Points of Pride

Cauterization, Hanson estimated, is used in 85 percent of procedures in Backus ’12 ORs and two C-section rooms.

“I’m very happy with the result,” she said. “The system has been fully implemented, all the staff are educated and we’ve had buy-in from physicians. We are now at 90- to 100-percent levels of smoke evacuation.”

Ann Hanson, MSN, RN, foreground, stands in Backus operating room 1 with some of the equipment involved in clearing the air of surgical smoke produced in the OR during cauterization. A smoke evacuation unit on the bottom of the cart contains filters that reduce smoke and tiny particles in the air produced during the cauterization process. Hanson’s efforts, along with others in the OR including, back row left to right, Sheena Morgan, CST; Kerri Scarchilli, RN, and Maria Amaral, RN, helped the hospital receive the highest rating from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) in its Go Clear Award program.

day emergency department, mammography, physical and occupational therapy, blood draw, CT scan, cardiac rehabilitation, primary care and specialty care in podiatry, cardiology, surgery, GI and OB/GYN.

The three-level facility stands alongside the Northwestern Connecticut Community College Joyner Health Science Center and the proximity presents collaborative healthcare education opportunities with the college.

Construction proved unusually challenging for Avon-based CASLE Corporation. The site is located on a ridge with rising elevations so construction required extensive digging, screening and replacing fill, which was compacted and vibration tested to ensure the foundation remains safe and solid. Hundreds of truckloads of clean fill were also brought in to level the area and construct a 30-foot retaining wall for an adjacent LIFE STAR helipad.

“Similar to finding if people are at increased risk for heart disease, we want to identify and treat these individuals successfully before they become manifestly sick. Identifying them when treatment is more straightforward and the condition less distressing is critical,” Dr. Pearlson said.

“A lot of people would just give up on life,” he said. “There was no place to send them and no way to help them. I tell them, ‘We’re here to deal with it with you.’”

As pain affects the mind and spirit, the Spine Wellness Center draws together services aimed at improving the person’s physical fitness to relieve back pain, and those addressing depression, poor sleep or dietary habits that worsen pain and quality of life.

“These are people who will be back for surgery if they don’t address all of those things,” he said. “When you ignore the mind, you’re missing so much. We delve into aspects of consciousness, mentality and spirituality.”

Services are tailored to patient needs and can include yoga or meditation classes, lessons with a nutritionist in the Center’s teaching kitchen or supervised gym workouts to help with weight loss or core strengthening.

The wellness, health and lifestyle options seamlessly integrate with the clinical expertise of Ayer Neuroscience Institute neurologists, neurosurgeons, pain specialists, health psychologists and physical therapists from the Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network.

“We put it all under one roof,” Dr. Abbed said. “I hope this will become the standard of care — to get people to care about their health.”