The William W. Backus Hospital
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Backus Hospital has launched the region’s first bariatric surgical program, combining surgery, nutrition education, psychiatric screenings and support groups to tackle one of the nation’s leading health problems – obesity.
The William W. Backus Hospital will showcase its da Vinci robot on Wednesday, Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at day at the Mohegan Sun, with an evening event for physicians also scheduled.READ MORE »
We asked Whitney Bundy, Director of Food and Nutrition at The William W. Backus Hospital, to answer some questions about avoiding food poisoning. She also offers some timely safe food-handling tips:READ MORE »
A job fair for experienced registered nurses with acute care hospital experience will be held Tuesday, Sept. 7 from noon to 6 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby conference rooms 2 and 3. On-site interviews and refreshments will be available.READ MORE »
Stay on top with the latest health trends and local health news by reading Healthy Connections, a monthly magazine produced by Backus Hospital.READ MORE »
Sarah Hospod, a registered dietitian at The William W. Backus Hospital, will speak about eating healthier and how it doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming in “How to Eat Healthy Without Really Trying” on Wednesday, June 9, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Plainfield Recreation Center. READ MORE »
This blog is intended for the dissemination of useful healthcare information. It was designed to coincide with the Healthy Rounds radio broadcast which appears on WTIC NewsTalk 1080 every Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. VISIT BLOG »
These articles are based on Dr. Alessi's column entitled Healthy Sports which appears weekly in the Norwich Bulletin and other Gatehouse Media publications.VISIT BLOG »
Welcome to the Backus Nutrition blog, a community dedicated to healthy nutritional living.
Do you have a question for a Backus dietitian? Please pose your question here.
Use this forum to share healthy recipes and ideas; and learn health tips for better living.
VISIT BLOG »
Doctors and clinicians at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, Conn., offer useful advice about medical issues that matter to you and your family. VISIT BLOG »
FEATURE VIDEO: "When I found out I had prostate cancer I decided to have robotic surgery. The incisions were very small, and Dr. T. Casey McCullough and Dr. Frank Friedman were fantastic. Within a couple weeks I was out doing things in the yard and six weeks later I was back to work. It's an amazing machine, and Backus has an excellent team."
-- Curtis Richmond, Lisbon
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Thanks for supporting the Circle of Care
Backus Hospital would like to thank the community for its support of the Backus Breast Health Initiative Circle of Care Campaign. This year nearly $6,000 was raised and 100% of those funds will be used to help patients in the community. Keep the circle going by joining the online Circle of Care at backushospital.org/circlesofcare. VIEW VIDEO »
Mohegan Sun's Hot Summer Fun cook-off semi-finals
The Backus Hospital Emergency Department advanced to the semi-final round of the Mohegan Sun’s Hot Summer Fun cookoff competition. A spiced rub rack of ribs, spray-basted with a special apple juice and lemon sauce, got them there. VIEW VIDEO »
Keri Perreault
"Dr. Vinod Pathy is truly an amazing surgeon -- what he can do is phenomenal. I'm wearing a new bathing suit ... wearing more stylish clothes, and it's all because of Dr. Pathy. He has given me back 'me'. I feel like myself again."
--- Keri Perreault, Brooklyn resident and mom,
who had breast reconstruction surgery VIEW VIDEO »
Concussions in youth sports
Backus Hospital is partnering with local coaches, former pro athletes, radio personalities, parents and their children to minimize the impact of concussion in youth sports. More info.
VIEW VIDEO »
29th Annual Backus Golf Tournament
Two hundred and sixteen golfers took to the course Thursday, June 10, for the 29th Annual Backus Golf Tournament at Elmridge Golf Course in Pawcatuck, CT. This year's event was expected to raise more than $40,000 in support of the many community health programs that Backus provides.
VIEW GALLERY »
Safety Camp 2010
More than 500 participated in Backus' annual Safety Camp on Saturday, June 12. Kids received free bike helmets; 911 training; important, and potentially life-saving, lessons on the importance of wearing seatbelts; and tours of an impressive array of local fire apparatus. VIEW GALLERY »
Nurses Camp 2010
Friday, June 4, students from local high schools took part in the annual Nurse Camp at Backus Hospital in Norwich. The program allows students who may be interested in pursuing nursing careers to experience firsthand what it is like to work in a hospital. They shadow nurses throughout the hospital and get to hear from a panel of nurses with various backgrounds about the nursing profession. VIEW GALLERY »
Exertional Heat Stroke
Korey Stringer, an offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings, died suddenly in August 2001 while in football camp. The cause of death was determined to be exertional heat stroke (EHS).
EHS consists of neurologic abnormalities and failure of multiple organs when the core body temperature reaches 104 degrees. As opposed to other causes of sports-related deaths, there are symptoms leading up to an EHS crisis that are fatal if ignored.
EHS, along with heat exhaustion, heat syncope and heat cramps, are all exertional heat illnesses. EHS is the most serious and all are associated with dehydration and vigorous activity in hot environments.
Symptoms include lightheadedness, hyperventilation, confusion, headache, fatigue, loss of balance, vomiting and diarrhea. More severe symptoms of seizures and coma are the result of an uncontrolled rise in temperature.
The Korey Stringer Institute was established at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Douglas Casa is a professor of kinesiology and among the world’s foremost experts on EHS. “Athletes must listen to their bodies for signs of illness,” states Casa. Once symptoms begin, athletes should take a break, get to a shaded area and rehydrate.
“When EHS is suspected, immediately remove the athlete’s equipment and begin cooling,” said Bob Howard, Head Athletic Trainer for UCONN.
The best way to initiate cooling is by immersion in a tub of cold water within 10 minutes of symptom onset. The player should remain submerged to the neck until the temperature drops to 101 degrees and improvement begins. This treatment alone has a perfect survival rate when properly followed.
Although most common in football, parents and coaches must be alert to these symptoms in all activities, including marching band.
Easy access to hydration and the availability of an ice tub or other rapid cooling mechanism can save lives.
Anthony G. Alessi, MD, is Stroke Center Medical Director at The William W. Backus Hospital and in private practice at NeuroDiagnostics, LLC, in Norwich. E-mail him at aalessi@wwbh.org, or listen to his podcasts, comment on his blog or buy his book at www.backushospital.org.
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