Backus highlights 2009, looks ahead
The Backus health system had solid financial performance during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, reporting a gain of $13.6 million - a margin of 4.9%. The system includes the hospital and other Backus entities, such as its home healthcare operation.
PrintDuring the annual meeting of Backus Corporation Wednesday night, Chief Executive Officer David Whitehead noted that the operating margin falls within the low end of the range experts recommend for hospitals, as they must be able to reinvest in facility upgrades, new technology and employee wages and benefits, as well as reduce debt.
Increased efficiencies and effectiveness will be required as financial pressures persist and healthcare reform negatively affects reimbursement, he cautioned.
"There is no doubt that any flavor of system change will have a major impact on health systems, hospitals, home health agencies and healthcare providers," said Whitehead.
In 2009, the hospital provided more than $60 million in community benefit, which includes everything from charity care to community education, impacting more than 14,000 - many of them beyond the walls of the hospital.
Whitehead's report contained a summary of Backus highlights from 2009. They include:
- The opening of a new Diagnostic Imaging and Women's Center at the Backus Outpatient Care Center.
- Earning state designation as a Primary Stroke Center.
- Growth of minimally invasive surgical options, which includes physician training and the opening of a new high-definition operating room suite.
- Re-verification as a Level III trauma center, meaning Backus remains the only designated trauma center in New London and Windham Counties.
- New programs for cancer patients, including a Palliative Care program and expansion of the Breast Health Patient Navigator Program, which guides women through the healthcare system after they receive word of suspicious mammograms.
- Despite a record-number of Emergency Department visits, the hospital continued its quest to go paperless by adding computerized physician order entry and nursing documentation in the Emergency Department and Psychiatric Services. In addition, the ED remains among the top 2 percent nationwide for patient satisfaction.
- The creation of an entirely online annual report, which is environmentally friendly and allows for engaging, multi-media presentations at backushospital.org/2009.
- Backus outperforms the national average in all nationally reported quality measures - treating heart attacks, treating congestive heart failure, treating pneumonia, improving surgical outcomes and improving patient satisfaction.
- Establishment of a new department, Organizational Excellence, headed by Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter Shea.
Shea said the hospital is focused on balancing efficiency and quality, and is using specific statistics and benchmarks to measure its performance.
"This is not the collision of two worlds, but the dawning realization that healthcare systems can drive out waste, and thereby reduce associated cost, from their systems - while at the same time improving quality," Dr. Shea said.
To learn more about Backus Hospital's highlights in 2009, visit its online annual report at www.backushospital.org/2009. The annual report, produced entirely online to make it more environmentally friendly and accessible, includes a number of videos, photo galleries and other multi-media presentations.