Stepping up the comfort game
By Robin Stanley
Most of Katherine Bradford’s Hartford Hospital food and nutrition team stands 10 to 12 hours a day, making their feet as important to the work as their culinary and people skills.
A recent donation of more than 500 pairs of high-quality socks was just the boost their tootsies deserved, thanks to Leah Pfrommer, a local registered dietitian and Pilates instructor. She teamed up with manufacturer Bombas to donate more than 500 pairs of socks to express appreciation for the crucial role the department plays in serving patients and the community.
“My experience working within inpatient and outpatient
clinical settings has shown me the profound impact dieticians can have,” Pfrommer said. “Community has always been at the heart of my work and I am honored to contribute in this small way. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone at Hartford Hospital for your unwavering service and dedication.”
The donation was exciting for her team, Bradford said.
“Having quality socks and footwear is so important to keeping our staff safe and healthy. Thank you to Leah and Bombas for thinking of our team!” she said.
Life-changing Procedure
By Susan McDonald
The professor could barely hold a pen in his trembling hand due to advanced Parkinson’s disease and when asked to trace a spiral on paper, his marks look like jagged teeth trailing off into a series of dots.
However, after Patrick Senatus, MD, director of functional neurosurgery at the Ayer Neuroscience Institute, conducted a groundbreaking procedure at Hartford Hospital — the first use of highintensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in Connecticut — the man’s essential tremors were immediately controlled. He traced the spiral again in one smooth, solid stroke.
“In just two hours, our highly skilled surgeon can eliminate the tremors which are so challenging and life-limiting for people,” says J. Antonelle de Marcaida, MD, medical director of the Chase Family Movement Disorders Center.
How does HIFU work?
The procedure, she continues, is ideal for patients who have not responded well to medications and are either not a candidate for brain surgery or fear having it. HIFU uses focused sound waves to treat the areas of the brain inducing the most troublesome Parkinson’s symptoms.
The patient is placed in an MRI machine, which allows the neurosurgeon to precisely monitor and confirm where the sound waves are delivered. Sound waves are administered through the skull near the part of the brain causing tremors.
HIFU benefits include:
- No surgical incisions
- No anesthesia, minimizing potential side effects
- Immediate and significant improvement in hand tremors and other symptoms
- No need for implants or long-term maintenance
“Patients often notice improvement in their hand tremors during the actual HIFU treatment. The immediate results we have seen are simply amazing!” Dr. DeMarcaida says.
Celebrating the past, while looking to the future
By Samantha Bobbie
Exactly 140 years ago, a small facility with a handful of beds opened to help give older members of the community a comfortable, safe place to live, a gesture that evolved into a legacy of compassionate care and meeting the needs of residents and their families as a comprehensive nursing home.
The milestone, celebrated recently, is not only evidenced in Jefferson House’s history but also its devoted staff. Six colleagues were honored at the facility’s 140th anniversary celebration for dedicating 25 years or more to the facility.
“It has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life to have touched so many residents’ lives since I first walked through the doors of Jefferson House in 1980,” says Maureen Lahickey, RN, case manager and admissions director. “Jefferson House is more than a workplace, it’s a home where residents become family.”
In addition to the anniversary of its founding Jefferson House also earned the prestigious LeadingAge “Spirit of the Mission” award for programs that are innovative, creative and successful in caring for the elderly. Such recognition is especially hard to achieve in a highly regulated environment. The Jefferson House team also looked toward the future, unveiling a new healing garden during the anniversary celebration. Designed for relaxation and community gatherings, the garden includes a calming water feature, wind chimes and a vibrant flower wall that create a beautiful space for residents and their loved ones to enjoy reflection and connection.