Dear Colleagues:

As we close the books on a successful fiscal year and begin to look ahead to the challenges of the future, I wanted to take this opportunity to offer my appreciation for your hard work and commitment. Without your daily resolve and dedication to exceptional patient care, research and teaching, Brigham and Women’s Hospital could not enjoy its reputation as one of the nation’s top ten hospitals.

Looking back over the course of the last decade, we have come a long way. We will finish FY 01 with a positive operating margin and much has contributed to that result. Our relationship with Faulkner Hospital continues to blossom. Our advances in technology allow us to provide better care more efficiently. Our commitment to bringing down the average length-of-stay allows us to better manage the strong demand for our services.

Looking forward we recognize that there are many challenges. As health care inflation rises, so will the pressure on hospitals to manage operations more efficiently. As the market continues to struggle in a down cycle, non-operating investment losses offset operating gains. With state and federal governments facing record deficits, the ability to leverage additional reimbursement premiums from these payers is difficult. And, as we look to the future growth needs of this institution, the mandate for significant margin growth is undeniable.

Your strengths as physicians, researchers, teachers and leaders will be called upon as we head into a New Year filled with promise and challenge. Thank you for your hard work and commitment. You have made BWH an incredible place to provide and receive care.

Sincerely,

Andy Whittemore, MD
Chief Medical Officer