Founded in 1921, New Milford Hospital is an 85-bed regional not-for-profit community hospital serving northwestern Connecticut and nearby New York with satellite medical offices in Brookfield, New Milford and Kent, Connecticut, and Pawling, New York. With 663 employees and approximately 150 medical staff, the Hospital provides Litchfield County’s only emergency angioplasty program for heart attack, maintaining these vital services 24/7 to promote survival and quality of life, while devoting a multi-disciplinary team in its Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program to reduce risk factors in the community.

As a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New Milford Hospital was the recipient of the System’s 2007 Quality Signature Award for innovation in quality improvement, specifically for its Rapid Response Team and Fall Prevention Program. The Hospital maintains a longstanding position as a leading community hospital for patient satisfaction when compared to peer hospitals on the state and national levels.

In 2008, New Milford Hospital was also recognized as the winner of a national VHA Leadership Award in critical care, and as a “top 10” state provider of behavioral health services. Additionally in 2008, the Hospital was invited to join Planetree, a nonprofit membership organization known for its pioneering work to develop patient-centered care in healing environments. As a Planetree Affiliate, New Milford Hospital will develop its highly acclaimed model of care through ongoing quality and facility improvements designed to support the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families.

New Milford Hospital also provides advanced care in its Regional Cancer Center, which offers comprehensive screening, diagnostic and treatment services, and an extensive array of education and support programs. Specialties and key cancer technology include: medical oncology, radiation oncology (with MammoSite therapy), surgery, clinical trials, a Breast Health Program and Breast Health Navigator, and digital mammography. Other key specialties at New Milford Hospital include emergency medicine, one-day surgery, sleep disorders, orthopedics, women’s imaging and family birthing.

As an advocate for wellness and prevention, New Milford Hospital has established itself as a rising star in the national agenda for sustainable food programs. The Hospital formed the Plow to Plate™ community coalition in 2007 to support local farmers, encourage the consumption of local foods, and teach the community to serve them in the most healthful ways. The Hospital has taken Health Care Without Harm’s Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge, which is a framework to improve the health of patients, communities and the environment. As part of this pledge, the Hospital organized employee participation in community supported agriculture, and plans to transform food services for patients and employees to include regionally grown and minimally processed foods. The Hospital is also sponsoring after-school training through the town’s youth agency for students to learn about the harvest, culinary arts and career opportunities in farming and food services. For more information on Plow to Plate™ visit www.plowtoplate.org.