University of Connecticut Health Center

UConn John Dempsey Hospital is a 234 licensed bed university hospital that provides comprehensive clinical and surgical services including for emergency care, heart attack, stroke, geriatics, maternal fetal medicine, cardiology, cancer care, orthopaedics, dermatology and neurosurgery. The hospital is an acute care facility [4] and operates the only full service emergency department in the Farmington Valley. UConn Health has an estimated annual impact of $2.2 billion on the local economy. [5] The hospital was named after former Connecticut State Governor John N. Dempsey, after he successfully helped acquire funding for the academic hospital.[6][7]

In the last year with available data, UConn Health had 8,653 admissions, 29,727 patients emergency room visits, and its surgeons performed 2,379 inpatient and 7,550 outpatient surgeries.[8] UConn Health operates 68 medical residency training programs for physicians, as well as eight advanced dental training programs.[9] [10]

Bioscience Connecticut construction began in 2013. It included a new patient care tower on the UConn Health campus, as well as renovations to the existing UConn John Dempsey Hospital. The project was completed in 2016. The building is certified in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). [11]

With more than 450 physicians in more than 50 specialties, the physicians of the UConn Health form one of the region's largest multi-specialty practice. Outpatient services include primary care, OB/GYN, dermatology. The UConn Center on Aging offers specialized services to aging populations. Clinic sites are located on the Farmington campus, and at satellite offices in West Hartford, East Hartford, Avon, Simsbury and Southington.

Through Bioscience Connecticut, a new ambulatory care center began construction in 2012 on the UConn Health campus, part of a $840 million state initiative.[12] The 300,000-square-foot outpatient ambulatory care center was supported with $203 million in private financing,[13] and will house existing services and support the work of new faculty that will be joining the UConn Health.

University Dentists, the group practice based on the Health Center's Farmington campus, provides preventive, corrective and restorative care for patients of all ages. In addition, the student and resident run dental services provide an affordable safety net for patients with little or no insurance.

UConn Health is home to a modern Center for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry that offers dental implant therapies and is engaged in research into bone growth and augmentation.

UConn Heath's former Correctional Managed Health Care (CMHC) program, a prior longtime partnership with the Department of Correction, transitioned back to the DOC in 2018. The DOC now delivers comprehensive managed health care to State of Connecticut inmates.[14] Medical, mental health, dental and ancillary services are provided by the DOC in all 14 facilities across the state. [15]

Urban Service Track is a program that is based at University of Connecticut Health Center. It is designed to produce a cadre of well qualified health care professionals committed to serving Connecticut's urban underserved populations. As Urban Health Scholars, participants come from a select group of students enrolled in the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine,[21] Pharmacy, Nursing, Medicine, Social Work, and Quinnipiac University's Physician Assistant Program. A total of 50 to 52 Urban Health Scholars, eight to ten students per school, are selected each year from among qualified applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to service. Urban Health Scholars gain valuable exposure to the complex and challenging issues of health care in the inner city.[22]

In UST's 2007 pilot program, 24 students enrolled from the four health professions, attending three Learning Retreats and providing service at four community health centers. As of 2013, about 191 students have enrolled in the program.

This program has an 11 competency curriculum. These are: culture and linguistic appreciation; population health; health policy; advocacy; health care financing and management; leadership and interprofessional teamwork; utilization of community resources; and quality improvement and patient safety. It has a formal 2 year curriculum which is delivered through quarterly Learning Retreats hosted in communities that UST serves.[23] These four hour retreats bring Urban Health Scholars from the five disciplines together for focused training sessions that examine the competencies through the lenses of vulnerable populations. These include: urban children and youth; the incarcerated and ex-offender; the homeless; individuals living with HIV/AIDS; the developmentally disabled; refugee and immigrant populations; the elderly and children; substance abusers; and veterans.

• Torti, FM (August 2013). "The new University of Connecticut Health Center". Connecticut Medicine. 77 (7): 431–2. PMID 24195183.
• Chedekel, Lisa (2013-04-04). "UConn's John Dempsey Hospital makes progress reducing double CT scans". New Haven Register.