Metallic Beauty

This rebar was part of the reconstruction of the Veterans Bridge on Rt. 44 in Putnam. Linda Lemmon photo.

 

 

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DKH Board

The Day Kimball Healthcare 2016 Board of Directors. Back row, left to right: Michael Baum, MD; Jeffrey Paul; Mark Shamber; Joseph Alessandro, DO; Hadi Bozorgmanesh, MD; Steven Schimmel, MD; Garfield Danenhower, MD; Kevin P. Johnston; Shawn McNerney. Front: William St. Onge, Esq.; Karen Cole; Joseph Adiletta; William Johnson, MD; Robert Smanik. Not pictured: Joseph Botta, MD, and Janice Thurlow. Photos by Mike Bernier.

 

 

 

PUTNAM — After a challenging 2015, Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) announced a projected break-even budget for 2016 as well as a multitude of significant achievements in quality of care at its recent Corporators Meeting.

DKH leadership also underscored that while the need to join or partner with a larger healthcare system remains, they will ensure that any future partnership continues to honor DKH’s local mission and are taking the steps necessary to ensure the organization can remain independent until the right fit is found.

DKH President and CEO Robert Smanik said DKH’s small size, continued independence from a larger system, and rural, economically disadvantaged service area makes it different from most other hospitals and healthcare systems in the state. Smanik said that those differences are at the root of some of Day Kimball’s greatest challenges, but that they are also at the heart of some of its greatest strengths.

Smanik provided a synopsis of the 2015 challenges and outlook for 2016.

Significant cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates by the state for some key services had a substantial negative impact on DKH’s bottom line. DKH cares for a region where the patient mix covered by Medicaid runs as high as 50 percent for some service lines.

Smanik said those rate cuts, combined with the loss of $1.1 million in supplemental and small hospital payments approved by the legislature in June that the state never paid, resulted in DKH ending its 2015 fiscal year with a $6.3 million operating loss. That loss was despite the successful implementation of a $6.5 million expense reduction plan put in place last year.

Smanik commended the efforts and dedication of staff across DKH for their work in helping to realize those savings and recognized the staff along with local legislators and community members for their support in helping to avert potentially devastating further cuts in 2016.

“Here again, we collaborated to do reduce overhead without sacrificing care. However, the final results of even the best laid plans can still be thrown off-course by external factors that are out of our control. And that’s exactly what happened through the entire last half of this fiscal year,” Smanik said.

But, Smanik pointed out, the things that make Day Kimball different are also at the heart of the organization’s greatest strengths, and it was those strengths that allowed it to overcome those challenges faced by the healthcare system.

“Our small size and independence meant we were able to be more agile and quick to put measures in place that would limit the impact of the cuts on services and jobs. And the rural, tight-knit nature of our community meant that we were better able to rally together and speak with one voice in our own defense….literally thousands of e-mails and petitions were delivered to Governor Malloy. The Quiet Corner is not so quiet when it really counts,” Smanik said.

The measures put in place in the wake of the Governor’s September rescissions, affecting this year’s funding, included reductions to employee benefits and compensation, improved efficiencies in materials management and purchasing and the cutting of 23 full-time-equivalent positions, which included nine positions already vacant and 16 layoffs (11 of those administrative and operations positions). DKH is also exploring the possible benefits of the sale of some physical properties as well as its in-home care services to another provider who would continue providing the service in the community.

“These were difficult measures to take, but they were necessary and prudent. I am proud to announce that we now have a business plan in place that projects a return to a balanced budget plan for FY’16. That will be quite an accomplishment. But to realize it, we must stay the course. We still face a steep uphill battle, including uncertainty in state funding, so the challenges continue. But so does our strength,” Smanik said.

DKH Chairman of the Board Joseph Adiletta also addressed the abandoned affiliation with Hartford HealthCare and the question of how Day Kimball would proceed in its wake.

“Tonight we find ourselves not in a very different position than we were one year ago, before our talks with Hartford HealthCare began in earnest. But we are certainly wiser. And, I believe, stronger. We haven’t found an immediate partnership fit for moving forward. But what we have done is gotten comfortable with standing alone until the right fit is found,” Adiletta said.

Adiletta went on to say that even amidst all the external challenges the people who make up Day Kimball Healthcare were able to use their strengths to focus on what they can control – their work, their passion, our mission – and achieve great things.”

As proof, Adiletta reviewed the lengthy list of high marks for patient care that Day Kimball received this past year and also announced some newly earned distinctions:

-         In October the hospital’s relatively new Cancer Care program earned national accreditation from the Commission on Cancer. In addition to accreditation, the hospital also earned five commendations for exceeding accreditation standards in the areas of clinical trials, cancer registrar education, public reporting of outcomes, pathology and nursing care.

-         The CT Department of Public Health’s latest Adverse Events Report, released in November, showed Day Kimball Hospital was the only acute care hospital in CT to achieve zero adverse events in 2014, and the trend continued throughout 2015 as well.

-         Day Kimball Hospital is one of only five CT hospitals rated four  out of five stars on Medicare’s Hospital Compare website; no CT hospitals scored five stars. The rating is based on patient satisfaction surveys and quality scores for patient outcomes and processes.

-         The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Report on Hospital Acquired Conditions, just released in late December, showed that Day Kimball Hospital is among the top 25 percent of hospitals in CT for preventing Hospital Acquired Conditions.

-         Also in December, the Hospital received Blue Distinction designations for both Hip and Knee Replacement and Specialty Care - Maternity from Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as Cigna’s Center of Excellence Designation in Hip and Knee replacement and Pulmonary Medical Care.

-         And though the latest data has not yet been officially reported, Adiletta shared that at this time Day Kimball Hospital has maintained the lowest or second lowest readmission rates in CT over the last two years.

Adiletta also remarked on how DKH was able to complete several major improvements to its physical facilities this year as well, including the completion of the Townsend Emergency Medical Center and two critical infrastructure projects - the addition of a new chiller to cool spaces and vital equipment in the hospital, and installation of a new emergency generator.

The new board members elected include: Jeffrey Paul and Mark Shamber and the renewal of Board members Joseph M. Adiletta and Shawn McNerney. The Corporators also approved the slate of officers: Chairman, Joseph Adiletta; Vice Chairman, William St. Onge, ESQ.; Secretary, Karen Cole; Treasurer, Janice Thurlow; and Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer Joseph Botta, MD.

 

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High schools 

in full swing

as preps return 

from layoff

By Ron P. Coderre

In an action packed week all six local high schools saw action as they enter the 2016 portion of the basketball season.  The four prep schools resumed action as students returned to classes and the hardwood following a nearly three week layoff.

In a 50-50 week, four high schools, Woodstock Academy, Plainfield, Putnam and Killingly posted1-1 records.  Tourtellotte, which is 3-3 on the season and 0-2 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference and winless Ellis Tech, lost both games they played.

Hyde-Woodstock, Pomfret School, Marianapolis and Putnam Science Academy all resumed play by getting into the Win column.

Woodstock Beats Killingly in Local 

Matchup of Interest

The showcase high school game of the week featured Killingly and Woodstock Academy in a matchup that’s becoming a rivalry for both schools.  The Centaurs prevailed in a game that was played in front of a packed house at Alumni Fieldhouse belonged to Woodstock 50-46.

Utilizing an aggressive 2-2-1 press to maximum effectiveness, Woodstock took a 26-15 lead to the locker room at intermission.  Killingly making adjustment at halftime rallied in the second half only to fall short by four points.

The Acads were led by Bryce Jarrett and Jared Bouten, who each tossed in 13 points.  Jarrett also had eight rebounds.  Jacob Delashmutt also chipped in 10 points for the winners.  Killingly was paced by its only player in double digits, Brendan Turner who was game-high scorer with 15 points.

In its only other game of the week Woodstock fell hard to Ledyard 77-49.  Sam Majek had 12 points and Garrett 11 for the 2-2 Centaurs.  Killingly, which is 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division, beat Montville 54-52 in its only other contest.  The Redmen were led by freshman Luke Desaulnier and Turner, each with nine points.

Putnam opened the week with a 61-56 victory over visiting Whitney Tech as Brevon Harmon had a breakout game with a 25-point performance to pace coach Shawn Deary’s 3-2 Clippers.  Sophomore Dan Porcic was also in double figures with 10 points.  In a Constitution State Conference East Division game, the Clippers lost on the road to Parish Hill 69-60.  Putnam placed three players in double figures, led by Porcic with 22.  Harmon added 10 and Zach Cutler had 11 for the 1-1 CSC East Clippers.

Plainfield split a pair of games beating Stonington 66-59 and losing to Bacon Academy 68-56.  Three players hit double figure in the Stonington contest led by Liam Jacobs with 23 and David Carpenter with 16.  Jeff Nicolosi chipped in 11 for the 3-4 and 1-1 in the ECC Medium Division Panthers.  In the loss to Bacon, Carpenter had another 16-point performance for Plainfield.

Tourtellotte lost to Wheeler 52-41 and Windham 72-43, falling to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the ECC Small Division.  Kyle Brule and Evan Ware posted double-digit points in both losses.  Ellis Tech, like Tourtellotte went 0-2 for the week, losing 46-40 to Achievement First and 63-41 to Windham Tech.  The Golden Eagles received stellar performances from Trent Raymond who posted 25 and 15 points in the losses.  The Techsters remain in search of their first victory at 0-7 and 0-2 in the CSC East.

Putnam Science Academy Continues Winning Ways

Putnam Science Academy resumed play in 2016 by beating Williston Academy 55-48 in a low scoring contest.  Saul Phiri with 13 points was the only Scientist in double figures.  PSA continued its winning ways in the Hoop Dreams Magazine Classic in Boston with a 72-53 win over Jean De Brebeuf of Canada.  Mamadou Diarra broke out with a 23-point, 12 rebound performance to pace the win.  He was joined in double figures by Hamidou Diallo who added 14 points.  The Mustangs are 13-1 on the season.

Marianapolis at 3-8 picked up a rewarding win over Westminster 58-47.  Joel Del Ricci led seven scorers who made the scoring column with 22 points.  

Pomfret School rode the hot shooting of Christian Wilson, who had 19 points, to a 58-55 win over Deerfield Academy.  The Golden Griffins fell 59-47 to Governor’s Academy in their other contest.  Vincent Conn (15) and John Long (11) were in double figures for 5-2 Pomfret.  

Hyde School Woodstock had a big offensive game, beating Providence Country Day 83-76 on the road.  Eamonn Joyce was immense for the Wolfpack, pouring in 37 points.  Chris Carroll contributed 14 points and Rodney Ray had nine points, 11 boards and seven assists.  The 4-5 Wolfpack lost its only other game, a 56-51 decision to St. Thomas More.  Joyce (12 points -11 rebounds) and Ray (11-14) each posted a double-double in the loss for the 4-5 Wolfpack.