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In This Issue:
Redefining Patient Care, Support and Education
The late Robert Bretholtz, past chair of BWH’s Board of Trustees, had a unique vision of patient care, service and support. He imagined a place where patients and families could access a variety of support services, all in one centralized location. When the doors of the Bretholtz Center first opened in December 2000, Bretholtz’s vision became a reality. Now with more than 11,000 visitors over the past year, it is also clear that one person’s imagination has left a lasting imprint on the patients and families that visit BWH each day.
The Bretholtz Center houses the hospital’s major support services departments, including Patient Relations and Family Liaison Services as well as the Kessler Health Education Library, the Center’s informational and educational hub. The resources available in the Center are designed to ease stress and provide convenient benefits to enhance each individual’s overall hospital experience. To fulfill these goals, the Center boasts a variety of services ranging from quick online access to hotel and visitor information, private rooms for consultation and health education classes.
The Center has transformed how patients and their families are welcomed into the hospital and cared for during the duration of their visit. On the average day, dozens of families will occupy the consultation rooms and tables in the Center, engaged in a range of activities. One family gathers to hear about the outcomes of a loved-one after his surgery, while next door, a mother and daughter watch a video about a new fitness program a nurse has suggested. Another family works with a staff person to coordinate a meeting with their doctor so that they can learn more about different treatment options. Others gather in the Kessler Library for a book talk, led by Cara Helfner, program manager. Across the room, children play in the “kids corner,” while mom and dad work at the computer stations to compile information about health and nutrition.
“The Bretholtz Center has become a storefront for a variety of services and resources with a single goal in mind: to help equip patients and their families with knowledge and support,” said Laura Rossi, director of Health Promotion and Education Programs. “We are adapting to a new health care system where patients are asking more questions and have more responsibilities before and after his or her visit to the hospital,” she said. “This requires we be prepared to meet the demands for more information and offer patients and families a place where they can easily access the most current and accurate health information.”
To meet these challenges, Robert Bretholtz and hospital leaders cultivated a dream. Now, with the Bretholtz Center’s doors wide open for over a year, they are cultivating a community of support.