Seymour to turn pink Wednesday

Seymour Pink, Inc. is the community's fight against breast cancer. It empowers breast cancer survivors and offers financial support to many of them.

I'll wear pink and think pink Wednesday to support this great cause and help raise awareness. 

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Today's the day: Get your hair cut and support Seymour Pink

See you there!

Crisco hails release of $3.3M to Griffin Hospital in Derby

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, today welcomed news that the Malloy administration has decided to release $3.3 million to Griffin Hospital in Derby from a newly-created small hospital pool of funds in order to make up for some of the hospital funding cuts announced by the governor as part of his Sept. 18 rescissions package to help address a projected revenue deficit.

State Sen. Joseph Crisco

“For over 100 years, Griffin Hospital has not only been caring for the residents of The Valley, but they have been a part of our community in all the things they do,” Crisco said. “This reinstated funding – the type of increased hospital funding that I fought for this past spring – is good news for the people who work at Griffin Hospital and for the people who rely on the care they receive at Griffin Hospital.”

Today, the state Office of Policy and Management (OPM) announced that Connecticut will distribute $14.1 million to small hospitals through the Small Hospital Pool. The six hospitals set to receive payments are Bristol, Day Kimball, Griffin, Charlotte Hungerford, Johnson, and Milford.

This money is available because OPM is reprioritizing a portion of the remaining quarter of Medicaid supplemental payments—that is, from that portion of the supplemental pool that was not rescinded. The new Small Hospital Pool payment plan reprioritizes a portion of the remaining quarter Medicaid supplemental payment.

According to OPM, the Small Hospital Pool was established this year for hospitals with no more than 180 beds, not affiliated with any other hospital, and are not in contiguous towns. 
The Medicaid Supplemental Pool is the program by which the state returns to the hospitals a portion of hospital tax revenue on a quarterly basis. 
On Sept. 18, 2015, the final three quarters of installments for Medicaid Supplemental and Small Hospital Pools were rescinded, and the first quarter installment had yet to be released to the hospitals.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.

'Circle of Friends' celebrates breast cancer month at Griffin Hospital in Derby

'Circle of Friends' support group facilitators Joyce Grohe, left, and oncologist social worker Donna Hayes, address members Thursday at the seventh annual Birthday and Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebration.

The monthly meeting at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby was filled with friendship, "birthday" gifts, breast cancer awareness information, and of course, cake!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Thanks go out to those who made it a wonderful time for all of us members of the 'Circle of Friends.'

State restores funding to Griffin Hospital in Derby

Gentile, Conroy express gratitude

HARTFORD - The Office of Policy and Management announced today the state will distribute $14.1 million to small hospitals through the Small Hospital Pool.

With massive differences between large hospitals and small ones in profit margins—differences of hundreds of millions of dollars annually—OPM is taking this proactive action to support six small hospitals.

Connecticut hospitals had one of their best years on record last year, when hospital health systems saw total revenue in excess of expenses of $916.4 million – a $186.2 million (or 26%) increase from the previous fiscal year.

In the years prior, large hospital health systems made upwards of $400 million, $600 million, and $700 million.

Yet, while large hospitals have healthy margins and robust executive compensation, there are small hospitals are in need of additional assistance to continue to provide services. As such, OPM is proactively reallocating a portion of existing supplemental Medicaid payments toward helping those small hospitals independent of larger hospital systems that tend to be more profitable.

The six hospitals set to receive payments are Bristol, Day Kimball, Griffin, Charlotte Hungerford, Johnson, and Milford. This money is available because OPM is reprioritizing a portion of the remaining quarter of Medicaid supplemental payments—that is, from that portion of the supplemental pool that was not rescinded.

Some larger hospitals saw billions in revenue from operations last year. None of the six “small hospitals” that will receive this proactive reallocation receive more than $176.1 million individually. The combined operations revenue of these six hospitals is, in sum, about 1/8 of that of Yale-New Haven and Hartford Healthcare combined. In the last four years, those two hospitals took in more than 50% of the total revenue over expenses for all hospitals and hospital systems in the state.

In FY 14, nine hospitals had total margins over 9% and 14 hospitals over 5%. That’s as state aid to hospitals has increased by roughly $1 billion over the past decade.

“We know that hospitals are not one-size-fits all, and that’s why we’re proactively reprioritizing and reallocating dollars to support small hospitals that need support most. To be clear, hospital systems are seeing extraordinary revenues, but today we’re working to reprioritize and reallocate payments so we can assist the small hospitals and support patient care. The six small hospitals we are helping today lost millions in FY2014, and we’re proactively working to support them. The other 15 larger hospital systems made in excess of $900 million,” OPM Secretary Ben Barnes stated. “With such discrepancies between large and small hospitals – between those who are making hundreds of millions of dollars per year and those that aren’t – we are trying to help those small hospitals serving our Medicaid population.”


"I'm grateful to Gov. Malloy for restoring these funds which in turn, provide critical services and public safety for Ansonia and Derby residents," said Deputy Speaker of the House Linda M. Gentile. Griffin Hospital is our largest employer, so a stable job situation for employees is vital."

“I’m pleased Gov. Malloy recognized what the effect of the proposed cuts would have on Griffin Hospital and reconsidered,” said state Rep. Theresa Conroy. “The level of healthcare for Naugatuck Valley residents will remain top notch thanks to this restoration of funding.”

The new Small Hospital Pool payment plan reprioritizes a portion of the remaining quarter Medicaid Supplemental payment.
The Small Hospital Pool was established this year for hospitals with no more than 180 beds, not affiliated with any other hospital, and are not in contiguous towns.

The Medicaid Supplemental Pool is the program by which the state returns to the hospitals a portion of hospital tax revenue on a quarterly basis.

On Sept.18, 2015, the final three quarters of installments for Medicaid Supplemental and Small Hospital Pools were rescinded, and the first quarter installment had yet to be released to the hospitals.

Hospital	Payment From Small Hospital Pool
Bristol	$2,917,675
Day Kimball	$2,777,203
Griffin	$3,315,317
Hungerford	$2,051,467
Johnson	$2,301,469
Milford	$736,870

This is a press release from the office of the House Democrats.

Tricks, treats of days gone by topic of Derby Public Library sessions

Recognize anyone in this festive group?

DERBY - I spent an interesting hour Wednesday learning about Halloween with local historian Mary A. Bisaccia at Derby Public Library.

Bisaccia offers local history information sessions from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m.- noon Wednesdays at the library. 
October's topic is the From Tricks to Treats - The History of Halloween in Derby.

I learned that 100 years ago there were many more tricks than treats on the holiday, because there was a lot of vandalism throughout the Valley.
"It used to be a day that homeowners dreaded," Bisaccia said.

These children were in the Halloween spirit.

Bisaccia read from articles published in the former Evening Sentinel daily newspaper.

This is part of an article from Oct. 31, 1905: "There are parties in all towns, and children wandering around in costumes until the late hours. It is noted that there is an increasing number of girls dressed as boys outside, too. Most don't mind the children wandering around - in some cases bonfires are lit to ward off the cold. What residents do mind, however, is the noise and noisemakers that continue well into the night, as well as the pranks and vandalism." 

In 1907, Halloween vandals did "considerable damage" in Ansonia. "Windows are smashed, outhouses overturned, vehicles and gates stolen - some are destroyed. The children are out early but in the late night hours hooligans ruled," the paper reported.

Fast forwarding to 1930, there was some vandalism on Halloween, but "residents don't have to hold all night vigils to guard their property as they did 25 years before." 

A quarter-century later, in 1955, the newspaper reported a quiet Halloween in Ansonia, while in Derby children got their trick or treat bags stolen. "The Seymour Lions Club gives silver dollars to town children who are home after they telephone them after 9 p.m. Shelton's Playground Commission also calls 100 children after 9 p.m. and awards prizes to those home."

In 1970, children collect coins for UNICEF and drivers are urged caution when driving around trick or treaters. Vandalism was reported in several Shelton locations, while in Derby little damage was reported except for some egg throwing.

Bisaccia said in recent years suburban families who barely know their neighbors have opted to hold 'Trick or Trunk' events in a school parking lot with a group of people they know. Children wear costumes and walk from car to car to get their Halloween candy treats.

That practice came about after my children were grown. 
I understand it keeps the little ones safe but I really can't imagine it would be as fun as it was to go house to house to ring neighbors' doorbells and pose for photos.

Maybe that's just me.

Looking back I guess those were the good old days!


In November Bisaccia's local history sessions will focus on veterans' monuments of Derby.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to present talk on post-mastectomy options

DERBY - As mastectomy continues to be necessary in the treatment of breast cancer for many women, and an option for prevention in certain patients, Griffin Hospital is helping women understand breast reconstruction options with a free talk at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22. 

The presentation will be held in the hospital’s Meditation and Learning Center, 130 Division St.

Entitled “Breast Reconstruction – Know Your Options,” this free event will feature Dr. John Reilly discussing breast implant reconstruction after mastectomy and Dr. Boris Goldman explaining fat graft breast reconstruction. 

There will also be information about breast cancer testing services and support offered at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital.

The presentation is being held in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 

and Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day. 

Officially Oct. 21 this year, BRA Day is an international initiative designed to promote education, awareness and access for women who may wish to consider post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. The initiative’s goal is to make sure that all women will be offered information about the options for breast reconstruction prior to undergoing breast cancer treatment, and that they are provided access to breast reconstruction in a safe and timely manner.

To reserve your spot or for more information, call 203-732-1511 or visit the calendar section at griffinhealth.org.

For more information on BRA Day, visit breastreconusa.org. 
To learn more about The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness, visit griffinhealth.org/cbw.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.