Looking Back on a Momentous Year
Natchaug will be a big part of the BHN’s defining moments
It is no accident that the theme of this year’s annual report is “Defining Moments.” These moments have come early and often for the Natchaug in the past year.
Whether we are talking about positive moments like the addition of recovery coaches in our Emergency Department or negative moments like the inadequate pennies on the dollar reimbursement we receive – all of these moments defined us as an organization in 2017.
We expect this continue – with uncertainty surrounding our country’s new president, our state and local economy, the opioid epidemic, teen mental health — we must continue our efforts to transform our care delivery system in new and innovative ways.
We can’t expect a sudden windfall of riches, or that the way we did things years ago will suffice moving forward. Providing care in news ways, with new partners and new technology, is our path forward.
We will need a wide array of experts to help us get there – clinicians, support staff, board members, donors, and, most importantly, those who are in the midst of or have experienced mental health recovery themselves.
Too often we tend to think we know what is best for those we care for, and too often we have missed the mark. If we are to succeed, we will need to listen to and include our clients and their families in our decision-making. Their voices must be heard as we build the behavioral health network of the future, the largest and most coordinated in Connecticut and beyond.
That will be our defining moment in 2018 – and beyond. And Natchaug will be a big part of it.
Patricia Rehmer