FY 2019 was a year when our focus on physician and service growth at Milford Regional Medical Center was matched by a strategic plan to dramatically enhance and support our Quality Department — the true underpinning of our healthcare system. With the backing and approval of Milford Regional’s Board of Trustees, we made a significant investment in our goal to achieve and maintain the very highest standards of quality throughout the Medical Center. We knew that the development of a powerful quality program depended upon building a high impact quality team. Through patience, deliberation and what seemed, at times, like a daunting task, our vision began to take shape when quality-veteran Bert Thurlo-Walsh, MM, RN, CPHQ, accepted the position as Vice President of Clinical Transformation & Medical Staff Services/Chief Quality Officer. Since then, he has built a high caliber team that has hit the ground running. From initiatives like the daily Huddle where the safety status of the Medical Center is briefly updated by representatives from all departments, to the continuous evaluation of quality measures and their corresponding action plans, to our recently completed system-wide Press Ganey Culture of Safety survey, the impact of our new Quality team has proven to be nothing short of transformational. It is through a “willing and ready” cooperative spirit between the Quality Department and Medical Center staff that Milford Regional was awarded an “A” Health Safety Grade for the third consecutive time by the Leapfrog Group, a national distinction that recognizes the Medical Center’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.
Complementing a strengthened quality foundation, the empowerment of our medical staff and a powerful system’s approach to healthcare have served to enhance our recruitment efforts with highly regarded physicians who demand the very best in staffing, operations, technology and quality. Our Chief Medical Officer Les Selbovitz, MD, has effectively led the charge in elevating our medical staff to new heights through organizational restructuring, continuing education with the re-emergence of Grand Rounds and the development of peer review committees. Milford Regional Physician Group’s new President Patrick McSweeney, MD, has already made a significant impact in areas of greatest need with his progressive approach to such nationwide issues as primary care. His close collaboration with the Medical Center has created a synergy that addresses challenges through a system’s framework, which ultimately leads to improved operations on both sides. Thus, it has been through the combined efforts of Milford Regional Physician Group and the Medical Center that we brought on exceptional physicians in FY 2019 who are real game changers in their fields of expertise. From primary care to breast surgery, otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), obstetrics & gynecology, infectious disease and more, patients are benefiting from increased access to healthcare services that are in high demand.
Along with the bolstering of physician recruitment, an effective healthcare system is ultimately one with a balanced approach that some may define as “high tech, high touch.” At Milford Regional, I am proud to say that we have worked hard to complement our burgeoning medical staff with facilities and new technologies that support the array of medical skills and trainings they have brought to our healthcare system. From the renovation of our fourth floor and the completion of a new medical office building in Franklin, to the introduction of several leading-edge technologies in surgery, as well as the development of a new, state-of-the-art electronic medical records, we at Milford Regional have concentrated our efforts on all fronts to deliver the very best healthcare to our patients. The success in not only building, but achieving a balanced approach to healthcare in any given year is not easy. It took the input of our Board, physicians, administration and staff at all levels to work cooperatively towards the singular goal of providing patients with the most effective, functional and efficient healthcare possible.
As I consider all that took place at Milford Regional in FY 2019, it is with humble appreciation that I commend all of those who encompass our healthcare system. The one constant at Milford Regional since day one has been the inclusion and recognition of the importance of team; it has gotten us to where we are today. From our volunteers and Board members to medical staff and hospital personnel, the convergence of community and healthcare has fostered an environment that fulfills our mission to provide “exceptional healthcare services with dignity, compassion and respect.” It is with a ‘big thank you’ to our incredible community in FY 2019 for their stewardship that largely funded our fourth floor renovations with donations totaling close to $6 million! Hand in hand, our success at Milford Regional has, and will always be, the strong partnership we have developed with the communities we serve.
As FY 2020 unfolds, I look forward to another productive year where teamwork will champion our ongoing commitment to “STRIVE” towards excellence. With all that we have going for us, there is no doubt in my mind that the future holds limitless possibilities for Milford Regional.
Edward J. Kelly
President & CEO
Milford Regional Medical Center
Milford Regional Medical Center 2019 Report to the Community 