“Strength” is an important part of Backus Hospital’s vision. Only a strong community hospital can withstand the challenges that are buffeting the healthcare industry. Only a strong hospital can be responsive to growing needs and demands.

For Backus Hospital, that strength begins with a solid commitment to attract and retain the best employees — more than 1,600 clinical and support staff in hundreds of varied roles. It is affirmed through programs and services that are responsive to the community’s needs, and flexible enough to meet new challenges. It is carried out through partnerships with community organizations that share the Hospital’s mission to improve the region’s health. Among these is Three Rivers Community College, which benefits the community through its exceptional nursing program. We thank Three Rivers and its President, Dr. Grace S. Jones, for being such important partners.

We are also proud of significant contributions made beyond the Hospital campus — including some innovative programs that create new partnerships to improve our community’s health.

• This past year, Backus Hospital and the Town of Colchester teamed up to offer free healthcare to qualified families. To get the program started in its first year, the Backus Mobile Health Resource Center visits Town Hall, offering height and weight measurements, physicals and regular medical exams, immunizations and testing for lead levels. Norwich Pediatric Group physicians are medical directors for the project, which helps approximately 200 families in Colchester who can’t afford healthcare for their children.

• In Norwich, Backus is helping children get preventative healthcare in schools. The Backus Foundation worked with the state Attorney General to clarify giving restrictions on a fund that would otherwise sit idle. The result: A nearly $400,000 commitment to United Community & Family Services to allow the agency to provide urgently needed dental and behavioral health services to children at Norwich Free Academy, the Integrated Day Charter School, Teachers Memorial and Kelly middle schools. Lack of access to these services meant many of these children would eventually end up in hospital emergency rooms. Providing healthcare today can prevent that.

• The Backus Foundation also awarded $60,000 in community grants to a variety of local organizations — funds that will help provide programs for the uninsured, homeless, adolescent and elderly populations in towns throughout eastern Connecticut.

Of course, financial performance is the single most important measure of a Hospital’s strength. Even