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Marketing Department
Weekly Media Report
January 16, 2015
Weekly Media Report – January 16, 2015
Print
Hartford Courant
- Johnson Memorial Files for Bankruptcy to Become Saint Francis Subsidiary (1/15/2015)
West Hartford News
- Saint Francis Care Names Spirit Award Recipients (1/14/2015)
Journal Inquirer
- JMMC Seeks Bankruptcy Again (1/15/2015)
Becker’s Hospital CFO
- Johnson Memorial Medical Center eyes bankruptcy in transaction with Saint Francis Care (1/15/2015)
CHA Update
- Johnson Memorial Medical Center Announces Approval of Asset Purchase Agreement with Saint
Francis Care (1/15/2015)
Catholic Transcript
- Hospital looks ahead to merger, looks back on Archbishop Mansell's Leadership (1/12/2015)
Catholic Health Association
- Saint Francis Care in Connecticut plans to join Trinity Health (1/2015)
Catholic Health World
- Saint Francis Announces Executive Appointment (1/9/2015)
- Saint Francis Receives W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grant for Breastfeeding Program (12/19/2014)
MASS Live
- Johnson Memorial Medical Center plans bankruptcy to become part of Saint Francis Care (1/14/2015)
Healthcare Finance
- Saint Francis creates affiliated post-acute care network (1/13/2015)
Advisen FPN
- Connecticut Hospital Heads Back Into Chapter 11 (1/15/2015)
News On Line
WTIC - CBS
- Johnson Memorial Declaring Bankruptcy, Being Purchased by Saint Francis (1/14/2015)
WNPR News
- Chemotherapy Refusal is at Center of Connecticut Case – But What is Chemo? (1/12/2015)
Television
WTIC - Fox
- Kara Moscato – Dash Diet (1/13/2015)
WVIT-NBC
- Johnson Memorial Hospital (1/15/2105)
Radio
WTIC-Fox
- Hospital Observation Status (1/15/2015)
- Dr. Adam Boruchov – Chemotherapy (1/9/2015)
WNPR-FM
- Dr. Alan Boruchov – Chemotherapy (1/12/2015)
- Dr. Ulysses Wu – Flu (1/2/2015)
January 15, 2015
By Matthew Sturdevant and Brian Dowling
Johnson Memorial Files For Bankruptcy To Become Saint
Francis Subsidiary
Johnson Memorial files Chapter 11 bankruptcy to clear path for acquisition by
Saint Francis Care.
The parent company of Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford on Wednesday filed for Chapter
11 bankruptcy protection to clear the path for acquisition by Saint Francis Care in Hartford.
Johnson Memorial Medical Center's executives decided to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after
discussing the issue with its Board of Directors and with lenders, government agencies and
"multiple advisors," the health systems said in a joint release.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal means Johnson Memorial's assets would transfer
to Saint Francis Care, the parent company of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
This is just the latest development in a changing health-care landscape across Connecticut and
the nation. For example, Tenet Healthcare Corp. of Dallas is in talks with state officials who
hope to revive Tenet's plans to acquire five hospitals in Connecticut.
Saint Francis itself is being acquired. Last month, Saint Francis Care said it plans to become a
part of Trinity Health of Livonia, Mich., a large Catholic health care system that operates 86
hospitals in 21 states.
The Johnson Memorial acquisition includes various affiliates: Evergreen Health Care Center,
which is a short-term and long-term nursing care facility; Home & Community Health Services,
which used to be Enfield Visiting Nurse Association and includes hospice; and Johnson Health
Care.
Johnson Memorial is one of the state's smallest hospitals with 95 beds and 460 full-timeequivalent staff positions. It is also among the state's weakest, financially. The hospital's parent
company posted a total shortfall of $18.5 million from operations in the four years ending in
2013, state Department of Public Health records show.
In fiscal 2013, Johnson reported an operating loss of $5.3 million during a year when the
hospital had operating revenues of $87.68 million. That loss was partly offset by $2.6 million in
revenues other than operations, such as investment gains.
Johnson had an occupancy rate of 47 percent of its available beds, compared with 65 percent
for all hospitals statewide, during fiscal 2013.
In bankruptcy filings for each of its major affiliates, Johnson Memorial Medical Center outlined
about $29.3 million in unsecured debt. The largest chunk of that is owed to People's United
Bank in Bridgeport; Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford; and McKesson Technologies Inc., a health
care information technology company in Chicago.
In 2012, Johnson Memorial and Saint Francis Care signed an affiliation agreement that provided
the rural, financially troubled hospital with access to a larger organization. As a result of the
affiliation, Johnson Memorial has improved operations by all financial measures, the hospitals
said.
"The terms of the transaction include a pre-negotiated debt restructuring with our lender, who
supports this process," Johnson Memorial's director of business development, Amy DuBoisZwaan, said in an e-mail.
Johnson Memorial is using the bankruptcy process to bring about the sale to Saint Francis
"under the terms to which have already been agreed by all parties," DuBois-Zwaan said.
Emerging from bankruptcy with less debt and a stronger relationship with Saint Francis will help
the Stafford hospital achieve its goal of becoming stronger and more financially sound, she said.
Wednesday's bankruptcy filings report that financial difficulties at Johnson Memorial Medical
Center continued even after the system emerged from an earlier bankruptcy in 2010.
The earlier bankruptcy shaved away millions of dollars in debt from the company's balance
sheet. Nevertheless, Johnson Memorial Medical Center had net losses of $2.8 million in 2012
and $7.5 million in 2013, which the health system said in its filing had "accumulated and
threatened [its] viability." In financial terms, net losses are different from operating losses.
The Johnson Memorial Medical Center's board of directors approved the bankruptcy in a
special meeting Dec. 30. The board placed Johnson Memorial Medical Center CEO Stuart E.
Rosenberg in charge of the bankruptcy process.
It is uncommon for a hospital to file for bankruptcy immediately before becoming acquired by
another hospital system, said Gautam Gowrisankaran, an economics professor at the University
of Arizona's Eller College of Management, who researches hospital acquisitions.
Struggling rural hospitals do not normally file for bankruptcy in part because of a federal
program that allows them to become a "critical access hospital," allowing it to be reimbursed
by Medicare on a cost-plus basis, Gowrisankaran said
"It's not extremely generous, but it's certainly enough that you're going to be avoiding
bankruptcy," Gowrisankaran said. "The number of rural hospital bankruptcies has gone way
down since this program was implemented [in 1997]."
The program does have criteria, such as a certain distance from other hospitals, and it's
possible Johnson Memorial would not qualify, Gowrisankaran said.
There is a lot of hospital merger activity, generally, in the U.S., he said.
"I haven't heard of a hospital strategically filing for Chapter 11 before they merge. That's
certainly common in other sectors," Gowrisankaran said.
"Our current affiliation agreement provides the framework necessary to ensure the continued
delivery of quality care to the local community and sustain a major economic resource for the
region," Saint Francis Care CEO and President Christopher Dadlez said in a statement. "Recently
we have watched JMMC stabilize and strengthen its operations. Both parties are enthusiastic
about the next steps ahead."
The Johnson Memorial CEO, Rosenberg, said in a statement: ""Throughout our working
affiliation, JMMC and Saint Francis Care have been on the path of creating a long-term
partnership. One of the achieved goals from our partnership with Saint Francis has been the
ability to continue our mission as we have for the last 102 years, providing quality healthcare in
the community. Johnson Memorial Medical Center will be a key member of an integrated
system of care."
Courant Staff Writer Dan Haar contributed to this story.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Saint Francis Care names Spirit Award recipients
At its recent annual meeting, Saint
Francis Care officials announced that
the late David Lentini and current
Archbishop Emeritus, The Most
Reverend Henry Mansell are the
2015 recipients of the annual Saint
Francis Spirit Awards. David Lentini’s
wife, Barbara, and son, Mark,
accepted the award on his behalf.
Lentini, the former CEO of
Connecticut Bank and Trust served
the greater Hartford community as a
Saint Francis board member and a
Renbrook School board member.
Mansell chaired the Saint Francis
Above, from left, are Mark Lentini, Barbara Lentini, Saint
board of directors for 10 years and
Francis Board Chairman Daniel P. O’Connell, Saint
has worked tirelessly in Hartford to
Francis President and CEO Christopher Dadlez.
end homelessness and provide
tuition assistance to Catholic school
students. He also helped to develop the Malta House of Care Mobile clinic, a free medical service,
among many other charitable acts. Saint Francis Board Chairman Daniel P. O’Connell accepted the
award for Archbishop Mansell, who was unable to attend.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Don Michak
JMMC seeks bankruptcy again
Hospital’s federal filing is part of buyout deal with Saint Francis Care
Johnson Memorial Medical Center in Stafford will seek federal bankruptcy protection for
the second time in seven years in a deal to sell itself to St. Francis Care, the corporate
parent of St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, company officials say.
The “asset purchase agreement” announced Wednesday comes less than a month after
St. Francis Care itself agreed to merge with Trinity Health, a Catholic, 86-hospital chain
based in Michigan, which would invest $275 million in St. Francis within five years after
the expected closing of their deal this year.
The agreement also comes nearly three years after St. Francis Care forged a
“partnership” with JMMC, the owner of the 101-bed acute care Johnson Memorial
Hospital and the 180-bed nursing facility Evergreen Health Center, both in Stafford, and
the surgery center and visiting nurse operation Home & Community Health Services in
Enfield.
Under the affiliation agreement struck in July 2012, Saint Francis Care agreed to pay
$2.35 million to help JMMC pay off debt related to its 2008 bankruptcy.
Saint Francis Care also had the option to make additional payments of just over $2
million between 2013 and 2015. JMMC, which was created when the former Johnson
Memorial Corp. emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2010, also would use the money
to satisfy payment of claims under that reorganization plan.
All such payments were to constitute a unsecured loan and with its initial payment Saint
Francis Care was provided the right to appoint three members to JMMC’s board of
directors.
A Saint Francis Care spokeswoman, Fiona Phelan, declined to provide any details
about the financial terms of the newly proposed transaction, which must be approved by
the state’s hospital regulators and attorney general.
She said officials at both nonprofit companies had agreed to keep the exact terms
“proprietary and confidential.”
The spokeswoman also said there are no plans to make any changes in management
or to close any facilities in connection with the deal, that day-to-day operations at
Johnson Memorial Hospital are expected to “continue uninterrupted,” and that in the
interim JMMC will continue to provide services on a “business-as-usual basis.”
After the deal is completed, she added, JMMC employees would become employees of
a wholly owned subsidiary of Saint Francis Care and “eligible employees” would be
offered a benefits package.
Phelan offered no details about the pension obligations or other costs Saint Francis
Care might assume in the buyout.
Nevertheless, in a prepared statement issued Wednesday, the hospital officials said
their deal would “clear the way for JMMC’s continued financial strength and stability.”
“After discussions among JMMC’s board of directors, lenders, government agencies,
and multiple advisers, a pre-planned and voluntary reorganization under a Chapter 11
bankruptcy filing was collectively determined as the most efficient and expedient
process to proceed with the business transaction under the terms negotiated, which
include a debt restructuring,” they said.
“The terms of the transaction will allow JMMC to emerge from this process with less
debt and the deepened relationship with Saint Francis Care will help to achieve the goal
of becoming a stronger, more financially sound hospital, well-positioned for the future,”
they added.
Johnson Memorial Hospital was among only five Connecticut hospitals that ended the
last fiscal year with a negative total margin, which state regulators put at a negative 4.94
percent. The JMMC system had a negative 3.11 percent total margin.
The Saint Francis Care system, on the other hand, had a 4.05 percent positive margin,
which means that it kept as “profit” just over 4 cents for each dollar of revenue.
Saint Francis Care was one of the hospital systems that had bid to buy Eastern
Connecticut Health Network and its Manchester Memorial and Rockville General
hospitals.
Peter Karl, the president and CEO at ECHN, said last year that it had dropped Saint
Francis from consideration after a plan by Saint Francis to combine with a for-profit
chain affiliated with the nation’s biggest Catholic health care system, Ascension Health
Care Network in Missouri, “fell apart.”
ECHN subsequently agreed to sell itself to Tenet Healthcare Corp., a for-profit hospital
chain based in Texas, which last month withdrew its application for state approval of the
deal after regulators said it could go forward only if a series of “conditions” were met.
January 15, 2015
Kelly Gooch
Financial Management
Johnson Memorial Medical Center eyes bankruptcy in
transaction with Saint Francis Care
Stafford Springs, Conn.-based Johnson Memorial Medical Center announced approval
of an asset purchase agreement with Hartford, Conn.-based Saint Francis Care.
Johnson Memorial Medical Center is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the deal, under
which Johnson Memorial Medical Center would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Saint Francis Care.
"After discussions among (Johnson Memorial Medical Center's) board of directors,
lenders, governmental agencies and multiple advisors, a pre-planned and voluntary
reorganization under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing was collectively determined as the
most efficient and expedient process to proceed with the business transaction under the
terms negotiated, which includes a debt restructuring," Johnson Memorial Medical
Center said in a prepared statement.
Specific terms of the deal were not addressed in a joint news release. However, the
release does say the terms "will allow (Johnson Memorial Medical Center) to emerge
from this process with less debt" and that "the deepened relationship with Saint
Francis Carewill help to achieve the goal of becoming a stronger, more financially sound
hospital, well-positioned for the future."
The agreement still requires regulatory approval.
Johnson Memorial Medical Center and Saint Francis Care already have an affiliation
agreement, which both sides signed in July 2012.
Johnson Memorial Medical Center serves as the parent organization of Stafford
Springs-based Johnson Memorial Hospital, Evergreen Health Care Center in Stafford
Springs; Home & Community Health Services in Enfield, Conn.; and Johnson Health
Care in Enfield, while Saint Francis Care serves as the parent company of Saint Francis
Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, as well as Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
in Hartford and its other providers, according to a news release.
January 15, 2015
Johnson Memorial Medical Center Announces
Approval of Asset Purchase Agreement with Saint
Francis Care
On January 14, 2015, Johnson Memorial Medical Center (“JMMC”) announced the
approval of an Asset Purchase Agreement with Saint Francis Care.
After discussions among JMMC’s Board of Directors, lenders, governmental agencies,
and multiple advisors, a pre-planned and voluntary reorganization under a Chapter 11
bankruptcy filing was collectively determined as the most efficient and expedient
process to proceed with the business transaction under the terms negotiated, which
includes a debt restructuring.
This will clear the path for JMMC’s continued financial strength and stability. The terms
of the transaction will allow JMMC to emerge from this process with less debt, and the
deepened relationship with Saint Francis Care will help to achieve the goal of becoming
a stronger, more financially sound hospital, well-positioned for the future. Patient care
will not be interrupted and JMMC will continue to deliver high quality care to the
community.
“Throughout our working affiliation, JMMC and Saint Francis Care have been on the
path of creating a long-term partnership,” said Stuart E. Rosenberg, President and Chief
Executive Officer at JMMC. “One of the achieved goals from our partnership with Saint
Francis has been the ability to continue our mission as we have for the last 102 years,
providing quality healthcare in the community. Johnson Memorial Medical Center will
be a key member of an integrated system of care.”
JMMC and Saint Francis Care signed an Affiliation Agreement in July 2012, resulting in
a mutually beneficial relationship that has provided the community with a sustainable,
high-quality healthcare resource. As a result, JMMC has recently experienced
improved operations by all measures of financial performance.
“Our current affiliation agreement provides the framework necessary to ensure the
continued delivery of quality care to the local community and sustain a major economic
resource for the region,” said Christopher Dadlez, President and Chief Executive
Officer, Saint Francis Care. “Recently we have watched JMMC stabilize and strengthen
its operations. Both parties are enthusiastic about the next steps ahead.”
Under terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, JMMC would become a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Saint Francis Care as part of a clinically integrated healthcare delivery
system.
Any finalized agreement will be contingent upon regulatory approvals, including by the
Office of Health Care Access, and Office of the Attorney General of the State of
Connecticut. A Certificate of Need will be filed, as required, to initiate the review
process.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Jack Sheedy
Hospital looks ahead to merger, looks back on Archbishop
Mansell's Leadership
January 2014
Saint Francis Care in Connecticut plans to join Trinity Health
Hartford, Conn.-based Saint Francis Care will become part of Trinity Health as Trinity Health
forms a regional, nonprofit Catholic health care system in New England that also will include
another Trinity Health system, the Sisters of Providence Health System in Springfield, Mass.
Saint Francis Care and Trinity Health announced their definitive agreement Dec. 17, after eight
months of discussion. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Dr. Richard Gilfillan, Trinity Health's president and chief executive, said the new collaboration
will improve care coordination in the region, leading to improvements in patients' health.
Springfield is about 25 miles north of Hartford. Trinity Health will invest at least $275 million in
the new regional ministry over five years once the deal is complete. Trinity Health and Saint
Francis Care leaders said part of those funds will be for bricks-and-mortar improvements to
facilities, and much of it will be to improve care across the continuum including by funding
information technology or ambulatory settings to advance population health in the region.
Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health is one of the nation's largest Catholic health care systems,
providing patient care in 21 states at 86 hospitals and 128 continuing care facilities. Saint Francis
Hospital and Medical Center is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Connecticut
School of Medicine and licensed for 617 beds. Saint Francis Care includes the Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital, a 60-bed hospital; and Saint Francis/Mount Sinai Regional Cancer
Center.
Sisters of Providence Health System includes Mercy Medical Center, a 182-bed acute care
hospital in Springfield; and the 126-bed Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke,
Mass.
Leadership moving forward
Christopher Dadlez, president and chief executive of Saint Francis Care, will lead the new
regional health care system, which has not yet been named. Daniel P. Moen will continue as
Sisters of Providence Health System president and chief executive and be involved in the
formation of the new regional ministry, according to the systems. A new regional board will be
created for the regional health care system, with existing local boards serving in an advisory
capacity, system leaders said.
Dadlez said Saint Francis Care realized a few years ago that it needed to become part of a larger
organization due to changes under health reform and due to increased focus on caring for the
health of populations. Despite growing income from operations by about 40 percent in the last
fiscal year, profit margins have hovered at about 2 percent, he said. "It's been a beautiful thing
(to) meet Trinity and find out our strategic plans are aligned almost 100 percent; our direction
and vision are aligned, and we're about creating in health care a people-centered environment
focusing on both our community and the people we serve in a Catholic tradition."
Saint Francis Care will be Trinity Health's first hospital in Connecticut; Trinity Health owns The
Mercy Community, which includes Saint Mary Home, a skilled nursing home, and The
McAuley, a continuing care retirement community, colocated on a 65 acre campus in West
Hartford.
Saint Francis Care previously had been in talks to become part of Ascension Health Care
Network, a for-profit arm of the St. Louis-based Catholic nonprofit Ascension. Dadlez called
Ascension a "great organization," but said he thinks Trinity Health is a better fit for Saint Francis
Care, which will remain a nonprofit.
Saint Francis Care is currently sponsored by the Archdiocese of Hartford, which approved the
agreement. The deal still needs approvals required by canon law, and regulatory approvals from
state and federal agencies. Saint Francis Care will be transferred to sponsorship by Trinity
Health's sponsor, Catholic Health Ministries. The systems said they hope to complete the deal
late this year.
SAINT FRANCIS ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT
Matthew R. Kenney, Ph.D., Named as Vice President, Mission & Ethics
(Hartford, CT – January 9, 2015) – Saint Francis Care has named Matthew R. Kenney,
Ph.D., to the position of Vice President, Mission & Ethics.
In this role, Dr. Kenney is responsible for promoting and integrating Saint Francis’
Mission and Core Values to help create an ethical, spiritual and healing environment
throughout the Hospital system.
Dr. Kenney was appointed interim Vice President, Mission Integration in April, 2014. He
joined Saint Francis as a Clinical Ethicist in 2012. Prior to joining the Saint Francis family he
served as Executive Assistant to the President and Assistant Vice President for Mission and
Catholic Identity at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield.
Dr. Kenney holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology, along with a certification in bioethics
from the Center for Health Care Ethics at Duquesne University. He teaches both graduate and
undergraduate courses in bioethics at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, as well as advance
practice nursing ethics and theology courses at the University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford.
Dr. Kenney also serves as a consultant at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and
St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury. He has presented ethics grand rounds and workshops on a
wide range of bioethical issues ranging from ethical considerations at the origin of life to
withholding and withdrawing medical treatment, and has provided expert testimony to various
state legislatures on a range of ethical issues.
Saint Francis Receives W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grant for Breastfeeding Program
$498,980 to support a peer counseling program
(Hartford, CT – December 29, 2014) - Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, in partnership with
The Hispanic Health Council, has received a $498,980 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to
expand a “Breastfeeding: Heritage and Pride” program to low-income AfricanAmerican and
Hispanic mothers who are patients at the Saint Francis Center for Women’s Health.
The breastfeeding program, developed and currently delivered in other Hartford neighborhoods by
The Hispanic Health Council in partnership with Hartford Hospital, recruits, trains, and hires women
from Hartford’s low-income neighborhoods who have successfully breast-fed their own infants for
at least six months. The rigorous training prepares these women to become breastfeeding peer
counselors.
“Breast milk is the perfect food for babies,” said Walter Trymbulak, M.D., Ph.D, Director of the
Center for Women’s Health. “Low-income women in Hartford have the lowest rates of
breastfeeding in the state. This grant will help us change the culture of formula-feeding the babies
of the women who use our Center.”
The Center for Women’s Health located at 1075 Asylum Avenue and its satellite office in the
Burgdorf Health Center provide full service obstetric and gynecologic care to the women of
Hartford and the surrounding communities. The Center does over 12,000 patient visits each year
and cares for over 600 pregnant women each year. In serving the Saint Francis mission the Center
offers health and wellness programs to all women regardless of insurance status.
Jose Ortiz, The Hispanic Health Council’s President and CEO, states, “We are delighted to have the
opportunity to bring this important and evidence-based service to the patients at the Saint Francis
Center for Women’s Health. This is another opportunity for the two organizations to partner in
addressing health disparities.”
Over a decade of studies has shown that “Breastfeeding: Heritage and Pride” raises the rates of 6month and 12-month breastfeeding in low-income African-American and Hispanic women in other
sections of Hartford. Now, with the support of the Kellogg Foundation grant, mothers in Saint
Francis’ neighborhoods will have the same high-quality peer counseling to help them overcome
obstacles to breastfeeding.
The peer counselors from “Breastfeeding: Heritage and Pride” will begin working with expectant
mothers during their pregnancy, helping to educate them on the health and emotional benefits of
breastfeeding for infants and mothers. After the babies are born, the peer counselors will visit the
mother each day at Saint Francis and assist the Hospital’s certified lactation consultants in helping
the mother initiate breastfeeding.
When the mothers and their babies return home, the peer counselors make home visits to ensure
that the breastfeeding is going well, to assist with any issues or problems that arise, and to offer
continued encouragement to the new mother. The peer counselors are also available by cell phone
at all times to answer mothers’ questions or to help solve any emergent problems.
Studies have shown that intensive peer counseling increases the initiation and duration of
breastfeeding, and is successful in populations that have historically low rates of 6-month and 12month breastfeeding.
Peer counseling is even more effective when the counselors share the same racial/ethnic,
economic and language background as the mothers they support. Counselors help mothers
overcome pain, discomfort, and feelings that the infant is not receiving enough nutrition.
Intensive peer counseling in guiding mothers during the first six months of exclusive breastfeeding
also increases the probability that mothers will choose to fully breastfeed any additional infants
they may have in the future. After six months of exclusive breastfeeding, the peer counselors help
mothers introduce appropriate baby foods and remain as a resource for mothers who decide to
continue supplementary breastfeeding to 12 months.
Research has established that breast milk is the ideal “first food” for infants. In the first few days
after birth, the antibody Secretory Immunoglobulin-A is present in large amounts in colostrum (the
early milk). This and other antibodies in breast milk strengthen the baby’s immune system.
Breast milk: is easier to digest; protects against diarrhea and constipation; reduces the risk of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; decreases the risk of asthma, respiratory infections, allergies, and
eczema; contains essential nutrients for the development of the brain, eyes, and nervous system;
helps in the development of the mouth and jaw; increases the baby’s feeling of comfort and
reinforces a strong emotional bond with the mother.
Research also shows that breast-fed babies: are less likely to be overweight or obese in childhood;
are less likely to develop childhood cancers and diabetes; may have fewer behavioral,
psychological, and learning difficulties as children; may have increased intelligence levels compared
to formula-fed children; and have lower LDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure in childhood.
Pediatricians recommend exclusive breastfeeding up to six months and complementary
breastfeeding up to 12 months.
January 14, 2015
Anne-Gerard Flynn
Johnson Memorial Medical Center plans bankruptcy to become
part of Saint Francis Care
0
Sisters of Providence Health System, which includes Mercy Medical Center, is part of Trinity Health,
which has entered into an agreement to purchase Hartford-based Saint Francis Care and form it into a
regional health system with the Sisters of Providence. Today, Saint Francis Care announced that it
reached an agreement to purchase the assets of Johnson Memorial Medical Center, which could also
make JMMC part of the regional system. (REPUBLICAN FILE)
The emerging pattern in the delivery of health care, in this age of accountable and
affordable care, is for smaller hospitals systems to merge with bigger ones. In December,
Michigan-based Trinity Health, the country's second largest non-profit health system,
announced it had signed a definitive agreement for Hartford-basedSaint Francis
Care to join its system.
Today, another Connecticut-based system, Johnson Memorial Medical
Center,announced plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to allow it to
become a subsidiary of Saint Francis Care. Johnson Memorial has been in a two-year
affiliated arrangement with Saint Francis Care.
"Throughout our working affiliation, JMMC and Saint Francis Care have been on the
path of creating a long-term partnership," said Stuart E. Rosenberg, Johnson Memorial
Medical Center president and chief executive officer, in a center release.
In the same release, the head of Saint Francis Care described both systems as being
"enthusiastic" over the next steps, which include a review and state approval of the asset
of purchase agreement between the two. This is the second time Johnson Memorial has
sought bankruptcy protection to restructure debt.
"Our current affiliation agreement provides the framework necessary to ensure the
continued delivery of quality care to the local community and sustain a major economic
resource for the region," said Christopher Dadlez, president and chief executive officer,
of Saint Francis Care.
"Recently we have watched JMMC stabilize and strengthen its operations. Both parties
are enthusiastic about the next steps ahead."
Johnson Memorial Medical Center is the parent organization of several Connecticutbased facilities including Johnson Memorial Hospital and Evergreen Health Care
Center, both in Stafford Springs, and Home & Community Health Services, in Enfield.
JANUARY 13, 2015
Saint Francis creates affiliated post-acute care network
Saint Francis HealthCare Partners (SFHCP) has formed an affiliated Post-Acute Care
Network to offer patients of Saint Francis Care a high-quality, highly efficient network of
preferred providers to enhance the transition from hospital care to post-acute care.
This affiliated provider network will include the full continuum of post-acute care
services, including long-term acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and
home health and hospice.
The Saint Francis HealthCare Partners affiliation with these providers helps ensure that
patients will receive post-acute care and rehabilitation services in collaboration with their
medical team at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, as well as their primary
care providers.
Selection criteria for participation in the network included Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) quality scores, readmission rates, availability of specialty
clinical programs/capabilities, other quality criteria, and proximity.
To facilitate ease of planning, the affiliated providers will have access to patient
information through the Saint Francis electronic medical records (EMR) EpiCare
software. The EMR at Saint Francis is a single point of data entry for patient medical
services, providing medical history for each patient.
“Our goal was to select a group of affiliated providers to help enhance the transition
from hospital care to post-acute care for our patients,” said Jess Kupec, President and
Chief Executive Officer, Saint Francis HealthCare Partners. “This network will match
patient needs with the right level of care to improve transitions of care, help reduce
readmissions, and improve overall patient outcomes.”
“As hospitals and physicians look to manage patients across care settings, post-acute
providers play a vital role in building an effective continuum of care,” said Adam
Silverman, M.D., Vice President, Ambulatory Strategy and Development, Saint
Francis Care. “Our goal is to provide our patients and their families with the peace of
mind that everyone is working toward providing the best possible care plan with the goal
of getting the patient better, faster.”
Patients and families always have the right to select a post-acute provider of their
choice. They will continue to be offered provider options based on their individual
clinical needs. SFHCP will be working with providers in the post-acute network to
develop protocols for admission, patient education, coordination with the patient’s
primary care provider, and facility discharge.
Members of the affiliated Post-Acute Care Network are:
·
Long-Term Acute Care Hospital: Hospital for Special Care in New Britain
·
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility: Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford
·
Skilled Nursing Facilities:
o Avon – Avon Health Center
o Bloomfield – Touchpoints at Bloomfield
o East Hartford – Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center
o Glastonbury – Glastonbury Health Care Center
o Manchester – Touchpoints at Manchester
o Simsbury – McLean
o Stafford Springs – Evergreen Health Care Center
o West Hartford – Hughes Health and Rehabilitation; The Reservoir;
Saint Mary Home; West Hartford Health and Rehabilitation Center
o Windsor – Kimberly Hall South
·
Home Health and Hospice: Masonicare Partners and Masonicare Home Health
and Hospice
01/15/2015
Sara Randazzo
Business & Economy
Connecticut Hospital Heads Back into Chapter 11
A Connecticut hospital put itself under Chapter 11 protection on Wednesday with plans to sell
itself to a nearby healthcare system, five years after an unsuccessful bankruptcy reorganization
left it saddled with $40 million in debt.
Johnson Memorial Medical Center Inc. and five affiliates filed for bankruptcy in U.S.
Bankruptcy Court in Hartford, Conn. with a sale agreement in hand to turn over its entire
operation, including a 92-bed hospital, 180-bed skilled nursing facility and hospice-care services
arm, to Saint Francis Care Inc.
"The path to the proposed sale has been a long and difficult one," the hospital said in court
papers, citing years-long financial difficulties caused by a shrinking number of patients, lack of
capital, regulatory changes in the health care industry and an unsustainable level of debt.
David Neier, a bankruptcy partner at Winston & Strawn LLP who often works on healthcare
reorganizations, said the proposed sale is the latest example in a wave of hospital consolidation
that started around 2008. "The day of regional hospitals is becoming less and less," Mr. Neier
said, citing technological and pharmaceutical advances that prevent patients from needing
lengthy hospital stays. "Hospitals are becoming less necessary."
Johnson Memorial has been trying to find a buyer since at least 2008, when it first filed for
bankruptcy. A proposed suitor at that time, Eastern Connecticut Health Network, backed out, and
the health system reorganized itself through Chapter 11 as an independent health care
organization. Since then, it has continued to ask five of the largest health systems in Connecticut
to bail it out, according to court documents.
Saint Francis, one of the Connecticut healthcare systems, agreed in 2012 to enter into an
agreement to provide clinical and management support to Johnson Memorial as well as pay off a
few million dollars of its debt.
Now, Saint Francis plans to assume more than $17 million of Johnson Memorial's debt, pay
$800,000 in obligations, assume its union contract and pay $1.25 million in cash for
administrative expenses, among other contingencies. The sale, which is expected to protect the
jobs of most of Johnson Memorial's 970 employees, is subject to regulatory and bankruptcycourt approval.
The agreement also requires Saint Francis to put down a $750,000 deposit it would get back as a
break-up fee if another buyer comes forward and consummates a deal instead. As part of the
agreement, Saint Francis said it plans to invest $13 million into capital improvements and new
technology within the first three years of its ownership.
Johnson Memorial owes $29 million in bank loans to the People's United Bank, $4.5 million to
Healthcare Finance Group LLC and $6 million to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. and other
unsecured creditors from its first bankruptcy proceedings, filings show. The not-for-profit health
system brought in more than $94 million in revenue last year but has been operating at a loss.
The hospital is asking for bankruptcy-court approval to take on up to $7 million in financing
from Healthcare Finance Group, which would roll up some of its pre-bankruptcy debt. Johnson
Memorial also asked for the ability to maintain its cash management system, pay its employees
and process refunds to patients who gave advanced payments for services.
The case, numbered 15-20056, has been assigned to Judge Albert Dabrowski.
January 14, 2015
Johnson Memorial Declaring Bankruptcy, Being
Purchased By Saint Francis
(CBS Connecticut) – Johnson Memorial Medical Center in Stafford Springs is declaring
chapter eleven bankruptcy to reorganize.
The Stafford Springs hosptial is being purchased by the parent company of Saint Francis
Hospital.
Johnson Memorial President Stuart Rosenberg says patient care will continue as normal.
“There will be no impact to the quality of patient care at Johnson. It is business as usual
during the process,” Rosenberg said.
Rosenberg says layoffs have not been considered.
The deal must still be approved by state regulators.
Tough economic conditions have prompted small hospitals across Connecticut and the
country to merge or affiliate with larger hospitals in recent years.
Rosenberg says reductions in federal and state reimbursement for patient care has
prompted reorganizations of services and expenses.
JANUARY 12, 2015
LUCY NALPATHANCHIL
Chemotherapy Refusal Is at Center of Connecticut
Case -- But What Is Chemo?
No matter what type of
treatment a patient
decides on, there are
short- and long-term
consequences.
The story of a Connecticut girl fighting for the right to choose how to treat her cancer has
filled the headlines. Cassandra C's case centers on her refusal of chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is one of the more common treatments for cancer.
Dr. Adam Boruchov is an oncologist at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford. He
explained that chemotherapy is used when cancer is widespread in a person's body,
because the chemicals can go into the blood system and travel throughout the entire body.
These therapies kill actively dividing cells in the body, like cancer cells, Boruchov said.
"It's kind of like when you put a pizza in a room with a bunch of hungry people," he said.
"If the pizza has poison, the hungrier people who eat the most pizza are going to get the
most poison."
That's how chemotherapy works,
Boruchov said. "If you put it in the
body, the cells most actively
dividing are going to take up the
most chemotherapy, and be
destroyed."
But chemotherapy also produces
side effects, Boruchov said, because
there are other cells in our bodies
that also rapidly divide. "Normal
cells such as the immune system, or
the skin, or the gastro-intestinal
tract, can also take up some of the
A rendering of blood cells in the body.
toxin, and therefore the cells there
Credit Purestock / Thinkstock
can die," he said. "We can get side
effects such as suppression of the
immune system, or nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or even the hair falling out."
Boruchov specializes in treating leukemia and lymphoma, or blood cancers. He said
treatment options for those are different from solid organ cancers like lung and breast.
When talking about chance of survival with his patients, he said he discusses how and
when to treat cancer.
"What we always talk about is Risk Benefit
Ratio, because sometimes we can treat and
make cancer go away but we don’t necessarily
have to and the side effects that would be
brought on aren’t necessarily worth it. So why
expose someone to needless side effects if you’re
not going to cure them of the disease?"
Boruchov said. "On the other hand, there are
certain types of aggressive lymphomas and
leukemias [which], if not treated, are lethal. In
that setting, if we do nothing, we know that
alternative is death, and that is clearly
unacceptable, so we offer chemotherapy
options."
No matter what type of treatment a patient
decides on, there are short- and long-term
Chemotherapy has negative side effects,
consequences, from nausea to organ damage, to
like nausea.
a chance for new cancer later in life. Boruchov
Credit christine.gleason / Creative Commons
stressed that in medicine, particularly in
oncology, "nothing is for free; nothing is without its side effects."
Below is more from our conversation with Boruchov:
WNPR's Lucy Nalpathanchil: What are the short-term and long-term side
effects for someone going through chemotherapy?
Dr. Adam Boruchov: One of the most common side effects of most chemotherapies is
lowering of the blood counts, and lowering of the red blood cells, which can make people
tired and anemic. There are some therapies we can do for that.
One of the simplest is a blood transfusion. Lowering of the platelets can make patients
have easy bleeding or bruising, and we can give them platelet transfusions. Lowering of
the white blood cells is the most dangerous, because that sets people up for lifethreatening infections.
So one of the newer developments in recent years are some of the supportive therapies
that we have to manage these side effects. For example, there's a white blood cell growth
factor we deliver right after chemotherapy to help rescue the white blood cells, to
minimize the time that patients have low white blood cell counts to minimize their chance
of infections.
And long-term side effects?
The most bizarre side effect to talk about with a patient is not a very common side effect.
Many chemotherapies can cause a secondary leukemia, or another blood cancer.
So you are getting rid of one blood cancer, and can get another blood cancer, but that is
rare. I'm always up front with patients [that] that can happen.
Some other side effects of chemo and radiation, in combination, are long-term damage to
the heart. Or a patient can get a side effect in the short term that is long-lasting, such as
neuropathy, which is damage to the nerve tissue.
There are other times that chemotherapy can cause damage in the short term that is long
lasting. For example, some chemotherapies can cause damage to organs, such as the liver,
or the kidney, or as I said before, the heart, or even the lung, and those can be life-long
damage.
How do you talk about chance of survival with a patient?
Oncologists read about data in terms of percentages and overall survival, or median
survival, at five years. These are ways to look at previous studies with patients. It’s an
important way to frame it, but in the end, there’s no such thing as 20 percent survival.
You're either surviving, or not.
For any given patient, it’s either going to work or not work. Those numbers are really used
when looking at thousands of patients. It's very misleading to use those averages or
median survival. Because when you are sitting in a room one-on-one with a patient, it's
just one patient. They were not 1,000 patients on those previous studies. What I do, is I
say: is there a chance for a cure? Yes or no. If there is: how big of a chance; is it worth
going through?
How do you compare cancer treatments 30 years ago to today?
There's been great developments not only in chemotherapies, but in the different types of
surgeries we do. Even radiation therapies have changed. There's new chemotherapies;
there's immune therapies; there's vaccine therapies; there's a whole host of therapies.
Even supportive therapies -- the medicines to treat or prevent nausea -- are amazing;
2015 is a new time in oncology. There's a lot of reasons to look forward to the future
Jan 13 201509:21AM ET
WTIC-FOX
Hartford-New Haven, CT
St Francis Hosp-Kara Moscato-DASH Diet
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TRANSCRIPT
CLIENT:
ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL
STATION:
WTIC-TV
PROGRAM:
FOX CONNECTICUT NEWS
DATE/TIME:
1/13/14
SUBJECT:
LENGTH:
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CALCULATED AD VALUE:
PUBLICITY VALUE:
9:00 AM
KARA MOSCATO – DASH DIET
4:39
12,849
$919.30
$2757.90
ANCHOR: Welcome back. It’s called the DASH Diet, and if you aren’t familiar yet, you’re about to
learn all about it. The DASH Diet, rich in vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy has been named
the best overall diet for the fifth consecutive year, outpacing Weight Watchers and the
Mediterranean Diet, according to US News and World Report. Now, if your New Year’s resolution is
to lose weight and get healthy, this could be for you. This could be your year. So to explain all
about the DASH Diet is Registered Nurse Kara Moscato, with the Hoffman Heart and Vascular
Institute of Connecticut at St. Francis Hospital. Thanks so much for being with us Kara.
KARA MOSCATO, ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL: Thanks for having me, yes.
ANCHOR: All right, so talk about the DASH Diet for those who are not familiar at all, and what sets it
apart from any other diet?
MOSCATO: Sure. So the DASH Diet stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It was
actually established from a study that was conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute. And basically, what they found was that a diet that’s low in saturated fat, low in dairy,
low-fat dairy rather, low in sodium, actually helps decrease your blood pressure.
ANCHOR: Now, how is this different from somebody who maybe already thinks they eat generally
healthy, lower in fat, they do drink some dairy, you know, low-fat milk, things like that.
MOSCATO: It’s actually very similar to the dietary guidelines for Americans. It’s a little teeny bit
lower in saturated fat content. And what’s nice about it is that it gives you specifics for
sodium. Usually what it does, once you determine your calorie level, you can do either a fifteen
hundred milligram or a twenty three hundred milligram sodium diet. And as most people know,
sodium is very high in pretty much our diet in America today, because sodium is in almost
everything.
ANCHOR: It is.
MOSCATO: So it’s very hard to stick to a low sodium diet.
ANCHOR: All right, so what would you say to somebody who wants to get on the diet. Do they
have to make some major changes? I guess it depends on what they’re doing right.
MOSCATO: Well, first of all, I would probably recommend they start gradually. I know for some
people, the planning ahead piece might be a little difficult, so maybe just start gradually by maybe
writing in what you’re eating, and then kind of make some small changes to your diet, like adding in
a fruit or a vegetable, and then start to kind of increase the serving sizes and things like that.
ANCHOR: Now, I have to imagine this might be a little bit easier to stick to. There are other diets
that you completely cut out carbs, all high-protein. So since you are still able to eat whole grains,
you’re able to eat some low-fat, some dairy, people might find ‘Hey, you know what, I can do this
one.’
MOSCATO: Yes, yes. That’s what I like about it, actually. You know, it doesn’t restrict your food
groups, which is nice. So the fact that it’s not restrictive, I know for me personally, if you told me
not to eat a certain food group or eliminate a food, I might actually want it more. So this is actually
telling me, you can eat all foods, it’s just really practicing moderation with a big emphasis on your
fruits and vegetables and fiber.
ANCHOR: I can imagine it’s really re-examining portion size as well.
MOSCATO: Yes, absolutely. And that’s one thing I like about it as well, is that once it determines
your calorie level, it gives you serving sizes from each food group.
ANCHOR: So break down like a day’s worth of menu items for us, real quickly. Like, as far as what
you would do for breakfast, lunch and then dinner, and snacks in between.
MOSCATO: Sure, absolutely. So basically what you would do is, it really emphasizes your whole
grains, so doing like a whole grain cereal, like a high fiber bran flake, or an oatmeal, adding in some
fruits and maybe some blueberries, and maybe some low-fat dairy, so maybe like a low-fat yogurt or
something for breakfast. Some healthy snacks might be just a small handful of almonds. Lunch
would be something like a lean piece of meat. You know, lean protein meaning low in saturated fat,
so removing the skin off the chicken, removing any visible fat you see on a piece of meat, a little bit
of whole grain, and then big on the vegetables. Snacks should really be more fruits and vegetables,
and dinner kind of the same principle, a little bit of lean meat, some whole grain and some fruit or
vegetable.
ANCHOR: And this sounds like a diet that kids can very easily sort of transition to, if they’re trying to
sort of maybe shift to a healthier lifestyle in general, because they can still have cereal with milk,
they can have fruits…
MOSCATO: Absolutely.
ANCHOR: Vegetables, sandwiches even maybe. Right? Would you say?
MOSCATO: Sure. Really anyone can do the diet if they wanted to.
ANCHOR: Yeah. So for some more information, folks can head to the website, right?
MOSCATO: Absolutely, yes.
ANCHOR: What is it? Your website at St. Francis, right?
MOSCATO: Yeah, you go to stfranciscare.com, and you can actually go onto the Hoffman Heart
website. Or you can just go on to any, you know, looking for the DASH Diet. DASH Diet itself
actually has its own website as well. If you go onto the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute,
which is NHLBI as well, and you can find some information.
ANCHOR: Any last final tips for our viewers before we leave?
MOSCATO: Bottom line, moderation is key. You know, don’t eliminate food groups from your diet,
big on the fiber, fruits and vegetables is really key.
ANCHOR: I have to imagine, don’t give up, if you slip up once, it’s not that big of a deal.
MOSCATO: Exactly.
ANCHOR: You get back up there.
MOSCATO: Keep moving forward, yes, absolutely.
ANCHOR: You can do it. All right Kara, thanks so much for being with us, appreciate it.
MOSCATO: Thank you so much.
Jan 15 201505:48AM ET
WVIT-NBC
Hartford-New Haven, CT
St Francis Hosp-Proposed purchase of Johnson Memorial Medical Ctr
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TRANSCRIPT
CLIENT:
ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL
STATION:
WVIT-TV
PROGRAM:
NBC NEWS CONNECTICUT
DATE/TIME:
1/15/15
SUBJECT:
JOHNSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
LENGTH:
:24
NIELSEN AUDIENCE:
27,722
CALCULATED AD VALUE:
$59.97
PUBLICITY VALUE:
5:00 AM
$179.91
ANCHOR #1: Turning now to your Business News.
ANCHOR #2: Here’s some of the Greater Hartford’s top business stories. Johnson Memorial
Hospital in Stafford Springs has filed for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy. The move will allow them
to become part of the St. Francis network. They’ll also be able to restructure their debt, which is
reportedly between ten million and fifty million dollars. Johnson and St. Francis have been
affiliated since 2012.
Jan 15 201506:50AM ET
WTIC-AM
Hartford-New Haven, CT
St Francis Hosp-Hosp Observation Status-Sharon Gothea
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CLIENT:
ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL
STATION:
WTIC-AM
PROGRAM:
RAY DUNAWAY SHOW
DATE/TIME:
1/15/15
SUBJECT:
LENGTH:
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CALCULATED AD VALUE:
PUBLICITY VALUE:
6:00 AM
HOSPITAL OBSERVATION STATUS
5:39
24,100
$1231.36
$3694.08
RAY DUNAWAY, HOST: So here’s the problem. Sharon Gothea is with us. She’s a Registered Nurse and
she is a Patient Advocate. How long have you been doing this?
SHARON GOTHEA, RN, PATIENT ADVOCATE: About seven years.
DUNAWAY: Wow.
GOTHEA: Well actually my whole life, because I’ve been a nurse a long time.
DUNAWAY: Well, you’re a nurse, yeah.
GOTHEA: All nurses make great advocates. But I started a nursing practice about seven years ago. This
wrapped around advocacy and coordination of care.
DUNAWAY: You know, I think a lot of times, in a case that you and I were talking about off the air, or an
example would be, let’s say for example, your family’s all out in California.
GOTHEA: Right.
DUNAWAY: Well, you need to be hospitalized, you need to be put in a nursing home, something of that
sort, you know, you really, unless you’re going to do a lot of long distance, and then there’s the time
difference and all that, it’s really nice to have somebody here that’s going to kind of work through this
whole thing.
GOTHEA: Right, I think it evolved into us being the voice for that person. So you’re correct, most of our
population started off with a son or a daughter that lives out-of-state, and their mom or dad end up in
the hospital. So they initially know that they’re there, may not know the reason, and two days later get
a call from mom that says the doctor came in and just discharged them. And they’re kind of in a panic
because they don’t know what that means.
DUNAWAY: So will you help them with other things? In other words, if they do kick you out, okay, then,
you know, you have to find someplace to put them. Do you work on that as well?
GOTHEA: We work on the whole picture. So what we do, and nurses are again very good at that, is we
have kind of a holistic approach. So, we’ve been credentialed in all the hospitals in Connecticut, which is
the requirement and, for us to get involved. So we have great relationships with the staff, and we can
go in and say ‘Okay, what’s going on?,’ find out what ‘home’ means, and it may be that it isn’t just a
medical issue. And maybe what got them in there was they didn’t have the transportation to see the
doctor, or they didn’t have the money to buy the medications, and kids are usually the last ones to find
that out, so.
DUNAWAY: Absolutely.
GOTHEA: We look at the whole picture and then we put all that together for them.
DUNAWAY: But I think one of the things we’re talking about this morning is, with the Affordable Care
Act, aka ObamaCare, the ACA, aka ObamaCare, there’s been the creation of the Accountable Care
Organizations.
GOTHEA: Right.
DUNAWAY: Now, what has that ended up doing to patients?
GOTHEA: Well, I think the process on paper looked great, in that Medicare, it’s basically a Medicareguided program that’s said to physicians and hospitals, ‘We want you to coordinate care for those
patients before they go to the hospital, to decrease readmissions. So typically, a few years ago, you
would get someone who came in with an issue and maybe discharged a little early and go home, and
then return with the same issue. Medicare now says they’re not going to pay you for that issue. Not all
of them, but a percentage. So the Accountable Care Organizations were implemented basically as an
umbrella, between the hospitals and the physician groups. And mostly the physician groups, if not all of
them, that are now owned by the…
DUNAWAY: …major hospitals.
GOTHEA: Right, major hospitals. So let’s take St. Francis, for instance. They started Accountable Care
Organization that created this umbrella between the hospital and the physicians.
DUNAWAY: Right.
GOTHEA: And that umbrella was supposed to, and is supposed to help coordinate care for those
patients so that they’re connected back to the doctors.
DUNAWAY: Once again, let’s go back to this whole thing, because we’ve talked about this on the air
before. I don’t know if it was with you, but we have talked about this, and that’s that whole thirty day
readmission penalty.
GOTHEA: Correct.
DUNAWAY: And so if you’re in the hospital being treated for something, and they then release you, and
then you end up coming back, they get the amount of remuneration they get from, let’s say, Medicare.
GOTHEA: Right.
DUNAWAY: Is, fairly significant penalties?
GOTHEA: Right.
DUNAWAY: So, but there’s a little loophole they came up with.
GOTHEA: Correct. So the loophole that I feel that they had come up with was that the number of
observations increased. So people were showing up in the hospital, the hospitals were very well aware
that if they got admitted and came back, there would be a penalty...
DUNAWAY: Right.
GOTHEA: …which is actually increased in January 2015. So I suddenly got calls from families frustrated
because their loved one would end up on a unit, like they got admitted, and not know they weren’t. The
problem with that is twofold: one is, it’s a benefit for the hospital. I believe, my personal opinion...
DUNAWAY: Okay.
GOTHEA: That if that person is under observation and not admitted, and they do show up within thirty
days, then that isn’t counted as…
DUNAWAY: No harm, no foul.
GOTHEA: Right. The downside of that for the families is that if their loved one stayed for three days…
DUNAWAY: This is good.
GOTHEA: …and you know you need that three-day qualifier to go to rehab, they now come back to the
families and say, ‘Mom’s ready to go. Oh, by the way, she was never admitted, she was under
observation.’
DUNAWAY: So…
GOTHEA: You now have to pay for the rehab. So Medicare did come on board and reevaluate that, and
they have a two-night stay now, stating to the hospitals that if they stay two nights, they’re admitted.
DUNAWAY: Okay. Well, I wish we had more time. You do have a website if guys would like to go. And
Sharon if you want to share that with us. I have it up here somewhere, I don’t know where I put it
though.
GOTHEA: Yeah, it’s called patientadvocateforyou.com, and all our information is up there and it’s
evolving. And thank you again for having me.
DUNAWAY: Well, no, thank you. Let us know how this goes.
GOTHEA: Absolutely.
DUNAWAY: I love that little observation trick. And you can get stuck for the bill too. I mean, there are
all kinds of things you can get stuck with.
GOTHEA: Quite a bit.
DUNAWAY: So guys, pay attention, it’s the way it’s going. Or call Sharon. Just do that.
GOTHEA: It’s important.
DUNAWAY: Yeah, it is.
Jan 9 201510:00AM ET
WTIC-AM
Hartford-New Haven, CT
St Francis Hosp-Dr Adam Boruchov-Chemotherapy
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CLIENT:
ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL
STATION:
WTIC-AM
PROGRAM:
NEWS
DATE/TIME:
1/9/15
SUBJECT:
10:00 AM
DR. ADAM BORUCHOV - CHEMOTHERAPY
LENGTH:
NIELSEN AUDIENCE:
CALCULATED AD VALUE:
PUBLICITY VALUE:
:39
10,500
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$260.37
HOST: This week’s State Supreme Court case on a seventeen year-old’s efforts to stop her cancer
treatments dealt with the legal issues in the case, but it also brought up for discussion the medical
aspects of the diagnosis. A doctor who is not associated with the treatment of Cassandra C, but
who specialize in leukemias and lymphomas, says the type of cancer she has, Hodgkins lymphoma,
is one of the most treatable.
DR. ADAM BORUCHOV, ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL: We often don’t use the ‘cure’ word in cancer, but
Hodgkins lymphoma is one of those conditions where we have used that word for quite a while.
HOST: That’s Dr. Adam Boruchov. He also points out that there have been great strides in the
treatment of the side effects of the chemotherapy drugs.
Jan 12 201504:32PM ET
WNPR-FM
St Francis Hosp-Dr Adam Boruchov-Chemotherapy
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TRANSCRIPT
CLIENT:
ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL
STATION:
WNPR-FM
PROGRAM:
WNPR NEWS
DATE/TIME:
1/12/14
SUBJECT:
LENGTH:
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CALCULATED AD VALUE:
PUBLICITY VALUE:
4:00 PM
DR. ALAN BORUCHOV - CHEMOTHERAPY
2:09
11,300
$357.55
$1072.65
HOST: The story of a Connecticut girl fighting for the right to choose how to refuse chemotherapy has
filled the headlines. As WNPR’s Lucy Nalpathanchil reports, chemotherapy is one of the more common
treatments for cancer.
LUCY NALPATHANCHIL, REPORTER: Doctor Adam Boruchov is a hemotologist at St. Francis Hospital in
Hartford. He explains, chemotherapy is a chemical therapy that’s used when cancer is widespread,
because the chemicals can go into the blood system and travel throughout the entire body. He says
those therapies kill actively dividing cells in the body, like cancer cells.
DR. ADAM BORUCHOV, ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL: It’s kind of like if you put pizza in a room with a bunch of
hungry people in there, and if the pizza has poison, the hungrier people who eat the most pizza are
going to get the most poison. And that’s kind of how chemotherapy works. If you put it in the body, the
cells that are most actively dividing are going to take up the most chemotherapy and be destroyed.
NALPATHANCHIL: But chemotherapy also produces side effects, because Boruchov says there are other
cells in our bodies that also rapidly divide.
BORUCHOV: Normal cells, such as the immune system or the skin, or the GI tract can also take up some
of this toxin. Therefore, the cells there can die and you can get side effects, such as suppression of the
immune system or nausea or vomiting or even the hair falling out.
NALPATHANCHIL: Boruchov specializes in leukemia and lymphoma for blood cancers, and says
treatment options for those are different from solid organ cancers like lung and breast. He says when
talking about chance of survival with patients, it’s important to discuss how and when to treat cancer.
BORUCHOV: So why expose someone to needless side effects if you’re not going to cure them of the
disease? On the other hand, there are certain type of leukemias or aggressive lymphomas that, if not
treated, are lethal. In that setting, we say if we do nothing, we know the alternative is death. So we
offer chemotherapy options.
NALPATHANCHIL: Boruchov says no matter what type of treatment a patient decides on, there are
short-term and long-term consequences, from nausea to organ damage to new cancers later in life. He
stresses in medicine, particularly in oncology, nothing is free. Nothing is without its side effects. Lucy
Nalpathanchil, WNPR News.
Jan 2 201512:00PM ET
WNPR-FM
St Francis Hosp-Dr Ulysses Wu-Flu
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CLIENT:
ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL
STATION:
WNPR-FM
PROGRAM:
WNPR NEWS
DATE/TIME:
1/2/15
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DR. ULYSSES WU - FLU
1:15
11,300
$207.87
$623.61
RAY HARDMAN, HOST: According to the State Department of Public Health, as of last week, four
hundred and forty-four people had tested positive for the flu so far this season, with one hundred and
eighty hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported so far. The DPH says the number of flu cases in
Connecticut is higher than average for this time of year, but the rate of hospitalization is
normal. Influenza A, or H3N2 has been the predominant strain so far this season, but there’s a hitch,
according to Dr. Ulysses Wu, Chief of Infectious Diseases at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.
DR. ULYSSES WU, ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL: What has happened with the H3N2 this year is that it has
changed just a little bit, and that’s why the vaccine may not work as well this year.
HARDMAN: Still, Dr. Wu says that’s not an excuse to skip the flu shot this season.
WU: You should definitely get a flu shot. It still protects you from other types of influenza, and there’s
the belief that it may attenuate your illness, so it’s maybe not going to be as severe.
HARDMAN: The DPH says, last week Connecticut saw the highest levels of both outpatient and
emergency room visits for people with flu-like symptoms so far this season. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention report that flu cases are widespread in twenty-nine states. Ray Hardman, WNPR
News.
Developing Stories:
Outcome:
Patient Safety/Coverys Grant
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Saint Francis has received a $227,044 grant from Coverys
Health Care Foundation to support patient safety training for
perioperative teams in CT. WTIC Healthy Rounds interview to
air Jan. 17.
DASH Diet
Contact: Fiona Phelan
US News and World Report lists this as the top diet for 2014.
Hoffman Heart Institute promotes this diet to lower blood
pressure. Dr. Nissin Nahmias to be interviewed by NBC CT
Jan. 18 @ 7:50 a.m.
Bariatric Implant
Contact: Fiona Phelan
FDA has just approved an implantable device that curbs
eating. Dr. Nissin Nahmias interviewed by WTNH about
benefits, risks. Air date TBD.
Drum Major for Justice Award
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Marcus McKinney to receive award from the Greater Hartford
Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Inc. on Jan. 19 at
Shiloh Baptist Church on Albany Ave.
HealthGrades
Contact: Fiona Phelan
2015 clinical excellence award announcement to be released.
Press release to be issued Jan. 20.
Topera FIRM-guided therapy
Contact: Alix Boyle
We are the only hospital in CT to combine the use of Topera
with Stereotaxis, we provide the safest, most effective
treatment for these disorders. NBC Lisa Carberg to interview
Dr. Aneesh Tolat and patient Jan. 20
3D Tomosynthesis
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Dr. Niamey Wilson to be interviewed by C-HIT for online
article on benefits of 3D tomosynthesis. Jan. 20.
Coat Drive
Contact: Alix Boyle
Annual coat drive at Burgdorf Clinic. Media advisory to be
issued. Jan. 21.
Insurance Literacy
Contact: Alix Boyle
Rebecca Santiago will assist students at Capital Community
College sign up for health insurance, Jan. 26. Hartford
Courant, Hartford Business Journal interviews to be
scheduled.
Medical Ethics
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Pitch to WNPR interview with Matthew Kenney. Medical
Ethics Advisor magazine to interview Dr. Kenney for
upcoming article.
Pet Therapy
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Patients at MSRH benefit from weekly visits from dogs
trained to work with patients. Pitch to media.
Flu Season
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Pitch stories as relevant.
Winter Safety
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Snow shoveling, snow blower tips. Dr. Wolf.
Thyroid Awareness
Contact: Fiona Phelan
January is Thyroid Awareness month. Pitch patient story to
local TV outlets.
Colonoscopy Screening
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Saint Francis GI Endoscopy LLC will be offering Saturday
morning colonoscopy screenings at their Windsor location.
Hospital Access Management
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Patient access success stories on new technology, retention,
registration improvements, patient satisfaction.
Blood Cancers
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Dr. Adam Boruchov to discuss blood cancers with Dr. Tony
Alessi, WTIC 1080 AM Healthy Rounds, TBD.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Contact: Fiona Phelan
New minimally invasive surgery to be offered in Hoffman
Heart for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Waiting for
patients.
Bariatric Center of Distinction
Contact: Alix Boyle
Blue Cross Blue Shield has awarded the Bariatric surgery
center as a center of distinction. Press release to be developed.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Valley Press to interview Dr. Bruce Rothschild for article on
Jan. 8. February publication. Pitch other media.
Total Health
Contact: Gina Munson/Fiona Phelan
Clinically Integrated Network for population management.
Press release to be issued TBD.
Smilow Cancer Affiliation
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Definitive agreement with SFC and Smilow Cancer Hospital
to be signed April. Press release to be developed.
FastCare
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Opening of Manchester store slated for early April. Media
materials to be developed.
Women’s Infusion Center
Contact: Fiona Phelan/Alix Boyle
The Cancer Center has opened a six-chair infusion center in
the CWHC for women. Ribbon cutting TBD.
Ebola
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Pitch Saint Francis initiatives to media.
Fragility Fracture Program
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Dr. Jeffrey Meter is introducing a program that coordinates
care for elderly patients for develop fractures. 2nd program of
its kind in New England. Press release to be developed.
Contact Brad Davis, WDRC.
ISO 9001:2008
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Develop media opportunities to acknowledge CJRI ISO
9001:2008 certification.
MS Study Improves Motor Function
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Dr. Lo study involving drug therapy to improve motor
function among MS patients.
Vitamin Water
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Sally Lerman interviewed by FoxCT about the nutritional
value of drinks like Vitamin Water which is being sued over
improper advertising of its healthy benefits. Air date TBD.
IT Project Management
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Healthcare Business Insights interview with Linda Shanley on
project management for IT projects. Publication TBD.
Love Photo Shoot
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Hartford Magazine photo shoot for February issue on Love.
Dr. Sam Buonocore photographed with his children.
Discovery Fit and Healthy
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Discovery Channel interview with Dr. Bill Marshall about
craniotomy he performed on woman rock climber who is back
to climbing. Show will air Jan/Feb.
Discovery Fit and Healthy
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Discovery Channel interview with Dr. Scott Ellner patient
who amputated his arm. Airdate TBD.
Seasons Magazine
Contact: Alix Boyle
Dr. Aneesh Tolat and Topera procedure, a-fib to be featured in
spring issue. Interview conducted Dec. 24. Photo to follow.
Connecticut Doctors Orchestra
Contact: Alix Boyle
Dr. Latha Dulipsingh plays cello in an orchestra comprised of
Hartford-area physicians. Hartford magazine to publish article
in March.
Big Data
Contact: Fiona Phelan
Dr. Adam Silverman interviewed by Wall Street Journal on
population health management, aging in place, risk
assessment. Publication TBD
Community Events Calendar – January 16, 2015
Event
“Go Red” Celebration
Date
Time
2/6/2015
1:00 p.m.
Location
Rotunda - Hospital
3/19/2015
TBD
4/22/2015
2:30 p.m.
PCT 1 – Rotunda
5/5/2015
6:00 p.m.
Supplier Diversity Event
5/6/2015
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Nightingale Event
5/7/2015
5:30 p.m. cocktails
6:00 p.m. dinner
Annual Barbara Gordon
Cocktail Party
6/10/2015
Travelers Championship
6/22 –
6/28/2015
Annual Living Our
Mission and Sisters of
Saint Joseph Awards
Employee Service
Awards
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily
CT Convention
Center
Mahelys Banquet
and Catering
Facility, South
Windsor
CT Convention
Center
TPC River
Highlands,
Cromwell
th
26 Annual SWING Golf
and Tennis Outing
This event celebrates Heart Month
on both campuses.
Lobby – Mt. Sinai
Hartford Marriott
Farmington, 15
Spring Farms Rd.,
Farmington
Saint Francis HealthCare
th
Partners 13 Annual
Conference
Background
6/29/2015
Annual medical conference.
Annual celebration and presentation
of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and
Living Our Mission Awards.
Annual Celebration to acknowledge
long term service of employees.
Annual event to celebrate nursing.
Annual backyard picnic hosted by
Barbara Gordon – a cancer survivor
and grateful patient.
Staff from Saint Francis provide
medical coverage, food tent
coordination, and activities in the
Fan Zone and Military Outpost
during the tournament.
To benefit Nursing Education and
special programs at Mount Sinai.
th
17 Annual Paul Karvoski
memorial Golf
Tournament
th
6 Annual Curtis D.
Robinson Celebrity Golf
Classic
th
6 Annual CHARLIE’s
Ride
MIRACLES Gala
8/1/2015
Funds raised during the
Tournament go to the Men’s Health
Institute Prostate Cancer fund
8/6/2015
8/2015
9/19/2015
rd
3 Annual Chip in for A
Cure Golf Classic
9/28/2015
Tunxis Plantation
To benefit the Curtis D. Robinson
Center for Health Equity
To benefit the Breast Center