Auxiliary pledges $250,000 to Plainfield ER
The Backus Auxiliary has pledged $250,000 over the next two years for the new Backus Plainfield Emergency Care Center, which is currently under construction.
“Once again, the Auxiliary and Backus are joining forces to promote health and welfare in the community,” said Yvette Jacaruso, President of the Backus Auxiliary. “I am so proud of this hospital. This is a very special place, with very dedicated people.”
The $7 million satellite emergency department, scheduled to open summer 2012, will improve access to emergency services for residents of northern New London and southern Windham counties.
The state Office of Health Care Access approved the project because so many people in eastern Connecticut must travel more than 15 minutes to the nearest emergency room, and because of increasing patient visits to the Backus Emergency Department. The facility will serve northern New London County and southern Windham County, including the towns of Griswold, Lisbon, Voluntown, Plainfield, Canterbury, Sterling, Brooklyn and Killingly.
“We are grateful for donors like the Backus Auxiliary,” Backus President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Whitehead said. “Without them, we would not be able to sustain our continued efforts to ensure the future of healthcare delivery in eastern Connecticut.”
Year in review
In addition to the Backus Auxiliary announcing a $250,000 pledge towards the Plainfield Emergency Care Center, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in the summer 2012, the Annual Meeting also included a review of other highlights of the year. Some of them included:
- Backus receiving the Community Service Award from the Connecticut Hospital Association for the Enjoy LIFE (Lifelong Investment in Fitness and Exercise) health education series in the Plainfield region.
- Providing more than $61 million in community benefits and uncompensated care. This includes subsidizing care for those without insurance, collaborating with partners on projects such as MyHealthDirect and providing farmers’ market vouchers for children who are at risk to become obese.
- Receiving national recognition as a Most Wired Hospital, meaning Backus is on the cutting edge of hospitals nationwide in establishing an electronic medical record.
- Going more than 1,000 days without a central line infection in the Critical Care Unit.
- Renovations to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
Cardiac Cath Lab renovations
