Eileen M. Daily

Daily, Connecticut Hospice Announce New Status for Iconic Facility

State Senator Eileen M. Daily (D-Westbrook) was Master of Ceremonies today when the Connecticut Hospice, Inc. held a press conference to announce new, national recognition for the Connecticut landmark. The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting institution in healthcare has certified the Connecticut Hospice as an Advanced Palliative Care Hospital, the first institution of any kind to ever be so certified.

Its new status is the result of an exhaustive evaluation earlier this fall.

“There is no question and no debate about the high quality of care provided by this facility, which has long set the gold standard for patients and families facing serious and chronic disease with vexing questions about pain management and how to reduce suffering,” Senator Daily said. “For Connecticut Hospice to qualify for such certification here in Branford is one thing; for it to so with, and I quote: “no Requirements for Improvement identified” is quite another, speaking to the utmost level of care provided here.”

The Connecticut Hospice, Inc., founded in Branford in 1974, is the nation’s first dedicated hospice facility. It has become known for the comprehensive care provided to patients and families suffering from serious, chronic, and debilitating disease. Those breakthroughs in hospice and palliative care have now been formally recognized as the benchmark, cementing the Connecticut hospital as the national and world leader in the field.

“For 15 years, the Yale School of Public Health has collaborated with The Connecticut Hospice, Inc. on multiple state and national studies of quality of care with those of irreversible conditions.  Together, we have published more than 40 papers on topics ranging from identifying unnecessary delays in seeking care to the role of hospice and alleviating depression among surviving family caregivers,” said Elizabeth Bradley, Ph.D., Professor of Public Health, Director of the Yale Global Health  Initiative, Faculty Director of the Yale Global Health Leadership Institute (GHLI). “It is an amazing place for educating the next generation of providers, and continuing to innovate through research. It’s one of a kind.”

“There is no comparable facility, as it is highly recognized for treating a clinically complex group of patients,” said Wen-Jen-Hwu, Ph.D., MD, Professor of Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center;  Women in Cancer Research Council, Chairman (WICR). “It has become a leader in palliative, end-of-life medicine through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, education and research.”