BRISTOL HOSPITAL INC

IT IS AN INHERENT PART OF THE HOSPITAL'S MISSION TO PROVIDE NECESSARY MEDICAL CARE FREE OF CHARGE, OR AT A DISCOUNT, TO INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT INSURANCE OR OTHER MEANS OF PAYING FOR SUCH CARE. AS THE AMOUNTS DETERMINED TO QUALIFY FOR CHARITY CARE ARE NOT PURSUED FOR COLLECTION, THEY ARE NOT REPORTED AS NET PATIENT SERVICE REVENUES. PATIENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE QUALIFY FOR CHARITY CARE BUT WHO DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE INFORMATION WOULD BE CHARACTERIZED AS BAD DEBTS AND INCLUDED IN THE PROVISION FOR BAD DEBTS. THE COST OF CHARITY CARE PROVIDED, DETERMINED USING AN ADJUSTED COST-TO-CHARGE RATIO, WAS $9,089,731 AND $10,003,081 FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023, RESPECTIVELY. IN 2020, THE HOSPITAL UPDATED ITS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, INCREASING THE THRESHOLD FOR UNINSUREDPATIENTS TO QUALIFY FOR A DISCOUNT. THE UPDATED POLICY ALSO CONSIDERS ASSETS IN THE DETERMINATION OF THEABILITY TO PAY AND ELIMINATES CHARITY CARE FOR HIGH DEDUCTIBLE INSURANCE PLANS.THE HOSPITAL ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATION AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE ACTIVITIES TYPICALLY REACH OVER 3,000 INDIVIDUALS PER QUARTER. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: WELLNESS CENTER- SPECIAL CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMMING SERVING HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS PER MONTH. - COMMUNITY HEALTH SCREENINGS - ONGOING FREE AND REDUCED PRICE SCREENINGS FOR MAMMOGRAMS, BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, PROSTATE CANCER, SKIN CANCER AND A FLU CLINIC PROVIDING FREE FLU SHOTS IN THE FALL. - SPEAKERS BUREAU - A COMMUNITY SERVICE WHERE THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES SPEAKERS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY'S EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. - PERIODIC COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS - THE HOSPITAL HAS SPONSORED TWO MAJOR OUTREACH EFFORTS, ONE TO PROMOTE EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER AND ONE TARGETED TO PREVENT COLON CANCER. BOTH PROGRAMS HAVE INCREASED THE COMMUNITY'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDED CANCER SCREENINGS AND HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH STATE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL AWARDS.BRISTOL HOSPITAL BACKGROUND: BRISTOL HOSPITAL, THE FLAGSHIP OF THE BRISTOL HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE GROUP, IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT ARE PROGRESSIVE, COMPASSIONATE, COORDINATED, ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, HIGH QUALITY AND RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. THE HOSPITAL'S CENTRAL MISSION IS TO BE THE LEADING HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE GREATER BRISTOL AREA, A ROLE THAT IT HAS PLAYED FOR MANY GENERATIONS SINCE THE EARLY 1920S. BRISTOL HOSPITAL SERVES ALL PEOPLE WHO NEED CARE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, PERSONAL LIMITATIONS, OR ABILITY TO PAY. IN ADDITION TO BEING THE LEADING HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, BRISTOL HOSPITAL IS ALSO ONE OF THE AREA'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS. THE HOSPITAL'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY AND CIVIC LEADERS, WORKING AND RETIRED LOCAL BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, AND PHYSICIANS WHO GUIDE THE OVERALL PHILOSOPHY AND DIRECTION OF THE ORGANIZATION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.BRISTOL HOSPITAL VISION: BRISTOL HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE GROUP ASPIRES TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE BEST COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IN CONNECTICUT. WORKING WITH OUR PATIENTS, PHYSICIANS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY, BRISTOL HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE GROUP WILL UTILIZE OUR CORE VALUES TO ACHIEVE THE VISION WHICH CREATES A CULTURE OF SAFETY, QUALITY AND SERVICE THAT IS EMBRACED AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM RESPONSIBILITY; ENSURES A USER-FRIENDLY CONTINUUM MODELED ON PROVIDING PATIENT-CENTERED CARE AND SERVICES; CONTINUALLY ASSESSES AND PROMOTES NEW SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY; AND SERVES AS THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARD AND ADVOCATE FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.BRISTOL HOSPITAL PATHWAYS COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING: THIS IS COMPRISED OF DOZENS OF LOW COST OR FREE CLASSES AND SEMINARS THAT ARE OFFERED THROUGH ITS PATHWAYS CATALOG. THE CATALOG ALSO IS MAILED TO HOUSEHOLDS IN TOWNS IN BRISTOL HOSPITAL'S PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SERVICE AREAS. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING OFFERED THROUGH THE PATHWAYS INCLUDE: WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY INFORMATION, MATERNITY, PARENTING EDUCATION, NUTRITION, CPR/EMT, STRESS RELIEF, REIKI, PERSONAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT GROUPS, THE DOCTOR IS IN - FREE HEALTH INFORMATION AND SEMINAR SERIES, HEALTH SCREENINGS, WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP, CANCER CARE GROUPS, EVENING DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP, DAYTIME DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP, ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP, OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS, AND EPILEPSY SUPPORT. "THE DOCTOR IS IN" FREE HEALTH INFORMATION AND SEMINAR SERIES INCLUDES FREE PRESENTATIONS BY THE PHYSICIANS OF THE BRISTOL HOSPITAL MULTI-SPECIALTY GROUP IN THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINES: DEMENTIA, HEALTHY LIVING, FALL PREVENTION, POLY PHARMACY, JOINT HEALTH, THYROID HEALTH, SMOKING, COPD & ASTHMA, BREAST HEALTH, EXERCISE FOR THE ELDERLY, AND CARDIO AND SPORTS HEALTH.BRISTOL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY CARE TEAM: THE OBJECTIVE OF THE BRISTOL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY CARE TEAM IS TO PROVIDE PATIENT-CENTERED CARE AND TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES BY DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A SAFETY NET OF ALTERNATIVE SERVICES THROUGH MULTI-AGENCY INTERVENTION AND CARE PLANNING. THE TARGET POPULATION IS HIGH-RISK PATIENTS EXPERIENCING ACUTE AND CHRONIC MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HIGH EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT UTILIZATION.NURSES IN THE COMMUNITY: THE BRISTOL HOSPITAL NURSE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL INITIATED NURSES IN THE COMMUNITY TO DISPLAY PROFESSIONALISM AND PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES COLLECTED FOOD, GOODS, AND CLOTHING FROM NUMEROUS DRIVES CONDUCTED AT THE HOSPITAL. NURSES ALSO TRAVEL TO THE SHELTER TO TAKE BLOOD PRESSURES AND ACCESS WOUNDS. ADOPT A FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAYS: EMPLOYEES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT A LOCAL FAMILY AND PURCHASE HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR THEM INCLUDING CLOTHES, BASIC NECESSITIES, TOYS, ETC.WEST END EVENT: AT THIS EVENT, WHICH ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, THE TEAM FROM BRISTOL HANDED OUT EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND CONDUCTED FREE BLOOD PRESSURE AND PULSE-OX TESTS CHECKS.NAACP: EIGHT PROVIDERS FROM BRISTOL HOSPITAL MULTI-SPECIALTY GROUP CONDUCTED TWO EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS TO MEMBERS OF THE BRISTOL CHAPTER OF THE NAACP. THE SERIES TOOK PLACE AT TWO LOCAL CHURCHES.TEXTING AND DRIVING EVENT: BRISTOL HOSPITAL'S LEARNING CENTER PRESENTED ITS ANNUAL COMBINATION MEDICAL CAREER FAIR AND DISTRACTING DRIVING AWARENESS EVENT ENTITLED "CONSEQUENCES OF DISTRACTED DRIVING." THE TWO-PART EVENT INCLUDES A CAREER FAIR FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN PURSUING A CAREER IN HEALTH CARE.MEDICAL STAFF, THANKSGIVING FOOD DONATION: MEMBERS OF THE BRISTOL HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF DONATED TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGH BRISTOL HOSPITAL'S WOMEN'S, INFANTS AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAM. BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY, NUMEROUS FAMILIES ENJOYED A HOLIDAY MEAL ON THANKSGIVING.EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DONATION: THE BRISTOL HOSPITAL EMS TEAM REGULARLY DONATES THEIR TIME AND AMBULANCES TO COMMUNITY EVENTS, FREE OF CHARGE. SOME OF THESE EVENTS INCLUDE HEALTH FAIRS, HIGH SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS, FOOD DRIVES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.NURSING STUDENTS: BRISTOL HOSPITAL OVERSEES NURSING STUDENTS AS PART OF THEIR FIELD TRAINING. OUR NURSES AND PA-CS ACT AS THEIR SUPERVISORS, PROVIDING EDUCATION, HANDS ON LEARNING AND AN OPEN FORUM FOR QUESTIONS.