality goals, establishes, monitors and assesses measures of performance, quality of care, clinical safety, and adverse events.
"He is a mentor to his staff, is proactive in making things easier for them to be more productive, and is adamant about providing the highest quality services," shared Bruce Eldridge, who presented the award.
Borsuk said he has been "fortunate to be in this community" and a "member of a team that just does a great job day in and day out and makes the jobs of physicians like myself that much easier."
Also included in the program was a presentation by vascular surgeon, Jonathan Hasson, MD, who reviewed the latest advances in surgery for abdominal aneurysms. Others were recognized for their contributions to the hospital, including a resolution of appreciation to Marcia Proto, secretary of the Board of Directors and recognition of past Board Chairman Lloyd Nurick. Linda Durhan, MD, Louis Meyer, MD, Brian Timko, MD, and Robert Levitz, MD, were highlighted as 2010 Physician Recognition Award winners.
MediQuick Urgent Care Celebrates Opening
Meriden - Over 200 people turned out for Cheshire MediQuick grand opening events on Wednesday, November 9. Several MidState staff members participated in a health information expo in the afternoon, where residents of Cheshire learned more about stroke prevention, nutrition, primary care, sleep care, and balance and hearing problems. Flu shots, glucose screenings and blood pressure checks were also available.
Later in evening, members of the business community, as well as MidState employees, attended a Business After Hours and ribbon cutting ceremony. This event was held in conjunction with the Cheshire, Greater Meriden and Quinnipiac Chambers of Commerce. State Senator Len Suzio was on hand and addressed the crowd and shared how fortunate the community is to have a MediQuick in Cheshire's backyard.
MidState president & CEO Lucille Janatka also offered remarks to those in attendance. "Although MediQuick is new to Cheshire, it has been a valuable health care facility in Meriden for over 20 years, earning a highly regarded reputation for its friendly, outstanding staff, quality medical care, and excellent customer service. We certainly hope that the residents of Cheshire find MediQuick to be just as much of an asset in their community," she said.
Several individuals were recognized for their contributions in making MediQuick Cheshire a reality: Cassandra Crowal, assistant vice president of Administrative Services; Bob Palumberi, director of Facilities; Mary Ann Puttre, real estate manager; Gail Millerick, director of Development who led MidState's Organizational Design Team; the staff and leadership of Ricci Construction; and MediQuick medical director Walt Kupson, DO and team leader Brad Stevenson, RN who guided the project every step of the way.
High Award Goes to Doctor Who Joined Staff in 1978
WALLINGFORD - MidState Medical Center announced its 12th consecutive operating surplus in an economy in which any surplus is considered a measure of good fiscal health.
The operating margin for the 2011 fiscal year, ending Sept. 30, was $8.6 million, or 4 percent of net operating revenue.
Although not as high as last year's, it was a noteworthy performance for one of the state's top 10 hospitals, said Ralph Becker, MidState's chief financial officer. The hospital's operating margin in 2010 was 5.3 percent, and 3.2 percent in 2009.
MidState held its annual meeting Monday at the Connecticut Hospital Association on Barnes Road and presented its Crystal Obelisk Award, which since 1991 has honored people and groups for outstanding contributions to health care, to Dr. Sherwin Borsuk.
Borsuk joined the medical staff of Meriden-Wallingford Hospital in 1978, specializing in diagnostic radiology, and went on to lead a number of committees and serve as a physician representative on the hospital's board of directors. He also chaired the Project Oversight Committee from 1996 to 1998 and was "recognized for his service, guidance, support and quiet strength in the planning, construction and move to Mid State's new building on Lewis Avenue in 1998," said Bruce Eldridge, chairman of the hospital's board of directors.
"He is a mentor to his staff, is proactive in making things easier for them to be more productive, and is adamant about providing the highest quality services," Eldridge continued.
Borsuk told the crowd of about 200 employees, directors and incorporators that he's been "fortunate to be in this community" and a "member of a team that just does a great job day in and day out and makes the jobs of physicians like myself that much easier."
"These have been tumultuous times," Borsuk said.
MidState's performance drop from last year comes from an investment the hospital made with Hartford Healthcare and Children's Medical Center in medical malpractice insurance that manages risks and sets premiums affiliated with the hospitals. The investment, which provided a boost in 2010, didn't perform as well in 2011 and must be calculated as part of the operating budget, Becker said.
"Actually, it's good to have a positive margin in these times," Becker said.
MidState has seen steady revenue growth, opening more services and expanding in size over the past few years.
But MidState's biggest challenge, as is the case at other hospitals, is government cutbacks.
"This is the beginning of the beginning," Becker said.
Hartford Healthcare President Elliot Joseph shared the group's vision of a coordinated, integrated network that seamlessly provides health care - from diagnostics to treatment to discharge to follow- up care.
The many members of Hartford Healthcare - including Rushford Behavioral Health Centers, Windham Hospital, the Institute for Living, MidState and the Hospital of Central Connecticut - can consolidate needed services and patient record-keeping to improve the quality of care and reduce readmission, he said.
"All of our staff are doing their jobs in wonderfully helpful ways," Joseph said. "While miracles are being done every day, there are patients falling through the cracks. The system is too fragmented."
Lucille Janatka, president and chief executive officer of MidState, echoed Joseph and told the group that MidState is well on the way to delivering a more coordinated system.
"The hard work comes between the 'to' and the 'from,' Janatka said. "We know we are on the road to implementing this vision."
Last year, MidState concentrated on the Wallingford market and increased patient discharges from that town by 200. It also opened another MediQuick walk-in center in Cheshire and bolstered its neuroscience services and vascular programs.
With the completion of its emergency department just over a year ago, MidState has seen a 9 percent increase in emergency room visits, and its overall inpatient satisfaction has jumped to second place in the state, Janatka said.
Janatka said that, with more government programs withholding payment to hospitals based on quality, it's critical that MidState work with physicians on how best to take patients from one level to the next.
"We’re well coordinated," Janatka said. "My greatest pride is in our excellent clinical quality and patient safety. It takes every member of the team to reach those high standards."
MediQuick Care Center Opens in Cheshire
CHESHIRE - A new MediQuick Urgent Care Center on South Main Street is offering medical services to those with minor ailments or broken bones wanting to avoid long waits at the emergency room.
The center, established by Mid-State Medical Center in Meriden, opened Monday and will be open every day of the year for drop-ins. MediQuick officials say it's more than a walk-in clinic, however.
Team Leader Brad Stevenson said a doctor is always at the center, along with nurses and x-ray technicians or radiologists. MediQuick staff can perform procedures, such as stitching wounds, which would otherwise have to be done at a hospital's emergency room.
"In the past you were forced to go to an ER. I was forced into that wait and that cost," Stevenson said. "Now I can be seen quickly and efficiently."
Those with heart attacks, strokes and traumatic injuries, or women giving birth, should go to a full emergency room, Stevenson said, since the MediQuick doesn't have a full range of medical equipment.
MediQuick at 680 S. Main St. is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day. MidState operates a Mediquick in Meriden on Pomeroy Avenue. Hospital spokeswoman Pamela Cretella said staff from that MediQuick will rotate to the Cheshire location.
The Meriden MediQuick receives between 50 and 80 visits a day. Stevenson said the average visit time is 48 minutes and he expects a similar visit time in Cheshire.
"The MediQuick model has been very successful in Meriden," Cretella said. She expects the location to draw people from Cheshire and nearby Wallingford.
Sheldon Dill, Cheshire Chamber of Commerce president, said Mediquick filled a need as a medical provider in town that can handle all but the most severe medical problems.
"MidState has always done well in the communities they're in," Dill said. "There is a need obviously," he said. "I don't think there's anything (in town) to the level of this one."
MediQuick is in a 2,400-squarefoot physician's office renovated by MidState with five exam rooms. The front office has a patient electronic self-check-in to speed wait times.
Stevenson said many similar centers or walk-in clinics don't always have a doctor on staff as the MediQuick does.
"The caliber of staff we have here is pretty high," he said. "All of them have many, many years of emergency room experience."
Platt High School Volleyball Team thinks pink for MidState Medical Center
Meriden - The Platt High School senior girls' volleyball team has been trying for several years to put on a fundraising event in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year the team's hard work paid off as they hosted the first-ever event at the Platt Panthers vs. Plainville Blue Devils volleyball game.
Led by player coordinator Jillian Pascale and her mother Erin Pascale, parent coordinator, the team wanted to organize an event where they could give back to the community. "I knew MidState had a cancer center. We thought we could make a difference by holding a fundraiser. It was nice to keep it local," shared Erin.
To raise money, the girls accepted donations at their game last Tuesday, October 18, as well as sold baked goods, bookmarks and pink breast cancer awareness bracelets. In addition, the team sold raffle tickets for two themed gift baskets. All proceeds from their sales directly benefited The Palladino Family Cancer Center.
"This is so meaningful to our patients," said Abbi Bruce, RN, Director of The Palladino Family Cancer Center. "You have affected others by doing what you love," shared Abbi, as she accepted a check from three team captains this week on October 24.
The team not only raised $505, but they also won their game against Plainville High School. Both teams embraced the spirit of breast cancer awareness by decking out in pink volleyball jerseys and knee-high socks.
MidState and The Palladino Family Cancer Center send a big thank you to the Platt High School senior girls' volleyball team for their support! Go Panthers!
MidState Medical Center receives Get with the Guidelines
- Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award
MidState Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes MidState's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.
To receive the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award, MidState achieved at least 12 consecutive months of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement indicators and achieved at least 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures during that same period of time, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.
These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.
"With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award demonstrates that our staff is committed to providing care that has been shown in the scientific literature to quickly and efficiently treat stroke patients with evidence-based protocols," said Kelly Zigmunds, Stroke Coordinator.
"MidState Medical Center is to be commended for its commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients," said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients."
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
MidState Medical to host Grand Opening & Health Expo at new Cheshire MediQuick
(Wednesday, October 19, 2011, Meriden, Conn.) - MidState Medical Center's new MediQuick Urgent Care Center in Cheshire will open its doors to the public on Monday, November 7. MidState will also host a Grand Opening event on Wednesday, November 9, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Join us for tours of the new facility and refreshments courtesy of Bishops Farm. We'll also have information on a variety of health topics, including primary care, nutrition, stroke, sleep care and more. Blood pressure checks, glucose screenings and flu shots will be available.
A Business After Hours held in conjunction with the Cheshire, Greater Meriden, Southington and Quinnipiac Chambers of Commerce will also take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The providers at MediQuick can treat patients for a variety of minor illnesses and injuries including sore throats, coughs, colds, flu-like symptoms, pink eye, earaches, sinus pain, minor sports injuries, sprains, strains, cuts and more. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., seven days a week, including holidays.
MidState Medical Center to host Survivorship Symposium for cancer survivors
Meriden - The Palladino Family Cancer Center at MidState Medical Center is hosting its first-ever Survivorship Symposium on Saturday, November 5, at the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center in Meriden. The symposium is a day-long event for cancer survivors from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. that focuses on the physical, emotional, and spiritual issues that arise after cancer treatment.
Registration and a continental breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., followed by informative seminars on cancer survivorship, the effects of cancer treatment, nutrition for survivors, and coping skills. Lunch will be provided and a series of breakout sessions will also be offered in the afternoon on topics including yoga, music therapy, art therapy, reiki, sexuality after cancer, brain fitness and journaling.
To register for this program, please call 203 694 8631.
MidState Medical Center Offers Mammograms for Less, Free Breast Cancer Risk Assessments
To mark National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, MidState Medical Center is offering reduced-cost mammograms and free breast cancer risk assessment clinics for area women.
The mammograms will be offered Wednesday at 680 S. Main St. in Cheshire; Thursday at MidState Medical Center in Meriden; and Friday, Oct. 21 at 863 N. Main St. Ext. in Wallingford.
"Early detection is the best detection," said Wallingford Health Director Eloise Hazelwood. "Sometimes you can't feel a lump or a cyst with your hand. The disease can progress to a more devastating point."
Hazelwood said women should get a baseline mammogram around age 40.
Kathy Clements, a breast care coordinator for MidState, will be on hand all three days doing free risk assessments for women. Clements said that the hospital uses a computer program that takes into account a variety of factors, including family history and current health and projects the risk for that individual to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
"We're requesting that people bring three generations of information," she said. "Themselves, their parents and their grandparents."
A BRCA mutation - a genetic mutation that increases the risk of breast cancer from 10 percent to 85 percent - can be detected with a blood test, Clements said. Women with the mutation, or a family history of the mutation, should begin getting mammograms as early as their late 20s.
In addition to family history, other factors that can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer include obesity, alcohol consumption and not getting enough exercise.
"Women who have two or more drinks a day have an increased risk," she said.
Clements said that Hispanic women also have higher risks to developing breast cancer.
Clements said that even if the results show an increased risk to develop breast cancer, there are steps that can be taken.
"There are medications, there are tests," she said.
Clements told the story of five sisters, four of whom had a genetic mutation that raised their risk of breast cancer to 85 percent. But through risk-reduction techniques, the sisters were able to reduce their risk to less than 10 percent, lower than the risk of the general population.
The risk assessments using computer software have been going on since about 2009, Clements said.
The tests will cost $85, and patients are required to make an appointment by calling (203) 694-8631. The risk assessments are free and no appointment is required.
Federal Government Praises MidState Medical Group
Better use of electronic medical records and patient tracking might result in higher reimbursement rates for doctors who can prove they're using best practices.
MidState Medical Group received recognition from the federal government a month ago for showing how primary care doctors use electronic records, follow-up with patients and offer preventative care.
According to MidState Medical Group Director Erin Cardon, that recognition could help the hospital get a better deal when negotiating reimbursement rates with insurers. The MidState group includes four primary care offices in Meriden, Wallingford, Southington and Cheshire.
"We're able to prove we're giving good care," Cardon said. The MidState group received its certification as a patient - centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Cardon and others submitted an application showing the MidState group complied with federal standards in nine areas.
Those include having each patient paired with a primary care doctor and supporting medical team. Cardon said electronic medical records, which were implemented at MidState several years ago, help doctors track patients' testing, determine the most cost-effective prescriptions and transition care to specialists.
Certification also required that offices are open for patient visits after work. Cardon said that's attractive to insurance companies and employers who don't want workers to have to take work time off for doctor's visits.
Sarah Yeagre, corporate communications director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in North Haven, said the company is encouraging development of patient-centered medical homes. Yeagre said the company expects the model to show benefits for Anthem customers.
"By improving the coordination of care and reducing duplication of services, and provided necessary interventions, we expect members will have improved care and satisfaction," she said. Cardon said the MidState primary care providers were already mostly in compliance, although certification required the rewriting of some protocols and the creation of others.
Patients can now give feedback online, for instance, instead of just on forms stacked in doctors' waiting rooms.
Cardon said the federal certification has been around for a decade, but was very difficult to implement without electronic medical records, which made tracking thousands of patients a matter of punching keys.
"In the past year its gained footing, and I think it has gained footing because groups were going to electronic records," Cardon said.
Federal money prompted more hospitals to adopt electronic records, according to Cardon.
"It's certainly moving along faster because of (federal money)," she said.
The Hartford Medical Group began implementing electronic inpatient medical records about five years and began switching outpatient records to electronic formats two years ago. MidState and Hartford groups are both part of Hartford HealthCare.
Hartford Medical Group received its patient-centered medical home certification a week after MidState, Cardon said.
She said the certification application took "hours and hours" of work and began six months ago. When they heard MidState group had been certified, "it was a celebration," Cardon said.
