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43 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 2018 2018 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 43 Leading the Way Connecticut earning global recognition for efforts in health, biopharma By Steve Lubetkin The Connecticut health care sector is racking up worldwide recognition for its leadership in several industry metrics over the past several years, with its financial contribution to the state and local economies leading the way. In 2016, Connecticut hospitals and health systems contributed $27.7 billion to the state and local economies, according to the 2018 Economic Impact Report produced by the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA). "Connecticut hospitals and health systems are often the largest employers in their communities," said Jennifer Jackson, CEO of CHA. "They employ 104,000 people in Connecticut, which generates more jobs outside the hospitals, for a total of 207,000 Connecticut jobs created by hospitals and health systems." The industry rewards its participants well, too. Connecticut doctors collect the third-highest annual pay in the country, averaging $329,000, according to Medscape.com, a WebMD website that provides news and data to health care professionals. Only Indiana ($334,000) and Oklahoma ($330,000) ranked higher, and Connecticut's doctor pay was far above the average of $275,000 for the Northeast. Meanwhile, the Greater Hartford metropolitan area was ranked the best place in the country for physicians' assistants to find jobs by moving and storage website SpareFoot.com and jobs website Indeed.com. Hartford topped the survey because its average PA salary of $103,538 goes a long way toward housing or rental costs in the central Connecticut region. Connecticut health care providers are also known to be conscious of their obligations to treat all patients fairly. Seven Connecticut hospitals and medical providers received high marks for their policies for treating LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. In the 11th annual (2018) edition of its Healthcare Equality Index, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation named Bristol Hospital, Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut in Norwalk, and VA Connecticut Health Care System in West Haven LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leaders for scoring the maximum 100 points in their evaluation process. Yale New Haven Health System's Bridgeport, Greenwich and Yale New Haven hospitals were named Top Performers, the second- highest designation. HEI participants are assessed on four criteria: LGBTQ patient-centered care, LGBTQ patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and LGBTQ patient and community engagement. Despite national trends of rising healthcare costs, hospitals in The Nutmeg State are improving their financial performance, according to the state's Office of Health Care Access. Twenty-two of the state's 28 acute-care hospitals had financial surpluses in fiscal year 2017, up from 20 the year earlier. Five hospitals that finished in the red Dr. David Weinstein will lead the GSD program at Connecticut Children's Medical Center and UConn Health. HEALTH & BIOPHARMA