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Description

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About Us
For more than 117 years Backus Hospital has provided quality healthcare to the residents of eastern Connecticut

Our 213bed notforprofit acute care community hospital is the primary source of health services for nearly a quartermillion people Since its founding in 1893 Backus has continually provided programs and services and formed strategic alliances with other healthcare organizations and providers to meet the healthcare needs of the region

In addition Backus is a Comprehensive Community Hospital Cancer Center a statedesignated Primary Stroke Center and is the only trauma center east of the Connecticut River and it is the only regional facility that has a hangar for LIFE STAR Hartford Hospitals air medical transport helicopter

Mission Statement
Backus Hospital delivers and coordinates a continuum of highquality healthcare that is sensitive to the needs of individuals in eastern Connecticut The Hospital is committed to being responsive and accountable to those for whose benefit it exists and to improving the health of its communities

Vision Statement
Backus Hospital will be one of New Englands most progressive community hospitals because of

Its positive impact on community health

The high quality safety and comprehensiveness of its programs and services

compared to peers throughout the United States

Its financial strength

The reputation in its own community for compassionate reassuring and personal care

Values
Commitment to quality and patient safety

Ethical and compassionate behavior in all relationships

Respect of individuals rights and dignity

Service to the community

Positive financial results

Strong leadership that enables a creative and innovative staff

Competent committed employees working collaboratively in a safe working
environment

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History

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History
The William W Backus Hospital was created from the vision and the generosity of two men William Wolcott Backus and William Albert Slater In 1891 they led an effort to build a hospital in Norwich to serve the city and surrounding towns

Health care had become a growing concern in Norwich as the city was booming In the last decade of the 19th century Norwich had a population of 23000 and boasted eight banks 21 schools and 12 textile mills but no hospital The citys 33 physicians and 29 nurses performed basic procedures such as tonsillectomies on the kitchen tables of patients homes Those with more serious ailments or injuries had to be transported to hospitals in Hartford Providence or Boston Many did not survive the trip

Backus 88 donated 185000 the equivalent of about 4 million today to build the hospital that would bear his name His family was one of the first to settle in Norwich and he was a selftaught lawyer farmer and keen businessman

Slater 34 donated the 18 acres that today still forms the main hospital campus His family made its money in the growing textile business and he was the president of Ponemah Mill in Taftville one of the worlds largest textile mills

The hospital was dedicated Oct 4 1893 on what the Norwich Morning Bulletin described as a sparkling crisp autumn day The facility featured 63 beds including separate male and female wards an isolation room an operating room and nurses training home During its first year of operation 190 patients were admitted and there were 16 people on the staff

Backus Today
Today Backus is licensed for 213 beds including 131 for medicalsurgical use and 12 for critical care Annually Backus cares for 11000 inpatients is the place where about 1000 babies enter the world Our Emergency Department sees more than 65000 visits and more than 1 million laboratory procedures are performed Backus is the citys largest nongovernment employer