At its 61st annual meeting, held on Wednesday, December 7 at Quidnesset Country Club in North Kingstown, RI, Kent Hospital highlighted the construction of its new ambulatory surgical center and medical office building, major changes made to its emergency department as well as the retirement of Care New England’s former president and CEO, John J. Hynes, Esq, while welcoming new president and CEO, Dennis D. Keefe.

In addition, it was announced that for Fiscal Year 2011 Kent Hospital is reporting operating income of $3.2 million, an increase of $1 million from the previous year, while providing $13.9 million in charity care.

Sandra L. Coletta, Kent’s president and CEO, addressed the changes Kent Hospital’s Emergency Department has made over the past year, the biggest being the announcement that Kent Hospital is the first and only hospital in the state to implement a policy of no diversion for ambulances. In addition, Kent has dramatically focused time, energy and resources in creating the new emergency department patient rapid assessment model, dramatically cutting down wait times and in some instance virtually eliminating them.

“Kent Hospital has made significant accomplishments in the past year and with hard work and dedication we continue to grow and better serve our patients and community with the highest quality care,” said Sandra Coletta, “For 60 years Kent has shown dedication and commitment and as time progresses, we will continue to improve facilities, procedures, patient care models and more. I am excited and pleased with the positive changes and impact Kent has made over the past year and look forward to our future.”

FY 2011 Highlights

Coletta also spoke of the construction of its new ambulatory surgical center (ASC) and medical office building. The ASC will include five operating rooms at 600 square feet each and three additional operating rooms at 400 square feet respectively. The ASC will also include space for peri-operative bays, clinical support services, administration, reception/waiting area and storage. The ASC will handle the majority of outpatient surgeries as well as endoscopic and pain management procedures currently performed in the main hospital.

Other important headlines of the year included: Kent marking 60 years of service to the community; Kent Hospital Stroke Center earned Joint Commission top accreditation; 22 Kent Physicians were named “Top Docs;” Kent Physicians were named to U.S. News List of Top Doctors; Kent celebrated its first graduates of the Graduate Medical Education program; and Kent and Women & Infants ranked among the best in the nation for maternity care.

New Incorporators Named

Barrington: Bradford Dimeo; Michael Quas, MD; Lisa Shea, MD; Cranston: John Callaci; Kent Gladding; East Greenwich: The Honorable Robert Flanders; John Gelzhiser, MD; Paari Gopalakrishnan, MD; Harold Hitchen; Winifred Hitchen; Steve Lombardi; Paul Pyne; William Sequino; Fairfax, VA: Esther Emard, Richard Emard;
Coventry: Mike Lombardi; Jamestown: Allen Cicchitelli; Lincoln: John Galvin; Alisa Merolli, MD; North Kingstown: Janet Marcantonio; Norwood, MA: Dennis Keefe; Laura Keefe; Providence: Doug Jacobs; Cynthia Patterson; Bachir Sakr, MD; Santina Siena, MD; Warwick: Carolyn Dutra; George Perdrizet, MD; Dan Pendergast;

2012 New Foundation Board Members

East Greenwich: Reid S, Appleby, MD; Joseph W. Spinale, DO; Wakefield: Ray Bolster; Warwick: Candace L. Dyer, MD

2010-2011 Kent Hospital Facts

Inpatient Admissions- 15,743
Observation Cases- 3,183
Inpatient Days- 83,775
Emergency Department Visits-57,758
Births- 1,087
Lab Tests-1,358,888
Surgical Procedures- 15,372
Diagnostic Imaging- 132,102