Community Health Promotion

Bridgeport Hospital provides a number of services throughout the year to promote good health and disease awareness in the community. Following are FY 2010 examples:

• The Norma F. Pfriem Cancer Institute at Bridgeport Hospital provides Oncology Nurse Navigation Services for patients with breast, gynecologic, thoracic, genitourinary and gastrointestinal cancers. Nurses work with patients and their families from diagnosis through treatment completion into survivorship or transition to end of life planning. In addition navigators help patients overcome barriers to care through patient empowerment and by facilitating access to resources to support timely and comprehensive medical care and support services. Navigation services are not covered by insurance and cost $417,285 to provide in FY 2010.
• To meet the needs of the aging population, the Bridgeport Hospital Center for Geriatrics provides comprehensive services to the frail elderly. The Center cared for 2,469 patients by providing 6,443 physician services such as geriatric assessments, physician home visits and inpatient consultations. The current reimbursement levels from Medicare do not cover the entire cost of the program. The underpayment in FY 2010 was $791,058. The Center also provided 1,000 Caregiver Manuals to patients and families at a cost of $3,600.
• Dr. Beata Skudlarska, Chief of Geriatrics at Bridgeport Hospital, continued the “Ask Dr. Bea” column in the Connecticut Post, with a daily circulation of more than 60,000. The bi-weekly advice column provides responses to reader’s questions regarding issues facing the geriatric population.
• Nearly 600 free blood pressure screenings were provided to area residents through the Bridgeport Hospital Emergency Care Institute. The Hospital offers screenings in a variety of community settings such as senior centers.

  The Hospital sponsors free support groups for patients recovering from cancer, heart disease, lung disease, stroke and other conditions. Approximately 475 people participated in these groups during the past year. More than 2,000 people attended free Hospital-sponsored lectures and awareness events on topics, such as arthritis, back pain, cancer, diabetes, gynecological issues, headaches, heart disease, hip/knee pain, mental health, sickle cell disease, stroke and smoking cessation. The third annual “Celebrate Life” cancer survivors’ event at the Connecticut Beardsley Zoo attracted 420 people and provided information about cancer prevention and treatment.

  
• Bridgeport Hospital continued mutually beneficial collaborations with a number of organizations including:
  • The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) through senior driving safety courses
  • The American Heart Association through patient support activities
  • The Arthritis Association through hip and knee pain educational programs
  • The March of Dimes through participation in community health awareness events
  • More than 500 area businesses through their relationship with Business Health Services
• The Healthy & Wise newsletter, published four times per year and distributed by mail to 100,000 individuals and area organizations, continued to be a key source of information on wellness and disease management for the community.