Dynamic Duo: A progress report 1998-2000- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Dynamic Duo: A progress report 1998-2000- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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November 3, 2000
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In This Issue:
Partners and Tufts Reach 3-Year Agreement
AMMP Awards 2000 Scholarship Recipients
November Calendar
Obituary: Karen Kaufman Becker
Dynamic Duo: A progress report 1998-2000
Time Line
Inpatient Internists
“Two hospitals working as one”
Are you ready for JCAHO?
When one of the country’s leading academic medical centers came together with one of Boston’s finest community teaching hospitals in October, 1998, Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals (BW/F) was born. In just two short years, BW/F has integrated services, shared resources and complimented each other’s strengths to build a solid partnership that betters both institutions and their respective patients. “When we announced this affiliation, we were convinced that it made sense for both BWH and Faulkner because it would make both hospitals stronger,” said Jeffrey Otten, president, BWH. “Now we are beginning to see the promise of the affiliation realized and that is exciting.” “Both hospitals have worked hard to meet the challenge of combining two sets of physicians, administration, employee groups and patient pools,” said Margaret Hanson, senior vice president of Network Development at BWH, who explained that the increasing momentum has allowed thousands of BW/F employees to translate strategy in reality. Moving surgical cases performed by BWH surgeons to Faulkner has been one of the more important steps to making BW/F work. Cases led by BWH orthopedic and general surgeons at Faulkner account for 32% of Faulkner’s OR procedures. While Faulkner Hospital has welcomed the increased volume, BWH physicians and patients benefit from the freedom to schedule more cases. Other strides of clinical integration have also fared well, including Faulkner-directed admissions from BWH’s Sports Medicine Center at 850 Boylston, a joint Partner’s Asthma Program, an integrated Weight Management Program, the BW/F Vein Center and the BW/F Foot and Ankle Service. Alongside clinical integration, an important principle of the BW/F merger is physician training. A joint medical residency program with 29 physicians has been established and there are four BWH surgical residents at Faulkner. In addition, a joint paging system was implemented in April, 2000 and work is underway toward a fully integrated information systems network to better relay medical information to and from physicians at either institution. “While strengthening our individual institutions, BW/F also strengthens our communities by offering a comprehensive range of health care services in several locations. Our proven ability to weave together our clinical services and programs enables us to deliver quality, choice and convenience,” said David Trull, president, Faulkner Hospital. According to Trull, more service line integration that logically benefits BW/F patients can be expected. In addition to building upon an existing cardiology presence at Faulkner, plans on the horizon include operationalizing a Faulkner-based outpatient dialysis service and other gynecology, radiology, psychiatry and infusion services. “Modeling these integrated specialties and service lines with the principles that have led to the success of our existing surgical and medical collaboration is key. Building upon the progress of our first two years, we anticipate even more comprehensive clinical integration in the next two years,” said Hanson.