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Health Care Updates
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Business New Haven
1/24/2000
By: Tammy Rachau
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FCMA Makes Resolutions
TRUMBULL - The Fairfield County Medical Association, a professional membership organization representing almost 2,000 physicians in Fairfield County, has outlined a list of legislative goals for the first legislative session of 2000, beginning next month.
“While we are thankful for the patient-protection measures passed by our General Assembly earlier [last] year, there is still so much more that can be done to improve the health delivery system in Connecticut and put health care back into the hands of patients and physicians,” said Frank R. Scifo, M.D., chairman of FCMA's committee on legislation.
To that end, FCMA has outlined several priorities for the 2000 legislative session:
• Support legislation restoring funding to the Medicaid program for patients who have both Medicare and Medicaid;
• Support legislation allowing patients to hold their managed-care plans accountable for medical treatment determinations - i.e., denying payment for covered benefits - that result in harm or injury;
• Support legislation requiring fairness standards in managed care plans' contracts with physicians;
• Support legislation permitting physicians to join together and negotiate the terms of their contracts with managed-care plans;
• Support legislation requiring managed-care plans to contract with any physician who meets the plans' credentialing criteria and is willing to abide by the plans' contractual terms and conditions;
• Oppose legislation requiring Certificates of Need (CON) for physician office surgical procedures;
• Support legislation revising Connecticut's laws regarding HIV testing of pregnant women;
• Support legislation allowing Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) in Connecticut; and
• Support legislation preventing managed-care plans from compromising patient care by coercing physicians to prescribe from a limited list of drugs.
Waterbury Hospital Affiliates with Connecticut Children's Medical Center
WATERBURTY - Waterbury Hospital president and CEO John H. Tobin has announced that his hospital will affiliate with the Connecticut Children's Medical Center (CCMC) in Hartford. This affiliation, the first of its kind for Waterbury Hospital, is intended to enhance care for children and adolescents in Waterbury and surrounding communities.
“The partnership will bring an unprecedented level of pediatric medical expertise to Waterbury,” said Tobin. “Linking with a tertiary medical center dedicated exclusively to the care of children ensures that Waterbury Hospital will remain a vital force in treating kids in the new century,” he added.
Under the terms of the affiliation agreement, selected pediatric specialists from CCMC will be on site at Waterbury Hospital on a regular basis to provide outpatient, elective care to children with special needs. Children with such conditions as heart or pulmonary problems will now be cared for close to home, in most cases saving them and their families a round-trip to Hartford during a stressful time.
Two Hospitals
Nationally Ranked
NEW HAVEN - Two area hospitals have been honored with rankings on “Top 100” lists. The Hospital of Saint Raphael was named one of the Top 100 U.S. hospitals for orthopedic care by HCIA Inc., a Baltimore-based health-care provider consulting practice that rates hospitals nationwide. In 1998 HCIA ranked Saint Raphael's one of the Top 100 hospitals overall in the country and in 1999 as one of the nation's Top 100 for cardiac services. The new orthopedic study, “100 Top Hospitals: Orthopedic Benchmarks for Success,” cites Saint Raphael's as one of 20 U.S. teaching hospitals, with orthopedic residency programs, with outstanding overall orthopedic services. It also recognizes Saint Raphael's for fracture repair services.
“We are very proud of this distinguished honor,” says David W. Benfer, president and chief executive officer of the New Haven hospital. “Saint Raphael's has long been in the forefront of orthopedic care, and this only strengthens our position. This award is a tribute to our orthopedic surgeons and orthopedic specialists, as well as our nursing staff, physical therapists and other caregivers, for providing the highest quality, most sophisticated care to our patients and the community.”
Also in the HCIA, St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport earned a 1999 Northeast regional award winners in the 100 Top Hospitals rankings. St. Vincent's was one of only nine hospitals in New England to be selected for inclusion in the study, which was featured in USA Today and Modern Healthcare. The acclamation marks the second time this year that St. Vincent's has received national recognition. In June, St. Vincent's was named to the HCIA Top 100 for its performance of angioplasty.
The Top 100 Hospitals consistently performed well across eight measures indicating high value, high quality, effective use of resources and efficient provision of care. Their quality of care was ranked as 17 percent better than the rest of the country. Benchmark hospitals have 14 percent fewer patient deaths, 12 percent shorter lengths of stay, and 12 percent higher occupancy than their peers.
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