A new era of healthcare has begun for Winsted and surrounding towns in northwest Connecticut with the opening of Hartford HealthCare’s (HHC) state-of-the-art healthcare center at 80 South Main Street at the corner of routes 8 and 44 in Winsted.
Last week, Hartford HealthCare and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (CHH) debuted the nearly 30,000-square-foot building when it relocated the hospital’s Emergency Department and mammography services from their former Winsted Health Center location on Spencer Street. The HHC Rehabilitation Network also opened a new location offering occupational and physical therapy. The ED remains open daily from 9 am-9 pm.
“We are very excited to add this wonderful new facility to our healthcare footprint and provide our colleagues in Winsted with new tools and resources to serve our patients,” said Dan McIntyre, Hartford HealthCare’s Senior Vice President of the Northwest Region and CHH President. “This is an important commitment to those we serve and a critical healthcare investment in our region. It’s all part of our goal to help promote and expand medical care, service access, patient experience and advanced technology at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and our affiliated service providers.”
To mark the occasion, a smaller-than-usual group of local HHC and CHH administrators, staff, and community leaders attended a COVID-19 safe ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony Jan. 21, with plans to have a more community-wide celebration sometime in the future. LIFESTAR medical Transport helicopter was also on hand having landed on the Center’s new helipad.
Brian Mattiello, HHC Regional VP of Strategy and Community Development was the MC for the ceremony which included remarks by Dan McIntyre, President and SVP of the HHC Northwest Region, Jeff Flaks, President and Chief Executive Officer of HHC, and Candy Perez and Bob Geiger, Mayor and Town Manager of Winsted. Kevin Teeling, Clinical Manager of the new facility gave an overview of the services being offered at the new facility and recognized the project vendors.
“We are enthused about providing all residents of the Northwest Region with broader, more convenient access to health services — with world-class, high-quality care,” said Jeffrey Flaks, Hartford HealthCare’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This strategic investment aligns with Charlotte Hungerford’s strategic plan and with Hartford HealthCare’s vision to be most trusted for personalized coordinated care.”
HHC Regional VP of Operations John Capobianco presented Candy Perez representing Friends of Main Street Winsted and Michael Rooke, President of Northwestern CT Community College, each with $1,000 donations to support their respective organizations.
Registered Nurse Laurene Wallace gave the dedication. “As a nurse in the Hartford HealthCare system I am proud to represent my colleagues as they stand together each day to find good within any challenge or difficulty we may encounter, and in rising to the occasion, provide heartfelt healing and comfort to all those in need who enter these doors. In this spirit we dedicate, from this day forward, this facility and its high purpose to the people of this community.” She said.
Beginning Jan. 25, the Hospital’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Services will relocate from the Winsted Health Center to the new building. In addition, the offices of Hartford HealthCare Medical Group Primary Care providers Drs. Roy Hitt, Andaleeb Shariff, and Stephanie Morton will also relocate and occupy the upper level. New specialty care services and specialists in the fields of Podiatry, Cardiology, General Surgery, GI, and OB/GYN will also be offered at the new building in the future.
Quest Laboratory Services for blood drawing and diagnostics will relocate to the building in March and are currently still operating at 115 Spencer St. The CHH Sleep Center will remain for the time being at its current Winsted Health Center location.
The proximity of the new HHC HealthCenter to the Northwestern Connecticut Community College Health and Science Center also presents many collaborative opportunities between CHH and healthcare profession programs at the college. The location also features two electric vehicle charging stations.
For more information, call 860.489.6650.