Report from the President of the Medical Staff

Rapid changes in our hospital buildings, technology and programs are highlights of the past year. As I complete my two-year term as President of the Backus Medical Staff, I am proud to say that our 300 physicians continue to play an instrumental role in providing compassionate, high quality healthcare through it all.

The hospital's $50-million expansion project has moved from vision to reality during my term, and is nearing completion. Once complete, it will give our skilled physicians some of the resources they need to provide excellent healthcare.

As mentioned earlier in this annual report,we continue to fare very well when compared to hospitals across the state and the nation, according to state and national statistics on the quality of healthcare we provide. Our scores and national recognition are due to a steadfast commitment to providing the best recommended care to our patients at the appropriate time.

Our staff also continues to embrace technology, putting us on the leading edge of computer breakthroughs that hospitals much larger than us have not even begun. In November, our Hospitalist physicians began piloting computerized physician order entry, another step towards a paperless medical record.

The Medical Staff continues to find new ways to educate the community, internally and externally. Within the hospital walls,physicians partnered with Patient Care Services in a Clinical Lecture Series to educate staff. The Medical Executive Committee purchased computer software that puts the latest evidence-based medicine at the fingertips of our caregivers. In the community, they donated their time to various community education events and screenings.

Under the direction of our new Medical Director, Peter Shea,MD,we are maintaining our focus on putting our patients first, which allows us to fulfill our mission of improving the health of the community.

It has been an honor to represent my colleagues, a very talented group of physicians who genuinely care for their patients. I thank them for all their efforts.

And on behalf of my fellow physicians, I want to express sincere gratitude for the hospital's many dedicated healthcare professionals and volunteers that provide us support on a daily basis.

To our hospital's Administration, and Board of Trustees, I offer sincere thanks for continued leadership during increasingly complex times.

Finally, I would like to offer my best wishes to incoming Medical Staff President Kolala Sridhar,MD. I am entirely confident he will help lead Backus into the future.

James M. Healy, MD,
Medical Staff President