Care for a Community

Every community’s needs are different so it takes responsive healthcare providers to identify and meet the ever-evolving medical concerns of the people who reside closest to them. In Windham County, the population’s needs include such basics as cardiac care and diabetes but, being a demographic that tends to be older, there are also concerns about mobility and joint health. Windham Hospital responded with services and programs to address those healthcare needs and more.

Heart disease perennially tops the list of health concerns for Americans. At the Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, the focus has been on preventing readmissions for congestive heart failure. With that in mind, the group added a cardiologist at Windham and plans included two more to split their time between Windham, Backus and Hartford hospitals.

In addition, Windham expanded its cardiac testing capabilities in 2017 by adding a second Echo machine, two fully-equipped Echo rooms and new sonographers. This allowed the hospital to offer 75 percent more Echo appointments and additional outpatient stress tests, including evening hours twice a week. Stat tests are now scheduled within 24 hours.

“We’re investing in the community with the hiring of top-notch cardiologists to provide care and are greatly expanding our capability to perform certain testing so we can better meet the needs of the patients and providers,” says John Foley, MD, medical director, Cardiovascular Service Line, Hartford HealthCare Medial Group.

In our hustle-bustle world, convenience is key and the May opening of the Hartford HealthCare Family Health Center in Plainfield helped us provide needed primary care close to home for many people. The 40,000-square foot facility, adjacent to the Plainfield Emergency Care Center, opened with primary care and cardiology services. The center will eventually include other specialties, an infusion center and an ambulatory surgery center. Hartford HealthCare operates 20 other Family Health Centers, including those in the East Region in Willimantic, Norwichtown, Storrs, North Stonington, Ledyard, Montville and Colchester.