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Lisa OConnor

NORTH HAVEN : Lisa G. O’Connor of East Haddam has been appointed Dean, of the School of Nursing at Quinnipiac University, O’Connor had been associate dean.

“Lisa O’Connor is highly qualified to lead the School of Nursing, which plays such an important role in preparing undergraduate and graduate health care professionals who go on to affect so many lives each day,” according to the University’s executive vp and provost Mark Thompson.

hartfordhealthcare
stvincents

BRIDGEPORT: St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and its parent Ascension Health have signed a non-binding letter of intent with Hartford HealthCare for Hartford to acquire St. Vincent’s and all of its related operations.

The merger is a strategic move by Hartford HealthCare that could signal the start of a shake up of the Southern Connecticut healthcare industry and provide the first real competition for the Yale New Haven Health System in decades.

Ascension based in St. Louis, MO is the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, but only St. Vincent’s in Connecticut is part of their system.

nomarijuanaHARTFORD: While Advocates for legalization of recreational use of Marijuana in Connecticut cite economic benefit to the state an anti-legalization group, argues legalization will cost Connecticut money and have a significant impact on quality of life issues.

Smart Approaches to Marijuana [SAM], in conjunction with the Connecticut chapter of SAM (CT-SAM), released a what it calls a “comprehensive report” that projects legalization would cost the state $216 million, adding “far outweighing even the rosiest tax projections.”

"Everyone likes to talk about the assumed revenue that marijuana legalization would bring to a state, but no one likes to discuss the costs affiliated with such policy measures," said Kevin A. Sabet, a former Obama Administration drug policy adviser who is now head of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). "This report will hopefully give lawmakers in Connecticut reason to pause and consider the implications of such policies."

marijuana By: Keith M. Phaneuf |ctmirror.org

Advocates for legalizing recreational marijuana use in Connecticut — and taxing its sales — are hoping a holistic, economic argument will win the day this year.

Supporters say the potential to bolster the state’s tourism industry, create jobs, and even encourage young professionals to locate here, should attract votes for an issue that couldn’t get a vote in the House or Senate in 2017.

cadeuces obamacare2By:  | ctmirror.org

In all, 114,134 residents enrolled in private health insurance through the state’s health insurance exchange, Access Health CT, during the shortened, seven-week open enrollment period that ended on Dec. 22.

That represents a 2.3 percent increase from 2017, when open enrollment lasted for three months.

“Every open enrollment brings its fair share of opportunities and challenges … To say that this is the most challenging open enrollment we’ve had since 2013 is an understatement,” said Access Health CEO Jim Wadleigh at the exchange’s board meeting last week. “During this fifth year, we had new obstacles, a new administration, a shorter enrollment and a harder-to-reach population, and again all the noise and confusion coming out of Washington, D.C.”

Here are some highlights about those who enrolled.

zmedicaWALINGFORD: Z-Medica, LLC, a developer of hemostatic devices, announced that QuikClot Control+® approved by the FDA in June of 2017 is now commercially available.

Z-Media says “QuikClot Control+ is the first and only hemostatic dressing cleared for temporary control of internal organ space bleeding for patients displaying class III or class IV bleeding.”

QuickClot was first invented in 1984 but its acceptance by the US Military for use in the Afghanistian war made it commercially available for external wounds.

Biostage 1st patientHARTFORD: Connecticut Children's Medical Center has made an investment in a small Massachusetts based biotech company Biostage, Inc. [OTCQB: BSTG/BSTGD]. The Center’s investment was part of a $4.2 million private placement. The current company’s market value is approximately $2.5 million. The hospital has reportedly made a $100,000 investment in the placement.

CCMC has several locations in Connecticut and at the Shriners Hospital and Baystate Medical [hospital] in Springfield, Mass.

Biostage says it is developing “bioengineered organ implants to treat cancers and other life-threatening conditions of the esophagus, bronchus and trachea.” According to the company, the Children’s Medical Center was joined by a “group of investors from China.”

In October the company reduced its workforce by 71% [17 employees], in response to problems with another investment that didn’t materialize.

cadeucesHARTFORD: US Attorney General Jeff Sessions may be trying to arrest the increase in marijuana sales in states across the country, but Connecticut is seeking more Medical Marijuana Dispensaries.

There are currently 22,348 medical marijuana patients, and 807 certifying physicians and advanced practice registered nurses in the state of Connecticut.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) has issued a Request for Application (RFA) for new Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facilities. The department plans to award at least three (3) new licenses.

“Our state’s Medical Marijuana Program is incredibly successful, and is growing rapidly,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull, “When there is a substantial increase in the number of patients, DCP can issue new RFAs in order to best meet the demand for medication, and continue our commitment to quality health care.”

If you want to sell pot you’ll be required to submit detailed information about your business plan, site plan, financial information, organizational structure, security plans, compassionate care program plans and more. Applicants have until April 9th, 2018, there is a $1000 application fee and the application must be hand delivered, perhaps based on a concern about Federal law.

  1. Chester Retirement Community Sold
  2. ACA Mandate Gone, State Eyes Imposing Its Own
  3. Access Health projecting 2018 Enrollment Will Match Last Year’s
  4. Feds: State Can Impose Work Requirement for Medicaid Recipients