Introducing Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Introducing Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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December 20, 2002
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In This Issue:
Introducing Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
January Calendar
BWH is Proud Home to Massachusetts’ Best Pharmacist of the Year
Drum roll please…
Multicultural Holiday Festival
On the Move:
Commuter News
New Name Reflects Alliance in Adult Cancer Care
Further illustrating their relationship as partners in adult cancer care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) and BWH have created a new name to more accurately describe the fully integrated services they provide for patients. The name “Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center” emerged from months of discussion among leaders from both hospitals, who felt that such a name would make it easier for patients and the public to understand the strong clinical bond between the two facilities. DFCI continues to provide outpatient oncology services under the arrangement. BWH offers outpatient surgery, radiation oncology, and selected specialized outpatient clinic and ancillary services. It also delivers inpatient oncology care for adult patients through the jointly managed DFCI and BWH inpatient beds on Tower 6, 5A and 5B. Through another important arrangement, children receive outpatient cancer care at DFCI and inpatient services at Children’s Hospital Boston. These young patients receive any needed radiation services at BWH. The newly named cancer center is an integral part of Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, a collaborative program in adult oncology established in 1996 among DFCI, BWH, and Massachusetts General Hospital. These three will continue working together and with other affiliates on clinical trials, development of an oncology services network, quality improvement, information systems, and other areas. “Our partnership with DFCI reflects collaboration at all levels of the clinical, scientific, and teaching programs of two of America’s leading health care institutions battling cancer,” said Gary L. Gottlieb, MD, MBA, president, BWH. “The new name underscores this collaboration and clarifies the importance of our relationship. Over the past five years, we have treated 20,000 patients annually in our joint programs.” In the past year, the alliance has reached a higher level, and a Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Leadership Team including Gottlieb, DFCI President Edward Benz, MD, and other key administrators and physicians involved in the joint programs, now meets monthly to discuss the departments and services in which they most closely collaborate. In February 1997, as part of the formation of Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, DFCI moved its adult inpatient beds to the inpatient tower at BWH. Today, BWH houses 79 licensed beds under either BWH or DFCI licenses. Indications of the change will become more evident in the coming months. Signs marking certain departments will start bearing the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center name, as will some letterhead and stationery. Common DFCI/BWH website content has been developed and can be accessed through the DFCI (www.dana-farber.org/pat/adult/) and BWH (www.brighamandwomens.org/cancer) sites. Many printed materials for patients will begin carrying the new name within the next few months. Staff should also look for a new display in the hospital's main lobby, which will soon highlight the recent name change and the continued partnership between DFCI and BWH. In addition, the institutions have received state approval to implement a joint credentialing system for certain physicians practicing at both hospitals. This pilot program would be the first of its kind in Massachusetts.