Backus staff demonstrated its dedication to patients and the community by working together to complete the largest expansion in hospital history, strategically enhancing offsite locations, furthering Backus Hospital's reputation as a cancer center of excellence and bringing the latest healthcare technology to eastern Connecticut.

Emergency and Trauma Care. The newly expanded Edward and Mary Lord Emergency Care and Trauma Center fully opened on Oct. 11. The number of Emergency Department visits grew by 10.3% in 2007, and is projected to increase again in 2008. This new space, with 42 beds, is immediately adjacent to our soon-to-be-installed 64-slice CT scanner and only one floor below the hospital's operating suites.

Planning with purpose. The opening of two new patient floors (E-4 and E-3) features mostly private patient rooms with enhanced privacy and patient-friendly amenities. A Progressive Care Unit provides greater flexibility in treating a wide spectrum of patient conditions.

Comfort by design. The addition of 9,000 square feet of new space to Same Day Surgery includes a comfortable waiting area with amenities such as a children's play space.

Comprehensive cancer care. In the past year, your hospital has broadened its use of Image-Guided Radiation Therapy technology to include the treatment of prostate cancer, tumors of the eye, brain, esophagus, pancreas, stomach and spine.

Helping heart patients recover. Relocating the hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation program to the newly renovated E-2 floor will offer more space, new equipment and a healing atmosphere.

Backus Hospital's dedication to patient-centered care is shown in many other ways outside of the expansion.

The American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer re-affirmed the hospital as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program, with a rarely granted perfect score.

Our Trauma Program will continue to provide specialized care to patients whose survival depends on immediate, skilled medical and surgical interventions. As we work to maintain our accreditation as an American College of Surgeons-accredited Level III Trauma Center, we fulfill our mission to patients with the most life-threatening injuries.

Hartford Hospital's LIFE STAR helicopter, with a heliport at Backus Hospital, represents a long-standing commitment to the residents of eastern Connecticut and the region's only Trauma Center at Backus. Your hospital appreciates the partnership with Hartford Hospital and its specially-trained air transport crew. It's an affiliation that saves lives.

The American College of Radiology designated your hospital as a "Breast Imaging Center of Excellence." This is a designation for organizations that have achieved accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

Backus continued its effort to strategically locate certain high-demand outpatient healthcare services to convenient, accessible offsite locations.

The hospital opened an Arthritis Center at the Backus Outpatient Care Center, and is planning to add radiology services to the 57,000-square-foot site.

The purchase of Norwich Radiology, which is now known as the Backus Outpatient Care Center/Norwichtown, allows the hospital to offer a wide array of diagnostic imaging services in a convenient location off Case Street.

Backus created Backus Home Health Care, formerly known as the Connecticut VNA, SE. This will bring trusted Backus healthcare into patients' home if needed, following discharge.