BW/F, PO Launch Ambulatory Council
Ambulatory at a Glance |
Total Visits: |
652,477 |
Procedures, treatments and therapies: |
329,240 |
Ancillary Services (includes imaging, labs and others): |
2,765,498 |
Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals ambulatory services have grown significantly in recent years to include 115 practices at six sites throughout the distributed campus, five satellite locations and nine established network partnerships. Ambulatory services have increased in patient volume and net patient service revenues, growing at 10 percent or better for the last five years.
In March, BW/F and BWPO leadership launched the Ambulatory Council comprised of physicians and administrative staff who are knowledgeable in the ambulatory arena. The charge for the council is to provide input and guidance in the development of a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure BW/F ambulatory services remain competitive and contribute to the overall success of the family.
“The council will ensure that our ambulatory sites apply the same high standards relative to safety and quality, service excellence and operational efficiencies that have evolved on the inpatient side,” said Sharon Vitti, vice president of Ambulatory Services, who co-chairs the Ambulatory Council with Jonathan Coblyn, MD, medical director of Ambulatory Services and director of the Center for Arthritis and Joint Diseases.
BWH and the BWPO have a strong track record of success based on the strength of inpatient volume. However, growing competition and consumer choice require more active and engaged strategic planning for outpatient care, especially since primary care and other ambulatory services are the primary feeders to tertiary care services.
BW/F has been well positioned to capitalize on that trend in recent years. Between fiscal years 2003 and 2007, overall outpatient volume has grown 4.5 percent to more than 3.7 million outpatient encounters. Financially, after operating at a deficit between FY 2002 and 2005, ambulatory services contributed to the hospital’s net margin in fiscal year 2006 and exceeded the net margin in FY07.
During that time, BW/F has made significant investments in ambulatory services. Several outpatient practices have gained new and expanded space at 850 Boylston St., and the Watkins Cardiovascular Clinic will provide ambulatory cardiovascular care in the Shapiro Center. BW/F’s network is extending throughout southeastern Massachusetts to Milford Hospital, South Shore Hospital and the Foxborough ambulatory center, which is under construction.
“A vibrant and growing ambulatory service line is imperative for BW/F to maintain its position as a market leader in a highly competitive environment,” Vitti said. “Many of our ambulatory practices and network affiliations provide excellent customer service and run efficient practices, and we will be looking to learn from our model practices to bring a consistent approach to quality, safety and service excellence enterprise-wide.”
The 20-member Ambulatory Council first met in March and will continue to meet monthly this year. It’s comprised of representatives from DFCI, Faulkner, Center for Clinical Excellence and IS, as well as the departments of Anesthesia, Dermatology, Medicine, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nursing, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery, Pathology, Primary Care, Psychiatry, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Rheumatology and Surgery.
At a Glance |
Ambulatory Practices |
Longwood Medical Area:
Main Campus: 83
221 Longwood: 7
Children’s Hospital: 1
500 Brookline: 1 |
850 Boylston: 17 |
Faulkner Hospital: 16 |
Newton Corner: 3 |
Brookline: 4 |
Jamaica Plain: 3 |
Norwood: 2 |
South Shore Hospital: 3 |
“We are bringing together expertise from several ambulatory areas to create and support a singular focus across all disciplines that will enable us to support and advance the hospital’s mission of clinical excellence, research and teaching,” Coblyn said.
The council will ensure ambulatory services are contributing to BW/F’s strategic agenda. Its members are charged with not only developing and implementing the plan, but also garnering leadership support for various initiatives. Council members will identify existing resources and develop infrastructure to advance ambulatory care and set priorities for working groups, establish timeframes for various projects and review deliverables.
In addition, council members will be responsible for communicating with key constituencies, including the BWPO Board of Trustees, Executive Management Committee, Care Improvement Council, the Operations Committee, Chiefs Council, senior management group and department administrators.
“We plan to establish and then meet goals for service excellence, quality, safety and operational efficiency that will set us apart from the competition,” Vitti said.