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An Update from Vincent G. Capece, Jr.,
President & CEO of Middlesex Health
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Dear Friend,
I hope your 2024 is off to a good start. I want to express my gratitude for your continued support of Middlesex Health.
We are thrilled to share some recent exciting news with you in this quarterly update. Middlesex Health has recently earned its sixth consecutive nursing Magnet® designation, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our exceptional nurses, supported by our staff and leadership. We are proud to have achieved this milestone, and your commitment helps us continue to make our community a healthier place to live and work.
We welcome your input or questions about our programs and initiatives. Please feel free to contact our Office of Philanthropy at 860-358-6200 or donate@midhosp.org.
Kind regards,
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Vincent G. Capece, Jr.
President/CEO
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BIG NEWS! MIDDLESEX EARNS SIXTH MAGNET® DESIGNATION | | |
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Middlesex Hospital, a part of Middlesex Health, recently earned its sixth consecutive nursing Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
This distinction is a testament to Middlesex’s rigorous standards of clinical nursing excellence. Less than 20 health organizations worldwide have earned this designation six consecutive times.
Middlesex earned its first Magnet® designation in 2001 and was the first health system in Connecticut and the first community hospital in the country to do so.
Across the country, nurses and health care systems have faced monumental challenges, including financial stressors, workforce shortages and continued pandemic-related demands. Despite these challenges, Middlesex Health’s nurses continue to demonstrate unwavering dedication and consistently achieve extraordinary outcomes for their patients, exceeding national benchmarks for quality care and both patient and nurse satisfaction.
“At Middlesex Health, we have built a culture of excellence,” says Kelly Haeckel, Middlesex Health’s chief nursing officer. “As a health system, we are committed to providing our patients — our community — with the best possible care. We also remain committed to providing our nurses with the support and resources they need to be successful and practice with autonomy.”
Middlesex’s Magnet® designation demonstrates the health system’s ongoing commitment to inter-professional collaboration and excellence in patient care. It is a prestigious designation that is earned every four years, and Middlesex must go through a lengthy vetting process before it is deemed a Magnet® organization. The process includes a written application and a site visit, which occurred in December 2023. During the site visit, appraisers met with a variety of individuals, including physicians, interdisciplinary teams, community members and members of the Middlesex Health Patient Family Advisory Council.
“Our Magnet® designation indicates that we’ve provided excellent nursing care for nearly 25 years, and it certainly shows the strength and dedication of our nursing staff. I am very proud of the work that they do,” says Middlesex Health President and CEO Vincent G. Capece, Jr. “However, it is important to note that being a Magnet® organization is a team effort, and it requires our entire staff — our nurses and physicians and others — to work collaboratively to ensure that we are always providing the safest and best care possible. This honor should be celebrated. It truly shows that we are Middlesex strong!”
For more information, visit MiddlesexHealth.org.
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MIDDLESEX HEALTH — AN AGE-FRIENDLY HEALTH SYSTEM | | |
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Middlesex Health is committed to consistently improving care for older adults, ensuring that they receive high-value, evidence-based health care. The health system also works to ensure that older adults are treated with respect and that their goals of care are met.
Because of its efforts, Middlesex has been recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as an Age-Friendly Health System. This is part of a national movement — a collaborative effort between The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States.
There are four essential elements of an Age-Friendly Health System. They are known as the four M’s, and health practitioners follow these guidelines when treating older adults.
The four M’s include:
● What Matters: Practitioners know and align care with each older adult's specific health outcome goals and care preferences, including, but not limited to, end-of-life care and across settings of care.
● Medication: If medication is necessary, practitioners use age-friendly medication that does not interfere with what matters to the older adult, their mobility, or their mentation across settings of care.
● Mentation: Prevent, identify, treat and manage delirium.
● Mobility: Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do what matters.
With this model, older adult patients (patients 65 and older) experience improved measurable outcomes, resulting in better experiences during stays at Middlesex Hospital.
“Being an Age-Friendly Health System shows that Middlesex consistently works to improve the care it provides,” says Terri Savino, Middlesex Health’s director of service excellence and patient experience. “As a health system, we are proud to partner with older adults on their health care journey. It is important that we work collaboratively to ensure that they always receive the best possible care possible.”
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MIDDLESEX HEALTH'S EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RECEIVE RECOGNITION | | |
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In December, members of Middlesex Health’s Emergency Medical Services team were recognized by the Durham Volunteer Fire Company for being part of a 911 response that saved a man’s life on Halloween.
A man had collapsed at a local business, and staff there called 911 and started CPR. Durham firefighter/EMT Brian Olivieri, the father of Middlesex Health paramedic Jordan Olivieri, arrived first and took over CPR. The Middlesex Health ambulance that is stationed in Durham arrived on scene moments later and Middlesex Health EMTs Donald Woscyna and Jason Lazzaris provided a single shock with an AED, and it returned the man’s heart into an organized rhythm.
Middlesex Health paramedic Dan Bach arrived next and initiated advanced life support to maintain the man’s heart rhythm and improve his level of consciousness. The man was brought to Middlesex Hospital, stabilized and then transferred to a higher level of care. He was subsequently discharged home with no deficits.
This is a great example of teamwork, and it shows how critical a rapid response is to individuals who experience sudden cardiac arrest.
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goPINK+ RAISES FUNDS FOR CANCER PATIENTS | | |
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In October, goPINK+ celebrated its 14th year of raising money to support patients at Middlesex Health Cancer Center. The community rallied together and raised $27,800 in 2023, bringing the lifetime total to more than $423,000.
A fun and artistic highlight was the return of “What The Duck?” This year’s fundraiser featured 38 wooden ducks created by local businesses, schools and families. The ducks, displayed in downtown Middletown and across Middlesex County, helped raise awareness of the importance of early cancer detection.
Throughout October, the ducks attracted attention and members of the public voted for their favorite duck. EG Salon’s ducks received the most votes, which homage to the iconic music legends Tina Turner and Prince.
The money raised by goPINK+ underwrite free integrative medicine therapy for patients with cancer. Integrative medicine therapy includes massage therapy, reflexology, and acupuncture. These therapies are not covered by insurance, but can make a big difference in easing the symptoms of cancer treatment, such as fatigue, pain and nausea.
To learn more about Middlesex Health Cancer Center, visit MiddlesexHealth.org/cancer-center.
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SHORELINE MEDICAL CENTER EXPANDS SERVICES | | |
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Ensuring that care is convenient and easily accessible is a priority for Middlesex Health. So, when the health system recognized a need for more specialized care along the Connecticut shoreline, it responded by expanding its clinical services at its Shoreline Medical Center in Westbrook.
The center now offers a wide range of medical and surgical specialists, including general and oncologic surgeons, endocrinologists, urologists, pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists and obstetrics and gynecology providers.
“By opening this new space, we are able to offer more services at our Shoreline Medical Center, which allows for more convenient, seamless care for patients,” says Dr. David Cosentino, Middlesex Health’s chief medical officer. “We are a community health system. We take care of our community. Most people want to get their health care as close to home as possible. We are responding to that need by having our doctors from multiple disciplines offer consultations and care in locations throughout our community. This ensures that people have access to care close to where they live.”
Renovation work at Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center was completed this fall and specialists began seeing patients in the new space at that time.
The expansion of office space builds on the already comprehensive care available at Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center, including 24/7 emergency care, a full service cancer center, primary care and diagnostic imaging, including X-ray, CT, MRI and mammography. There’s also a laboratory and infusion center.
For more information, visit MiddlesexHealth.org/shoreline.
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Middlesex Health | 28 Crescent Street | Middletown, CT 06457
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