Law & Medicine
Officers learn new skills to help keep the community safe
By Elissa Bass
To get fresh samples from drivers suspected of being impaired by alcohol or drugs, the state recently launched a program to certify law enforcement officers to draw blood, enlisting Hartford HealthCare’s Emergency Medical Services Network to provide training.
A collaboration between HHC and the Department of Transportation (DOT) Highway Safety Office, the two-week course is funded by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant.
The first training taught four state troopers and four municipal officers how to draw blood, submit it for testing and report results. Those successfully completing the course become certified phlebotomists.
“I have received a lot of positive feedback from the law enforcement community regarding (this) collaboration,” says Keven McNeill, DOT law enforcement liaison. “When we were developing the program, our goal was to provide the best training possible to our officers to obtain blood evidence in a DUI investigation.”
“Our job is to protect the traveling public,” McNeill explains. “We want to give officers everything they need to be able to do their job and reduce fatalities. This is another tool.”
As drugs and substances evolve and with the legalization of recreational marijuana, traditional methods for testing sobriety (field tests, breathalyzers and urine tests) have fallen short in court.
“There is a lot more polydrug use,” McNeill explains. “People are taking over-the-counter plus prescriptions plus marijuana plus other drugs. It makes the job harder. In court, you need that extra level of evidence a blood test can provide. Blood shows what is in someone’s system at the time.”
Before this program, officers needed consent from a driver who was then taken to an emergency department to have blood drawn. Under the new program, officers on the scene can call their department’s certified phlebotomist to draw blood. Each certified department will have a blood draw station and required equipment. Blood will only be drawn there, never in the field, and drivers have the right to refuse the test.
The class, being taught in Norwich, is the same HHC uses for people wanting to become phlebotomists, says Damian Rickard, director of American Professional Educational Services, part of HHC’s EMS Network. HHC is the state’s only authorized instructor for the police program.
The 80-hour class, Rickard notes, includes real-life training. By graduation, each participant will have a minimum of 100 successful needle sticks. Classes also cover basic anatomy, infection control, specimen collection, relevant laws, processes at the state lab, proper storage and record keeping, and writing related reports.
Aging Well
Center for Healthy Aging program celebrates 20 years of exceptional service
By Samantha Bobbie

Since 2004, Hartford HealthCare’s Center for Healthy Aging (CHA) has helped thousands of seniors and families through a spectrum of services, many free, that help them live their best lives.
In that 20 years, CHA expanded from a single service line to four, working collaboratively across 12 locations — including all HHC hospitals and many health centers statewide. If these locations are inaccessible to seniors, they can find support through office visits, home settings, phone consultations and virtual appointments.
“Whenever people call me and ask what to do, I just tell them ‘Call Patty O’Brian, she’ll help you,’” says Aril Bowen, who has relied on the expertise of CHA dementia specialists to help her parents for the last 8 years, referring to one of CHA’s dementia specialists.
Seeing families multiple times is not unusual, according to CHA resource coordinator Michelle Lavoie.
“It’s a great feeling knowing people feel comfortable to reach out when they do need help,” she says. “At the end of every day, I feel like I have touched someone and positively impacted their life.”
HHC colleagues can also utilize CHA for the comprehensive support offered to caregivers as well as those planning for future needs.
“Our goal is to be a trusted resource not just for patients but also colleagues,” says Nancy Becker, CHA director. “I encourage everyone to visit and explore our services. You may find valuable information and support for yourself or loved ones.”
Moved by Motivation
Behavioral health duo shares lessons on motivational interviewing
By Elissa Bass
When working with mental health patients, a gentle, supportive approach generally proves more successful, something Marilyn Finkelstein has known since school.
The practice, used with substance use patients since the 1980s, is called “motivational interviewing” or MI, and Finkelstein, a social worker and program manager of addiction services with the Institute of Living, made it a key component of her doctoral work and a passion project at the Behavioral Health Network. She and another social worker, Catherine Dean, have taught the therapeutic intervention to more than 250 colleagues across the system.
“I started with it very early in my career,” Finklestein says. “Patients are so receptive. They are able to let their guard down because they’re not being judged or shamed so they can be open.”
Designed to help people find the desire to make changes in their patterns and behaviors, MI trainings at the BHN developed from a series of cohorts into short informational sessions Finklestein and Dean called MI 202. They did a Grand Rounds this fall and four MI 202 two-hour sessions open to all BHN staff.
“The feedback that we’ve gotten is that they are so grateful to have this tool and they are immediately using it with their patients”
The pair say they are often preaching to the choir in the sessions.
“The feedback that we’ve gotten is that they are so grateful to have this tool and they are immediately using it with their patients,” says Dean, clinical manager of adult outpatient behavioral health at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.
The premise, she adds, is “meeting the patient where they are. You explore, ‘How do I support a patient therapeutically when they may not be ready to change specific parts of their life, including substance use?’ Substance use treatment used to be focused on an abstinence-only approach in that the goal was complete abstinence from substances. Now, we focus on harm reduction first and go from there.”
With requests for training from all sorts of clinical departments, Finklestein is happy to share her passion for MI.
“The reality is you can’t force recovery,” she says. “MI is such a wonderful skill set to have, to help the patient feel heard and not judged. Using MI to get them to buy into recovery, well, that’s huge. If they can identify a change, even a small one, then they will be motivated to continue.”
Knock, Knock – It’s Home Care (Repeat 50,000 more times)
By Elena Bisson
Teams at Hartford HealthCare at Home notched an astonishing milestone in early spring when they made 50,001 visits to patient homes in just 31 days.
Caring for patients at home adds a layer of comfort and familiarity for many, and the team demonstrated its commitment to the work in March, setting a record in the process. The service can keep vulnerable residents in their home while still offering access to expert care.
This incredible feat was made possible by the diligent efforts of the healthcare providers and unwavering support from the sales and administrative teams at HHC at Home. Their coordination and behind-the-scenes work were crucial in scheduling visits, managing logistics and ensuring that every patient received timely and appropriate care.
The process of securing at home care begins with close collaboration between patient, their family and attending physician. Together, they develop a care plan tailored to the patient’s specific needs. This approach enhances the quality of care while ensuring each patient’s unique needs are met with compassion and expertise.

Rolling on the River
By Amanda Blaszyk
Paddlers from all over New England came to show their strength in this year’s Riverfront Dragon Boat Race – one of the top 10 largest races of its kind in the country!
Congrats on a great event!
Hartford HealthCare had two teams this year – the River Rollers and Wave Riders. Colleagues came together months in advance for practices and socials – and brought their best to race day!
Event Stats
- 70 Teams racing
- 42 HHC colleague paddlers
- 500 Meters per race (each team races three times)
- 1,820 Paddlers on the water throughout the day
The Ridge is Just Ducky
By Elissa Bass
You might say Alyssa Metzger, a clinician at The Ridge Recovery Center, walks the walk and talks the talk. Or maybe quacks is more accurate.
Metzger gives each client a cute little rubber duck at discharge, an idea she came up with during an internship she had before coming to The Ridge.
“One of the drug and alcohol counselors (at the program) gave a marble to clients who successfully discharged,” she recalls. “He would say, ‘You are leaving with all your marbles.’ I liked the gesture but for a program like The Ridge, which is also focused on mental health, I felt the marble was not the right fit.” Instead, she decided on a duck.
Clients are, Metzger notes, literally getting their ducks in a row through their treatment journey.
“It’s a reminder that they are prepared for the next step in their recovery by utilizing all they have accomplished during treatment and that they have the tools to succeed,” she says.

Helping Teen Mothers BLOOM
By Elissa Bass
As a young teen mother, Jennifer Hernandez, EdD, worked hard to move past other people’s judgment. Now, she’s working to help other teen parents be successful as well.
The director of the Family Enrichment Center in Hartford HealthCare’s Central Region, Hernandez has dedicated her career to helping others.
“If a young teen makes a decision to parent,” she says, “I want to help them be successful.”
he Center, which started as the Moms Program in 1986 and operates largely on grants, held its first one-day conference in New Britain this year. The BLOOM – Believe, Love, Open, Overcome and Manifest – Teen Mom Conference incorporated aspirational themes reflecting the hope and promise of the spring season. The event offered community support resources, and a panel of former teen moms sharing their wisdom.
“New Britain has for decades had the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the state and the highest rate of teen repeat pregnancy. The city also has the highest rate of pregnant women having inadequate or no prenatal care,” Hernandez notes.
Beyond the conference, the Center sends family support providers like social workers and a doula into the community for in-home visits during pregnancy and after. A new initiative supports the academic success of teen parents through an online school.

“Teen mothers aren’t celebrated,” explains Hernandez, who took home this year’s Impactful Woman Award from the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut for her work. “What we’ve found is that if the first (pregnancy) is supported and celebrated, chances of a repeat drop.
The Center, she adds, helps parents-to-be “dream, build and set goals. I ask them, ‘What color is your cap and gown going to be?’ If they can’t see it, how can they get there? We help them see it.”
Growing Something Special at Windham
By Ken Harrison
Windham Hospital colleagues transformed a former parking lot into a leafy hydroponic garden this summer to yield a variety of vegetables.
The 3,000-square-foot space is a groundbreaking step in the hospital’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, health and community wellness.
“We are thrilled to introduce this hydroponic garden as it reflects our commitment to promoting wellness and sustainability within our hospital and in our community,” says Windham President Donna Handley. “We expect this to be a fantastic resource for both our hospital and for the people of Windham.”
“Our goal is produce thousands of pounds of fresh produce for the community”
Following similar efforts at Hartford Hospital last year, the Windham team connected with Hartford-based Levo International to develop the garden, which employs advanced agricultural techniques that allow plants to grow without soil, using nutrient-rich water. The simplified system consists of rows of planters fed water and nutrients through food-safe PVC pipes.
The garden – built over three days by a team of volunteers – is expected to yield a wide variety of fresh vegetables and herbs year-round, contributing to healthier meal options for Windham colleagues and members of the community.
“Our goal is produce thousands of pounds of fresh produce for the community,” says Mike Davis, senior director of operations for the East Region. “We have had an incredible response from our colleagues here at Windham and throughout the East Region, who not only helped build the garden, but will volunteer their time to harvest everything we grow.”
Gaining trust and building confidence in kids with Art Therapy
By Samantha Bobbie
Art speaks when words can’t. And for the children of people in hospice, it can provide a voice when they aren’t sure how to feel.
“It’s hard for a child to take their emotions and feelings and verbalize them, but through drawing, there are so many emotions that can be expressed,” explains Linda Bradley, expressive arts therapist and manager of the arts program at the Hartford HealthCare Center for Hospice Care in Norwich.
Yet, this is not a sad group. There’s a lot of giggling and talking. The main goal is to make sure everyone feels heard and respected.
Bradley often reminds families that children experience the same emotions as adults but may lack the ability to express them effectively. Children can also grieve for many reasons – loss of a pet or changes in their life may distress them more than we think.
Children facing such challenges can find healing and comfort in art therapy, which parents can attend with them.
We can use the child’s art to guide conversations and ask the right questions,” Bradley says.
The Center’s expressive arts programs help children process emotions in a safe, non-judgmental setting, supporting grieving by:
- Helping them understand how they’re feeling even if they’re not quite sure. “As adults it’s hard to express exactly how we feel,” says Bradley, adding that children can externalize their confusion and reduce stress through drawing, painting, percussion and gardening.
- Encouraging self-growth and coping. Even if a child doesn’t speak, they express themselves through art, processing emotions and working through grief. Art therapists try to talk about death in a positive way and use upbeat words to help children understand it is a normal and natural part of life.
- Showing children they’re not alone in their grief. Art therapy is a group for relating to one another and sharing experiences with others who have similar experiences.
- Creating a safe environment for expression. “This is a safe space to come and feel supported. It’s entirely up to them whether they want to share a lot or nothing at all,” Bradley says. “We never force anyone to share but we often share our own stories about loved ones who passed.”
Hartford HealthCare Climate Pledge: A Healthy Planet
By Susan McDonald
Since caring for communities extends beyond life–changing work in operating rooms and physician offices, Hartford HealthCare leadership pledged carbon neutrality by 2050, committing to a 50% reduction in the carbon footprint by 2030.
The pledge, issued on Earth Day, solidifies work that earned the system federal recognition from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in December 2023 for “public commitments to decarbonizing its operations and improving resilience in the face of climate change.” In doing so, Hartford HealthCare joined just 15% of hospitals in the country that responded to HHS’s Health Sector Climate Pledge, notes Thomas Vaccarelli, Hartford HealthCare’s vice president of facilities.
All of Hartford HealthCare’s seven hospitals, as well its post-acute care facilities and assisted living homes, are participating in the environmental commitment.
Carbon neutrality describes the balance between the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed from the atmosphere. This can reduce the impact of climate change and global warming, which are caused by a build-up of greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere.
HHC’s pledge broadly addresses reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
The Hartford HealthCare Energy Management Program, Vaccarelli says, will establish best-in-class programs driving utilities for maximum efficiency. This will reduce operational costs, improve the environment and assure continuity of critical community public safety services.
Hartford HealthCare teams will be:
- Monitoring operation and maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, transitioning to clean, renewable energy when feasible
- Building new construction to federal LEED energy efficiency requirements, submitting for certification when feasible
- Exploring opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle, and adopting waste to energy strategies when feasible
- Evaluating rooftop space for green roofs, cool roofs and solar panels
- Identifying opportunities to reduce unnecessary medication waste
- Setting thermostats at efficient temperature settings by season