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Annual Meeting
Some officers of Day Kimball Healthcare at the annual meeting. Left to right: Janice Thurlow, newly elected board member; John P. Miller, outgoing chairman of the board; Robert E. Smanik, president and CEO; Hadi Bozorgmanesh, newly elected board member; and Jack Burke, newly elected chairman of the board. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM --- – Jack Burke was elected as chairman of the Day Kimball Healthcare Board of Directors at its recent annual corporators meeting. He replaces outgoing chairman John P. Miller.
In addition, although the total net revenue increased, the year ended with a bit of red ink after various "investments" in buildings and personnel.
Day Kimball Healthcare increased total net revenue by over $9 million in 2011, from approximately $110 million in 2010 to $119 million in 2011, an 8 percent gain.
Despite the increased revenue, the organization did, however, incur a loss of $181,893.
This loss, according to Day Kimball management, was due to increased expenses for investments in personnel and facilities.
“To ensure our strategic vision to become the premier, integrated medical services network in northeast Connecticut, we had to invest in our two greatest assets – our people and our facilities,” said Smanik.
“We knew that these expenses would be a drain on earnings, but felt them critical to strengthen our organization. We’ve been mindfully creating healthcare for the future.”
Smanik explained that one of the major investments over the past year has been hiring primary care physicians and acquiring physician practices. In fact, physician practices’ records report 51,000 registered patients of the 91,000 residents living in Day Kimball’s primary, 13-town region.
“This has helped us to meet the strategic goal of establishing primary care as the ‘home-base’ for patients, as well as bringing specialized care to our community,” said Smanik.
“Looking beyond short-term costs, other investments such as implementing electronic medical records in six more locations and engaging a nationally recognized firm to help us analyze and find savings, will help us to lower expenses in the long-run.”
Other investments over the past year included: Adopting a patient-centered medical home model; opening the new Lathrop Road facility in Plainfield, which includes a Women’s Health Center and a Walk-In Center; opening the Day Kimball Diagnostic Imaging Center in Putnam; building the new Putnam Healthcare Center, which houses Physical Medicine, Blood Draw Services, and Franklin Home Health; and improving specialty care by hiring doctors and partnering with experts in cancer care like Norwich-based Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology Associates (ECHO).
“Today, we look different and provide care differently,” said Smanik. “But the heart of the organization is the same – we care about the people and the lifestyle of northeast Connecticut.”
“John Miller has been an inspirational leader and instrumental figure over the last nine years in helping to build Day Kimball into a truly integrated medical services provider that is now prepared to meet the changes and challenges of healthcare reform,” said Robert E. Smanik, president and CEO of Day Kimball Healthcare. “Though we will miss John, we are excited to welcome a new chair to our board, Jack Burke, a pillar of the Northeast Connecticut community and strong believer in, and advocate for, our vision.”
Burke, a former deputy commander in the Connecticut State Police Force, owns J&B Transportation and serves as a director of both the Westcott/Wilcox Retirement Home and Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing children with access to fitness, nutrition, and athletics. He is also the current board vice chair of Jewett City Savings Bank and has served on the Day Kimball Healthcare board of directors since 2009.
“I’m fortunate to be following John Miller, who left this position in great order and was an exemplary leader,” said Burke.
“I promise to make this a seamless transition and to build on the great work that has been done before me as we strengthen Day Kimball as an integrated healthcare system providing best-in-class care.”
Burke is married to Mary Jane Burke and they have five children, seven grandchildren, and are expecting their first great-grandchild. The Burkes live in Dayville.
In addition, Janice Thurlow, a resident of Ballouville, and Hadi Bozorgmanesh, a resident of Brooklyn, were elected to the board. Joseph Alessandro, DOD; Joseph Botta, MD, Jack Burke, John Graham, MD, and Atty. William St. Onge were re-elected to another 3-year term.