2. The city will spend about $2 million on infrastructure work on the site that includes streets, lights, water and sewer pipes and such. It would also include the much-discussed public piazza behind the building on Main Street.
Showing posts with label Bristol Hospital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bristol Hospital. Show all posts
October 28, 2014
Is the mall site's future coming into focus?
2. The city will spend about $2 million on infrastructure work on the site that includes streets, lights, water and sewer pipes and such. It would also include the much-discussed public piazza behind the building on Main Street.
August 3, 2014
Bristol Hospital sale could mean $2 million a year in extra tax revenue
July 23, 2014
Hospital sale likely to boost city revenue
For generations, most community hospitals have operated as charities, providing health care for the area surrounding them and ensuring that even the poorest received top quality treatment.
One of the benefits for Bristol Hospital of holding nonprofit status since 1925 has been that it hasn’t had to pay any property taxes. Charities and churches are, in almost every case, exempt in Connecticut.
But with Bristol Hospital’s announcement last week that it plans to sell the hospital to a Tennessee-based, for-profit company opens the door to at least the possibility that it might soon no longer quality for a special tax break under the law.
For City Hall, the change could represent a bonanza. Bristol Hospital could overnight become the city’s second largest taxpayer, hiking municipal revenue by more than $1.5 million annually at a time when the city is scrounging for every dime.
City Assessor Tom DeNoto, who’s been scrambling to figure out the implications of the deal, said the still-secret details are going to prove crucial.
Even so, he said, the announcement itself is “like a pea that has been dropped in the ocean and the ripples of a hurricane are just beginning.”
Bristol Hospital owns more than $75 million worth of property in the city, according to tax records, and that doesn’t even include the value of its medical equipment, vehicles and other potentially taxable items.
At present, the hospital doesn’t generally pay taxes. But the state has a payment-in-lieu of tax program that helps cities and towns compensate somewhat for hosting nonprofits and state government buildings.
Bristol collects about $570,000 annually from the program to make up a bit of what the hospital would have to pay if it were not exempt. That’s only a fraction of the hospital’s potential tax liability, but officials have always been happy to cash the state checks.
If the hospital winds up as part of Vanguard Health Systems, as planned, officials presume the state won’t pay anything anymore. Office of Policy and Management experts could not, however, be reached to explain their role.
The experience of other communities, though, may show what’s coming in Bristol if the sale goes through.
The 154-bed Morton Hospital in Taunton, Mass., for example, was sold in 2011 to a private for-profit company for $170 million in cash and debt. It is going to pay property taxes for the first time next year, about $1.5 million in all.
St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass., purchased by Vanguard in 2005, now pays more than $1 million in property taxes and another $1.3 million in sales taxes. It didn’t use to pay any taxes.
All of this comes at a time when the tax-exempt status of nonprofit hospitals has been questioned across the country because the distinction between charity hospitals and for-profit ones has gradually blurred.
Illinois, for instance, began taxing some nonprofit community hospitals because it ruled they performed so little charity that there was no reason to treat them differently.
DeNoto said there can be “a very fine line” between a charitable hospital and one that’s not.
As they wait for details of the agreement between Bristol Hospital and Vanguard, city officials admit they are more than eager to grab some additional tax dollars that would help ease a growing fiscal crunch.
Still, DeNoto said, “We’re not counting on anything or locked in.”
“None of the dominos have even begun to fall yet,” he added.
October 21, 2013
Albert: Extra tax money no reason to favor hospital sale
Republican City Council hopeful Jim Albert sent this along in response to a Press editorial about the possibility of collecting more tax revenue if Bristol Hospital is sold to a for-profit company:
I disagree that the sale or merger of Bristol Hospital with another healthcare organization, non-profit or for-profit, should center around potential tax payments to the City. As everyone in healthcare knows, and as most citizens of Bristol and our region hope, the future status of Bristol Hospital should center around patient care and population health, not about taxes. Any potential added tax revenues gained by converting Bristol Hospital to a for-profit organization may very well be reduced by portions of the organization remaining in a non-taxable status, or by reductions in employees, or by a loss of certain services, or by a reduction in hospital philanthropic donations, or by increased legal fees, or by any of a dozens other factors and repercussions of such a merger and change of status. We should NOT be concerned, at this stage, with counting new tax dollars and deciding where they will be spent – as the recent article in the Opinions section of the Bristol Press entitled “An Add to Bristol’s Coffers?” would suggest. Instead, I trust that Marie O’Brien, Kurt Barwis and the Board of Directors of the hospital will decide the future of our community hospital based on what is best for the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Bristol and our surrounding towns who use and rely on this longstanding quality institution. We should not be dazzled or swayed in any great degree by potential tax revenues. These are not guaranteed and are not what this acquisition is about.
Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
I disagree that the sale or merger of Bristol Hospital with another healthcare organization, non-profit or for-profit, should center around potential tax payments to the City. As everyone in healthcare knows, and as most citizens of Bristol and our region hope, the future status of Bristol Hospital should center around patient care and population health, not about taxes. Any potential added tax revenues gained by converting Bristol Hospital to a for-profit organization may very well be reduced by portions of the organization remaining in a non-taxable status, or by reductions in employees, or by a loss of certain services, or by a reduction in hospital philanthropic donations, or by increased legal fees, or by any of a dozens other factors and repercussions of such a merger and change of status. We should NOT be concerned, at this stage, with counting new tax dollars and deciding where they will be spent – as the recent article in the Opinions section of the Bristol Press entitled “An Add to Bristol’s Coffers?” would suggest. Instead, I trust that Marie O’Brien, Kurt Barwis and the Board of Directors of the hospital will decide the future of our community hospital based on what is best for the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Bristol and our surrounding towns who use and rely on this longstanding quality institution. We should not be dazzled or swayed in any great degree by potential tax revenues. These are not guaranteed and are not what this acquisition is about.
October 16, 2013
Salary, benefits for Bristol Hospital's Top 10
October 11, 2013
Mayor shrugs off criticism, plans to cut ribbon
October 9, 2013
Kramer: GOP off the mark on hospital sale
Hats off to the 2 Republicans who came out of the dugout swinging. Though striking out with their positions, they swung. And the 2 Democrats who finally got the party okay or, one hopes, actually did come out on their own accord, finally comprehending the downside consequences to the potential take down of Bristol Hospital. And let me take the time out, here, as a gentle reminder to Mr. Brown, that Bristol Hospital is a non profit hospital which doesn't always mean it's a publicly owned institution; in this case, it's not, rendering the privatization issue moot.
Unless I read the statute like response incorrectly, we now learn that a long time Democrat stalwart, actually considers it a benefit to the people of Bristol to allow, if not embrace, the epitome of corporate malfeasance to infect the mindset of what was once Bristol Hospital. If this deal goes through, this contender might wish they had the power to turn back the clock. Unfortunately, this is real life, not a fairy tale. No magic allowed.
But it's heartening to know that was once seemingly off limits has become an issue with gravitas, worthy of comment, if not debate. I trust, in it's wisdom, the moderators of the upcoming council and mayoralty debates will honor this topic as an entry into the fray. It's, after all, a public health issue and rightfully deserves it.
Jeffries: Take a hard look at proposed sale of Bristol Hospital
I had a chance to read what you put out on the blog yesterday about Bristol Hospital and I have to admit that Eric Carlson's statement and his position is absolutely amazing. Regardless of whether he is my opponent, I really have serious issues with his line of thinking. Below is my response as I would like to weigh in.
It is in nobody's interest if Bristol Hospital fails as people will end up losing their jobs if it does! Our priority should be to protect all jobs while ensuring that each and every patient continue to receive the highest level of care possible. Whenever a bill is put forward that proposes the privatization of a company under certain expectations, further review of that bill is warranted to assure that those expectations are deemed appropriate. It is the job of our elected officials at both the state and local levels to work with hospital officials to not only address the financial troubles they are facing, but also take into serious consideration the precedent that we would be setting by letting Bristol Hospital become a for profit institution.
My opponent, Mr. Carlson seems once again to be satisfied with the notion of throwing open the doors and letting Bristol become a "for profit city". With the 65+ population in Connecticut expected to grow close to 65% by 2030, and many previously uninsured folks gaining coverage under the Affordable Care Act, Connecticut is expected to eventually have an additional 330,000 people covered. Now is the time to take a serious look at the structure of the primary care provider in our city. We need to start asking the serious questions and have serious discussions before moving forward.
One question could be, how does a for profit hospital plan to make money off of what was formerly a nonprofit hospital? How would a for profit hospital provide better level of service than previously when it was a not for profit hospital? Are they willing to sacrifice staff quality to reduce costs for patients? How do they intend to save money where previously not for profit hospitals could not without sacrificing quality of care? Unfortunately Mr. Carlson seems reluctant to engage in a discussion to address these questions and is quite satisfied with playing partisan politics at the expense of Bristol jobs, much like Tea Party members of Congress are with Nationwide jobs during the Government Shutdown. I am disappointed that my opponent continues to put profits above the health and welfare of the citizens of Bristol. I challenge him to stand up to the principals set by the Tea Party both local and on the national stage by taking a stance on this issue. Will Mr. Carlson continue to fail his constituents on yet another major issue like he did with Jennings School and the Memorial Boulevard School? I am asking him to use his remaining time on the council to work with State and hospital officials to find a long term meaningful solution for Bristol Hospital. I am also open to join in this discussion if invited.
October 8, 2013
Several candidates weigh in on Bristol Hospital sale
I think that if it converts to a for profit hospital they will have the ability and desire to expand services. An expansion into more profitable areas of healthcare will be a plus for the city. The hospital seems to have a fair patient survey rating by one rating agency, and if sold will have an incentive to improve customer service.
I do wonder why anyone would want to expand into the healthcare field in Connecticut after the passage of the last State Budget and the subsequent cuts to reimbursements. The unknowns with the stunted and erratic implementation of Obamacare look like a minus in investments in healthcare due to the drastic cuts to Medicare and the likely loss of revenue with the increase of Medicaid patients.
Here's what Republican mayoral candidate Ken Cockayne had to say:
The issue as to whether or not Bristol Hospital will be sold is not up to the Mayor or City Council. It is purely a state issue.
I know from my time on the City Council that Bristol Hospital has had financial problems and this move is designed to help resolve that problem. With re-imbursement cuts from Medicare and Medicaid, and the number of uninsured patients, Bristol hospital is not alone in dealing with this financial crunch.
Bristol residents need to remember that Bristol Hospital is one of our largest employers and their economic vitality is critical to maintain these jobs, and if this sale could lead to more medical services and more jobs in those fields than we need to keep an open mind and look at this issue with objectivity.
The issue I find alarming is that after the members of the General Assembly agreed on bill that was signed off on by the Governor’s office the Governor surprised everyone and vetoed the bill. With the proposed cuts in aid to municipalities, and the Governor and General Assembly unwilling to offer any relief from unfunded mandates these are very difficult times. We need to look at every opportunity to increase revenue for our city and help an employer save jobs and avert layoffs.
Kramer: Speak out to stop Bristol Hospital sale
With Bristol Hospital's community and non-profit orientation having served this region so well for so long, you have to scratch your head and wonder why, in light of it's imminent consumption by one of the most disreputable, abuse laden entities to ever disgrace the American corporate landscape, you don't hear a peep from Bristol's political roundabout. As poorly behaved as some corporations are in their successes at off shoring ill gotten gains; out sourcing, to everywhere else but America, jobs; finding every loophole available to avoid paying taxes on historically high profits while raking in gobs of corporate welfare; and suggesting that paying workers unsustainable living wages with no benefits, teaches discipline---for argument's sake, let's just give them a pass and give them a " get out of jail card, " free of charge. But revocable at a future date.
From the Republican point of view I can understand their collective silence. Profit, at any price, is a good thing and let's just leave it at that. In all probability --and I hope and pray that I'm proven wrong-- they have no idea who the real players are. Or who was that quarterback that threw the ball for the championship touchdown? But maybe they don't care, because, you know, a free market-trickle down economy always takes care of itself. What, in heavens name, could ever go wrong? Oh, that 2005-2007 meltdown depression era like thing that almost spelled the end ? C'mon, that was just one of those blips we get all the time. Get real and, besides, healthcare isn't a right---especially when you can't afford it. Though, I actually do stand corrected. Giving credit where credit is due, it was Councilman Cockayne, our only elected representative to display enough interest to, at least, attend last summer's Community Health Assessment Needs event sponsored by Bristol Hospital. A very important event as the Hospital sought from members of the community ideas on what the most pressing health issues confronting Bristol were going to be in 2014 and how best to address them. Cockayne was just as engaged as everyone else who had both personal and professional stakes in the forum.
No, rather, it's the deafening silence of the Democrats, from the mayoralty hopeful on down who have lost their their moral compass, maybe even their ethical perspectives. One's compelled to ask the question: " whatever happened to that party that had always purported, and usually did stick up for the little guy? " That party that rallied under the progressive banners of workplace safety, social security, medicare, civil and women's rights. ObamaCare.
Well, in Bristol, it's clear that when someone tells them to jump, they jump. Or in this case, not the cat getting their tongue but a party boss? Well, so we're all clear on what's at stake, my contention is this: that the Governor must maintain his veto on final closing of that deal. Thereby preventing non profit Bristol Hospital, and by extension, all non-profit hospitals in Connecticut from be acquired by for-profit Corporate Hospital Chains. Particularly by Corporate predators whose history of abusive practices include unnecessary procedures up to and including open heart surgery,kick backs,medicare/medicaid fraud, labor abuse, and securities fraud. To name just a few. Their business model seems to be based on an absence of ethics, morals, and that certain strand of DNA allowing a human being to feel compassion and empathy for another human being. Rarely admitting to any wrongdoing, for profit hospital chains, like Tenet, rather see settlements to allegations as the cost for doing business. Whether it be charges leveled by the DOJ, Departments of HSS, various state agencies and finally, class actions suits brought on by patients, workers and even investors, it's a very costly game to your average American taxpayer or patient. But not to their executives, with Romney like salaries, bonuses, and stock options amounting to millions.
So Democrats, chime in when you have the guts to buck that big buck. Tell us why the people of Bristol don't deserve to hear your views on their health care as it may one day be delivered by an entity other than Bristol Hospital.
One final note: The profit motive component in our capitalistic economy often yields wonders in the fields of technology, manufacturing, innovation, medicine. We need that component to remain strong in these endeavors. But when it comes to healthcare, it falls flat; worse, it causes harm.
March 4, 2013
Wright seeks state funding for health care for uninsured
Press release from state Rep. Chris Wright, a Bristol Democrat:
REP. WRIGHT CO-SPONSORS BILL TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE UNINSURED AT COMMUNITY HOSPITALS
State Representative Christopher Wright (D-Bristol) is co-sponsoring a bill that seeks to fund community hospitals, like Bristol Hospital, that provide services for people who are uninsured.
Rep. Wright has joined legislative colleagues from Vernon and Putnam, to sponsor HB 6004, “An Act Concerning Health Care Services For The Uninsured At Community Hospitals.”
The bill is now before the legislature’s Public Health Committee which received favorable testimony at a recent public hearing.
“This is the beginning of a long legislative process to maintain funding for our community hospitals,” Rep. Wright explained, “The purpose of the bill is to guarantee funding for community hospitals, like our own Bristol Hospital, to help them pay for the vital services they provide for the uninsured.”
“There are certain core values that government needs to protect,” Rep. Wright said, “Among those priorities is healthcare help for our citizens.”
As legislative momentum continues to grow to restore the funding for community hospitals, HB 6004 may serve as the legislative vehicle for that goal.
“It’s necessary to point out this legislation represents an important first step that hopefully will restore the needed funding to our community hospitals who provide these very expensive services to the uninsured,” Rep. Wright said.
November 29, 2012
Bristol Hospital deal raises many questions
I'm more than a little confused by the deal that Bristol Hospital has struck with a for-profit hospital chain, the details of which remain secret.
To begin with, from what I can discern, the nonprofit Bristol Hospital is apparently selling the hospital itself to the Nashville-based Vanguard Health Systems. As long as the sale is at market value, that seems to be fine legally. But where does all the money wind up?
The nonprofit itself would no longer have the hospital that gave it a reason to exist. So what would it do with the cash it earns from the sale?
I don't know what kind of numbers are involved in Bristol Hospital deal, but they're probably big. In 2010, according to The Health Care Blog, a for-profit chain paid $28 million for a 124-bed facility in Marion, South Carolina (population 7,000) and $86 million for a 108-bed hospital in Ottumwa, Iowa (population 25,000).
Bristol's hospital must be worth tens of millions anyway. So what does a nonprofit hospital organization do with a giant pile of money when it no longer possesses a hospital?
Then there is the obvious question of what Vanguard will do differently in Bristol so that it can make a profit, when Bristol Hospital has struggled for years to make sure it doesn't lose money. And sometimes it has wound up in the red despite its best efforts.
Everything I read seems to indicate that nonprofit hospitals that are converted typically wind up dropping some services that don't make money and added frills that attract only patients with insurance or high incomes instead, ultimately creating a situation where they don't serve the community as a whole quite as well.
Maybe that's inevitable, but it is clearly the thing Bristol has to be on guard about.
I don't have much doubt that the people who run the hospital are trying to do the right thing. It's hard to have a real hospital in a smaller city these days. The costs are so high and the margins so thin that making a go of it isn't anything like it used to be.
But there are many, many issues involved in this deal, most of them not discussed at all yet. They need to be.
Update at 10:50 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 --
I'm not sure I was clear enough about the real difference between a nonprofit hospital and a for-profit hospital. Bristol Hospital today is held by a charity for the benefit of the community. If the hospital is sold to Vanguard, or any other for-profit company, its assets will be owned by private investors and used to generate income for those investors.
It's not necessarily a bad thing, of course. It could be that investors will pump money into the hospital to update it and ultimately generate more revenue through more business. But it's also possible that some of the things the hospital does today because it exists to help the community will change if it's in the hands of investors.
It's critically important that all of these issues be reviewed carefully, not just by the hospital board behind closed doors but by the community as a whole.
Bristol Hospital is vitally important to Bristol. Its fate is critical. Make sure that whatever happens to it, happens in the light of day with everyone aware of the reasons for making changes.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
To begin with, from what I can discern, the nonprofit Bristol Hospital is apparently selling the hospital itself to the Nashville-based Vanguard Health Systems. As long as the sale is at market value, that seems to be fine legally. But where does all the money wind up?
|
| Bristol Hospital |
I don't know what kind of numbers are involved in Bristol Hospital deal, but they're probably big. In 2010, according to The Health Care Blog, a for-profit chain paid $28 million for a 124-bed facility in Marion, South Carolina (population 7,000) and $86 million for a 108-bed hospital in Ottumwa, Iowa (population 25,000).
Bristol's hospital must be worth tens of millions anyway. So what does a nonprofit hospital organization do with a giant pile of money when it no longer possesses a hospital?
Then there is the obvious question of what Vanguard will do differently in Bristol so that it can make a profit, when Bristol Hospital has struggled for years to make sure it doesn't lose money. And sometimes it has wound up in the red despite its best efforts.
Everything I read seems to indicate that nonprofit hospitals that are converted typically wind up dropping some services that don't make money and added frills that attract only patients with insurance or high incomes instead, ultimately creating a situation where they don't serve the community as a whole quite as well.
Maybe that's inevitable, but it is clearly the thing Bristol has to be on guard about.
I don't have much doubt that the people who run the hospital are trying to do the right thing. It's hard to have a real hospital in a smaller city these days. The costs are so high and the margins so thin that making a go of it isn't anything like it used to be.
But there are many, many issues involved in this deal, most of them not discussed at all yet. They need to be.
Update at 10:50 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 --
I'm not sure I was clear enough about the real difference between a nonprofit hospital and a for-profit hospital. Bristol Hospital today is held by a charity for the benefit of the community. If the hospital is sold to Vanguard, or any other for-profit company, its assets will be owned by private investors and used to generate income for those investors.
It's not necessarily a bad thing, of course. It could be that investors will pump money into the hospital to update it and ultimately generate more revenue through more business. But it's also possible that some of the things the hospital does today because it exists to help the community will change if it's in the hands of investors.
It's critically important that all of these issues be reviewed carefully, not just by the hospital board behind closed doors but by the community as a whole.
Bristol Hospital is vitally important to Bristol. Its fate is critical. Make sure that whatever happens to it, happens in the light of day with everyone aware of the reasons for making changes.
November 28, 2012
Hospital jumps into fold of a national health care company
Inevitable though it may have been, Bristol just lost another local linchpin with the news that Bristol Hospital is going to become part of a giant company based in Tennessee. Link
December 20, 2010
Ward is home from the hospital & doing well
Mayor Art Ward is home.
Shortly after noon, Ward left the intensive care unit in a wheelchair and headed down to Bristol Hospital's lobby to face an array of television cameras along with his doctor and hospital officials.
As a nurse wheeled him out of the elevator, Ward grinned after being questioned about how he was doing.
"I'm feeling pretty good now," Ward said.
Ward had a Band-Aid over his nose and some red marks on his face, but otherwise looked pretty good for a man who'd spent 16 days in the hospital after choking on a piece of steak during a tailgate party at the Italian Social Club.
Ward said little at the short press conference beyond expressing thanks for the many prayers and good wishes offered for him by so many residents and friends. He said he was glad to have a supportive family and been under the care of so many talented nurses, doctors and other medical professionals.
Dr. Stephen Caminiti, the head of the hospital's intensive care unit, said the outcome for the mayor "is as good as it could be."
"This is the best case scenario," Caminiti said.
The doctor said that Ward will need to rest over the holidays and will likely be able to return to work next month.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 15, 2010
Ward is 'conscious;' Cockayne says 'prayers are working'
After 11 days in critical condition at Bristol Hospital, Mayor Art Ward is getting better.
Ward, 63, remains in the intensive care unit, but his condition was upgraded Wednesday afternoon to serious rather than critical.
The mayor “continues to make appropriate progress” and “is conscious, with stable vital signs,” according to a hospital press release approved by Ward’s family.
“The prayers are working,” said city Councilor Ken Cockayne, the city’s acting mayor.
Though Ward’s prognosis remains uncertain, the release is the first solid indication that he is recovering from choking on a piece of steak on December 4 at a tailgating party at the Italian Social Club.
Cockayne called the condition upgrade outstanding news.
“If anybody can pull through, it is Mayor Ward. He is a strong person, as anyone who has battled him knows,” Cockayne said.
“This is incredible news the week before Christmas,” Cockayne said. “I’m sure his family is ecstatic. The prayers are working.”
The hospital said that “a hypothermia protocol was completed successfully last week” that involved cooling the mayor’s “core body temperature to preserve body functions and organs after an acute medical event.”
Ward spent “several days under heavy sedation” for his own comfort, the press release said, but is now conscious.
There is no indication in the release when the mayor might be able to return to work or even if that remains a possibility.
Ward’s family requested that visitors “continue to be restricted to immediate family members,” the press release said.
The hospital said it would keep the media updated on Ward’s condition with information consistent with federal law and as directed by the mayor’s family.
Ward has served in the city’s top job since 2007. He was a city councilor for seven turns before winning the mayor’s seat.
Gov.-elect Dan Malloy has Ward on the short list as a potential veterans affairs commissioner. Ward, a former service officer for veterans, served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, earning two Purple Hearts in the process.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Ward, 63, remains in the intensive care unit, but his condition was upgraded Wednesday afternoon to serious rather than critical.
The mayor “continues to make appropriate progress” and “is conscious, with stable vital signs,” according to a hospital press release approved by Ward’s family.
“The prayers are working,” said city Councilor Ken Cockayne, the city’s acting mayor.
Though Ward’s prognosis remains uncertain, the release is the first solid indication that he is recovering from choking on a piece of steak on December 4 at a tailgating party at the Italian Social Club.
Cockayne called the condition upgrade outstanding news.
“If anybody can pull through, it is Mayor Ward. He is a strong person, as anyone who has battled him knows,” Cockayne said.
“This is incredible news the week before Christmas,” Cockayne said. “I’m sure his family is ecstatic. The prayers are working.”
The hospital said that “a hypothermia protocol was completed successfully last week” that involved cooling the mayor’s “core body temperature to preserve body functions and organs after an acute medical event.”
Ward spent “several days under heavy sedation” for his own comfort, the press release said, but is now conscious.
There is no indication in the release when the mayor might be able to return to work or even if that remains a possibility.
Ward’s family requested that visitors “continue to be restricted to immediate family members,” the press release said.
The hospital said it would keep the media updated on Ward’s condition with information consistent with federal law and as directed by the mayor’s family.
Ward has served in the city’s top job since 2007. He was a city councilor for seven turns before winning the mayor’s seat.
Gov.-elect Dan Malloy has Ward on the short list as a potential veterans affairs commissioner. Ward, a former service officer for veterans, served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, earning two Purple Hearts in the process.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Ward's condition upgraded to serious
Press release from Bristol Hospital:
BRISTOL MAYOR ART WARD’S CONDITION UPGRADED TO SERIOUS; MAKES PROGRESS AT BRISTOL HOSPITAL
Bristol, Conn.– Bristol Mayor Art Ward’s condition has been upgraded from Critical to Serious, as he continues treatment in the Intensive Care Unit at Bristol Hospital. Mayor Ward was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, December 4th following a choking incident.
A hypothermia protocol was completed successfully last week, and the Mayor continues to make appropriate progress after spending several days under heavy sedation for comfort measures. He is conscious, with stable vital signs.
Hypothermia protocol involves cooling of the core body temperature to preserve body function and organs after an acute medical event.
The Mayor’s family has requested that visitors continue to be restricted to immediate family members at this time.
Bristol Hospital will keep the news media updated on Mayor Ward’s condition with information, as directed by the family, and that is consistent with the release of information guidelines of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
BRISTOL MAYOR ART WARD’S CONDITION UPGRADED TO SERIOUS; MAKES PROGRESS AT BRISTOL HOSPITAL
Bristol, Conn.– Bristol Mayor Art Ward’s condition has been upgraded from Critical to Serious, as he continues treatment in the Intensive Care Unit at Bristol Hospital. Mayor Ward was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, December 4th following a choking incident.
A hypothermia protocol was completed successfully last week, and the Mayor continues to make appropriate progress after spending several days under heavy sedation for comfort measures. He is conscious, with stable vital signs.
Hypothermia protocol involves cooling of the core body temperature to preserve body function and organs after an acute medical event.
The Mayor’s family has requested that visitors continue to be restricted to immediate family members at this time.
Bristol Hospital will keep the news media updated on Mayor Ward’s condition with information, as directed by the family, and that is consistent with the release of information guidelines of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 8, 2010
Hospital: Ward's family wants privacy
Reporter Jackie Majerus has this story:
Mayor Art Ward remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Bristol Hospital with no visitors allowed, hospital officials said Wednesday.
Following medical privacy laws and the wishes of Ward’s family, the hospital is not providing any other information about the mayor’s condition, treatment or prognosis.
“It’s not up to the hospital to decide whether information gets released,” said hospital President Kurt Barwis, adding that the decision to share information is “100 percent” the choice of the patient or the patient’s medical proxy.
If a patient cannot make the decision, the hospital takes great care to follow his or her wishes for who does make decisions and then follows them to the letter, according to Barwis.
“If they want complete and total privacy, that’s what we do,” said Barwis. See the whole story here.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor Art Ward remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Bristol Hospital with no visitors allowed, hospital officials said Wednesday.
Following medical privacy laws and the wishes of Ward’s family, the hospital is not providing any other information about the mayor’s condition, treatment or prognosis.
“It’s not up to the hospital to decide whether information gets released,” said hospital President Kurt Barwis, adding that the decision to share information is “100 percent” the choice of the patient or the patient’s medical proxy.
If a patient cannot make the decision, the hospital takes great care to follow his or her wishes for who does make decisions and then follows them to the letter, according to Barwis.
“If they want complete and total privacy, that’s what we do,” said Barwis. See the whole story here.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
April 12, 2010
Bristol Hospital struggles with broken steam pipe
Here's reporter Jackie Majerus' story about the crisis at Bristol Hospital today:
Following a broken gasket on a steam pipe this afternoon, Bristol Hospital lost its heat, hot water and steam for several hours.
About 11 a.m. Monday, a gasket between two steam pipes in a mechanical room in the hospital’s perioperative center failed, according to Ron Hussey, director of facilities and engineering.
Steam pressure was lost throughout the hospital, said Hussey. “Unfortunately it happened to be a key valve. It wasn’t something you could isolate. We had no alternative but to shut the building down.”
The hospital couldn’t continue with normal operations, said Hussey, but no one was hurt and no patients were evacuated. Click here for the full story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Following a broken gasket on a steam pipe this afternoon, Bristol Hospital lost its heat, hot water and steam for several hours.
About 11 a.m. Monday, a gasket between two steam pipes in a mechanical room in the hospital’s perioperative center failed, according to Ron Hussey, director of facilities and engineering.
Steam pressure was lost throughout the hospital, said Hussey. “Unfortunately it happened to be a key valve. It wasn’t something you could isolate. We had no alternative but to shut the building down.”
The hospital couldn’t continue with normal operations, said Hussey, but no one was hurt and no patients were evacuated. Click here for the full story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Bristol Hospital no longer accepting patients as crisis unfolds
Following a broken steam pipe this afternoon, Bristol Hospital lost its heat, hot water and steam, officials said.
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Fire Chief Jon Pose said the hospital imposed its emergency disaster plan and is no longer accepting new patients until the crisis is dealt with.
Pose said that hospital administrators are meeting to come up with a response plan to the problems.
Both city and police sources said they have heard the same news from the hospital, but hospital officials have been unavailable.
Pose said that an alarm came in for the broken steam pipe, but it was considered a routine issue and nobody responded. It doesn't appear the break posed any hazard in itself.
Both the police and fire departments are prepared to lend a hand to the hospital if they can help, officials said.
The hospital has a steam-generated power plant that provides it with heat, hot water and steam.
It isn't clear how long the crisis may gone on or what steps the hospital may need to take. It doesn't appear that patients are in any danger.
*******Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Crisis at Bristol Hospital?
While I have no firsthand information yet, the police and City Hall have told me that the hospital is dealing with a major utility crisis. It may lack water or electricity. Not sure why.
The emergency room may not be open.
If anyone has solid information, call me at (860) 523-9632.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The emergency room may not be open.
If anyone has solid information, call me at (860) 523-9632.
*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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