HHC Institutes Play Vital Role: Now and in the Future

The goal is to be at the forefront of the ongoing healthcare transformation.

The HHC Institute Model — which includes dedicated administrative and physician leadership, governance structure, consistent branding, single standards of care, innovation, clinical trials and more — is one key way to get there.

In the past year, there have been numerous signs of success, such as improved coordination of care, shared best practices, alliances with national organizations, enhanced certifications, patient and provider education, more standardized quality metrics and  other milestones that will ultimately  benefit our patients and customers. Here are specific highlights for each of institute:

Connecticut is a ground zero of sorts for the opioid epidemic. The number of people addicted to heroin and prescription opioids has increased dramatically; a formerly inner-city problem has spilled into the suburbs. The BHN was swift in its response to the mounting opioid epidemic, creating a new MATCH^TM (Medication Assisted Treatment Close to Home) program that includes Suboxone treatment, group and individual therapy and detoxification services. New facilities opened in Cheshire, Meriden and Avon, with more planned in the near future. The BHN also expanded its primary care/behavioral health initiative in which behavioral health clinicians are embedded in primary care practices, a program that has produced extremely positive outcomes for patients. The Institute of Living (IOL) was recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its overall excellence, as well as its reputation for having some of the most talented clinicians anywhere. While the IOL continues to treat some of the most serious and complex cases, it also is at the forefront of treating issues ranging from hoarding to school anxiety. In the acute care sector, a new inpatient unit opened at The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, which has been at or near capacity ever since.

When the Hartford HealthCare Bone & Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital opened in December 2016, it ushered in a new era for musculoskeletal care in New England. The architecturally dramatic inpatient and ambulatory surgery center on the Hartford Hospital campus will be a first-of-its-kind, fully integrated institute. Developed in partnership between Hartford Hospital and Orthopedic Associates of Hartford, it will be a game-changer for patients across Connecticut and beyond. This breakthrough orthopedic institute is a specialty hospital — where the most complex orthopedic cases will be performed. Staffed by extraordinarily talented and experienced clinicians and subspecialists; the Institute provides access to innovative sports rehabilitation and analysis programs that people previously had to travel long distances for; serves patients with major injuries requiring limb-saving surgery as well as weekend warriors, seasoned athletes and Baby Boomers seeking a higher quality of life. The Institute coordinates all aspects of musculoskeletal care, from prevention to surgery and recovery, and offers convenient access to imaging, pain management and a wide array of orthopedic subspecialties — all in one location. Led by Physician-in-Chief Dr. Courtland Lewis, it includes an inpatient building and ambulatory and medical space, including a totally new five-floor, 130,000-square-foot facility; 8 operating rooms, with the capacity to expand to 10; 48 private inpatient beds (with the capability of expanding to 60); diagnostic services; outpatient rehabilitation and wellness areas; ample space for community education and more. The ambulatory and medical space consists of: 75,000 square feet; offices for orthopedics, rheumatology and musculoskeletal specialty care programming; three ambulatory surgery rooms with space for two additional operating rooms. In addition it includes state-of-the-art rehabilitation services and equipment; an antigravity treadmill, training for high-endurance athletes to achieve maximum aerobic capacity; a motion lab with 3D golf swing, pitching motion, running stride and basketball (jumping) analyses; a healthy eating demo kitchen; fragility/fracture prevention clinics, community education programs and screenings for osteoporosis and fall risk.

The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute (HHCCI) partnered with a nationally known leader in cancer treatment and research when it became the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. Now it has a nationally known physician-in chief. In the past year, the HHCI recruited Physician-in-Chief Dr. Peter Yu, and also named Dr. Ed Sauter as director of breast surgery. And behind-the-scenes work continued to create the HHCCI’s organizational structure through disease management teams and the pillar leadership structure, both of which continue to drive quality and better outcomes for patients through a single high standard of care. Innovative new programs are under development in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering, including a Bone Marrow Transplant shared care model that will benefit patients across the HHCCI. This program will help patients get the treatment and education they need no matter where they enter the HHCCI’s system of care. In addition, the Institute continues to offer a growing number of promising MSK clinical trials to patients with a wide range of cancer types, including groundbreaking new approaches such as immunotherapy and precision oncology. As a sign of the Institute’s growing stature as a center of excellence in cancer care, the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at Hartford Hospital was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the Top 100 Great Oncology Programs in the country.

Uncovering the mysteries of the brain is the challenge of modern medicine and the field of neuroscience. Hartford HealthCare has been leading that challenge for decades. Now, the Hartford HealthCare Neuroscience Institute is poised to go to the next level, recruiting nationally renowned physicians and developing innovative programs. In the last year, Dr. Mark J. Alberts was recruited to be the first physician-in-chief of the Hartford HealthCare Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Alberts will work closely with our physicians and staff to ensure patients get the very best, innovative care. Hartford HealthCare also launched a comprehensive headache center. Patients have come from across the country, seeking the care of Dr. Brian Grosberg. The Headache Center welcomed Dr. Abigail Chua, who sees patients at the Meriden location which opened in November, 2016. They often share stories of dramatically improved quality of life — free of the debilitating pain of migraine, a complex neurological disorder. Hartford HealthCare also launched a highly specialized Movement Disorders Center, led by Dr. J. Antonelle de Marcaida and Dr. Duarte Machado. Their team offers hope, along with leading-edge technology to patients suffering from conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Tourette syndrome and other movement disorders. In addition, Dr. Joel Bauman is the only neurosurgeon in Connecticut who performs complex micro-surgeries on injured nerves outside the spine (nerve transfer surgeries for peripheral nerve injuries) and Dr. Brendan Killory performed the first Visualase case, a laser procedure to treat metastatic brain tumors and the second ever reported (in the world) awake craniotomy in a pregnant woman who had a brain tumor near her language areas.  All of these newer services and procedures complement a strong foundation of neuroscience care, including the Stroke Center at Hartford Hospital, which received American Stroke Association “Get with the Guidelines” recognition and Joint Commission designation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, and The Hospital of Central Connecticut Stroke Center, which is designated as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission.

When patients have cardiac issues, they want to be treated in a place that offers both experience and expertise. The HHC Heart & Vascular Institute has that and more, having recruited Co-Physician-in-Chief
Dr. Sabet W. Hashim, a nationally known cardiac surgeon who performed the first heart transplant in Connecticut and the first mitral valve repair in New England.  Dr. Hashim, who has done more than 1,000 mitral valve repairs in his storied career, shares leadership of the Heart & Vascular Institute as Co-Physician-in Chief with Dr. Paul Thompson, who is an expert in exercise, heart disease prevention and cholesterol issues. Together, they lead a team of cardiovascular specialists across Hartford HealthCare to help provide world class care to patients as close to home as possible. The Institute leads the state in treating coronary artery disease, the nation’s No. 1 killer, and it ranks among the best organizations nationally for lowest Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) mortality rates; quality of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG); and advanced heart failure survivor rates and infection rates. U.S. News and World Report named the Heart & Vascular Institute among the best regional healthcare organizations for cardiology and heart surgery.

Creating a urology and kidney institute was a “tall” order, given the scattered nature of services throughout the region. But the HHC Tallwood Urology and Kidney Institute has done that and more, expanding into new territories and adding new experts. In the past year, Tallwood added three general urologists in Manchester, and general urologists in Hartford and New London. In addition, Tallwood has emerged as the Connecticut ambulatory market leader in the treatment of pelvic health disorders and kidney stones. In partnership with the HHC Cancer Institute, Tallwood is also the market leader for treatment of kidney cancer and prostate cancer. Its Disease Management Team structure has helped it rank in the top 10 percent nationally for lowest complication rates for transurethral resection of prostate (TURP); prostate cancer; female incontinence; kidney cancer and bladder cancer. In the area of patient experience, Tallwood is among the best nationwide in the category of physician communications with patients, a crucial aspect of care for patients facing urological and kidney conditions. In addition, under the direction of Dr. Jared Bieniek, Tallwood launched a male fertility program and its robotic surgery program continues to grow, with 10 robots throughout the system and complication rates that are well below the national average.