President’s Message – November 2020

2020: A Year of Unprecedented Challenges!

Almost eight months ago, the novel Coronavirus swept across our region. The Foundation quickly responded to the needs of our hospital and patients using our mission – rooted in clinical innovation and excellence in patient care, teaching, research and community service – as our guide.

With your help, the healthcare heroes at Bridgeport Hospital met the challenges of COVID-19 with ingenuity, resilience and optimism. Throughout the pandemic, you lifted their spirits, provided for their basic needs and supported their health and well-being while they cared for critically ill patients. To date, Bridgeport Hospital has discharged over 1,100 people hospitalized with COVID-19 back to their homes and families. The hospital remains fully open to care for patients and their medical needs.

The philanthropic resources you provide help us deliver safe, world-class care to thousands of people in our communities each year. Thank you for everything you make possible, including:

Critical COVID-19 assistance

• Quiet “Oasis” rooms for staff to take respite near our COVID Intensive Care Units
• Child care support and hotel lodging for caregivers who juggled work and family needs
• 20,000 meal donations to keep front line staff nourished and energized
• Hundreds of thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment, medical supplies and disinfecting services to keep staff and patients safe
• A COVID-19 “Helping Hands Fund” to assist breast cancer patients impacted by the pandemic with household and non-medical expenses
• COVID-specific care coordination for underserved patients at our Primary Care Center, including access to telehealth visits, screening and testing, education on COVID safety and medical treatment
• Palliative care services for COVID patients unable to receive family support during their illness

Advancement of hospital services

• Medical services for 800+ uninsured and under-insured patients at the Norma Pfriem Breast Center, as well as bicultural/bilingual outreach to increase breast cancer awareness and reduce barriers to breast cancer screening
• Mental health screening in the OB-GYN clinic to increase referrals to REACH, Bridgeport Hospital’s intensive outpatient psychiatric program
• Equipment for “My Moments” digital self-expression tool, which uses imagery to help people in psychiatric care communicate their feelings
• A new men’s health program to support our most vulnerable male patients

For more information, please visit our website at foundation.bridgeporthospital.org.

All of this is possible only with your continued support!