Touting a new type of relationship that carried the promise of providing exceptional care in both a community and academic medical center setting, the affiliation of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Faulkner Hospital was announced in 1998 with great fanfare. Now, as the affiliation marks its fifth year, that promise has been met and new opportunities for enhancing innovative approaches to patient care continue to emerge.

Built upon the premise that both institutions would greatly benefit from a strategic partnership to provide greater access to care, leadership at both institutions identified clear opportunities for growth and expansion. Critical partnerships with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and referring physicians led to significant increases in inpatient volume, outpatient visits and surgical cases. A backfill strategy began to meet expectations just two years after the affiliation and now represents the essence of the BW/F relationship.

Looking ahead, the promise of providing more access to exceptional care will continue to define this historic affiliation.

Below is a table that depicts the escalating numbers in admission and ambulatory procedures at Faulkner Hospital from the end of FY 99 to the end of FY 02. Likewise, the numbers for care at BWH remain relatively consistent during this time period. The strategy to refer patients for routine care to Faulkner and those requiring tertiary care to BWH, worked well.