Behavioral Health Network

Responded to the opioid crisis with great urgency, expanding resources and access to care through the MATCH^TM (Medication Assisted Treatment Close to Home) program, which added new outpatient facilities in Cheshire, Avon and Meriden, and renovated existing faciltities in Groton and Killingly. MATCH locations provide medication-assisted treatment, detoxification, counseling and integrative therapies, with several locations treating teenagers as young as 16.

The Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network placed 12 mental health clinicians in primary care practices as part of the Primary Care-Behavioral Health Initiative. Also received $100,000 grant from the Connecticut Health Foundation to support the development of the data and analytic platform for the initiative.

HHC BHN President Pat Rehmer joined Gov. Dannel Malloy, members of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and other medical professionals, educators and law-enforcement officials in Hartford for a community discussion on the national prescription drug and heroin epidemic — part of the White House’s community forum series on drug abuse.

The BHN participated in numerous public forums in the national, state and community fight against heroin and opioid addiction, and continued its popular National Dialogue on Mental Health series.

The 32-bed inpatient unit at The Hospital of Central Connecticut reduced by 20 percent the number of seclusions and violent restraints.

The HOCC Outpatient Counseling Center received re-certification for its Victim of Crimes and Abuse Program.

Produced “Hope After Heroin” half-hour television show, which focused on positive stories of recovery and featured Behavioral Health Network clients and clinicians.

Successfully launched Epic electronic medical record at IOL, Natchaug and MidState, as well as the Accumed electronic medical record at the Outpatient Counseling Center at The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC).

In collaboration with the Women and Infant’s Service Line, HOCC Outpatient Counseling Center Clinicians and management team developed and implemented the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Project.

HOCC celebrated its one-year anniversary with its expanded adult inpatient unit the end of June 2016.

The Backus Hospital Psychiatric Services D-1 Inpatient Unit increased its average capacity from 72 percent to 96 percent in FY2016.

Due to increased capacity and a change in culture, the Backus D-1 Inpatient Unit achieved seven of 12 months with zero restraints or seclusion events, including 119 days in a row through the first month of FY17.

Institute of Living

Child and Adolescent Day Treatment Program introduced a program to provide early intervention services for 13- to 18-year-olds with psychotic spectrum disorders.

Established the Peripartum Mood Disorder Program with a grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Program implemented thanks to collaboration among IOL, Women’s Health at Hartford Hospital and OB/GYNs in the community.

IOL Psychiatrist-in-Chief Harold I. (Hank) Schwartz, MD, and IOL clinician Jeanne Kessler were recognized as Healthcare Heroes at the 2016 annual meeting of the Connecticut Hospital Association for their work on behalf of patients. Dr. Schwartz also served on the Insurance Commissioner’s Task Force on Mental Health Parity.

Researchers at the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center at the Institute of Living were awarded a multimillion-dollar grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study the effects of smoking marijuana on the brain and the driving risk. In the 15 years since the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center opened, IOL researchers have generated almost $79 million in research funding.

IOL established the IDEA team — staff members serving as consultants and responding to all escalating behavioral incidents. Through the IDEA team and other measure, the IOL reduced its restraints rate by a remarkable 70 percent.

Took a lead role in adopting and implementing the Zero Suicide initiative, which sets an organizational goal in which no suicides take place over the course of the year. The initiative seeks to prevent suicides by closing gaps in patient care and increasing follow up communication with patients.

David Tolin, MD, served on the Connecticut Task force to study hoarding.

Natchaug

One of 34 nonprofit organizations to be awarded a grant from Connecticut’s Nonprofit Grant Program, created to help nonprofits improve delivery of their services to the community. Natchaug used the $75,000 grant to expand its Sachem House and Mansfield Young Adult programs to make the programs more accessible to clients.

Opened an Older Adult Program at the new Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging at Windham Hospital to offer treatment for men and women 55 and older struggling with mental health or substance abuse.

Expanded capacity for Medication Assisted Treatment Close to Home (MATCH) locations in Dayville, Groton and Mansfield so more people struggling with opioid addiction can be treated.

Moved the Sachem House adult and young adult programs in Mansfield to a new building that offers additional program space, offices and parking.

Rolled out Epic, the new Hartford HealthCare electronic medical record, on the child, adolescent and adult inpatient units, eliminating the need for multiple medical charts and redundant paperwork and improving patient safety.

Participated in and organized numerous community
conversations about mental health and addiction, including a National Dialogue forum in Enfield featuring former NFL player in recovery Jeff Hatch.

Rushford

Opened new MATCH programs in Cheshire and Avon for the treatment of substance use, including heroin and opiates, and co-occurring disorders. Began providing MATCH for Medicaid clients in the Meriden-Wallingford region through the Community Behavioral Health Center.

Rushford’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program was formally recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and expanded to include Natchaug Hospital, doubling in size by graduating two fellows in 2016.

Rushford physicians partnered with the American Academy of Pediatrics CQN Practice Improvement project to address adolescent substance use. In addition, Rushford physicians were seated on the Advisory Board for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Alcohol and Drug Policy Council, the Executive Committee for CT Society of Addiction Medicine, Health Assistance InterVention Education Network and the Medical Advisory Committee for the National Council of Behavioral Health.

Hundreds of bus drivers from around the state participated in anti-bullying training led by Rushford Center. Training focused on recognizing bullying and handling it before the situation escalates.

Rushford’s state-designated Local Mental Health Authority for the Meriden area started a Young Adult
Services program and expanded services to more than 400 residents in the Meriden-Wallingford area.

Rushford and Natchaug Hospital partnered with Quinnipiac University’s Frank Netter School of Medicine to establish a third-year medical student rotation in psychiatry.

Drs. J. Craig Allen, Samuel Silverman and Vincent McClain were named to the Hartford HealthCare task force charged with developing a curriculum for safe opioid prescribing and management.

Celebrated 40th anniversary as a leading provider of substance abuse and addiction services in Connecticut.

Took the lead in responding to the growing crisis in opioid and heroin overdoses in Connecticut, supporting state legislation, expanding public access to Naloxone (Narcan), initiating and expanding prevention, screening and brief intervention programs educating healthcare providers.