Pair pioneers progress in pre-hospital emergency care
By Samantha Bobbie
Patient care starts before the gurney hits the automatic doors of the emergency department and a pair of Hartford HealthCare doctors are trying to determine how prehospital care can be improved for better overall results.
The research of Charles Johndro, DO, and Daniel Youngstrom, PhD, has focused on improving outcomes for both patients and healthcare providers in Connecticut. Recently, they’re looking at key challenges, particularly sedating acutely agitated patients and variations in prehospital cardiac arrest treatment.
The two authored an important study comparing two medications for managing severe agitation in patients on their way to the hospital. They found that while ketamine quickly calms patients, it can necessitate extra breathing support in the emergency department. The revelation highlights the complex environment of prehospital medicine and emphasizes the importance of specialized training for emergency medical services (EMS) responders.
“For years, EMS-specific research has been needed,” Dr. Johndro says. “Our study is a step toward identifying best practices. The Hartford HealthCare EMS Network’s strong research team has already been published in peerreviewed journals this year and we’re just getting started.”
In another study, the researchers examined differences in bystander intervention during out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Analyzing 10 years of data from the CT CARES registry, they found that people who collapse in racially or ethnically diverse communities are less likely to receive bystander CPR or automated external defibrillator (AED) treatment in the field. Barriers seem to include language and socioeconomic factors, which pushed Drs. Johndro and Youngstrom to advocate for CPR and AED training programs in areas of high racial and ethnic diversity and communities where languages other than English are predominantly spoken.
“Immediate chest compressions (CPR) and early AED application are the most critical factor in improving survival rates for cardiac arrest, yet Connecticut’s bystander CPR rates fall far below the national average,” Dr. Youngstrom says. “Our research highlights the urgent need for targeted education and resources in diverse, urban communities to address this health equity challenge.”
This dedication to research and community health helps shape the future of emergency medical services nationwide and the gaps identified by Drs. Johndro and Youngstrom empower people to step in and potentially save lives.
Just Like Family
Treating elderly patients with caring and kindness
By Robin Stanley
In a fast-paced emergency department, elderly patients may easily feel lost or forgotten, which is where Hartford Hospital’s Geriatric Ambassadors Program steps in.
The program, founded in 2023 by Katherine Farmer, MD, an emergency department physician, aims to enhance the well-being of elderly patients, particularly those in the ED for extended periods. For UConn senior Prasanth Karunashankar, it’s more than a volunteer opportunity — it’s a chance to see first-hand how small acts of kindness can have a big impact.
“My grandma has dementia, so that’s why I wanted to get involved with geriatrics,” he explains. “I treat patients as if they were my grandma.”
Volunteers engage patients in non-clinical tasks, fostering social connections and offering reassurance in an environment that can be overwhelming and disorienting.
“The ultimate goal is to help prevent iatrogenic delirium — a common condition in elderly patients in unfamiliar environments like the ED,” Dr. Farmer explains. “Our volunteers provide much-needed social interaction, whether it’s talking to patients about their life stories, playing games or offering emotional support during a stressful time.”
During his shifts, Karunashankar typically visits six patients. His role extends beyond providing companionship to helping relieve the burden on nursing staff who often juggle multiple responsibilities.
“The program gives nurses some leeway,” he says. “By helping with non-clinical tasks – making phone calls to family members, offering food or reorienting patients to their environment—we can give (nurses) more time to focus on the medical side of care.”
Karunashankar recalled a patient struggling to feed himself due to motor difficulties and how he helped the patient successfully eat an entire pudding.
“For me its not just volunteering, it’s my passion and a very powerful experience,” he says.
Feedback from patients and volunteers has been overwhelmingly positive.
“While these patients may struggle to express their gratitude, the dedicated volunteers invest their time in simply being present for them, providing comfort and companionship,” says Lisa Bisaillon, RN, program coordinator. “In this fast-paced environment, where colleagues often feel overwhelmed by numerous responsibilities, the presence of these compassionate volunteers brings a much-needed sense of warmth and support.”
The hope is for the program to expand to all areas of the ED areas.
She’s ready with Teddies
By Susan McDonald
In the middle of July, as people flocked to beaches and the mercury climbed higher and higher, Rachel Pinter was thinking of the December holidays.
Armed with her trusty crochet hook, she pulled out skein after skein of different yarns — some solids but most variegated with coordinating shades — and got busy making bears.
She plowed through rows of varying lengths to create hollow legs, arms, rounded bellies, heads with snouts and half-moon ears. For five hours each, she’d loop and stitch, then stuff and sew the 12-inch friends together, adding buttons for eyes and noses.
By the time the Southington Care Center, where Pinter is a dietary aide, was ready to host its holiday toy drive, she had crafted 100 adorable bears to donate.
Aware Recovery and HHC: Teaming up to fight addiction
By Tim LeBouthillier
To enhance and expand treatment available for people with substance use disorder, the Behavioral Health Network (BHN) partnered with Connecticut-based Aware Recovery Care.
An industry pioneer
Operating in 11 states, Aware Recovery Care is considered an industry pioneer with its in-home addiction treatment and virtual detox and medication assisted treatment services. Together, the two entities will work to close gaps in access to services in Connecticut.
“We are exceptionally proud to partner with Aware Recovery Care and collaborate to make access to high-quality addiction treatment services a reality for more patients,” said James O’Dea, PhD, BHN senior vice president.
“Our organizations share the same goal to remove barriers and make it easier for more people to get timely, effective treatment for substance use disorder.”
Joint initiatives
- Increasing access to comprehensive, coordinated substance use disorder care for Hartford HealthCare colleagues and jointly served communities.
- Increasing quality of care and improving outcomes by creating a joint executive governance committee. Jonathan Craig Allen, MD, BHN vice president of addiction services, is medical director of the collaboration, working on clinical integration while driving a new model to better serve the community.
- Building an innovative partnership platform to benefit payers, accountable care organizations, physician groups, self-insured employers, patients and families.
Rushford Respite Project Tees remind us ‘You matter’
By Tim LeBouthillier
Standing in line at the grocery store took on a much deeper meaning after members of the Rushford Respite Program rolled out new customized shirts to commemorate National Suicide Prevention Month in September.
The shirts, designed to raise awareness of suicide prevention, bear messages on the front — “You Are Enough” or “You Matter” — but the message on the back really hits hard, saying “Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it. Remember that!” or “Remember it’s okay to not be OK. Signed, the person in front of you.”
The Rushford Respite Program, made up of colleagues and current and former clients, tapped a donation from the Hartford HealthCare Purple Light Project to make the shirts, which were customized by each participant.