Thursday, November 21, 2019
Westerly, RI (Nov. 21, 2019) – Patrick Green, president and chief executive officer of Lawrence + Memorial and Westerly Hospitals, was recently honored by the American Hospital Association (AHA) for his efforts in building programs and community support for Westerly Hospital.
The AHA’s Grassroots Champion Award is given annually to one individual in each state. Green won the award in Rhode Island for leadership that helped identify health needs in the Westerly region and then developing solutions to improve residents’ health outcomes. AHA Regional Executive Jack Barry presented Green with the Award at the Hospital Association of Rhode Island’s Annual Meeting.
Among the changes and clinical program expansions made under Green’s leadership were the opening this fall of a Geriatric Psychiatry unit and a Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center, both built within Westerly Hospital.
The Geriatric Psychiatry unit, with 18 inpatient beds, was created to address the region’s growing behavioral health needs, specifically for adults. Statistics indicate that the 55-and-over population is growing. This new unit allows for the community to receive care closer to home. The new unit specializes in caring for patients with behavioral issues caused by Alzheimer’s disease, mood disorders, substance abuse and other forms of dementia.
In another newly renovated wing of Westerly Hospital, a Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center features eight state-of-the-art infusion rooms and seven exam rooms. The unit also provides patients with regular access to Smilow Cancer Hospital specialists, a dietitian, social worker and a financial counselor.
Smilow Cancer Hospital, based in New Haven, CT, is part of Yale New Haven Health and is also affiliated with the Yale Cancer Center. Smilow operates satellite patient care centers throughout Connecticut, yet the new facility at Westerly Hospital is the first in Rhode Island. Patients at the Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center in Westerly now have access to world-class cancer care close to home, including cutting-edge clinical trials.
Green also helped Westerly Hospital open a $5 million Catheterization Laboratory earlier this year, ushering in a variety of new vascular procedures, and, in recent months, he championed efforts to bring expanded orthopedic surgical capabilities to Westerly Hospital.
“It is an honor to receive this award because it validates our commitment to Westerly Hospital and the people we serve,” Green said.
“It is also an honor to share this award with everyone at Westerly Hospital, and those within our health system and the community, who have worked so hard, together as a team, to achieve extraordinary enhancements to our services, all for the benefit of our patients.”
Green is also an executive vice president of Yale New Haven Health.
