Connecticut Hospitals Participate in Statewide #KeepKidsSafe Statewide Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway Day

On Wednesday, October 2, the Newtown Action Alliance Foundation and Ethan Miller Song Foundation, in collaboration with several Connecticut hospitals, held a press event outside the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford to promote the fourth annual #KeepKidsSafe Statewide Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway Day on Saturday, October 5.

Hospital leaders who spoke at the press conference recognized their shared commitment to enhancing community health and safety and expressed appreciation to local partners.

“As a trauma surgeon, as a person who’s an advocate at a hospital, and someone who’s worked strongly against gun-related injuries in the last 16 years of my career, the most important message here today is keep our kids and families safe,” said Dr. David Shapiro, chief medical officer at Trinity Health Of New England’s Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford.

“I see firsthand the impacts of gun violence on individuals, on families, and on our community,” said Hartford Hospital trauma surgeon Dr. Alfred Croteau, noting Hartford region trauma centers have collectively seen a decrease in the number of firearm-related injuries year over year for the past three years.  “This progress is no accident.  It is a result of deliberate hard work and community building.”

Kevin Borrup, executive director of the Injury Prevention Center at Connecticut Children’s, underscored the importance of proper firearm storage and highlighted the gun safe giveaways, remarking that 79 gun safes were distributed at last year’s event in Hartford.  “My colleagues at Trinity Health, at Hartford HealthCare, and at Connecticut Children’s will ensure that if you need a safe after the event, we’ll make that available,” Borrup said.

Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and representatives from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Office of Injury and Violence Prevention, Hartford Police Department, Mothers United Against Violence, and Connecticut Against Gun Violence also made remarks.

On Friday, September 27, the Norwalk and Stamford Police Departments also held a press conference to promote their local gun buybacks.  “Every gun turned in means one less chance for a child to find an unsecured firearm or for a weapon to fall into the wrong hands,” Stamford Health Director of Safety and Security Joseph Hines said.

Events hosted through partnerships between public health, law enforcement, gun violence prevention, and community violence intervention groups will take place at police departments across the state.  They will provide gift cards to individuals who turn in an operable firearm, and some will also have a limited supply of free pin code gun safes for individuals with pistol permits.  DPH has donated an additional 600 gun safes and 1,500 cable locks for distribution this year.

The voluntary gun buyback and gun safe storage giveaway events are community safety initiatives intended to offer an opportunity for responsible gun owners to anonymously remove unwanted weapons safely from their homes and communities and elevate discussions around gun safety and safe firearm storage practices.

 

Healthcare Workforce Safety Working Group Advances Discussions on Increasing Safety for Home Health Staff

Tasked with studying staff safety issues affecting home healthcare and home health aide agencies and hospice organizations, the Healthcare Workforce Safety Working Group convened its second meeting on Monday, September 30.  The group must put forward recommendations to the Connecticut Public Health Committee no later than January 1, 2025.

Members voiced ideas to create a central repository integrating all relevant safety data; develop standardized high-level risk assessments for all providers; establish seamless communication systems connecting hospitals, home health organizations, and state agencies to facilitate transitions between levels of care; explore technology-related solutions; and address gaps and inequities in healthcare services affecting patients in rural and urban communities.

Karen Buckley, Vice President, Advocacy, Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA), who serves as a member of the working group, spoke about the importance of not adding to the challenges faced in getting patients care where they need.  She emphasized that consumers need timely access to care in every setting and healthcare workers must feel safe in those settings.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, a new law enhancing safety for healthcare workers took effect.  Public Act 24-19, An Act Concerning The Health And Safety Of Connecticut Residents requires home health aide agencies, except for licensed hospice organizations, to collect and make available to healthcare workers information about a client’s history of violence against healthcare workers, domestic abuse, or substance abuse as well as a list of the client’s diagnoses, including psychiatric history.  Home health aide agencies must also conduct monthly safety assessments with direct care staff and report incidents of abuse or threats to the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).  Certain healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, are required to adopt and implement workplace violence prevention standards.

Connecticut hospitals and health systems remain united in efforts to protect healthcare workers from harm under the Statewide Patient and Family Code of Conduct Policy.  They have established workplace safety committees including management and staff to conduct risk assessments, develop a plan, and meet regularly to implement and modify the plan as required.  They also provide ongoing education and training to staff and volunteers on crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques and approaches to ensuring personal safety.

Click here to watch the Healthcare Workforce Safety Working Group meeting on CT-N.

 

Connecticut Health Foundation Launches Advisory Committee To Establish Statewide Blueprint on Maternal Health Equity

The Connecticut Health Foundation, the state’s largest independent health philanthropy dedicated to improving health outcomes for people of color, announced it has convened an advisory committee to develop recommendations for organizations and agencies across the state.

The advisory committee is intended to facilitate collaboration among people with lived experience, decision-makers, and experts already working to address maternal health equity issues.  Members’ insights will help shape the blueprint, which will serve as a roadmap to guide inclusive and effective maternal health policies in Connecticut.

The blueprint, expected to be completed in 2025, is intended to combat maternal health disparities for Black people in Connecticut, who face higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.  Nationally, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

“Our vision is for Connecticut to be a state where all pregnant people of color have the opportunity to have a healthy pregnancy, birth, and start to parenthood, and we are thrilled to work with this dynamic and knowledgeable advisory committee to understand what is needed to make this vision a reality,” said Tiffany Donelson, president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation.

Mark Schaefer, Vice President, System Innovation and Financing, Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA), has been appointed to the advisory committee.  CHA has adopted a four-part statewide maternal health strategy to guide its work and advocacy, informed by comprehensive federal and state-level reports on maternal health.  The purpose of the foundation’s advisory committee aligns with and advances the goals of CHA’s Statewide Strategy To Improve Maternal Health, including addressing structural, upstream, root cause drivers of maternal health such as racism, discrimination, and economic inequality.

Click here to read CHA’s Statewide Strategy To Improve Maternal Health.

 

Hartford Business Journal Publishes Fifth Annual Power 25 Health Care List

This week, Hartford Business Journal (HBJ) published its fifth annual Power 25 Health Care List, in which HBJ’s editorial team identified Connecticut healthcare “leaders who are playing significant roles in addressing the many challenges facing the industry” as organizations grapple with financial pressures and labor challenges without compromising high-quality care or stifling innovation.

The list recognizes leaders from Connecticut hospitals and health systems as well as state government officials, state legislators, healthcare investors, insurance and pharmaceutical company executives, advocacy organization leaders, and others.

Read the full HBJ special edition here.

 

Education

CHA Education Series: Essential Skills Every Leader Needs

This fall, CHA is pleased to present its inter-functional leadership academy Essential Skills Every Leader Needs based on feedback from members about training that would help them become more effective leaders.  This six-session education series — being held virtually — will equip participants with new perspectives and tools.  This series is ideal for those new to the role and those wanting to brush up on current skills.

This series is limited to 25 participants from various areas within a hospital, creating an inter-functional cohort for exchange of diverse perspectives.

Click here to view the series brochure.

Click here to watch a video preview of the series.

• The “Planning For Success: Leadership and Management Skills” session introduces participants to a leadership framework for analyzing personal values, leadership style, motivation drivers and influences, and communication style.  This session was taught by Sarah Campbell Arnett, MA, NCC, BC-DMT, BCC, CCMP, on September 17.  This session is complete.
• The “Having Difficult Conversations” session focuses on understanding the tools needed to initiate challenging conversations and resolve conflicts effectively.  This session was taught by Sarah Campbell Arnett, MA, NCC, BC-DMT, BCC, CCMP, on September 24.  This session is complete.
• The “Write Like a Professional” session teaches participants how to craft well-written communications for a variety of audiences using the appropriate tone, medium, grammar, and level of formality.  This workshop was provided by Liz P. Summers on Wednesday, October 2.  This session is complete
• The “Managing the Operating Budget” session will focus on problem identification, budget management tools, benchmarking and expense forecasting, and effective remedial plans to correct performance deviations.  This session is taught by William J. Ward, Jr., associate professor at Johns Hopkins University.  It takes place on Thursday, October 10, 2024 from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.  Click here to register.
• The “Professional Presentation Skills” session will provide techniques to develop an organized presentation that is customized for a given audience, analyzes best practices for effective presentations, and increases confidence during delivery.  This session is presented by Liz P. Summers, founder and president of Advancing Leadership Consulting.  It takes place Wednesday, October 16, 2024 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  Click here to register.
• The “Productivity Boost: The Four Keys to Improved Time, Task, and Project Management” session will provide participants with solutions for preventing lost time, no matter what an individual’s responsibilities are in the hospital.  This session is taught by Helene Segura, owner of LivingOrderSA, and productivity consultant and author.  It takes place Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  Click here to register.

 

HIPAA Privacy, Security & Breach Rules: Keeping Current to Remain Compliant
Thursday, October 17, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Connecticut Hospital Association, 110 Barnes Road, Wallingford, CT 06492

Fees:

• CHA Members: $150
• Non-Member: $200

This on-site program will provide a comprehensive review of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and HIPAA Breach Rule requirements for healthcare providers.  The session will focus on key trends in regulatory enforcement including security issues that threaten privacy, review data access rights, provide an update on challenges for reproductive healthcare services information, and include an overview of the emerging issues presented by the government’s increased oversight of A.I.

The program will also address the importance of prioritizing HIPAA security planning in the face of increasing cyber threats.  Topics of special interest that will be reviewed: 

• Major changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule proposed by federal authorities 
• Patient and provider access rights
• Data tracking and implications of “Big Data”
• OCR enforcement trends

Target Audience: The program is designed for compliance professionals, privacy and security officers, risk managers, in-house counsel, health information/data management and health informatics professionals, and others with responsibilities for HIPAA compliance.  The session will provide a working knowledge of HIPAA requirements to those new to this area, as well as being a refresher for those currently involved. 

Registration and breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m.

View Brochure | Event Registration

 

PROUD Enduring Recorded Sessions

On Demand

Virtual Sessions

As care providers, there is much to learn about how to help families managing substance use disorders be successful.  Parents Recovering from Opioid and Other Use Disorders (PROUD) includes an education series for healthcare and service providers, giving them tools to help individuals and families manage the many challenges they face.

The education series includes several recorded sessions open for a year from their recording date.  These sessions are free to participants (registration is necessary) and are available on demand to fit into busy schedules.

Click here to learn more about all PROUD Enduring Recorded Sessions.

PROUD: Reducing Stigma and Bias Summer Series

This summer, the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) kicked off the six-part webinar series PROUD: Reducing Stigma and Bias.  These virtual educational activities are being jointly provided by CHA and DMHAS, and they are designed for physicians, nurses, social workers, quality professionals, risk managers, healthcare executives, and all healthcare professionals working with patients with a history of substance use disorder.  

Registration to access the recordings is open.

• PROUD: Reducing Stigma and Bias Webinar #1 - Harm Reduction and Whole Person Care: Part One - Provider Engagement
• PROUD: Reducing Stigma and Bias Webinar #2 - Harm Reduction and Whole Person Care: Part Two - Voices of People in Recovery
• PROUD: Reducing Stigma and Bias Webinar #3 - Implicit and Explicit Bias: Part One - Understanding Bias to Improve the Experience of Maternal Healthcare
• PROUD: Reducing Stigma and Bias Webinar #4 - Implicit and Explicit Bias: Part Two – Protocols for Treating Patients with Substance Use Disorder
• PROUD: Reducing Stigma and Bias Webinar #5 - Perinatal Mental Health: Screening Tools and Resources Available
• PROUD: Reducing Stigma and Bias Webinar #6 - Perinatal Mental Health and Prenatal Substance Exposure - Newborns with Prenatal Substance Exposure: Optimizing Clinical Care to Support Families

Continuing Education Credits are available for these recordings.