U.S. Rep Esty takes tour of HCC's streamlined ER

NEW BRITAIN – U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, visited New Britain Friday.

In the afternoon she met with Clarence Silvia, Hospital of Central Connecticut’s president and CEO; Steve Hanks, executive vice president and CMO and other hospital officials. Friday evening, she talked privately with Police Chief James Wardwell, brainstorming ideas about post-Newtown security measures.

On a tour of the hospital’s emergency room, she chatted with doctors and hospital workers, asking about their jobs and how she could help as a member of Congress.

This is the first extended district work period for members of Congress since they were sworn in. Esty, a Cheshire resident, has been visiting cities and towns in the 5th District. She said she intends to have a presence in New Britain, “not just an office, but accessibility to folks, listening to their concerns and, whenever possible, addressing their needs at the federal level.”

Jeffrey Finkelstein, M.D., emergency medical chief, acted as the Congresswoman’s guide, demonstrating how the hospital has streamlined its ER department, reducing patient wait time.

“The hospital is so important. It’s the largest employer in the city,” Esty said. “So much is happening in health care that I wanted to find out some of the challenges the hospital is facing and how we can work together to help them meet their goals — reducing errors, giving patients a quality experience.”