Senator Kerry Visits BWH- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Senator Kerry Visits BWH- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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March 23, 2001
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In This Issue:
Montel Williams: on a Mission
Senator Kerry Visits BWH
Town Meeting
We’re Live
Zip Around Boston
BWH Cardiac Rehabilitation Relocates to Faulkner Campus
Who’s News
BWH Shines During JCAHO Laboratory Survey
Pike Notes
A Taste of Irish Culture
U.S. Senator John Kerry arrived at BWH on Friday, March 16 as part of a visit to learn about the challenges facing health care organizations and the profession of nursing. After an abbreviated discussion with BWH Emergency Department nurses, the Senator settled into the Kessler Library in BWH’s Bretholtz Center for an hour-long luncheon with nearly 20 nurses from throughout the Boston area. “I want to learn from you today,” said Kerry as he began to offer up open-ended questions to which nurses replied in an open forum. Issues focused upon the future of the nursing and the many obstacles facing health care today. Kerry stressed the need to be creative in solving the problems in health care, finding ways to reduce the risk pool to provide better health care while identifying ways to balance the “lop-sided” nature of health care reimbursement. “We are blessed in Massachusetts, particularly in Boston, as we have a great foundation for medical care,” said Kerry, who praised the delivery of care at BWH, but who also acknowledged the problems with health care across the nation. Kerry also discussed legislation that would in part provide scholarships and other funding to advance continued education for nurses. He ended the luncheon by personally thanking each of the nurses in attendance and praising BWH as “great workplace and health care facility.”