Dear Colleagues:

This time of year is dedicated in large measure to the formulation of a financial plan that will guide our efforts in the years ahead. At both the hospital and the BWPO, we are engaged in the process of difficult decision-making, so that we can provide the best care available, while keeping a wary eye toward the horizon in an era of shifting economic challenges.

This year will be more demanding than most as we work to offset the damaging impacts of Medicaid cuts and the undercutting of the free care pool as governments struggle with historic deficits. We seek to prioritize programs consistent with our mission and values while balancing the impact on the long-term financial stability of the hospital and the healthcare system in Massachusetts. In the best of circumstances, this is a monumental challenge.

So as we embark on the challenge of bridging cavernous budget gaps, we should make equal note of the remarkable value that we provide every day of the year. Never has our ability to provide exceptional care been greater and never has our reach to populations in need been more enhanced. Our research and our commitment to teaching the next generation of caregivers all create new opportunities for our patients and physicians of the future but understandably make even greater challenges.

As we weather the storms that have battered health care organizations throughout Massachusetts and the nation, we will stay true to the essence of our profession. We have seen tough times in our past and have emerged all the stronger in our experience and I see no reason we will not do the same this coming year.

Sincerely,

Lawrence H. Cohn, MD
Chairman, BWPO