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FORM 990, SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION C:
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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR SCHEDULE H PART V, SEC B:FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS - COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT SERVICES AND CASH AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY GROUPSMOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONBETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH (BILH) IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL (MAH). THE BILH NETWORK OF AFFILIATES IS AN INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM COMMITTED TO EXPANDING ACCESS TO EXTRAORDINARY PATIENT CARE ACROSS EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND PARTS OF SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ADVANCING THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF MEDICINE THROUGH GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. THE BILH SYSTEM IS COMPRISED OF ACADEMIC AND TEACHING HOSPITALS, A PREMIER ORTHOPEDICS HOSPITAL, PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALTY CARE PROVIDERS, AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS, URGENT CARE CENTERS, COMMUNITY HOSPITALS, HOMECARE SERVICES, OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS, ADDICTION TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THE BILH'S COMMUNITY OF CLINICIANS, CAREGIVERS AND STAFF INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 4,700 PHYSICIANS AND 39,000 EMPLOYEES.AT THE HEART OF BILH IS THE BELIEF THAT EVERYONE DESERVES HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AND THIS BELIEF IS WHAT DRIVES EACH AFFILIATE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS THE REGION TO PROMOTE HEALTH, EXPAND ACCESS AND DELIVER THE BEST CARE IN THE COMMUNITIES BILH SERVES. BILH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS STAFF ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH BILH'S COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE LEADING HEALTH ISSUES AND CREATE A HEALTHY FUTURE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.BILH'S PURPOSE STATEMENT ARTICULATES THE IMPACT BILH AND EACH AFFILIATE STRIVES TO MAKE IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. BILH'S SHARED VALUES GUIDE DAILY EFFORTS, KEEP BILH AND EACH AFFILIATE ALIGNED IN THE PURSUIT OF PURPOSE AND SHOW HOW BILH CARES FOR PATIENTS, EACH OTHER AND OUR COMMUNITIES.PURPOSE STATEMENT: BILH CREATES HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES - ONE PERSON AT A TIME - THROUGH SEAMLESS CARE AND GROUND-BREAKING SCIENCE, DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND EQUITY.MAH COMMUNITY BENEFITS MISSION STATEMENTMOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL IS STEADFAST IN ITS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE AND TO CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND HEALTH INEQUITIES FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE SEEK TO IDENTIFY CURRENT AND EMERGING HEALTH NEEDS AND ADDRESS THESE NEEDS THROUGH EDUCATION, PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND THE PROMOTION OF HEALTHY BEHAVIORS.MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS MISSION IS FULFILLED BY:- INVOLVING MAH STAFF, INCLUDING ITS LEADERSHIP AND DOZENS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, IN THE CHNA PROCESS AS WELL AS IN THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND OVERSIGHT OF THE THREE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY;- ENGAGING AND LEARNING FROM RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS SERVICE AREA (CBSA) IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROCESS, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION FOCUSED ON ENGAGING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, FROM THOSE, PATIENTS AND NON-PATIENTS ALIKE, WHO ARE OFTEN LEFT OUT OF SIMILAR ASSESSMENT, PLANNING AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION PROCESSES;- ASSESSING UNMET COMMUNITY NEED BY COLLECTING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA (BOTH QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE) TO UNDERSTAND UNMET HEALTH-RELATED AND IDENTIFY COMMUNITIES AND POPULATIONS SEGMENTS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY HEALTH ISSUES AND OTHER SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS;- IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN MAH'S CBSA THAT ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CARE, AS WELL AS PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS OF THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN DISADVANTAGED, FACE DISPARITIES IN HEALTH-RELATED OUTCOMES, EXPERIENCE POVERTY, AND HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED;- PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY BY ENSURING THAT ALL PATIENTS ARE WELCOMED AND RECEIVE CARE THAT IS RESPECTFUL AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE; AND- FACILITATING COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITHIN AND ACROSS SECTORS (E.G., STATE/LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY HEALTH COLLABORATIVES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS) TO ADVOCATE FOR, SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE HEALTH POLICIES, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.COMMUNITY BENEFITS FINANCIAL SUMMARY DURING THE FISCAL YEAR COVERED BY THIS FILING, MAH PROVIDED COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT SERVICES, COMMUNITY BENEFITS OPERATIONS AND CASH AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY GROUPS OF $809,000 AS REPORTED ON THIS SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINES 7E AND 7I.
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COMMUNITY BENEFITS LEADERSHIP/TEAM
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MAH'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES ALONG WITH ITS CLINICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT ITS CBSA AND BEYOND. WORLD-CLASS CLINICAL EXPERTISE, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ALONG WITH AN UNDERLYING COMMITMENT TO HEALTH EQUITY ARE THE PRIMARY TENETS OF ITS MISSION. MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS DEPARTMENT, UNDER THE DIRECT OVERSIGHT OF MAH'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES, IS DEDICATED TO COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND RESIDENTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN ORDER TO MEET ITS COMMUNITY BENEFITS OBLIGATIONS. HOSPITAL SENIOR LEADERSHIP IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MAH'S IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY, ENSURING THAT HOSPITAL POLICIES AND RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT PLANNED ACTIVITIES.THE MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM IS SPEARHEADED BY THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS. THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS HAS DIRECT ACCESS AND IS ACCOUNTABLE TO MAH'S PRESIDENT AND THE BILH VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THESE LEADERS TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY BENEFITS IS ADDRESSED BY THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND THAT THE NEEDS OF COHORTS WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED ARE CONSIDERED EVERY DAY IN DISCUSSIONS ON RESOURCE ALLOCATION, POLICIES, AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.THE MAH COMMUNITY BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CBAC) WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH MAH'S HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING THE HOSPITAL'S GOVERNING BOARD AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT TO SUPPORT MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS MISSION TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE AND TO CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND HEALTH INEQUITIES FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CBAC PROVIDES INPUT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAMS IN FURTHERANCE OF MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS MISSION. THE MEMBERSHIP OF MAH'S CBAC ASPIRES TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONSTITUENCIES AND PRIORITY COHORTS SERVED BY MAH'S PROGRAMMATIC ENDEAVORS, AS WELL AS THOSE FROM CORPORATE AND NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.MAH'S CBAC MEMBERS INCLUDE:- LIZ BROWNE, CEO, CHARLES RIVER COMMUNITY HEALTH- RENEE CAMMARATA HAMILTON, DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT TEAM, CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE- STACY CARRUTH, PLANNING DIRECTOR, CORE MH- WESLEY CHIN, DIRECTOR, BELMONT HEALTH DEPARTMENT- PATTY CONTENTE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH, HELP, AND RECOVERY, SOMERVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT- MARY DECOURCEY, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS, MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL- MICHELLE FEELEY, DIRECTOR, WALTHAM HEALTH DEPARTMENT- KARIN CARROLL, DIRECTOR, SOMERVILLE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES- LAURA KURMAN, SENIOR PROGRAM DIRECTOR, WAYSIDE YOUTH AND FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK- MIKE LIBBY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOMERVILLE HOMELESS COALITION- JULIA LONDERGAN, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE PROGRAMS FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY, INC.- BJ OSUAGWU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HEALTHY WALTHAM- JACKIE SPENCER, MD, DIRECTOR OF PRIMARY CARE, VA NEW ENGLAND HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, MAH BOARD OF TRUSTEE- ROBERT TORRES, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS, BOSTON REGION, BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH- JENICA PHELPS, MAH SOCIAL WORK TEAM LEAD- STEPHANIE VENIZELOS, MANAGER OF COMMUNITY WELLNESS, TOWN OF WATERTOWN- DERRICK NEAL, CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, CAMBRIDGE HEALTH DEPARTMENT- VIET VAN, COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICE MANAGER, SOMERVILLE-CAMBRIDGE ELDER SERVICES- STEVEN KAPFHAMMER, MAH CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER- NATASHA WADEN, PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR, TOWN OF ARLINGTON- DINAH GORELIK, MD, MAH PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER- MARIE MCCUNE, RN, MAH STROKE NURSE COORDINATOR- HEATHER GIBBONS, MAH DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS- DIANE BONO, MAH VP HUMAN RESOURCES- CLAIRE HOFFMAN, SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH PLANNER, METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING COUNCILCOMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGYMOST RECENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(R)INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(R), ENACTED AS PART OF THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, REQUIRES EACH HOSPITAL TO COMPLETE A COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA) AND TO FORMALLY ADOPT AN IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY (IS OR CHIP) PURSUANT TO FEDERAL GUIDELINES, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS AS A HOSPITAL UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE (IRC) OF 1986, AS AMENDED. MAH COMPLETED ITS MOST RECENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN SEPTEMBER 2022. THAT CHNA WAS APPROVED BY THE MAH BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2022. THE ACCOMPANYING IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY FOR THE MOST RECENT CHNA WAS ALSO ADOPTED BY THE BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 WHICH IS WITHIN THE TIMELINE REQUIRED BY THE TREASURY REGULATIONS UNDER 501(R). THE CHNA AND THE ASSOCIATED IS REPRESENT THE CULMINATION OF A YEAR OF WORK AND WERE BORNE LARGELY OF MAH'S COMMITMENT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE HEALTH-RELATED NEEDS OF THOSE LIVING IN ITS COMMUNITY BENEFITS SERVICE AREA (CBSA) WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THOSE WHO ARE MOST DISADVANTAGED. THE PROJECT ALSO FULFILLS THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND FEDERAL INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) REGULATIONS THAT REQUIRE THAT MAH ASSESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS, ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, IDENTIFY PRIORITY HEALTH ISSUES AND CREATE A COMMUNITY HEALTH STRATEGY THAT DESCRIBES HOW MAH IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT(S), WILL ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND THE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY THE CHNA.COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT - PRIORITY GEOGRAPHY AND COHORTSAS NOTED ABOVE, MAH COMPLETED ITS LAST ASSESSMENT IN SEPTEMBER 2022. THE GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS OF MAH'S MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED CHNA ENCOMPASSES ARLINGTON, BELMONT, CAMBRIDGE, SOMERVILLE, WALTHAM AND WATERTOWN. COMMUNITY HEALTH ISSUES AND PRIORITY COHORTS FOR MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS INITIATIVES ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PLANNING PROCESS FROM A CHNA THAT IS CONDUCTED EVERY THREE YEARS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER IRC SECTION 501(R).MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS INVESTMENTS AND RESOURCES FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE HEALTH STATUS OF THOSE WHO ARE MEDICALLY-UNDERSERVED, EXPERIENCE POVERTY OR FACE THE GREATEST HEALTH DISPARITIES IN THE COMMUNITIES OF ARLINGTON, BELMONT, CAMBRIDGE, SOMERVILLE, WALTHAM AND WATERTOWN IN IT'S CBSA, AS FOLLOWS:- LGBTQIA+- LOW-RESOURCED POPULATIONS- OLDER ADULTS- RACIALLY, ETHNICALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS- YOUTH
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COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT - SUMMARY OF APPROACH AND METHODS
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MAH'S CHNA APPROACH INVOLVED EXTENSIVE DATA COLLECTION ACTIVITIES, SUBSTANTIAL EFFORTS TO ENGAGE THE HOSPITAL'S PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, AND THOUGHTFUL PRIORITIZATION, PLANNING, AND REPORTING PROCESSES. THROUGHOUT THE CHNA PROCESS, EFFORTS WERE MADE TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES ENCOMPASSING MAH'S CBSA, ESPECIALLY THE POPULATION SEGMENTS THAT ARE OFTEN DISADVANTAGED, FACE DISPARITIES IN HEALTH-RELATED OUTCOMES, AND WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED. MAH'S UNDERSTANDING OF THESE COMMUNITIES' NEEDS IS DERIVED FROM COLLECTING A WIDE RANGE OF QUANTITATIVE DATA TO IDENTIFY DISPARITIES AND CLARIFY THE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES AND COMPARING IT AGAINST DATA COLLECTED AT THE REGIONAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS WHEREVER POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT ANALYSIS AND THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS, AS WELL AS EMPLOYING A VARIETY OF STRATEGIES TO ENSURE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE INFORMED, CONSULTED, INVOLVED, AND EMPOWERED THROUGHOUT THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS. THE CHNA AND IS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WAS GUIDED BY THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES: EQUITY, COLLABORATION, ENGAGEMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND INTENTIONALITY.BETWEEN OCTOBER 2021 AND FEBRUARY 2022, MAH CONDUCTED 18 ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS WITH KEY COLLABORATORS IN THE COMMUNITY, FACILITATED 3 FOCUS GROUPS WITH SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION FACING THE GREATEST HEALTH-RELATED DISPARITIES, ADMINISTERED A COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEY INVOLVING MORE THAN 260 RESIDENTS, AND ORGANIZED TWO COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS. (SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTIONS 3 AND 5). ULTIMATELY, THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS COLLECTED INFORMATION FROM MORE THAN 300 COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, CLINICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS.COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS - DETAIL OF APPROACH AND METHODSMAH RELIED ON NUMEROUS PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA SOURCES TO ANALYZE THE HEALTH STATUS AND NEED LEVEL THROUGHOUT THEIR CBSA. MAH COLLECTED DATA FROM A NUMBER OF SOURCES INCLUDING PRIMARY QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA, AS WELL AS SECONDARY DATA. EXAMPLES OF SECONDARY DATA SOURCES THAT MAH LEVERAGED INCLUDED:- U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5-YEAR ESTIMATES (2016-2020)- U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY POPULATION CHANGE (2010-2020)- U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, COVID-19 HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY (2021)- BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SURVEY (2019)- MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION: SCHOOL AND DISTRICT PROFILES (2020-2021)- FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS (2019)- MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH, LABOR MARKET INFORMATION (2020-2021)- MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, REGISTRY OF VITAL RECORDS AND STATISTICS (2019)- MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BUREAU OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES (2015-2017)- MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, COVID-19 DASHBOARD (2021)- MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, COVID-19 COMMUNITY IMPACT SURVEY (2021)- MASSACHUSETTS BUREAU OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND LABORATORY SCIENCES (2019)- MASSACHUSETTS CENTER FOR HEALTH INFORMATION ANALYSIS (CHIA) HOSPITAL DISCHARGES (2019)- MASSACHUSETTS HEALTHY AGING COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY PROFILES (2020)- MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, EVICTION LAB (2018)- ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON COUNTRY HEALTH RANKINGS (2019, 2020, 2021)COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS - KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS (SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, LINE 5) BETWEEN OCTOBER 2021 AND FEBRUARY 2022, MAH CONDUCTED 18 KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS THAT ENGAGED COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CLINICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, AND OTHER KEY COLLABORATORS THROUGHOUT MAH'S CBSA. DISCUSSIONS EXPLORED INTERVIEWEES' EXPERIENCES OF ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE ALIGNMENT, COORDINATION AND EXPANSION OF SERVICES, INITIATIVES AND POLICIES. A LIST OF KEY INFORMANTS IS INCLUDED IN APPENDIX A OF THE CHNA REPORT THAT IS POSTED ON MAH'S WEBSITE. THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE CHOSEN TO AMASS A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE INSIGHT ON THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES IN MAH'S CBSA. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY USING A STANDARD INTERVIEW GUIDE. INTERVIEWS FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING THE BIGGEST HEALTH-RELATED CONCERNS/ISSUES, AS WELL AS THE BARRIERS AND/OR CHALLENGES FOR ACCESSING RESOURCES AND SERVICES AMONG THOSE THEY SERVE AND/OR THOSE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING POSSIBLE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS - FOCUS GROUPS AND COMMUNITY FORUMS (SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, LINE 5)MAH CONDUCTED 3 COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUPS, AND HELD TWO COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS THAT ENGAGED OVER 75 RESIDENTS IN MAH'S CBSA TO GATHER CRITICAL COMMUNITY INPUT FROM COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS. THESE FOCUS GROUPS AND LISTENING SESSIONS WERE ORGANIZED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK AREA 17, A LOCAL COALITION, THE ARLINGTON LGBTQ+ COMMISSION AND SOMERVILLE CENTER FOR ADULT LEARNING EXPERIENCES (SCALE).MAH HAS BEEN INTENTIONAL IN ENSURING THAT VARIED EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES, REFLECTIVE OF MAH'S CBSA AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, WERE SHARED THROUGHOUT THE CHNA AND IS PROCESS. TO REACH A BROAD RANGE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALL COMMUNITY SURVEYS, FOCUS GROUPS AND KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH A FOCUS ON COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVENESS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SURVEY WAS ADMINISTERED ONLINE AND VIA HARD COPY IN TWELVE LANGUAGES. FURTHERMORE, EXTENSIVE OUTREACH WAS CONDUCTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, INSTITUTIONAL NEWSLETTERS, EMAILS TO LARGE NETWORKS, CITY AND TOWN AGENCIES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS TO HELP ENSURE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION IN THE CHNA. THE MAH COMMUNITY BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CBAC) WAS ALSO INTEGRALLY INVOLVED IN PROVIDING INPUT ON COMMUNITY NEEDS AND PRIORITIZING THE LEADING HEALTH ISSUES. THE CBAC MET FIVE TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF THE ASSESSMENT. THEY PROVIDED INPUT REGARDING THE CHNA OVERALL AND GUIDED THE PRIORITIZATION AND PLANNING PHASE, CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO COMMUNITY VOICES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN LEFT OUT OF SIMILAR PROCESSES. COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS - REVIEWING RESULTS AND COMPILING THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY DOCUMENTSAS NOTED ABOVE, THE CHNA PROCESS WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE PHASES. THE FINAL PHASE, PHASE III, INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING STEPS: - REVIEW OF THE ASSESSMENT'S MAJOR FINDINGS WITH THE MAH COMMUNITY BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CBAC) AND HELD A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY FORUM PRESENTING RESULTS.- IDENTIFY MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS PRIORITY COHORTS, GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH PRIORITIES.- ANALYZE MAH'S EXISTING COMMUNITY BENEFITS ACTIVITIES WHICH WERE INFORMED BY THE 2021 CHNA AND SUBSEQUENT 2021 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY THAT WERE COMPLETED BY MAH DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 (TAX YEAR 2020).- DETERMINE IF THE RANGE OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS ACTIVITIES ESTABLISHED DURING THE PREVIOUS CHNA AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY PROCESS NEEDED TO BE AUGMENTED OR CHANGED TO RESPOND TO THE ASSESSMENT COMPLETED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 (TAX YEAR 2021).
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COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS - KEY FINDINGS
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THE KEY PRIORITY COHORTS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE CHNA CONDUCTED DURING THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, WERE:- YOUTH AND ADOLESCENTS - OLDER ADULTS- LOW-RESOURCE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES- LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUEER OR QUESTIONING (LGBTQ) INDIVIDUALS- RACIALLY, ETHNICALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONSMAH'S CHNA RESULTED IN KEY FINDINGS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:- EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARE: INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF BARRIERS TO ACCESSING AND NAVIGATING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. MANY OF THESE BARRIERS WERE AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL, MEANING THAT THE ISSUES STEM FROM THE WAY IN WHICH THE SYSTEM DOES OR DOES NOT FUNCTION. SYSTEM LEVEL ISSUES INCLUDED PROVIDERS NOT ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS, LONG WAIT LISTS, AND AN INHERENTLY COMPLICATED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY TO NAVIGATE. THERE WERE ALSO INDIVIDUAL LEVEL BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND NAVIGATION. INDIVIDUALS MAY BE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED, WHICH MAY LEAD THEM TO FOREGO OR DELAY CARE. INDIVIDUALS MAY ALSO EXPERIENCE LANGUAGE OR CULTURAL BARRIERS - RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THESE BARRIERS CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH DISPARITIES, MISTRUST BETWEEN PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS, INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, AND ISSUES OF PATIENT SAFETY.- SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH (E.G., ECONOMIC STABILITY, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY/SOCIAL CONTEXT) CONTINUE TO HAVE A MASSIVE IMPACT ON MANY SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION. THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ARE THE CONDITIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE BORN, LIVE, LEARN, WORK, PLAY, WORSHIP, AND AGE THAT AFFECT A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH, FUNCTIONING, AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE OUTCOMES AND RISKS. THESE CONDITIONS INFLUENCE AND DEFINE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION IN THE CBSA. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SUSTAINED SUCCESS IN COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES RELIES ON ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT LEAD TO POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES AND DRIVE HEALTH INEQUITIES. THE ASSESSMENT GATHERED A RANGE OF INFORMATION RELATED TO ECONOMIC INSECURITY, EDUCATION, FOOD INSECURITY, ACCESS TO CARE/NAVIGATION ISSUES, AND OTHER IMPORTANT SOCIAL FACTORS. THERE IS LIMITED QUANTITATIVE DATA IN THE AREA OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. DESPITE THIS, INFORMATION GATHERED THROUGH INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, SURVEY, AND LISTENING SESSIONS SUGGESTED THAT THESE ISSUES HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS AND ACCESS TO CARE IN THE REGION - ESPECIALLY ISSUES RELATED TO HOUSING, FOOD SECURITY/NUTRITION, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY.- HIGH RATES OF SUBSTANCE USE (E.G., ALCOHOL, PRESCRIPTION DRUG/OPIOIDS, MARIJUANA) AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES (E.G., DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS). ANXIETY, CHRONIC STRESS, DEPRESSION, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION WERE LEADING COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS. THE ASSESSMENT IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, TRAUMA, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS. THESE DIFFICULTIES WERE EXACERBATED BY COVID-19. IN ADDITION TO THE OVERALL BURDEN AND PREVALENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, RESIDENTS IDENTIFIED A NEED FOR MORE PROVIDERS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT, CHILD PSYCHIATRISTS, PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. SUBSTANCE USE CONTINUED TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE CBSA; THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC CONTINUED TO BE AN AREA OF FOCUS AND CONCERN, AND THERE WAS RECOGNITION OF THE LINKS AND IMPACTS ON OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH PRIORITIES, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING, AND HOMELESSNESS. INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN THE ASSESSMENT IDENTIFIED STIGMA AS A BARRIER TO TREATMENT AND REPORTED A NEED FOR PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS COMMON CO-OCCURRING ISSUES (E.G., MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, HOMELESSNESS).- HIGH RATES OF CHRONIC AND ACUTE PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITIONS (E.G., HEART DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, CANCER, AND ASTHMA). CHRONIC CONDITIONS SUCH AS CANCER, DIABETES, CHRONIC LOWER RESPIRATORY DISEASE, STROKE, AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE CONTRIBUTE TO 56% OF ALL MORTALITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND OVER 53% OF ALL HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES ($30.9 BILLION A YEAR). PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, CHRONIC DISEASES ARE LARGELY PREVENTABLE DESPITE THEIR HIGH PREVALENCE AND DRAMATIC IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY.THE CHNA THAT WAS COMPLETED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, AND THE ASSOCIATED IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY ADOPTED FROM THIS PROCESS WERE DESIGNED TO INFORM MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS INITIATIVES DURING THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2025. COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENTMAKING THE CHNA AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY WIDELY AVAILABLEMAH STRIVES TO ADDRESS THE PRIORITY AREAS IN ITS CHNA AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY.AS NOTED ABOVE, MAH COMPLETED ITS MOST RECENT CHNA DURING ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 (TAX YEAR 2021). THAT CHNA AND APPENDIX WITH DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE MAH WEBSITE AT:HTTPS://MOUNTAUBURNHOSPITAL.ORG/ABOUT/COMMUNITY-BENEFITS-NEEDSIN ADDITION TO THE CHNA, MAH COMPLETED ITS MOST RECENT IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY DURING ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 (TAX YEAR 2021). THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY IS AVAILABLE ON THE MAH WEBSITE AT:HTTPS://MOUNTAUBURNHOSPITAL.ORG/ABOUT/COMMUNITY-BENEFITS-NEEDSMAH COMPLETED ITS PREVIOUS CHNA DURING ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 (TAX YEAR 2020). THAT CHNA IS AVAILABLE ON THE MAH WEBSITE AT:HTTPS://MOUNTAUBURNHOSPITAL.ORG/ABOUT/COMMUNITY-BENEFITS-NEEDSFINALLY, THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHNA COMPLETED DURING MAH'S FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 (TAX YEAR 2020) IS AVAILABLE ON THE MAH WEBSITE AT:HTTPS://MOUNTAUBURNHOSPITAL.ORG/ABOUT/COMMUNITY-BENEFITS-NEEDSEACH OF THESE DOCUMENTS IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST (SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, LINE 7A).
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COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENTADDRESSING COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS
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(SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, LINE 11)AS NOTED ABOVE, MAH'S MOST RECENT CHNA AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY WERE CONDUCTED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 AND A SUMMARY OF MAH'S COMMUNITY BENEFITS ACTIVITIES THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THAT CHNA AND PRIORITIZED IN THE RELATED IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY ARE PROVIDED HERE ALONG WITH THE ENTITIES THAT THE HOSPITAL PARTNERS WITH ON THESE EFFORTS. GIVEN THE COMPLEX HEALTH ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY, MAH HAS BEEN STRATEGIC IN IDENTIFYING ITS COMMUNITY HEALTH PRIORITIES IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT OF ITS COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM AND WORK TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF RESIDENTS IN ITS CBSA. GOALS FOR EACH PRIORITY AREA ARE LISTED BELOW. PRIORITY AREA 1: EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARE GOAL: PROVIDE EQUITABLE AND COMPREHENSIVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALTY CARE, AS WELL AS URGENT AND EMERGING CARE, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO FACE CULTURAL, LINGUISTIC AND ECONOMIC BARRIERSPRIORITY AREA 2: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH- GOAL: ENHANCE THE BUILT, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND LEARN IN ORDER TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE.PRIORITY AREA 3: MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE - GOAL: PROMOTE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS BY FOSTERING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND BUILDING EQUITABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND SUPPORTIVE SYSTEMS OF CARE TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE. PRIORITY AREA 4: COMPLEX AND CHRONIC CONDITIONS - GOAL: IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND REDUCE DISPARITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AT-RISK FOR OR LIVING WITH CHRONIC AND/OR COMPLEX CONDITIONS AND CAREGIVERS BY ENHANCING ACCESS TO SCREENING, REFERRAL SERVICES, COORDINATED HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES, MEDICATIONS, AND OTHER RESOURCES.COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENTAPPROACH TO ADDRESSING HEALTH NEEDS (SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, LINE 11) MAH HAS TAKEN A HOLISTIC AND STRATEGIC APPROACH IN ADDRESSING THE HEALTH PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE CHNA AND ASSOCIATED IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY BY CREATING, SUPPORTING AND INVESTING IN HEALTH PROGRAMMING AND INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THEIR CBSA. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES OPERATES AND SUPPORTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF THEIR TARGET POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THEIR SERVICE AREA.MAH HAS BEEN A LEADER IN CREATING A MYRIAD OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. PROGRAMS INCLUDE FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE FARMER'S MARKET INCENTIVE PROGRAM AT LOCAL FARMER'S MARKETS, PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES, DONATIONS TO SUPPORT HIGH NEED POPULATIONS, AND HEALTHY AGING PROGRAMS. IN FY24, MAH CONTINUED TO SUPPORT OUR PREVIOUS GRANTEES BY PROVIDING FIVE ORGANIZATIONS WITH GRANT FUNDING. THESE ORGANIZATIONS WORKED ON PROGRAMS WHICH COINCIDED WITH THE HEALTH PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE FY22 IS. MAH'S COMMUNITY HEATH GRANTEES OF FY24 CONTINUED THEIR PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS. FIVE ORGANIZATIONS WERE FUNDED TO WORK ON PROGRAMS THAT HELPED TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THE TOP HEALTH CONCERNS IDENTIFIED IN MAH'S MOST RECENT CHNA AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY.THROUGH THE MAH COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 1,395 PATIENTS ACROSS 12 SITES.MAH PARTNERS WITH METRO HOUSING BOSTON AND COORDINATES ITS CO-LOCATION PROGRAM AT MAH. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST WHO HELPS TO EASE TRANSITIONS FOR PATIENTS AND TO CONNECT HOUSING UNSTABLE PATIENTS TO A CASE MANAGER. THE CO-LOCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCES AND INFORMATION FOR HOUSING UNSTABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. FORTY-FIVE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED A SERVICE OR INTERACTION, WHICH INCLUDED INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF EVICTION PREVENTION, HOUSING SEARCH STRATEGIES, AND OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.MAH CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A HEALTH LITERACY EDUCATION PROGRAM. AUDIENCES FOR THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND OLDER ADULTS. THESE PRESENTATIONS HELP PARTICIPANTS NAVIGATE OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AS WELL AS GAIN KNOWLEDGE ON VARIOUS HEALTH AND WELLNESS TOPICS. OVER 170 ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS PARTICIPATED AND OVER 160 OLDER ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM.MAH CONTINUES TO DEDICATE SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES TO OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOSPITAL USED ITS' PURCHASING POWER TO PURCHASE AND DELIVER FRESH EGGS AND FRESH BREAD TO COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS ON A MONTHLY CYCLE. IN TOTAL 900 DOZEN EGGS AND 900 LOAVES OF BREAD AMONG OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.TO SUPPORT INCREASED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, MAH PARTICIPATED WITH OTHER BILH HOSPITALS OFFER MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) TRAININGS TO BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAFF, PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NAVIGATION AND DIGITAL LITERACY TRAININGS TO BILH PHYSICAL HEALTH NAVIGATORS AND AMPLIFY ANTI-STIGMA MESSAGING, RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS.A FULL UPDATE ON MAH'S HEALTH PRIORITIES AND ASSOCIATED GOALS IS INCLUDED BELOW.
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FY24 SCHEDULE H - IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY UPDATE
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PRIORITY AREA 1: EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CAREINDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF BARRIERS TO ACCESSING AND NAVIGATING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. MANY OF THESE BARRIERS ARE AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL, AND STEM FROM THE WAY IN WHICH THE SYSTEM DOES OR DOES NOT FUNCTION. SYSTEM-LEVEL ISSUES INCLUDE PROVIDERS NOT ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS, LONG WAIT LISTS, AND AN INHERENTLY COMPLICATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY TO NAVIGATE.THERE ARE ALSO INDIVIDUAL LEVEL BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND NAVIGATION. INDIVIDUALS MAY BE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED, WHICH MAY LEAD THEM TO FORGO OR DELAY CARE. INDIVIDUALS MAY ALSO EXPERIENCE LANGUAGE OR CULTURAL BARRIERS - RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THESE BARRIERS CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH DISPARITIES, MISTRUST BETWEEN PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS, INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, AND ISSUES OF PATIENT SAFETY.GOAL: PROVIDE EQUITABLE AND COMPREHENSIVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALTY CARE, AS WELL AS URGENT AND EMERGING CARE, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO FACE CULTURAL, LINGUISTIC AND ECONOMIC BARRIERS.KEY: BASELINE 2023, YEAR 1 2024, YEAR 2 2025PROGRAMMATIC OBJECTIVES1.1 PROVIDE AND PROMOTE CAREER SUPPORT SERVICES AND CAREER MOBILITY PROGRAMS TO HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES1.2 PROMOTE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, HEALTH INSURANCE, PATIENT FINANCIAL COUNSELORS, AND NEEDED MEDICATIONS FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED1.3 SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS WITH REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION1.4 PROMOTE EQUITABLE CARE, HEALTH EQUITY, HEALTH LITERACY, FOR PATIENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FACE CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC BARRIERS1.5 PROMOTE RESILIENCY FOR NEW MOMS1.6 SUPPORT CITIES/TOWNS TO PROMOTE RESILIENCE, EMERGENCY CARE AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESSCOMMUNITY ACTIVITIES/ STRATEGIES -CAREER AND ACADEMIC ADVISING-HOSPITAL SPONSORED ENGLISH CLASSES-SOCIAL ENTERPRISE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM-HEALTH COVERAGE AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS AT BOTH MAH AND CHARLES RIVER COMMUNITY HEALTH-FACILITATE THE CONNECTION TO HEALTH CARE BY PROVIDING TRANSPORTATIONS CONNECTIONS AT NO COST WHEN TRANSPORTATION IS A BARRIER TO MEDICAL CARE -PROVIDE FREE INTERPRETER SERVICES-HEALTH LITERACY AND EDUCATION PROGRAM-PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM BILINGUAL OUTREACH WORKER PROGRAM-FREE DOULA PROGRAM-BREAST FEEDING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAM-EMERGENCY SERVICES TRAINING -COMMUNITY TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVENTSMETRICS AND STATUS UPDATE:- # OF EVENTS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM ATTENDED AND HOSTED AND GAVE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO (FY23: 67; FY24: 33) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WILL OFFER INTERNSHIPS IN BILH HOSPITALS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER THE AGE OF 18. MAH PARTICIPATED IN OFFERING THESE INTERNSHIPS. (FY23: 54; FY24: 107) -MAH PROVIDED CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH CARE TRAINING INFORMATION TO COLLEGE LEVEL STUDENTS AND HIGH SCHOOLS STUDENTS (FY24: NEW PROGRAM 225 STUDENTS; 40 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS). -WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WILL OFFER CITIZENSHIP, CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES TO BILH EMPLOYEES. (CITIZENSHIP CLASSES, FY23: 20; FY:24 14; CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, FY23:135; FY24: 15; FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES FY23: 189; FY24: 207. (MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED IN THESE OFFERINGS).-WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFERED ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL) CLASSES TO BILH EMPLOYEES. (FY 23: 45; FY24: 82 MAH EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED IN THESE CLASSES).-WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WILL ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY REFERRALS AND HIRES. (FY 23: 225 REFERRALS AND 70 HIRES; FY 24: 412 REFERRALS AND 111 HIRES. MAH PARTICIPATED IN THESE HIRINGS).-WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WILL HIRE INTERNS AFTER INTERNSHIPS AND PLACE IN BILH HOSPITALS. (FY 24: 37 INTERNS WERE HIRED PERMANENTLY IN BILH HOSPITALS. MAH PARTICIPATED IN THESE HIRINGS.)-WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WILL OFFER EMPLOYEES CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. (FY 24: 1,044 BILH EMPLOYEES RECEIVED CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES).-WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WILL OFFER PAID TRAININGS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS BILH. (FY 23: 89; FY 24: 99. MAH PARTICIPATED IN OFFERING THESE TRAININGS). -THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH MORE THAN WORDS (MTW) IN WALTHAM HELPED FUND THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: - PROVIDED JOB TRAINING, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT COACHING AND INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN WALTHAM. (FY 23: 110; FY 24: 105,) - AT LEAST 90% OF GRADUATES OF THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WILL HAVE OR BE ON TRACK TO EARN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR HISET CERTIFICATION (HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY. (FY 23: 96%; FY 24: 98%). -MAH FINANCIAL COUNSELORS ASSISTED INDIVIDUALS WITH GOVERNMENT APPLICATION FORMS INCLUDING HELP WITH HEALTH INSURANCE APPLICATIONS AND OR REFERRING THEM TO GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AT BOTH MAH AND CHARLES RIVER COMMUNITY HEALTH LOCATIONS.(FY23: 954; FY 24: 3,922).-PROVIDE FREE MEDICATIONS FOR OUR MOST UNDER-RESOURCED POPULATIONS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PAY FOR OR HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICATION WHEN BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL. (FY 23: 51; FY24: 225).-FACILITATE THE CONNECTION TO HEALTH CARE BY PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS AT NO COST WHEN TRANSPORTATION IS A BARRIER TO MEDICAL CARE. (FY23: APPROXIMATELY 1,609; FY24: APPROXIMATELY 897).-PROVIDE FREE, TIMELY, MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETER SERVICES FOR PATIENTS OF ALL CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC BACKGROUNDS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING, AND DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING PATIENTS (ASL). (FY23:18,899; FY24: 23,345). -PROVIDE HEALTH LITERACY EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS: (FY23: 7 PROGRAMS, 143 PEOPLE ATTENDED; FY24: 7 PROGRAMS, 172 PEOPLE ATTENDED). - 90% (FY23) AND 96% (FY24) OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED INCREASING THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT NAVIGATING OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. - 77% (FY23) 96% (FY24) REPORTED THEY INCREASED THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR THEIR DOCTORS APPOINTMENT.-A COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKER IS AVAILABLE TO PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM PATIENTS TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY HELP WITH RESOURCES AND TO PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.IN THE COMMUNITY. (FY23: OVER 280 WOMEN; FY 24: OVER 250 WOMEN).-PROVIDE INFANT CAR SEATS TO PARENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF TRANSPORTING THEIR NEWBORN HOME AFTER DELIVERY. (FY23: 18; FY24 40). -PROVIDE A DOULA FOR THOSE WHO REQUEST THIS SUPPORT DURING BIRTH. (FY23: 21 BIRTHS; FY 24: 14 BIRTHS).-MAH PHYSICIANS SERVE AS EMS MEDICAL DIRECTORS TO MIT EMS, HARVARD UNIVERSITY EMS AND PRO AMBULANCE EMS. THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PROVIDED 12 EDUCATION SESSIONS AND CASE REVIEW SESSIONS TO CAMBRIDGE, ARLINGTON, BELMONT, CAMBRIDGE AND WATERTOWN (FIRE AND POLICE) DEPARTMENTS. (FY 23: 12 SESSIONS AND AN AVERAGE OF 25 STAFF ATTENDED EACH MONTH (ALL TOWNS); FY 24: 6 SESSIONS AND AN AVERAGE OF 25 STAFF IN ATTENDANCE).-MAH EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS WILL PROVIDE AT LEAST 2 "LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY - WHAT TO DO" CLASSES TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE REQUESTING TRAINING. (FY 23: 6 SESSIONS, 165 IN ATTENDANCE; FY24: 6 SESSIONS, 120 IN ATTENDANCE).
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PRIORITY AREA 2: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
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THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ARE THE CONDITIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE BORN, LIVE, LEARN, WORK, PLAY, WORSHIP, AND AGE THAT AFFECT A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH, FUNCTIONING, AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE OUTCOMES AND RISKS. THESE CONDITIONS INFLUENCE AND DEFINE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION IN THE CBSA. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SUSTAINED SUCCESS IN COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES RELIES ON ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT LEAD TO POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES AND DRIVE HEALTH INEQUITIES. THE ASSESSMENT GATHERED A RANGE OF INFORMATION RELATED TO HOUSING, FOOD INSECURITY, ECONOMIC INSECURITY, EDUCATION AND OTHER IMPORTANT SOCIAL FACTORS.THERE IS LIMITED QUANTITATIVE DATA IN THE AREA OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. DESPITE THIS, INFORMATION GATHERED THROUGH INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, LISTENING SESSIONS, AND THE MAH COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEY REINFORCED THAT THESE ISSUES HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS AND ACCESS TO CARE IN THE REGION - ESPECIALLY ISSUES RELATED TO HOUSING, FOOD INSECURITY/NUTRITION, TRANSPORTATION, AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY.GOAL: ENHANCE THE BUILT, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND LEARN IN ORDER TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE OUTCOMES.KEY: BASELINE 2023, YEAR 1 2024, YEAR 2 2025PROGRAMMATIC OBJECTIVES1.1 PROVIDE COMMUNITY HEALTH GRANTS TO SUPPORT IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH1.2 PARTICIPATE IN MULTI-SECTOR COMMUNITY COALITIONS TO CONVENE STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICY, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH 1.3 SUPPORT EDUCATION, SYSTEMS, PROGRAMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES TO INCREASE HEALTHY EATING AND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, HEALTHY FOODS 1.4 SCREEN, ASSESS, AND CONNECT PATIENTS WITH HEALTH-RELATED SOCIAL NEEDS1.5 SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT STABILIZE OR CREATE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSINGCOMMUNITY ACTIVITIES / STRATEGIES SUPPORT LOCAL COALITIONS WITH PARTICIPATION AND FUNDING COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FOOD AND OR INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHY FOODS PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING SUPPORT TO LOCAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MATCH PROGRAMS AND THE FRESH BUCKS PROGRAM AT LOCAL FARMER'S MARKETS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAM CO-LOCATION PROGRAM COMMUNITY HEALTH GRANT PROGRAMS FOCUSING ON HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND EVICTION PREVENTIONMETRICS AND STATUS UPDATES: PROVIDE ORGANIZATIONS FUNDING TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK ON IDENTIFIED PROJECTS WHICH REFLECT THE HEALTH PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN OUR MOST RECENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT. (FY23: 11ORGANIZATIONS; $150,000 TOTAL FUNDS DISPERSED; FY24: 5 ORGANIZATIONS; $40,000 TOTAL FUNDS DISPERSED). MAH STAFF ATTEND COMMUNITY COALITIONS, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND OR COMMUNITY TASK FORCE MEETINGS IN ITS SERVICE AREA.(FY23: 52 MEETINGS, $20,000 FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY COALITIONS; FY24: 43 MEETINGS, $20,000 FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY COALITIONS). USING THE HOSPITAL'S PURCHASING POWER, PURCHASE FOOD AND DELIVER TO FOOD INSECURE FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. (FY23: 9 DELIVERIES CONTAINING 900 DOZEN EGGS AND 900 LOAVES OF FRESH BREAD; FY24: PROVIDED 9 DELIVERIES CONTAINING 900 DOZEN EGGS AND 900 LOAVES OF FRESH BREAD). THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH WALTHAM FIELDS COMMUNITY FARM, COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) PURCHASE/PROVIDE SHARES TO LOW INCOME MEDICALLY IDENTIFIED FAMILIES WEEKLY FOR 20 WEEKS (FY23: 30 HOUSEHOLDS, REPRESENTING 4,861 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE; FY 24: 30 HOUSEHOLDS, REPRESENTING 6,561 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE). COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL FARMER'S MARKETS TO HELP SUPPORT ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOW RESOURCED. INCLUDED A NEW PARTNERSHIP THIS YEAR WITH SOMERVILLE WINTER FARMER'S MARKET. (FY23: 3 MARKETS; FY24: 4 MARKETS). SNAP MATCH CUSTOMERS INCREASED BY 25% AT THE WATERTOWN FARMERS MARKET AS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR (FY23). SNAP MATCH CUSTOMERS INCREASED BY 15% AT THE WATERTOWN FARMERS MARKET AS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR (FY24). FRESH BUCKS (FOOD VOUCHER PROGRAM) CUSTOMERS INCREASED BY 40% (FY 23) AT THE ARLINGTON FARMER'S MARKET AS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. 43% (FY 24) OF THOSE USING THE FRESH BUCKS (FOOD VOUCHER PROGRAM) AT THE ARLINGTON FARMER'S MARKET WERE NEW TO THE PROGRAM. IN BELMONT, SNAP MATCH SHOPPERS INCREASED BY 12% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR (FY23). 48% OF THE SNAP SHOPPERS WERE EITHER NEW TO THE MARKET OR WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD GONE OFF THE PROGRAM AND WERE INCENTIVIZED TO RETURN TO THE PROGRAM (FY 24). THE CO-LOCATION PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH METRO HOUSING BOSTON (MHB): - PROVIDE A DEDICATED CASE WORKER WHO WILL MEET WITH PATIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.(FY23: 95 INDIVIDUALS 6 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED A CONSULTATION THAT RESULTED IN AVOIDING EVICTION FROM THEIR HOME; FY24: 45 INDIVIDUALS, OVER 60% OF PARTICIPANTS WHO RECEIVED SERVICES WERE ABLE TO STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING SITUATION AND REPORTED AN INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOUSING SEARCH PROCESS). THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSING CORPORATION OF ARLINGTON (HCA): - SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS IN RESOLVING URGENT FINANCIAL, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, OR OTHER ISSUES THROUGH THE PROVISION OF DIRECT SOCIAL SERVICES AND REFERRALS TO PARTNER AGENCIES AS NEEDED TO CREATE MORE STABLE TENANCIES FOR AT LEAST 45 FAMILIES. (FY23: 39 HOUSEHOLDS : FY24: 48 HOUSEHOLDS). - ENGAGE TENANTS AND SOCIAL SERVICE CLIENTS IN ADVOCACY. (FY23: 26 TENANTS ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY : FY24: OVER 25 TENANTS ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY). EXAMPLES OF ENGAGEMENT INCLUDE TENANTS IN ADVOCATING FOR SEVERAL HOUSING RELATED BILLS AT THE STATE LEVEL INCLUDING MBTA COMMUNITIES DRAFT MAPS, FUNDING FOR ENERGY RETROFIT IMPROVEMENTS FOR THEIR HOUSING, TENANT OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ACT (TOPA), AND THE ZERO CARBON RENOVATION FUND. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH SOMERVILLE HOMELESS COALITION: - PROVIDE FUNDING TO SUPPORT MOVING INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES INTO STABLE HOUSING. (FY23 - FY 24: 46 INDIVIDUALS AND 4 CHILDREN). - PROVIDE FUNDING TO SUPPORT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WISHING TO ACCESS SUPPORT SERVICES. (FY23 - FY24: APPROXIMATELY 535 PEOPLE/6,306 MONTHLY VISITS).
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PRIORITY AREA 3: MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE
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ANXIETY, CHRONIC STRESS, DEPRESSION, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION WERE LEADING COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS. THERE WERE SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS. THESE DIFFICULTIES WERE EXACERBATED BY COVID-19.IN ADDITION TO THE OVERALL BURDEN AND PREVALENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, RESIDENTS IDENTIFIED A NEED FOR MORE PROVIDERS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT, CHILD PSYCHIATRISTS, PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. INTERVIEWEES, FOCUS GROUP, AND COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION PARTICIPANTS REFLECTED ON THE STIGMA, SHAME, AND ISOLATION THAT THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACE THAT LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO ACCESS CARE AND COPE WITH THEIR ILLNESS.SUBSTANCE USE CONTINUED TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT IN THE CBSA; THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC CONTINUED TO BE AN AREA OF FOCUS AND CONCERN, AND THERE WAS RECOGNITION OF THE LINKS AND IMPACTS ON OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH PRIORITIES. INTERVIEWEES REPORTED A NEED FOR PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS COMMON CO-OCCURRING ISSUES, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND HOMELESSNESS. INTERVIEWEES ALSO REFLECTED ON THE NEED FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND OTHER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES.GOAL: PROMOTE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS BY FOSTERING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND BUILDING EQUITABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND SUPPORTIVE SYSTEMS OF CARE TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE.KEY: BASELINE 2023, YEAR 1 2024, YEAR 2 2025PROGRAMMATIC OBJECTIVES1.1 ADDRESS THE UNIQUE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED YOUTH 1.2 PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY AND CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES THROUGH SCREENING, MONITORING, COUNSELING, NAVIGATION, AND TREATMENT1.3 PROMOTE COLLABORATION, SHARE KNOWLEDGE, AND COORDINATE ACTIVITIES INTERNALLY AT MAH AND EXTERNALLY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS1.4 ADVOCATE FOR AND SUPPORT POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT IMPROVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICESCOMMUNITY ACTIVITIES / STRATEGIES SUPPORT INCREASED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. COLLABORATE WITH DE NOVO CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND HEALING (DE NOVO) TO SUPPORT COUNSELING PROGRAMS FOR SURVIVORS OF TORTURE, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, WAR CRIMES OR OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS PROVIDE FREE SUPPORT GROUPS PROVIDE A SUBSTANCE USE NAVIGATOR TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND CARE TO THOSE PATIENTS IN THE ED WHO SHOW SIGNS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND TO HELP WITH CONTINUITY OF CARE COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL METRICS AND STATUS UPDATES CULTURALLY INFORMED PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING WITH DE NOVO CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND HEALING: - PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICES THROUGH THE TORTURE TREATMENT PROGRAM TO SURVIVORS OF TORTURE, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, WAR CRIMES OR OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS (FY23: 90 SURVIVORS; FY24: 117 SURVIVORS). - PROVIDE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS, AND IN-COURT TESTIMONY AS NEEDED, TO SUPPORT THEIR HUMANITARIAN RELIEF APPLICATIONS. (FY23: 27 CLIENTS; FY24: 32 CLIENTS). - PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORTS, SUCH AS SAFETY PLANNING, FOOD OR CLOTHING ASSISTANCE, HOUSING NAVIGATION, TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE, HELP COMPLETING PAPERWORK, REFERRAL FOR LEGAL OR MEDICAL SERVICES, AND ACCOMPANIMENT TO COURT HEARINGS, AMONG OTHER SERVICES. (FY23: 159 CLIENTS; FY24: 62 CLIENTS). AFRICANO WALTHAM - CREATE A TRACKING SYSTEM AT AFRICANO WALTHAM AND ENTER FAMILIES INTO THE SYSTEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF OVERSEEING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND COUNSELING. (FY23: 200; FY24: 50) - SUCCESSFULLY SERVE FAMILIES WITH IN-DEPTH SERVICES AND COUNSELING WHICH IMPROVED WELLNESS FOR THESE FAMILIES. (FY23: 15; FY24: 20) - CREATE AT LEAST 2 NEW PARTNERSHIPS. (FY23: 3; FY24: 7) WHOLE:FY 23 - PROVIDED "JUST BREATH" CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP SESSIONS. - HIRED A PROGRAM MANAGER TO OVERSEE OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS, LEAD IN DEVELOPING EVALUATION PROCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, AND REPRESENT WHOLE AT EXTERNAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS.FY 24 - PROVIDED TWO WORKSHOPS FOR CAREGIVERS TO DISCUSS STRESS, CHALLENGES AND REWARD OF PROVIDING CARE FOR AN ADULT. - 100% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THEY LEARNED INFORMATION THAT WAS HELPFUL AND 86% REPORTED THAT THEY LEARNED SOMETHING NEW. TRANSITION HOUSE:FY 23 - TRANSITION HOUSE HIRED THREE NEW CLINICIANS - THIRTEEN TRAUMA SURVIVORS ENGAGED IN COUNSELING AND TEN OF THESE CLIENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MORE THAN THREE SESSIONS OF COUNSELING. ALL OF THESE CLIENTS REPORTED BEING SATISFIED WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE SEMI-ANNUAL CLIENT SATISFACTION SURVEY.FY 24 - TRANSITION HOUSE CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN AND EMPLOY 3 CLINICIANS.TO SUPPORT AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CLIENTS - IN FY24, THE COUNSELING PROGRAM RECEIVED 16 REFERRALS AND PROVIDED COUNSELING AND OR REFERRALS FOR ALL 16 PEOPLE. PROVIDED BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP, EIGHT WEEK LONG SESSIONS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. (FY23: 2 SUPPORT GROUPS WITH 23 COMMUNITY MEMBERS; FY24: 3 SUPPORT GROUPS WITH 26 COMMUNITY MEMBERS). PROVIDED AN ONGOING SUPPORT GROUP FOR NEW PARENTS INCREASING ACCESS BY 2 WEEKLY OPTIONS BOTH IN PERSON AND/OR VIRTUAL GROUPS (FY:23, 125 COMMUNITY MEMBERS; FY24: 138 COMMUNITY MEMBERS). 100% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THAT THEY GAINED CONFIDENCE IN CARING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR BABY AS A RESULT OF THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE POSTPARTUM SUPPORT GROUP (FY23, FY24). 100% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THAT THEY FELT SUPPORTED AND IT FELT LIKE A SAFE SPACE FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES (FY23, FY24). PROVIDED A SUBSTANCE USE NAVIGATOR IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND CARE TO THOSE PATIENTS IN THE ED WHO SHOW SIGNS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND TO HELP WITH CONTINUITY OF CARE. INCREASE ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH OUR COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL PROVIDED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES (FY 23: 1,308 ; FY 24: 1,395 PATIENTS ACROSS 12 SITES. SUBSIDIZED INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. OFFERED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) TRAININGS TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND BILH STAFF ACROSS THE BILH COMMUNITY BENEFITS SERVICE AREA. (FY24: MORE THAN 350 COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND BILH STAFF ATTENDED ONE OF THE 21 MHFA TRAININGS). BILH GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADVOCATED, DIRECTLY OR THROUGH THE STATE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION OR COMMUNITY COALITIONS, FOR BILLS SUPPORTING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES FOR ALL MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS (FY24: 8).
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PRIORITY AREA 4: COMPLEX AND CHRONIC CONDITIONS
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CHRONIC CONDITIONS SUCH AS CANCER, DIABETES, CHRONIC LOWER RESPIRATORY DISEASE, STROKE, AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE CONTRIBUTE TO 56% OF ALL MORTALITY IN MASSACHUSETTS AND OVER 53% OF ALL HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES ($30.9 BILLION A YEAR). PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, CHRONIC DISEASES ARE LARGELY PREVENTABLE DESPITE THEIR HIGH PREVALENCE AND DRAMATIC IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY.GOAL: IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND REDUCE DISPARITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AT-RISK FOR OR LIVING WITH CHRONIC AND/OR COMPLEX CONDITIONS AND CAREGIVERS BY ENHANCING ACCESS TO SCREENING, REFERRAL SERVICES, COORDINATED HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES, MEDICATIONS, AND OTHER RESOURCES.KEY: BASELINE 2023, YEAR 1 2024, YEAR 2 2025PROGRAMMATIC OBJECTIVES1.1 ENSURE OLDER ADULTS HAVE ACCESS TO COORDINATED HEALTHCARE, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT OVERALL HEALTH AND THE ABILITY TO AGE IN PLACE1.2 PROVIDE PREVENTIVE HEALTH INFORMATION, SERVICES, AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE AT RISK FOR COMPLEX AND/OR CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND SUPPORT EVIDENCE-BASED CHRONIC DISEASE TREATMENT AND SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES / STRATEGIES HEALTHY AGING PROGRAMPROVIDE SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH CANCERPROVIDE A FREE BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUPPROVIDE A STROKE NURSE NAVIGATOREXECUTE A STROKE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNMETRICS AND STATUS UPDATESCOORDINATE AND PROVIDE PRESENTATIONS GEARED TOWARDS EDUCATING OLDER ADULTS ON HEALTH TOPICS. (BASELINE: 4 PRESENTATIONS, 152 OLDER ADULTS IN ATTENDANCE. PRESENTATION TOPICS INCLUDED: BRAIN HEALTH, HEALTHY EATING/HEALTHY AGING, AND HEART HEALTH INCLUDING STROKE AWARENESS. YEAR 1: 4: 9 PRESENTATIONS, 179 OLDER ADULTS ATTENDED. PRESENTATION TOPICS INCLUDED: FALL PREVENTION, HEALTHY EATING/HEALTHY AGING, AND HEART HEALTH INCLUDING STROKE AWARENESS).BRAIN HEALTH (BASELINE ONLY): - 83% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THEY WILL TAKE LESSONS AND SKILLS LEARNED AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO THEIR WEEKLY ROUTINE. - 87% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED LEARNING NEW INFORMATION ABOUT KEEPING THEIR BRAINS HEALTHY. - 93% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THAT THEY LEARNED STRATEGIES TO HELP THEM MAKE CHOICES THAT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR OVERALL HEALTH.HEALTHY EATING/HEALTHY AGING - BASELINE: 87% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED LEARNING NEW TIPS AND IDEAS THEY WILL USE WHEN THEY GO GROCERY SHOPPING; YEAR 1: 100% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED LEARNING SOME NEW HEALTHY TIPS AND IDEAS THEY WILL USE WHEN THEY GO GROCERY SHOPPING. - BASELINE: 87% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED LEARNING NEW TIPS OR IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO SUBSTITUTE HEALTHIER FOODS IN THEIR DIET. YEAR 1: 80% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED LEARNING NEW TIPS OR IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO SUBSTITUTE FOODS IN THEIR DIET WITH HEALTHIER FOODS.HEART HEALTH (FY23 AND FY24): - FY23: 73% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF THE RISKS OF HEART DISEASE. FY24: 94% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THEY INCREASED THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RISKS OF HEART DISEASE. - FY23: 73% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED INCREASING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEART DISEASE. FY 24: 94% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED INCREASING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEART DISEASE FALL PREVENTION (FY24 ONLY): - 94% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THEY LEARNED SOME NEW INFORMATION ON HOW TO HELP THEMSELVES PREVENT A FALL - 98% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE WHAT THEY LEARNED FROM THE PRESENTATION AND IMPROVE THEIR OWN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. ORGANIZE A SURVIVORSHIP DAY EVENT. FY23: 48 PEOPLE ATTENDING; FY 24: 60 PEOPLE ATTENDING - FY23: 97% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED LEARNING SOMETHING OF LASTING VALUE, FY24: 100% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED LEARNING SOMETHING OF LASTING VALUE. - FY23: 95% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE WHAT THEY LEARNED AND APPLY IT TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN HEALTH AND WELLBEING; FY24: 100% OF THOSE PARTICIPATING REPORTED THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE WHAT THEY LEARNED AND USE IT TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN HEALTH AND WELLBEING.PROVIDED A FREE BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP TO THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED TREATMENT, THIS GROUP MET TWICE A MONTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. (FY23: 24 SESSIONS; FY24: 24 SESSIONS). PROVIDED STROKE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO PATIENTS AND FAMILIES BY STROKE NURSE COORDINATOR (FY23: 225 PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS; FY24: 240 PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS). CONDUCT A STROKE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FY 23 - CREATED AND DEVELOPED A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (VIDEO), DISTRIBUTED STROKE EDUCATION MATERIALS AND CONDUCTED STROKE AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. - THE VIDEO IS AVAILABLE IN FIVE LANGUAGES. LANGUAGES INCLUDE ARMENIAN, ENGLISH, HAITIAN CREOLE, PORTUGUESE AND SPANISH. THE VIDEO IS POSTED ON THE HOSPITAL'S WEBSITE AND SHARED WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE VIDEO WAS AIRED ON LOCAL CABLE NETWORK STATIONS. IT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED WIDELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA. - DISTRIBUTED OVER 2,000 STROKE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, INCLUDING MAGNETS IN FIVE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES IN ADDITION TO ENGLISH TO VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FOR POSTING IN COMMON AREAS. - PROVIDED EIGHT STROKE AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS WITH 127 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.- 98% OF PRESENTATION PARTICIPANTS REPORTED AN INCREASE IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RISKS OF HAVING A STROKE.- 89% OF PRESENTATION PARTICIPANTS REPORTED AN INCREASE IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STROKE.FY 24 - DISTRIBUTED OVER 5,000 STROKE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS INCLUDING MAGNETS IN 5 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES IN ADDITION TO ENGLISH THROUGH THE LOCAL MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAMS, FARMER'S MARKETS, AT LIBRARIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL TABLING. - PROVIDED 9 STROKE AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS WITH 110 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.- 98% OF PRESENTATION PARTICIPANTS REPORTED AN INCREASE IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RISKS OF HAVING A STROKE.- 97% OF PRESENTATION PARTICIPANTS REPORTED AN INCREASE OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STROKE.
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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MAH IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF RESIDENTS WITHIN ITS SERVICE AREA BY COLLABORATING WITH A DIVERSE GROUP OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE HOSPITAL WORKS TOGETHER WITH THESE PARTNERS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO HEALTH, INCREASE PREVENTION AND/OR SELF-MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASE AND INCREASE THE EARLY DETECTION OF ILLNESS. THE HOSPITAL'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDE: AFRICANO WALTHAM AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ARLINGTON COUNCIL ON AGING ARLINGTON EATS ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ARLINGTON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ARLINGTON YOUTH COUNSELING CENTER BELMONT COUNCIL ON AGING BELMONT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER CAMBRIDGE COUNCIL ON AGING CAMBRIDGE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CAMBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE CAMBRIDGE NEIGHBORS CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHARLES RIVER COMMUNITY HEALTH CITY OF CAMBRIDGE CITY OF SOMERVILLE CITY OF WALTHAM COMMUNITY DAY CENTER OF WALTHAM CORE MENTAL HEALTH DE NOVO CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND HEALING HARVARD UNIVERSITY EMS HEALTHY WALTHAM HOUSING CORP. OF ARLINGTON KINGDOM EMPOWERMENT CENTER LIVE WELL WATERTOWN MASSACHUSETTS ALLIANCE OF PORTUGUESE SPEAKERS MASS. INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY EMS MASSHIRE MNW METRO CAB OF BOSTON METRO HOUSING BOSTON MORE THAN WORDS PAINE SENIOR SERVICES PROFESSIONAL AMBULANCE EMS RAINBOW COMMISSION IN ARLINGTON SCM COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION SOMERVILLE CAMBRIDGE ELDER SERVICES SOMERVILLE CENTER FOR ADULT LEARNING EXPERIENCES (SCALE) SOMERVILLE COUNCIL ON AGING SOMERVILLE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SOMERVILLE HOMELESS COALITION SOMERVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT SOMERVILLE STAKEHOLDERS COALITION SOMERVILLE WINTER FARMER'S MARKET SPRINGWELL ELDER SERVICES TRANSITION HOUSE TOWN OF ARLINGTON TOWN OF BELMONT TOWN OF WATERTOWN WALTHAM CONNECTIONS WALTHAM COUNCIL ON AGING WALTHAM FAMILY SCHOOL WALTHAM FIELDS COMMUNITY FARM WALTHAM HEALTH DEPARTMENT WALTHAM INTERAGENCY GROUP WALTHAM PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUTH WALTHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT WATERTOWN CARES WATERTOWN COUNCIL ON AGING WATERTOWN FIRE DEPT. WATERTOWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT WATERTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT WAYSIDE YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES Y2Y NETWORKAS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL IN THIS SUPPORTING NARRATIVE TO THE FORM 990 SCHEDULE H, MAH IS DEEPLY DEDICATED TO ITS COMMUNITY BENEFITS OPERATIONS AND TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ITS COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, IN RESPONSE TO SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 11, THERE WERE SOME NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THE MOST RECENT CHNA THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY. THOSE NEEDS ARE: ADDRESSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE (I.E., PROMOTING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET), SUPPORTING EDUCATION ACROSS THE LIFESPAN, AND STRENGTHENING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (I.E., IMPROVING ROADS/SIDEWALKS AND ENHANCING ACCESS TO SAFE RECREATIONAL SPACES/ACTIVITIES). MAH WILL BE UNABLE TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS DUE TO LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES. HOWEVER, MAH REMAINS OPEN AND WILLING TO WORK WITH THE OTHER BILH HOSPITALS AND/OR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.AS NOTED IN DETAIL ABOVE, MAH'S PRIMARY TOOL FOR ASSESSING THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED IS THROUGH THE CHNA AND IS (SCHEDULE H PART VI QUESTION 2).
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FORM 990 SCHEDULE H PART VI SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
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THE PURPOSE OF THIS FORM 990 SCHEDULE H NARRATIVE DISCLOSURE IS TO HELP THE READER UNDERSTAND IN MORE DETAIL HOW MAH CARES FOR ITS COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS. AS DEMONSTRATED IN THIS SCHEDULE H, 22.9% OF MAH'S TOTAL EXPENSES AS REPORTED ON FORM 990 PART IX, LINE 24, ARE INCURRED IN PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS AT COST. COMMUNITY BENEFITSANNUAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS REPORTAS PREVIOUSLY NOTED IN THIS FILING, MAH'S MOST RECENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA) AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY WERE COMPLETED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, AS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE REGULATIONS UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(R). IN ADDITION, AS NOTED IN THIS FORM 990 SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINES 6A AND 6B, THE HOSPITAL PREPARES AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS REPORT THAT IS SUBMITTED TO THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL (SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 7). THAT FILING IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S WEBSITE AND ON THE HOSPITAL WEBSITE AT HTTPS://MOUNTAUBURNHOSPITAL.ORG/ABOUT/COMMUNITY-BENEFITS-NEEDSTHERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL DEFINITION OF CHARITY CARE AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DEFINITION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS. AS SUCH, THERE ARE VARIANCES BETWEEN THIS SCHEDULE H DISCLOSURE AND THE REPORT MAH FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. EMERGENCY CARE ACCESSIN ADDITION, AS NOTED IN THIS FORM 990, SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION A, MAH IS A GENERAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL HOSPITAL AND TEACHING HOSPITAL, PROVIDING 24-HOUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE TO ALL PATIENTS WITHOUT REGARD TO ABILITY TO PAY. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITSCHARITY CARE AND MEANS TESTED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMSFINANCIAL ASSISTANCEMAH'S NET COST OF CHARITY CARE, INCLUDING CARE FOR EMERGENT SERVICES PROVIDED TO NON-PAYING PATIENTS AND INCLUDING PAYMENTS TO THE HEALTH SAFETY NET TRUST, WAS $9,657,490 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THIS SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7A.AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED IN THIS FORM 990, MAH IS ONE OF ELEVEN HOSPITALS WITHIN THE BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH NETWORK. COMBINED THESE HOSPITALS' NET COST OF CHARITY CARE, INCLUDING CARE FOR EMERGENT SERVICES PROVIDED TO NON-PAYING PATIENTS AND INCLUDING PAYMENTS TO THE MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH SAFETY NET TRUST, WAS $52 MILLION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024. AS REPORTED IN SCHEDULE H PART I LINE 3 AND AGAIN IN SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B LINE 13, FOR THE PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE CARE TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS IS DETERMINED USING FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES OF 400% FOR FULL FREE CARE AND 400% FOR PARTIAL FREE CARE. ELIGIBILITY FOR DISCOUNTED CARE IS DETERMINED BY REVIEWING THE INDIVIDUAL'S EMPLOYMENT STATUS, FAMILY SIZE AND MONTHLY EXPENSES, INCLUDING MEDICAL HARDSHIP REVIEW. OTHER UNCOMPENSATED CHARITY CAREMEDICAID AND MEDICAREIN ADDITION TO THE CHARITY CARE REPORTED ABOVE, MAH ALSO PROVIDES CARE TO PATIENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, INCLUDING PARTICULARLY THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, WHICH IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. THE MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH REFORM LAW PROVIDED AN INITIATIVE FOR EXPANSION OF MEDICAID COVERAGE TO GREATER POPULATIONS AND FOR ENROLLMENT OF UNINSURED PATIENTS IN OTHER INSURANCE PROGRAMS. PAYMENTS FROM MEDICAID AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT INSURE LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS DO NOT COVER THE COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED. DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, MAH GENERATED $8,516,833 RELATED TO TREATING MEDICAID PATIENTS WHICH WAS LESS THAN THE COST OF CARE PROVIDED BY MAH FOR SUCH SERVICES BY $ 628,003 AS REPORTED ON THIS SCHEDULE H, PART I LINE 7B. DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, 10.7%% OR 38,632 OF MAH'S PATIENT ENCOUNTERS WERE WITH MEDICAID PATIENTS. IN ADDITION, 34.1%% OR 122,958 OF THE HOSPITAL'S PATIENT CASES WERE WITH MEDICARE PATIENTS. DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, THE COST OF PROVIDING CARE TO MEDICAID PATIENTS ACROSS BILH EXCEEDED PAYMENTS RECEIVED FOR PROVIDING THAT CARE RESULTING IN A COMBINED SHORTFALL EXCEEDING $35.5 MILLION RELATED TO TREATING MEDICAID PATIENTS. MEDICARE IS THE FEDERALLY SPONSORED HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR ELDERLY OR DISABLED PATIENTS, AND MAH PROVIDES CARE TO PATIENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, MAH GENERATED $94,765,304 RELATED TO TREATING MEDICARE PATIENTS. THE COSTS OF PROVIDING CARE TO MEDICARE PATIENTS EXCEEDED REVENUE BY $6,915,135. OF THESE AMOUNTS, REVENUE OF $11,385,371 IS RELATED TO THE PROVISION OF GENERAL SURGERY, OB/GYN, NEONATOLOGY & NEWBORN, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE SERVICES AND IS INCLUDED ON THIS SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7G, AS PART OF SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICES BECAUSE THE COST OF THOSE SERVICES EXCEEDED REVENUES BY $54,537,168. IN RESPONSE TO THE FORM 990, SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 8, ALTHOUGH MAH CONSIDERS THE PROVISION OF CLINICAL CARE TO ALL MEDICARE PATIENTS AS PART OF ITS COMMUNITY BENEFIT, THE REMAINING CARE TO MEDICARE PATIENTS IS NOT QUANTIFIED ON PAGE 1 OF THE SCHEDULE H. INSTEAD, PER THE IRS INSTRUCTIONS TO SCHEDULE H, MAH HAS SEPARATELY REPORTED THIS AMOUNT IN SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 7, AS REQUIRED. HOWEVER, IF THE MEDICARE SHORTFALL WERE INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE H PART I LINE 7 CALCULATION, IT WOULD INCREASE TO 25.17%.BAD DEBTSIN ADDITION TO CHARITY CARE AND SHORTFALLS IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO PATIENTS INSURED UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS, MAH ALSO INCURS LOSSES RELATED TO SELF-PAY PATIENTS WHO FAIL TO MAKE PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES OR INSURED PATIENTS WHO FAIL TO PAY COINSURANCE OR DEDUCTIBLES FOR WHICH THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE UNDER INSURANCE CONTRACTS. BAD DEBT EXPENSE IS INCLUDED IN UNCOMPENSATED CARE EXPENSE IN THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND INCLUDES THE PROVISION FOR ACCOUNTS ANTICIPATED TO BE UNCOLLECTIBLE. COSTS FOR THOSE SERVICES DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING OF $2,623,191 AND ARE REPORTED AS BAD DEBT ON FORM 990, SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 2. AS REQUIRED BY THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THIS FORM 990 SCHEDULE H, LOSSES RELATED TO BAD DEBTS HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE CALCULATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS IN SCHEDULE H PART I LINE 7. RATHER IT HAS BEEN SEPARATELY REPORTED IN SCHEDULE H PART III AS REQUIRED. THE PERCENTAGES CALCULATED IN PART I, LINE 7, COLUMN F WERE BASED ON EACH ITEM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL EXPENSES REPORTED IN PART IX OF THIS FORM 990. THE CONSOLIDATED AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH, INC. (BILH) AND AFFILIATES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 INCLUDE THE ACCOUNTS OF: BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. (BIDMC), MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL (MAH), NEW ENGLAND BAPTIST HOSPITAL (NEBH), BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL MILTON, INC. (MILTON), BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL NEEDHAM, INC. (NEEDHAM), BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL PLYMOUTH, INC. (PLYMOUTH), LAHEY CLINIC FOUNDATION (LCF) , LAHEY CLINIC (LCI), LAHEY CLINIC HOSPITAL D/B/A LAHEY HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER (LHMC), WINCHESTER HOSPITAL (WINCHESTER), NORTHEAST HOSPITAL CORPORATION (NORTHEAST), ANNA JAQUES HOSPITAL (AJH), EXETER HEALTH RESOURCES, INC. (EHRI), EXETER HOSPITAL (EH), BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH PHARMACY, JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER AND THEIR AFFILIATES. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM ALSO INCLUDE A CONTROLLED AFFILIATE, HARVARD MEDICAL FACULTY PHYSICIANS AT BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. (HMFP). THE CONSOLIDATED AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH, INC. (BILH) AND AFFILIATES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 INCLUDE THE ACCOUNTS OF: BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. (BIDMC), MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL (MAH), NEW ENGLAND BAPTIST HOSPITAL (NEBH), BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL MILTON, INC. (MILTON), BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL NEEDHAM, INC. (NEEDHAM), BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL PLYMOUTH, INC. (PLYMOUTH), LAHEY CLINIC FOUNDATION (LCF) , LAHEY CLINIC (LCI), LAHEY CLINIC HOSPITAL D/B/A LAHEY HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER (LHMC), WINCHESTER HOSPITAL (WINCHESTER), NORTHEAST HOSPITAL CORPORATION (NORTHEAST), ANNA JAQUES HOSPITAL (AJH), EXETER HEALTH RESOURCES, INC. (EHRI), EXETER HOSPITAL (EH), BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH PHARMACY, JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER AND THEIR AFFILIATES. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM ALSO INCLUDE A CONTROLLED AFFILIATE, HARVARD MEDICAL FACULTY PHYSICIANS AT BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. (HMFP).
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOOTNOTE: REVENUE RECOGNITION
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THE SYSTEM S PATIENT SERVICE REVENUE IS REPORTED AT THE AMOUNT THAT REFLECTS THE CONSIDERATION TO WHICH THE SYSTEM EXPECTS TO BE ENTITLED IN EXCHANGE FOR PROVIDING PATIENT CARE. THESE AMOUNTS ARE DUE FROM PATIENTS, THIRD-PARTY PAYORS (INCLUDING MANAGED CARE PAYORS AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS), AND OTHERS AND INCLUDE AN ESTIMATE OF VARIABLE CONSIDERATION FOR RETROACTIVE REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO SETTLEMENT OF AUDITS, REVIEWS, AND INVESTIGATIONS. GENERALLY, THE SYSTEM BILLS THE PATIENTS AND THIRD-PARTY PAYORS SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE SERVICES ARE PERFORMED AND/OR THE PATIENT IS DISCHARGED FROM THE SYSTEM'S FACILITY.REVENUE IS RECOGNIZED AS PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS ARE SATISFIED. PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS ARE DETERMINED BASED ON THE NATURE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM. REVENUE FOR PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS SATISFIED OVER TIME IS RECOGNIZED BASED ON ACTUAL CHARGES INCURRED IN RELATION TO TOTAL EXPECTED (OR ACTUAL) CHARGES. THE SYSTEM BELIEVES THAT THIS METHOD PROVIDES A REASONABLE REPRESENTATION OF THE TRANSFER OF SERVICES OVER THE TERM OF THE PERFORMANCE OBLIGATION BASED ON THE INPUTS NEEDED TO SATISFY THE OBLIGATION. GENERALLY, PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS SATISFIED OVER TIME RELATE TO INPATIENT SERVICES. THE SYSTEM MEASURES THE PERFORMANCE OBLIGATION FROM ADMISSION INTO THE HOSPITAL, OR COMMENCEMENT OF A PATIENT SERVICE, TO THE POINT WHEN IT IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THAT PATIENT, WHICH IS GENERALLY AT THE TIME OF DISCHARGE OR COMPLETION OF THE OUTPATIENT SERVICES. PATIENT ENCOUNTERS AND RELATED EPISODES OF CARE AND PROCEDURES QUALIFY AS DISTINCT GOODS AND SERVICES, PROVIDED SIMULTANEOUSLY TOGETHER WITH OTHER READILY AVAILABLE RESOURCES, IN A SINGLE INSTANCE OF SERVICE, AND THEREBY CONSTITUTE A SINGLE PERFORMANCE OBLIGATION FOR EACH PATIENT ENCOUNTER AND, IN MOST INSTANCES, OCCUR AT READILY DETERMINABLE TRANSACTION PRICES. ALL SERVICES PROVIDED ARE EXPECTED TO RESULT IN CASH FLOWS AND ARE THEREFORE REFLECTED AS NET REVENUE IN THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.THE INITIAL ESTIMATE OF THE TRANSACTION PRICE IS DETERMINED BY REDUCING THE STANDARD CHARGE BY ANY CONTRACTUAL ADJUSTMENTS, DISCOUNTS, AND IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS. THE ESTIMATES OF CONTRACTUAL ADJUSTMENTS AND DISCOUNTS ARE BASED ON CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS, DISCOUNT POLICIES AND HISTORICAL CASH COLLECTION EXPERIENCE. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN STANDARD CHARGES AND ESTIMATED TRANSACTION PRICE ARE GENERALLY RECORDED AS ADJUSTMENTS TO PATIENT SERVICE REVENUE IN THE PERIOD OF THE CHANGE AND ARE ACCRUED ON AN ESTIMATED BASIS IN THE PERIOD THE RELATED SERVICES ARE RENDERED AND ADJUSTED IN FUTURE PERIODS AS FINAL SETTLEMENTS ARE DETERMINED. ADJUSTMENTS ARISING FROM A CHANGE IN THE TRANSACTION PRICE WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT DURING THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, FOR 2024 OR 2023. REVENUES UNDER THE TRADITIONAL FEE FOR SERVICE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS ARE BASED PRIMARILY ON PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS. RETROSPECTIVELY DETERMINED COST-BASED REVENUES UNDER THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH WERE MORE PREVALENT IN EARLIER PERIODS, AND CERTAIN OTHER PAYMENTS, SUCH AS DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE HOSPITAL AND BAD DEBT EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT, WHICH ARE BASED ON OUR HOSPITALS COST REPORTS, ARE ESTIMATED USING HISTORICAL TRENDS AND CURRENT FACTORS. COST REPORT SETTLEMENTS UNDER THESE PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO AUDIT BY MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AUDITORS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL REVIEW, AND IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL YEARS UNTIL FINAL SETTLEMENT OF SUCH MATTERS IS DETERMINED AND COMPLETELY RESOLVED. THE SYSTEM RECORDS ACCRUALS TO REFLECT THE EXPECTED FINALSETTLEMENTS ON COST REPORTS. FOR FILED COST REPORTS, THE ACCRUAL IS RECORDED BASED ON THOSE COST REPORTS AND SUBSEQUENT ACTIVITY. THE ACCRUAL FOR PERIODS FOR WHICH A COST REPORT IS YET TO BE FILED IS RECORDED BASED ON ESTIMATES OF WHAT THE SYSTEM EXPECTS TO REPORT ON THE FILED COST REPORTS. AFTER THE COST REPORT IS FILED, THE ACCRUAL MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED. SETTLEMENTS WITH THIRD-PARTY PAYORS FOR RETROACTIVE REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO AUDITS, REVIEWS OR INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONSIDERED VARIABLE CONSIDERATION AND ARE INCLUDED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE ESTIMATED TRANSACTION PRICE FOR PROVIDING PATIENT CARE USING THE MOST LIKELY OUTCOME METHOD. THESE SETTLEMENTS ARE ESTIMATED BASED ON THE TERMS OF THE PAYMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE PAYOR, CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PAYOR AND HISTORICAL SETTLEMENT ACTIVITY, INCLUDING AN ASSESSMENT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS PROBABLE THAT A SIGNIFICANT REVERSAL IN THE AMOUNT OF CUMULATIVE REVENUE RECOGNIZED WILL NOT OCCUR WHEN THE UNCERTAINTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE RETROACTIVE ADJUSTMENT IS SUBSEQUENTLY RESOLVED.ESTIMATED SETTLEMENTS ARE ADJUSTED IN FUTURE PERIODS AS ADJUSTMENTS BECOME KNOWN, OR AS YEARS ARE SETTLED OR ARE NO LONGER SUBJECT TO SUCH AUDITS, REVIEWS AND INVESTIGATIONS.THE SYSTEM IS NOT AWARE OF ANY MATERIAL CLAIMS, DISPUTES, OR UNSETTLED MATTERS WITH ANY PAYORS THAT WOULD AFFECT REVENUES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY PROVIDED FOR AND DISCLOSED IN THE ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. BECAUSE THE LAWS, REGULATIONS, INSTRUCTIONS AND RULE INTERPRETATIONS GOVERNING MEDICARE AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT ARE COMPLEX, SUBJECT TO INTERPRETATION AND CAN CHANGE FREQUENTLY, THE ESTIMATES RECORDED COULD CHANGE BY MATERIAL AMOUNTS.CONSISTENT WITH THE SYSTEM'S MISSION, CARE IS PROVIDED TO PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. THE SYSTEM HAS DETERMINED IT HAS PROVIDED IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS TO UNINSURED PATIENTS AND PATIENTS WITH OTHER UNINSURED BALANCES (E.G., COPAYS AND DEDUCTIBLES). THE IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS INCLUDED IN ESTIMATING THE TRANSACTION PRICE REPRESENT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMOUNTS BILLED TO PATIENTS AND THE AMOUNTS THE SYSTEM EXPECTS TO COLLECT BASED ON ITS COLLECTION HISTORY WITH THOSE PATIENTS. PATIENTS WHO MEET THE SYSTEM'S CRITERIA FOR CHARITY CARE ARE PROVIDED CARE WITHOUT CHARGE OR AT AMOUNTS LESS THAN ESTABLISHED RATES. THE SYSTEM HAS DETERMINED THAT IT HAS PROVIDED SUFFICIENT IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS FOR THESE ACCOUNTS. PRICE CONCESSIONS, INCLUDING CHARITY CARE, ARE NOT REPORTED AS REVENUE.PATIENTS WHO ARE COVERED BY THIRD-PARTY PAYORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RELATED CO-PAYS, CO-INSURANCE AND DEDUCTIBLES, WHICH VARY IN AMOUNT. THE SYSTEM ESTIMATES THE TRANSACTION PRICE FOR PATIENTS WITH CO-PAYS, CO-INSURANCE AND DEDUCTIBLES AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED BASED ON HISTORICAL COLLECTION EXPERIENCE AND CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS. THE DISCOUNT OFFERED TO CERTAIN UNINSURED PATIENTS IS RECOGNIZED AS A CONTRACTUAL ALLOWANCE, WHICH REDUCES NET OPERATING REVENUES AT THE TIME THE SELF-PAY ACCOUNTS ARE RECORDED. THE UNINSURED PATIENT ACCOUNTS, NET OF CONTRACTUAL ALLOWANCES RECORDED, ARE FURTHER REDUCED TO THEIR NET REALIZABLE VALUE AT THE TIME THEY ARE RECORDED THROUGH IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS BASED ON HISTORICAL COLLECTION TRENDS FOR SELF-PAY ACCOUNTS AND OTHER FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE ESTIMATION PROCESS. ALTHOUGH OUTCOMES VARY, THE SYSTEM'S POLICY IS TO ATTEMPT TO COLLECT AMOUNTS DUE FROM PATIENTS, INCLUDING CO-PAYS, CO-INSURANCE AND DEDUCTIBLES DUE FROM PATIENTS WITH INSURANCE, AT THE TIME OF SERVICE WHILE COMPLYING WITH ALL FEDERAL AND STATE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS.OTHER REVENUE INCLUDES CONTRIBUTIONS AND NET ASSETS RELEASED FROM RESTRICTIONS AS WELL AS CAFETERIA AND PARKING INCOME. ADDITIONALLY, PHARMACY SALES AND OTHER CONTRACTS RELATED TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE INCLUDED IN OTHER REVENUE AND CONSIST OF CONTRACTS WHICH VARY IN DURATION AND IN PERFORMANCE. REVENUE IS RECOGNIZED WHEN THE PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS ARE SATISFIED AND COLLECTIONS ARE PROBABLE. OTHER REVENUE FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023 ALSO INCLUDED FUNDING RECEIVED FROM FEDERAL AND STATE SOURCES RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMOUNTING TO $17,500 AND $6,100, RESPECTIVELY.EMERGENCY CARE ACCESSTHE MAH DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE FOR ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. THE HOSPITAL OFFERS THIS CARE FOR ALL PATIENTS THAT COME TO THIS FACILITY 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, AND 365 DAYS A YEAR.
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(R)(4)
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY PURPOSE MAH IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PATIENTS WHO HAVE HEALTHCARE NEEDS AND ARE UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED, INELIGIBLE FOR A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM OR OTHERWISE UNABLE TO PAY FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL SITUATION. THIS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY IS INTENDED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS FOR OUR SERVICE AREA. PATIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL RECEIVE DISCOUNTED CARE FROM MAH AS WELL AS PROVIDERS WHO FOLLOW MAH'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY. A LIST OF ALL PROVIDERS WHO PROVIDE CARE WITHIN MAH AS WELL AS INFORMATION INDICATING IF THE LISTED PROVIDERS FOLLOW MAH'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY IS INCLUDED IN APPENDIX 5 TO THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY. MAH DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE WHEN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY.FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY AND EMERGENCY CARE POLICYAS REQUIRED BY IRC SECTION 501(R)(4) AND THE REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER, THE HOSPITAL MAINTAINS A WRITTEN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY (FAP) THAT APPLIES TO ALL EMERGENCY AND OTHER MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE PROVIDED BY THE HOSPITAL FACILITY. (SCHEDULE H PART I QUESTIONS 1A AND 1B). DETAIL RELATED TO EMERGENCY AND OTHER MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE COVERED BY THE POLICY IS INCLUDED WITHIN THE POLICY AND THE DEFINITION OF EMERGENCY CARE MEETS THE DEFINITION OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT AND LABOR ACT (EMTALA), SECTION 1867 OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT (42 USC 1395DD). (SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B QUESTION 21). THE FAP INCLUDES A LIST OF PROVIDERS OTHER THAN THE HOSPITAL ITSELF, WHICH ARE COVERED BY THE FAP AND SPECIFIES ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR BOTH FREE AND DISCOUNTED CARE. THE FAP ALSO INCLUDES THE BASIS FOR CALCULATING AMOUNTS CHARGED TO PATIENTS. THE PROVIDER LIST IS UPDATED NOT LESS THAN QUARTERLY. THE HOSPITAL MAINTAINS A SEPARATE CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TREASURY REGULATIONS AND THIS CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY IS REFERENCED WITHIN THE FAP AS REQUIRED, ALONG WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY. (SCHEDULE H PART III SECTION C QUESTIONS 9A AND 9B AND PART V SECTION B QUESTION 17). THE HOSPITAL'S FAP AND CREDIT & COLLECTION POLICY WERE ADOPTED BY AN AUTHORIZED BODY AS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE IRC SECTION 501(R) TREASURY REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE ON OR ABOUT APRIL 24, 2024.FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY - APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE THE HOSPITAL'S FAP INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE METHOD FOR APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE FAP. IN ADDITION, THE HOSPITAL'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION INCLUDES A LIST OF INFORMATION/DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED AS PART OF A PATIENT'S APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. (SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B QUESTION 15)FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY - ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES THE HOSPITAL'S FAP USES THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE AND DISCOUNTED CARE. (SCHEDULE H PART I QUESTION 3A AND 3B AND PART V SECTION B QUESTION 13). IN ADDITION, THE HOSPITAL'S FAP PROVIDES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BASED ON MEDICAL HARDSHIP AND ASSET LEVEL (SCHEDULE H PART I QUESTIONS 3C AND 4, PART V SECTION B QUESTION 13 AND PART VI QUESTION 3). FINALLY, THE HOSPITAL UNDERSTANDS THAT NOT ALL PATIENTS ARE ABLE TO COMPLETE A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION OR COMPLY WITH REQUESTS FOR DOCUMENTATION. THERE MAY BE INSTANCES UNDER WHICH A PATIENT/GUARANTOR'S QUALIFICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS ESTABLISHED WITHOUT COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM. OTHER INFORMATION MAY BE USED BY THE HOSPITAL TO DETERMINE WHETHER A PATIENT/GUARANTOR'S ACCOUNT IS UNCOLLECTIBLE, AND THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY AS OUTLINED IN THE HOSPITAL'S FAP. (SCHEDULE H PART I QUESTIONS 3C).FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (SCHEDULE H PART I QUESTION 3C)IN ADDITION TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HOSPITAL'S FAP, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED, THE HOSPITAL WILL WORK WITH PATIENTS TO ASSIST THEM IN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND/OR HOSPITAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT MAY COVER SOME OR ALL OF THEIR UNPAID HOSPITAL BILLS. IN ORDER TO HELP UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED INDIVIDUALS FIND AVAILABLE AND APPROPRIATE OPTIONS, THE HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH A GENERAL NOTICE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS DURING THE PATIENT'S INITIAL IN-PERSON REGISTRATION AT A HOSPITAL LOCATION FOR A SERVICE, IN ALL BILLING INVOICES THAT ARE SENT TO A PATIENT OR GUARANTOR, AND WHEN THE PROVIDER IS NOTIFIED OR THROUGH ITS OWN DUE DILIGENCE BECOMES AWARE OF A CHANGE IN THE PATIENT'S ELIGIBILITY STATUS FOR PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSURANCE COVERAGE.HOSPITAL PATIENTS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED COST OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES THROUGH VARIOUS STATE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE HOSPITAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MASSHEALTH, THE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PAYMENT PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE HEALTH CONNECTOR, THE CHILDREN'S MEDICAL SECURITY PROGRAM, THE HEALTH SAFETY NET, AND MEDICAL HARDSHIP). SUCH PROGRAMS ARE INTENDED TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME PATIENTS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT EACH INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF HIS OR HER CARE. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED, THE HOSPITAL WILL, WHEN REQUESTED, HELP THEM WITH APPLYING FOR EITHER COVERAGE THROUGH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OR HOSPITAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT MAY COVER ALL OR SOME OF THEIR UNPAID HOSPITAL BILLS.THE HOSPITAL IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST PATIENTS IN ENROLLING INTO STATE HEALTH COVERAGE PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDE MASSHEALTH, THE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PAYMENT PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE STATE'S HEALTH CONNECTOR, AND THE CHILDREN'S MEDICAL SECURITY PLAN. FOR THESE PROGRAMS, APPLICANTS CAN SUBMIT AN APPLICATION THROUGH AN ONLINE WEBSITE (WHICH IS CENTRALLY LOCATED ON THE STATE'S HEALTH CONNECTOR WEBSITE), A PAPER APPLICATION, OR OVER THE PHONE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE LOCATED AT EITHER MASSHEALTH OR THE CONNECTOR. INDIVIDUALS MAY ALSO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE FROM HOSPITAL FINANCIAL COUNSELORS (ALSO CALLED CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELORS) WITH SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION EITHER ON THE WEBSITE OR THROUGH A PAPER APPLICATION.FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY - TRANSLATIONS THE HOSPITAL'S FAP, CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY AND PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY OF THE FAP (SEE DETAIL BELOW) HAVE ALL BEEN TRANSLATED INTO THE LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL'S COMMUNITY WHO MAY COMMUNICATE IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH. THE HOSPITAL HAS TRANSLATED THESE DOCUMENTS INTO THE LANGUAGES OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (LEP) OF ITS PATIENTS, 5% OF THE POPULATION OR 1000 PERSONS, WHICHEVER IS LESS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS PROMULGATED UNDER IRC SECTION 501(R). BASED ON THE HOSPITAL'S REVIEW OF THIS SAFE HARBOR, THE HOSPITAL HAS TRANSLATED THESE DOCUMENTS INTO THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGES: ARMENIAN, SIMPLIFIED CHINESE, TRADITIONAL CHINESE, FRENCH, GREEK, HAITIAN CREOLE, PORTUGUESE, RUSSIAN AND SPANISH (SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B QUESTION 16I) (SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B QUESTION 16I)FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY - WIDELY PUBLICIZING AND AVAILABILITYCOPIES OF THE FAP, CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY, FAP SUMMARY AND APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ARE ALL AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND ALL LEP LANGUAGES AT THE HOSPITAL, BY MAIL FREE OF CHARGE AND/OR ON THE HOSPITAL'S WEBSITE: (SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B QUESTIONS 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 16H) AT HTTPS://MOUNTAUBURNHOSPITAL.ORG/PATIENTS-VISITORS/BILLING-FINANCIAL-ASSISTANCE/ASSISTANCEIN ADDITION, THE FAP, CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY, FAP SUMMARY AND APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ARE ALL AVAILABLE IN THE HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND FINANCIAL COUNSELING OFFICE. (SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B QUESTION 16F AND SCHEDULE H PART VI QUESTION 3).THE HOSPITAL MAINTAINS SIGNAGE AND CONSPICUOUS PUBLIC DISPLAYS ABOUT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND THE FAP DESIGNED TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF PATIENTS AND VISITORS, INCLUDING BOTH THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND ADMISSIONS. SUCH SIGNAGE IS POSTED BOTH IN ENGLISH AND THE LEP LANGUAGES NOTED ABOVE. IN ADDITION, FINANCIAL COUNSELING PERSONNEL ROUTINELY VISIT LOCATIONS DESIGNATED FOR SIGNAGE TO ENSURE THAT SUCH SIGNAGE REMAINS VISIBLE TO PATIENTS AND VISITORS AS ATTENDED. THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAP TO PATIENTS BEFORE DISCHARGE AND CONSPICUOUSLY WITHIN BILLING STATEMENTS. INFORMATION PROVIDED TO PATIENTS IN THESE COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THOSE THAT CAN HELP PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAP, INFORMATION ON THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE WEBSITE WHERE THE FAP CAN BE OBTAINED. ADDITIONALLY, A PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY OF THE FAP IS PROVIDED TO PATIENTS AS PART OF THE INTAKE PROCESS. (SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B QUESTION 16G).
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY
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AS NOTED IN THIS NARRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE FORM 990 SCHEDULE H, THE HOSPITAL HAS A PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY OF ITS FAP. THIS IS A WRITTEN STATEMENT DESIGNED TO NOTIFY PATIENTS AND VISITORS THAT THE HOSPITAL HAS A WRITTEN FAP AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THIS PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY INCLUDES INFORMATION ON FREE AND DISCOUNTED CARE, HOW TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE FAP POLICY AND APPLICATION, INCLUDING THE WEBSITE ADDRESS, THE LOCATION AND PHONE NUMBER OF THE FINANCIAL COUNSELING OFFICE. THE PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY ALSO INCLUDES THE LIST OF LANGUAGES INTO WHICH THE FAP AND SUMMARY HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED AS WELL AS HOW TO ACCESS INFORMATION ON PROVIDERS NOT COVERED BY THE FAP AND TO WHICH OTHER RELATED HOSPITALS APPROVAL UNDER THE FAP WILL APPLY. LINKS TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY AND RELATED DOCUMENTSTHE LINK TO THE MAH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY (FAP) AND THE FOLLOWING RELATED DOCUMENTS CAN BE FOUND ON THE HOSPITAL'S WEBSITE. CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MEDICAL HARDSHIP APPLICATION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PATIENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND BILLING, ALL IN ENGLISH, ARMENIAN, SIMPLIFIED CHINESE, TRADITIONAL CHINESE, FRENCH, GREEK, HAITIAN CREOLE, PORTUGUESE, RUSSIAN AND SPANISH, CAN BE FOUND ON THE MAH WEBSITE AT HTTPS://MOUNTAUBURNHOSPITAL.ORG/PATIENTS-VISITORS/BILLING-FINANCIAL-ASSISTANCE/ASSISTANCELIMITATION ON CHARGES - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(R)(5)LIMITATION ON CHARGESAS REQUIRED BY IRC SECTION 501(R)(5) AND THE REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER, THE HOSPITAL LIMITS THE AMOUNTS CHARGED FOR ANY EMERGENCY OR OTHER MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE IT PROVIDES TO A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE-ELIGIBLE PATIENT, TO NOT MORE THAN AMOUNTS GENERALLY BILLED (AGB) AND LIMITS THE AMOUNTS CHARGED TO ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBLE PATIENT FOR ALL OTHER MEDICAL CARE TO LESS THAN GROSS CHARGES. AMOUNTS GENERALLY BILLED LOOK BACK METHODTHE HOSPITAL CALCULATES ITS AGB, USING THE LOOK BACK METHOD, DIVIDING THE TOTAL PAYMENTS RECEIVED FROM ALL COMMERCIAL PLANS AND MEDICARE BY THE TOTAL CHARGES SENT TO THOSE SAME PAYERS FOR THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. CALCULATED AGB IS INCLUDED IN THE HOSPITAL'S FAP AS REQUIRED UNDER THE REGULATIONS DETAILING THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER IRC SECTION 501(R)(5). (SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B QUESTION 22). PATIENT REFUNDS FOR CHARGES IN EXCESS OF AMOUNTS GENERALLY BILLEDTHE HOSPITAL REGULARLY MONITORS THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBLE PATIENTS. WHERE A PATIENT SUBMITS A COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND IS DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE HOSPITAL REFUNDS ANY AMOUNTS PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR CARE THAN EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT THAT THE PATIENT IS PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING WHERE SUCH AMOUNTS ARE EQUAL TO OR EXCEED $5.00. BILLING AND COLLECTIONS501(R)(6)EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION ACTIVITIESTHE HOSPITAL DOES NOT REPORT TO CREDIT AGENCIES, ENGAGE IN LEGAL OR JUDICIAL PROCESSES OR SELL A PATIENT'S OUTSTANDING AMOUNTS OWED FOR PATIENT CARE. IN ADDITION, THIS EXTENDS TO ANY THIRD PARTY CONTRACTED WITH THE HOSPITAL RELATED TO BILLING AND COLLECTIONS. THE HOSPITAL MAY DEFER OR REQUIRE PAYMENT BEFORE PROVIDING MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES (OTHER THAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES) TO PATIENTS WITH UNPAID BALANCES WHO HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE REQUESTED INFORMATION FOR PROCESSING A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION OR WITH RESPECT TO A PAYMENT PLAN. THE HOSPITAL DOES NOT PROVIDE A 30-DAY WRITTEN NOTICE IN ADVANCE OF TAKING SUCH ACTION, AS SUCH NOTICE IS NOT REQUIRED BY THE SECTION 501(R) REGULATIONS. (SCHEDULE H PART V SECTION B QUESTIONS 18 AND 19).APPLICATION PERIOD PATIENTS MAY APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AT ANY TIME UP TO TWO HUNDRED FORTY (240) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST POST-DISCHARGE BILLING STATEMENT IS AVAILABLE.
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS - RESEARCH
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AS NOTED THROUGHOUT THIS FORM 990, MAH IS A MEMBER OF THE BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH (BILH) NETWORK OF AFFILIATES. ALTHOUGH MAH DOES NOT DIRECTLY ENGAGE IN RESEARCH, BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER (BIDMC), LAHEY CLINIC, NEW ENGLAND BAPTIST HOSPITAL AND JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER ALL ENGAGE IN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO CARE FOR PATIENTS NOT ONLY AT THESE HOSPITALS, BUT ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY BILH AND BEYOND. BIDMC HAS THE LARGEST RESEARCH OPERATIONS ACROSS BILH AND DURING THE FISCAL YEAR COVERED BY THIS FILING, THE MEDICAL CENTER INCURRED OVER $370 MILLION IN RESEARCH EXPENSES, MORE THAN $91 MILLION OF WHICH WERE INTERNALLY FUNDED. ALTHOUGH THE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF THESE BIDMC AND OTHER BILH AFFILIATES ARE NOT QUANTIFIED HERE IN MAH'S FORM 990 SCHEDULE H, PART I, 7H, AS ALREADY NOTED, THESE ACTIVITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY MAH, BILH AND BEYOND. INFORMATION ON THE RESEARCH ENGAGED IN AT BIDMC AND JOSLIN, SISTER ENTITIES TO MAH, DURING THE PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, IS INCLUDED BELOW. BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. (BIDMC OR MEDICAL CENTER) IS A TERTIARY CARE ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER PROVIDING LEADING EDGE PATIENT CARE, IS A WORLD CLASS RESEARCH INSTITUTION AND IS DEVOTED TO TEACHING AND TRAINING THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OF TOMORROW, EMBRACING TECHNOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL PRACTICE INNOVATION. TO THAT END, PART OF THE MEDICAL CENTER'S MISSION IS TO BE A WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH INSTITUTION WHERE OUTSTANDING SCIENTISTS WORK TO DEVELOP NEW KNOWLEDGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE HEALTH OF OUR LOCAL AND EXTENDED COMMUNITIES. THE RESEARCH PROGRAM STRIVES TO BE RENOWNED FOR ITS BENCH-TO-BEDSIDE MODEL OF TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH AND FOR ITS COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY AS A PATHWAY FOR TRANSFERRING THE FRUITS OF RESEARCH INTO PRODUCTS AND TREATMENTS THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.THE MEDICAL CENTER'S NOTABLE RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE CONSISTENTLY BEING RANKED IN THE TOP TIER OF INDEPENDENT HOSPITALS IN NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) FUNDING. THE MEDICAL CENTER SCIENTISTS CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF DISEASES AND BETTER TREATMENTS FOR PATIENTS, WHICH IN TURN DIRECTLY IMPACT THE LIVES OF OUR PATIENTS AND IMPROVE THE MEDICAL CENTER'S PATIENT CARE. DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, MORE THAN 1,220 ACTIVE FEDERAL, INDUSTRY AND FOUNDATION SPONSORED PROJECTS AND MORE THAN 2,500 ACTIVE EXEMPT, EXPEDITED, AND FULL BOARD-REVIEWED CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDIES. BIDMC RESEARCH IS LED BY MORE THAN 280 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL FACULTY. THE KEY AREAS OF RESEARCH INCLUDE VASCULAR BIOLOGY, MOLECULAR IMAGING, TRANSPLANTATION, SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION, CANCER BIOLOGY, METABOLIC DISEASE, NEUROBIOLOGY, AIDS, VACCINE DEVELOPMENT AND VIROLOGY, INFECTION CONTROL AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND CARDIOLOGY/CARDIAC SURGERY. AS NOTED IN THIS FILING, THE MEDICAL CENTER IS A TEACHING HOSPITAL OF HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AND IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING A COLLABORATIVE CULTURE; TO MAINTAINING MODERN, HIGH-QUALITY FACILITIES, AND TO TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXIST AMONG THE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE HARVARD TEACHING HOSPITALS. THE MEDICAL CENTER DESIGNS AND IMPLEMENTS MANY INTERDEPARTMENTAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROGRAMS WITHIN THE INSTITUTION. THE MEDICAL CENTER ALSO COLLABORATES WITH OTHER NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND WORLD-RENOWNED EXPERTS IN VARIOUS FIELDS IN AN EFFORT TO TRANSLATE NEW KNOWLEDGE INTO NOVEL MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND PATIENT CARE. THE MEDICAL CENTER PARTICIPATES IN HARVARD CATALYST, THE HARVARD CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE CENTER, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER THE INTELLECTUAL FORCE, TECHNOLOGIES, AND CLINICAL EXPERTISE AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND ITS ACADEMIC, HEALTH CARE, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CREATE CONNECTIONS, ENABLE RESEARCH AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF DISCOVERY, AND NURTURE CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCHERS WITH THE GOAL OF IMPROVING HUMAN HEALTH.STUDIES BY MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCHERS ARE ROUTINELY PUBLISHED IN THE WORLD'S LEADING SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS, INCLUDING NATURE, SCIENCE, THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, WHICH HELPS TO BRING THE RESEARCH FINDINGS TO CLINICIANS AND PATIENTS BEYOND THE MEDICAL CENTER. THE MEDICAL CENTER ENGAGES IN RESEARCH IN ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINES: ANESTHESIA, CRITICAL CARE, AND PAIN MEDICINE EMERGENCY MEDICINE MEDICINE - ALLERGY AND INFLAMMATION - CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE - CENTER FOR VASCULAR BIOLOGY RESEARCH - CLINICAL INFORMATICS - CLINICAL NUTRITION - ENDOCRINOLOGY - EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE - GASTROENTEROLOGY - GENERAL MEDICINE AND PRIMARY CARE - GENETICS - GERONTOLOGY - HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY - HEMOSTASIS AND THROMBOSIS - IMMUNOLOGY - INFECTIOUS DISEASE - INTERDISCIPLINARY MEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY - MOLECULAR AND VASCULAR MEDICINE - NEPHROLOGY - PULMONOLOGY - RHEUMATOLOGY - SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION - TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH - TRANSPLANT IMMUNOLOGY NEONATOLOGY NEUROLOGY OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY PATHOLOGY PSYCHIATRY RADIOLOGY SURGERY - CARDIAC SURGERY - CENTER FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY - NEUROSURGERY - PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY - VASCULAR SURGERY TRANSPLANT INSTITUTEDURING THE FISCAL YEAR COVERED BY THIS FILING, THE MEDICAL CENTER INCURRED OVER $370 MILLION IN RESEARCH EXPENSES, MORE THAN $91 MILLION OF WHICH WERE INTERNALLY FUNDED AND REPORTED ON THE BIDMC SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7H RELATED TO RESEARCH TO FURTHER SCIENCE AND PATIENT CARE.RESEARCH ENGAGED IN AT THE MEDICAL CENTERTHE REAL CORNERSTONES OF THE MEDICAL CENTER'S SUCCESS CAN BE DESCRIBED IN THREE KEY WORDS: INNOVATION, CULTIVATION, AND TRANSFORMATION. BEGINNING WITH SUPPORT OF BOLD AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS, EXTENDING TO CULTIVATION AND NURTURING OF PROMISING YOUNG SCIENTISTS, AND CULMINATING IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF NOVEL DISCOVERIES INTO THERAPIES AND DIAGNOSTICS, THE MEDICAL CENTER'S RESEARCH PROGRAM HAS EMERGED AS A UNIQUE AND SUCCESSFUL MODEL FOR TODAY'S RAPIDLY CHANGING HEALTH CARE LANDSCAPE.
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EXAMPLES OF THE RESEARCH ENGAGED IN AT BIDMC
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BELOW IS INFORMATION RELATED TO JUST A HANDFUL OF THE CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH STUDIES AND PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AT THE MEDICAL CENTER. THE DETAIL BELOW IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE READER WITH A TASTE OF THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS THE MEDICAL CENTER IS MAKING TO PATIENT CARE TODAY AND TOMORROW. EXPENSES FROM THE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES NOTED BELOW ARE INCLUDED IN FORM 990 SCHEDULE H, PART I LINE 7H COLUMN C AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE QUANTIFIED IN FORM 990 SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7H COLUMN E, DEPENDING ON FUNDING SOURCE. DETAIL ON RESEARCH EFFORTS WHICH WERE UNDERTAKEN AT BIDMC DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING ARE BELOW. 1. FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND STUDY FINDS HIDDEN CLUES TO RARE TYPE OF PANCREATIC CANCER, OPENS DOORS TO NEW THERAPIESPANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS (PANNETS) ARE A RARE KIND OF CANCER THAT FORMS IN THE PANCREAS. PHYSICIANS STILL HAVE DIFFICULTY PREDICTING HOW THE DISEASE WILL AFFECT INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS AND HOW BEST TO TREAT IT.BIDMC SCIENTISTS USED PROTEOGENOMICS, THE INTEGRATED LARGE-SCALE STUDY OF GENES AND PROTEINS IN CANCER CELLS, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE TUMORS. USING 37 TUMOR SAMPLES, THE TEAM DISCOVERED FOUR PREVIOUSLY UNDESCRIBED PANNETS. TWO OF THESE SUBTYPES SHOWED HIGH RECURRENCE RATES, SUGGESTING A PREVIOUSLY UNRECOGNIZED CLINICAL AGGRESSIVENESS. THESE TUMORS ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF LOW OXYGEN LEVELS AND INFLAMMATIONBOTH LINKED TO MORE AGGRESSIVE CANCERS.THE SCIENTISTS ALSO FOUND CHANGES IN HOW THE CANCER CELLS USE ENERGY AND HOW THEY HIDE FROM THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, FINDINGS WHICH COULD HELP RESEARCHERS DEVELOP NEW TREATMENTS.IMPORTANTLY, THE RESEARCHERS ADD, THESE PROTEOMIC SUBTYPES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISCOVERABLE USING PRIOR GENOMICS-BASED APPROACHES TO PANNETS OR CURRENT STATE-OF-THE-ART CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL PANNET SUBTYPING. LEAD AUTHOR MICHAEL ROEHRL, CHIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY AND PI AT BIDMC SAID: "PROTEOGENOMICS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN UNDERSTANDING PANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS, AND OUR PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PROTEOMIC PANNET DATASET SHOULD BE OF IMMEDIATE INTEREST TO SCIENTISTS AND PHYSICIANS AROUND THE WORLD." 2. RESEARCHERS HALT PROGRESSION IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE MOUSE MODEL, OPENING THE DOOR TO POTENTIAL DISEASE-MODIFYING TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASEINVESTIGATORS AT BIDMC SHED NEW LIGHT ON KEY CELLULAR PROCESSES INVOLVED IN THE PROGRESSION OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE (PD). AFFECTING AROUND 10 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, PARKINSON'S DISEASE IS A NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDER CAUSED BY THE PROGRESSIVE LOSS OF THE GROUP OF BRAIN CELLS RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING DOPAMINE, A NEUROTRANSMITTER THAT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN REGULATING MOVEMENT AND COORDINATION. AS THESE NEURONS DEGENERATE AND DOPAMINE LEVELS DECREASE, INDIVIDUALS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE EXPERIENCE A WIDE RANGE OF SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING TREMORS, STIFFNESS AND DIFFICULTIES WITH BALANCE AND COORDINATION.RESEARCHERS IN THE LAB OF SENIOR AUTHOR DAVID K. SIMON, MD, PHD, DIRECTOR OF THE PARKINSON'S DISEASE & MOVEMENT DISORDERS CENTER, IN COLLABORATION WITH COLLEAGUES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND MISSION THERAPEUTICS, PERFORMED TWO SETS OF COMPLEMENTARY EXPERIMENTS SHOWING THAT INHIBITING A SPECIFIC ENZYME IN A MOUSE MODEL PROTECTS THE DOPAMINE-PRODUCING NEURONS THAT ARE NORMALLY LOST AS PD PROGRESSES, EFFECTIVELY HALTING THE PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE. THE FINDINGS OPEN THE DOOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL THERAPEUTICS TARGETING THE ENZYME THAT MAY SLOW OR PREVENT THE PROGRESSION OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE IN PEOPLEA MAJOR UNMET NEED. "OUR LAB IS FOCUSED ON WORKING OUT THE ORIGINS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND IT IS OUR HOPE THATONE DAYWE WILL BE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN OR EVEN PREVENT DISEASE PROGRESSION IN PATIENTS," SAID FIRST AUTHOR TRACY-SHI ZHANG FANG, PHD, AN INSTRUCTOR IN SIMON'S LAB. "THE CURRENT STUDY'S FINDINGS PAVE THE WAY TOWARD THAT FUTURE."3. AI CHATBOT SHOWS POTENTIAL AS DIAGNOSTIC PARTNER, RESEARCHERS FINDPHYSICIAN-INVESTIGATORS AT BIDMC COMPARED A CHATBOT'S PROBABILISTIC REASONING TO THAT OF HUMAN CLINICIANS. THE FINDINGS, PUBLISHED IN JAMA NETWORK OPEN, SUGGEST THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COULD SERVE AS USEFUL CLINICAL DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS FOR PHYSICIANS.BASING THEIR STUDY ON A PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED NATIONAL SURVEY OF MORE THAN 550 PRACTITIONERS PERFORMING PROBABILISTIC REASONING ON FIVE MEDICAL CASES, ADAM RODMAN, MD, AN INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND INVESTIGATOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, AND COLLEAGUES FED THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE LARGE LANGUAGE MODEL (LLM), CHAT GPT-4, THE SAME SERIES OF CASES AND RAN AN IDENTICAL PROMPT 100 TIMES TO GENERATE A RANGE OF RESPONSES.THE CHATBOTJUST LIKE THE PRACTITIONERS BEFORE THEMWAS TASKED WITH ESTIMATING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A GIVEN DIAGNOSIS BASED ON PATIENTS' PRESENTATION. THEN, GIVEN TEST RESULTS SUCH AS CHEST RADIOGRAPHY FOR PNEUMONIA, MAMMOGRAPHY FOR BREAST CANCER, STRESS TEST FOR CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND A URINE CULTURE FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTION, THE CHATBOT PROGRAM UPDATED ITS ESTIMATES.WHEN TEST RESULTS WERE POSITIVE, IT WAS SOMETHING OF A DRAW; THE CHATBOT WAS MORE ACCURATE IN MAKING DIAGNOSES THAN THE HUMANS IN TWO CASES, SIMILARLY ACCURATE IN TWO CASES AND LESS ACCURATE IN ONE CASE. BUT WHEN TESTS CAME BACK NEGATIVE, THE CHATBOT SHONE, DEMONSTRATING MORE ACCURACY IN MAKING DIAGNOSES THAN HUMANS IN ALL FIVE CASES.BUT RODMAN IS LESS INTERESTED IN HOW CHATBOTS AND HUMANS PERFORM TOE-TO-TOE THAN IN HOW HIGHLY SKILLED PHYSICIANS' PERFORMANCE MIGHT CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO HAVING THESE NEW SUPPORTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THE CLINIC, ADDED RODMAN."HUMANS STRUGGLE WITH PROBABILISTIC REASONING, THE PRACTICE OF MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON CALCULATING ODDS," SAID RODMAN. "WE CHOSE TO EVALUATE PROBABILISTIC REASONING IN ISOLATION BECAUSE IT IS A WELL-KNOWN AREA WHERE HUMANS COULD USE SUPPORT. HUMANS SOMETIMES FEEL THE RISK IS HIGHER THAN IT IS AFTER A NEGATIVE TEST RESULT, WHICH CAN LEAD TO OVERTREATMENT, MORE TESTS AND TOO MANY MEDICATIONS."4. BIDMC'S COMPLEX HYPERTENSION CENTER IS THE REGION'S ONLY AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION-CERTIFIED COMPREHENSIVE CARE CENTER PHYSICIAN-SCIENTISTS AT BIDMC, LED BY ERIC A. SECEMSKY, MD, ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF A BREAKTHROUGH TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH TREATMENT-RESISTANT HYPERTENSIONDANGEROUSLY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE THAT PERSISTS DESPITE TAKING THREE OR MORE MEDICATIONS. FOR THESE HIGH-RISK PATIENTS, BIDMC IS AMONG THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO OFFER RENAL DENERVATION (RDN), A MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE THAT TARGETS OVERACTIVE NERVES NEAR THE KIDNEYS TO HELP LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE.SECEMSKY, DIRECTOR OF VASCULAR INTERVENTION AT BIDMC, PIONEERED THE USE OF RDN AT THE MEDICAL CENTER AND SERVES AS SITE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR ON MAJOR CLINICAL TRIALS THAT HELPED SECURE FDA APPROVAL FOR TWO CATHETER-BASED RDN DEVICES. THE PROCEDURE INVOLVES THREADING A DEVICE THROUGH THE GROIN TO REACH THE RENAL ARTERIES. ONE USES HEAT-FILLED BALLOONS; THE OTHER, RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATIONBOTH DESIGNED TO DISRUPT NERVE SIGNALS THAT RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE.SO FAR, SECEMSKY AND HIS TEAM HAVE PERFORMED RDN ON SIX PATIENTS THROUGH BIDMC'S COMPLEX HYPERTENSION CLINIC, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM TO CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THE MOST DIFFICULT-TO-CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE. ON AVERAGE, PATIENTS CAN EXPECT A 710 MMHG DROP IN BLOOD PRESSUREENOUGH TO MEANINGFULLY REDUCE THE RISK OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKE OVER TIME."THIS DEVICE IS NOVEL AND STATE-OF-THE ART, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAVING SOMETHING TO OFFER PEOPLE WITH TREATMENT RESISTANT BLOOD PRESSURE REPRESENTS ONE PART OF OUR OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ONE OF THE LARGEST HYPERTENSION CENTERS IN NEW ENGLAND.
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5. NEW AI MODEL FLAGS 3.5 TIMES AS MANY PATIENTS AT RISK FOR PANCREATIC
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CANCER AS CURRENT SCREENING GUIDELINES; COULD LEAD TO EARLIER DETECTION OF PANCREATIC CANCERHOVERING AT JUST 11 PERCENT, PANCREATIC CANCER HAS THE LOWEST FIVE-YEAR RELATIVE SURVIVAL RATE OF ANY CANCER DIAGNOSIS, LARGELY BECAUSE THE DISEASE IS TYPICALLY CAUGHT IN ITS ADVANCED STAGES. IF CAUGHT IN ITS EARLIEST STAGES, FIVE-YEAR SURVIVAL RATES CAN REACH AS HIGH AS 80 PERCENT; HOWEVER, CURRENT SCREENING GUIDELINES APPLY ONLY TO ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THE 62,000 PANCREATIC CANCER CASES THAT ARE DIAGNOSED EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES.INVESTIGATORS AT BIDMC BUILT AND VALIDATED A RISK PREDICTION MODEL TO HELP PHYSICIANS IDENTIFY PATIENTS WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR DEVELOPING PANCREATIC CANCER. THE TEAM'S MODEL, A NEURAL NETWORK TRAINED ON DE-IDENTIFIED DATA FROM ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS FROM 55 U.S. HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS, FLAGGED PATIENTS AS AT RISK OF DEVELOPING PANCREATIC CANCER UP TO 18 MONTHS BEFORE DIAGNOSIS IN PATIENTS 40 YEARS OR OLDER AND CAUGHT 3.5 TIMES AS MANY CASES THAN CURRENT SCREENING GUIDELINES WOULD IF APPLIED TO THE SAME GROUP. THEIR FINDINGS APPEAR IN EBIOMEDICINE, PART OF LANCET DISCOVERY SCIENCE.NAMED PRISMNN, THE TEAM'S MACHINE LEARNING MODEL WAS TRAINED ON DATA FROM MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION EHR PROVIDED BY INDUSTRY PARTNER TRINETX. THE DATA SET INCLUDED AN AVERAGE OF 13 YEARS OF HISTORICAL DATA ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS, DOCTOR'S VISITS, DIAGNOSES, LAB WORK, PROCEDURES AND MEDICATIONS FOR MORE THAN 35,000 PATIENTS WHO EVENTUALLY DEVELOPED PANCREATIC CANCER AND MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION CONTROLS. THE MODEL FLAGGED PATIENTS AT HIGH RISK FOR DEVELOPING CANCER BASED ON 87 FEATURES IT AUTOMATICALLY SELECTED BASED ON THE INPUT TRAINING DATA."THERE ARE SIGNALS IN THE DATA THAT'S BEING ROUTINELY COLLECTED ALREADY WHEN PEOPLE SEE THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN OR GO TO THE ED WITH A BROKEN ANKLESYMPTOMS THAT SHOW UP, SUCH AS CERTAIN MEDICATIONS OR CHANGES IN LAB VALUES," LIMOR APPELBAUM, AN INVESTIGATOR AT BIDMC, SAID. "TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE ARE ALL SIGNALS THAT CAN PREDICT PANCREATIC CANCER BEFORE THE CANCER IS ACTUALLY DETECTED, AND THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH THOSE CANCERS EARLY, BEFORE IT HAS SPREAD."6. PLASMA PROTEIN CLUES COULD HELP PREDICT WHO WILL DEVELOP HYPERTENSIONEXERCISE TESTING CAN SERVE AS A POWERFUL PHYSIOLOGIC PROBE TO UNMASK SUBCLINICAL CARDIOVASCULAR ABNORMALITIES WELL BEFORE DISEASE ONSET. FOR EXAMPLE, BLOOD PRESSURE CHANGES DURING EXERCISE (EBP) CAN REVEAL A LATENT TENDENCY TOWARD FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERTENSION. AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO RELIABLE CIRCULATING BIOMARKERA PROTEIN OR OTHER MOLECULE PRESENT IN THE BLOOD STREAMINDICATIVE OF FUTURE RISK OF HYPERTENSION.INVESTIGATORS AT BIDMC IDENTIFIED UNIQUE CIRCULATING PROTEINS THAT REFLECT EBP AND THAT MAY, IN TURN, BE EARLY INDICATORS OF FUTURE RISK OF HYPERTENSION. LED BY ROBERT E. GERSZTEN, MD, DIRECTOR OF BIDMC'S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM IN PERSONAL GENOMICS AND CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASE, JEREMY ROBBINS, MD, AND MARK SARZYNSKI, PHD, THE SCIENTISTS PERFORMED LARGE-SCALE PROTEOMIC PROFILING AND EBP MEASUREMENTS AMONG 681 HEALTHY ADULTS WHO UNDERWENT CARDIOPULMONARY EXERCISE TESTING BEFORE AND AFTER 20 WEEKS OF ENDURANCE EXERCISE TRAINING.THE STUDY TEAM, INCLUDING LEAD AUTHOR PRASHANT RAO, MBBS, IDENTIFIED 37 PROTEINS ASSOCIATED WITH EBP, MANY OF WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH PROFILING RESTING BP ALONE. SEVERAL OF THESE PROTEINS WERE RELEVANT TO VASCULAR BIOLOGY.THE INVESTIGATORS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE EBP-ASSOCIATED PLASMA PROTEIN KNOWN AS TGFBR3 IS A NOVEL CIRCULATING BIOMARKER ASSOCIATED WITH A LOWER RISK OF INCIDENT HYPERTENSION. GENETICALLY PREDICTED LEVELS OF THIS PLASMA PROTEIN WERE INVERSELY ASSOCIATED WITH FUTURE HYPERTENSION RISK IN A DIVERSE POPULATION AND MAY PROTECT AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OF CVD. THIS WORK MAY HELP IN DETERMINING WHICH PATIENTS MIGHT BENEFIT FROM EARLY CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.7. DYNAMIC DUO: COMBINING CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING STATINS WITH EXISTING CANCER DRUG SHOWS POTENT EFFECT AGAINST AGGRESSIVE SUBTYPE OF BREAST CANCER IN PRE-CLINICAL MODELSIN A NEW TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH STUDY, INVESTIGATORS AT BIDMC EXPLORED THE POTENTIAL OF STATINS COMMONLY USED MEDICATIONS FOR MANAGING CHOLESTEROL LEVELS TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH AKT INHIBITORS, A CLASS OF DRUGS THAT TARGET A KEY PATHWAY INVOLVED IN CANCER CELL SURVIVAL AND GROWTH. RESEARCHERS DISCOVERED THAT THIS DRUG COMBINATION POTENTLY KILLED TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER (TNBC) CELLS IN PRECLINICAL MODELS. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THE DRUG COMBINATION MAY PROVIDE A NEW, EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR TNBC, A SUBTYPE OF BREAST CANCER KNOWN FOR ITS AGGRESSIVENESS AND LIMITED TREATMENT OPTIONS AND THAT AFFECTS UP TO 15 PERCENT OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS.THE BIDMC INVESTIGATORS AND THEIR COLLEAGUES USED A CRISPR-BASED SCREENING APPROACH IN TNBC TO IDENTIFY GENES THAT COULD BE TARGETED IN COMBINATION WITH A RECENTLY FDA-APPROVED AKT-INHIBITOR CALLED CAPIVASERTIB. THE SCREEN IDENTIFIED GENES IN CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM AS CANDIDATES, REVEALING A TNBC-SPECIFIC VULNERABILITY TO THE COMBINATION OF STATINSCHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUGS THAT TARGET CELLS' CHOLESTEROL METABOLISMAND AKT INHIBITORS.AS THE SCIENTISTS EXPECTED, THE COMBINATION KILLED TNBC CELLS IN A PANEL OF CELL LINES, PATIENT-DERIVED ORGANOIDS AND MOUSE MODELS. THE FINDINGS PAVE THE WAY FOR CLINICAL TRIALS TO DETERMINE THE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS COMBINATION IN PATIENTS. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS BASIC, DISCOVERY SCIENCE APPROACH COULD LEAD TO A NEW TREATMENT OPTION FOR PATIENTS WITH TNBC, PROVIDING A MUCH-NEEDED ADVANCEMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS AGGRESSIVE CANCER.RESEARCH AT JOSLIN DIABETES CENTERTHE JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER (JDC), IN CONJUNCTION WITH ITS AFFILIATE THE JOSLIN CLINIC, PROVIDES WORLD CLASS LEADING EDGE PATIENT CARE IN THE SPECIALTY AREA OF DIABETES AND CARING FOR PATIENTS THROUGH A RELENTLESS TEAM OF CLINICIANS, SKILLED HEALTH EDUCATORS, AND ACCESS TO PIONEERING DIABETES RESEARCH. JOSLIN IS AFFILIATED WITH HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AND OFFERS A RICH EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT INVOLVING COURSES, LECTURES, FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND CME COURSES. JDC ALSO PROVIDES INFRASTRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO ITS AFFILIATE, THE JOSLIN CLINIC. IN ADDITION, JOSLIN'S MISSION IS NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE OUTSTANDING PATIENT CARE, BUT ALSO TO BRING BEST PRACTICES TO THE LARGER MEDICAL COMMUNITY. JOSLIN ENGAGES IN RESEARCH RELATED TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING DIABETES, HOW TO TREAT IT AND HOW TO HELP PATIENTS MANAGE AND LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES WITH THE DISEASE. JOSLIN DIABETES RESEARCH CENTER IS ONE OF ONLY 16 NIH-DESIGNATED DIABETES RESEARCH CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES. JOSLIN'S RESEARCH TEAM IS WORLD-RENOWNED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETESMILLIONS OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD BENEFIT DIRECTLY FROM BASIC AND CLINICAL RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT THE CENTER. APPROXIMATELY 300 RESEARCHERS EMPLOYED AT THE JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER ARE WORKING ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DIABETES, SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO PREVENT AND TREAT DIABETES IN ALL ITS FORMS AND ULTIMATELY FIND A CURE FOR THE DISEASE.THE RESEARCH ENGAGED IN AT JDC HELPS IMPROVES THE LIVES AT JDC, ACROSS BILH AND IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY BEYOND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITIES. AS NOTED ABOVE RELATED TO BIDMC, ALTHOUGH JOSLIN'S RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ARE NOT QUANTIFIED HERE IN THIS HOSPITAL'S FORM 990 SCHEDULE H, PART I, 7H, AS ALREADY NOTED, THESE ACTIVITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THIS HOSPITAL, ALL OF BILH AND BEYOND. SOME EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH ENGAGED IN BY JOSLIN DURING THE PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING ARE BELOW.
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1. MORE THAN HALF OF PATIENTS WITH VISION-THREATENING
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CONDITION UNAWARE THEY HAVE ITA LONG-RUNNING STUDY OF 27,000 PEOPLE WITH DIABETES SUGGESTS THERE'S A MAJOR COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN PATIENTS AND THEIR EYE CARE PROVIDERS. IN A TEN-YEAR OBSERVATIONAL STUDY, INVESTIGATORS AT JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER ASSESSED THE SELF-REPORTED AWARENESS OF THE PRESENCE OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHYA SERIOUS COMPLICATION OF BOTH TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETESIN 26,876 PATIENTS WITH DIABETES WHO UNDERWENT RETINAL IMAGING DURING AN ENDOCRINOLOGY VISIT. THESE PARTICIPANTS WERE NOT RECEIVING EYE CARE AT JOSLIN.WITH PREVIOUS DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN 94 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS, THE INVESTIGATORS FOUND SUBSTANTIAL DISCREPANCIESWHAT THEY CALL "LOW CONCORDANCE"BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS' CURRENT EYE HEALTH STATUS AND THEIR SELF-REPORTED EYE HEALTH. WHILE NEARLY ALL PATIENTS WITHOUT DIABETIC RETINOPATHY REPORTED NOT HAVING ANY EYE DISEASE, 89 PERCENT OF PATIENTS WITH MILD CASES AND 55 PERCENT OF PATIENTS WITH VISION-THREATENING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY ALSO REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY EYE DISEASE. A QUARTER OF THOSE WITH VISION-THREATENING DISEASE ALSO DID NOT REPORT PLANNED FOLLOWUP IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL GUIDELINES.INCREASING AWARENESS OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY WAS LINKED TO INCREASING EYE CARE PROVIDER SPECIALIZATION. AMONG THOSE WITH VISION-THREATENING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, PATIENTS WHO SAW A RETINA PHYSICIAN HAD HIGHEST AWARENESS OF THEIR DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND THE HIGHEST CONCORDANCE WITH FOLLOW UP.2. PREVENTING BETA CELL DYSFUNCTIONDIABETES RESULTS FROM FAILURE OF BETA () CELLS IN PANCREATIC ISLETS TO RELEASE SUFFICIENT INSULIN TO REGULATE BLOOD SUGAR IN THE BODY. RESEARCHERS AT JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER REVEALED THAT THE CHRONICALLY HIGH SUGAR LEVELS THAT OCCUR EARLY DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETES FURTHER UNDERMINE THE ABILITY OF BETA CELLS TO PRODUCE INSULIN BY REDUCING TRANSLATION OF SPECIFIC MRNAS THAT CONTAIN THE CELL'S GENETIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING AND SECRETING INSULIN. BLOCKING THIS RESPONSE TO HIGH SUGAR LEVELS COULD BE A NEW WAY TO PREVENT PROGRESSION OF EARLY DIABETES OR EVEN AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO IMPROVE THE FUNCTION OF BETA CELLS IMPLANTED IN PATIENTS TO CURE DIABETES.THE TEAM LOOKED AT THE IMPACT OF SUSTAINED ELEVATED GLUCOSE LEVELS ON CELL MRNA TRANSLATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE GENOME USING HIGH-THROUGHPUT RIBOSOME PROFILING AND NASCENT PROTEOMICS IN MIN6 INSULINOMA CELLS AND THEN VERIFIED SPECIFIC CHANGES IN HUMAN ISLETS. THEY DEMONSTRATED THAT SUSTAINED HIGH GLUCOSE SELECTIVELY IMPAIRS TRANSLATION OF GENES THAT SERVE CRITICAL ROLES AT ALMOST EVERY STEP OF GLUCOSE METABOLISMCOUPLED INSULIN SECRETION IN PANCREATIC CELLS.THE RESEARCH UNCOVERED A TRANSLATIONAL REGULATORY CIRCUIT DURING CELL GLUCOSE TOXICITY THAT IMPAIRS EXPRESSION OF PROTEINS WITH CRITICAL ROLES IN CELL FUNCTION THAT MAY BE LEVERAGED TO DEVELOP NEW THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES.3. STUDY COMPARES THE EFFECTS OF BARIATRIC SURGERY VERSUS MEDICAL MANAGEMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES A LANDMARK STUDY CONDUCTED AT FOUR SITES, INCLUDING JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER, REPORTS THAT PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES WHO UNDERWENT BARIATRIC SURGERY ACHIEVED BETTER LONG-TERM BLOOD GLUCOSE CONTROL COMPARED TO PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED MEDICAL MANAGEMENT PLUS LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS. PARTICIPANTS WHO UNDERWENT BARIATRIC SURGERY, ALSO CALLED METABOLIC OR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, WERE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO STOP NEEDING DIABETES MEDICATIONS AND HAD HIGHER RATES OF DIABETES REMISSION UP TO 12 YEARS POST-SURGERY. THE FINDINGS, PUBLISHED IN JAMA, SUGGEST THAT WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY MAY CARRY BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE BELOW THE TRADITIONAL BMI THRESHOLD OF 35 FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY. AMONG THE FINDINGS, THE STUDY SHOWED THAT: THE SURGERY GROUP EXPERIENCED AN AVERAGE 20 PERCENT WEIGHT LOSS COMPARED TO 8 PERCENT IN THE MEDICAL/LIFESTYLE GROUP. THE PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS USING MEDICATIONS TO TREAT DIABETES IN THE SURGERY GROUP DECREASED FROM 98 PERCENT TO 61 PERCENT YET REMAINED LARGELY UNCHANGED IN THE MEDICATION/LIFESTYLE GROUP. 18 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE SURGERY GROUP WERE IN REMISSIONMEANING THEY NO LONGER REQUIRED MEDICATIONS TO CONTROL THEIR BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELSFROM DIABETES, COMPARED TO 6 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE MEDICATION/LIFESTYLE GROUP. THE RESULTS AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GROUPS REMAINED SIGNIFICANT AT 12 YEARS."WHEN WE TREAT DIABETES, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PREVENT COMPLICATIONS LIKE HEART DISEASE, KIDNEY DISEASE, STROKE, NERVE DAMAGE AND EYE DAMAGE," SAID SITE PI M. E. PATTI, ENDOCRINOLOGIST IN THE ADULT DIABETES SECTION, AND DIRECTOR OF THE HYPOGLYCEMIA CLINIC AT JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER. "WE AREN'T JUST LOOKING TO REDUCE BODY WEIGHT, WE ALSO WANT TO IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTH. THIS RANDOMIZED STUDY IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE SHOWING SURGERY PROVIDES SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENTS IN DIABETES CONTROL."4. SHIFTING FOCUS: INVESTIGATORS DESCRIBE CHANGES TO PANCREATIC CELL AT ONSET OF TYPE 1 DIABETESABOUT EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE LIVE WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES (T1D) WORLDWIDE, A CHRONIC AUTOIMMUNE CONDITION IN WHICH THE BODY ATTACKS AND DESTROYS ITS OWN INSULIN-PRODUCING -CELLS (PRONOUNCED "BETA") IN THE PANCREAS, LEADING TO A LACK OF INSULIN AND INABILITY TO REGULATE BLOOD SUGAR. IT'S NOT KNOWN WHY THE BODY SUDDENLY PERCEIVES ITS OWN -CELLS AS THE ENEMY; SOME LINES OF EVIDENCE SUGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SUCH AS VIRAL INFECTIONS MAY TRIGGER THE ONSET OF T1D, OTHERS SUGGEST GENETICS MAY ALSO PLAY SOME ROLE.GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH BY INVESTIGATORS AT JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON THE SPECIFIC CHANGES -CELLS GO THROUGH AT THE ONSET OF T1D. THEIR FINDINGSPUBLISHED IN NATURE CELL BIOLOGYOFFER NEW AVENUES FOR TARGETED INTERVENTIONS FOR THE CHRONIC AUTOIMMUNE CONDITION."IN THE FIELD OF TYPE 1 DIABETES, RESEARCH HAS LARGELY FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING THE IMMUNE COMPONENT, BUT OUR STUDY ARGUES THAT THE -CELL IS A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER," SAID ROHIT N. KULKARNI, MD, PHD, MARGARET A. CONGLETON CHAIR AND CO-HEAD OF THE SECTION ON ISLET & REGENERATIVE BIOLOGY AT JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER. "OUR FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE -CELL COULD BE INITIATING KEY EVENTS WHICH THEN PROMOTE THE AUTOIMMUNE MECHANISM TO GO AWRY. IT'S A PARADIGM SHIFTING APPROACH."5. JOSLIN EXPERTS' PILOT STUDY SHOWS HYBRID CARE LEADS TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR SOME WITH T1DFOR MOST YOUNG PEOPLE, LEAVING HOME AND LIVING INDEPENDENTLY FOR THE FIRST TIME MEANS SUDDENLY HAVING TO MANAGE THEIR OWN HEALTH, FROM SCHEDULING REGULAR DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS TO PREPARING HEALTHY MEALS. FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES (T1D) WHO MUST MANAGE THEIR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS 24/7 ON THEIR OWN, THE STAKES ARE ESPECIALLY HIGH. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS YOUNG ADULTS WITH T1D WITH SUBOPTIMAL GLYCEMIC CONTROL ARE AT HIGH RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION AND LONG-TERM COMPLICATIONS.TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE CHALLENGES TO DIABETES MANAGEMENT FACED BY YOUNG ADULTS WITH T1D, RESEARCHERS AT JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER DEVELOPED A PROGRAM THAT LEVERAGES TELEHEALTH AND PROVIDES SUPPORT FROM DEDICATED CASE MANAGERS WHO SERVE AS LIAISONS BETWEEN PATIENTS AND THEIR CARE TEAMS. IN A PAPER PUBLISHED IN ENDOCRINE PRACTICE, THE RESEARCHERS REPORTED THAT THEIR PILOT PROGRAM, KNOWN AS LEVERAGING INTENSIVE FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT IN YOUNG ADULTS (LIFT-YA) WAS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED GLYCEMIC CONTROL AND AN INCREASE IN ADOPTION OF CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORS (CGM)TWO KEYS TO IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH DIABETES.AT THE END OF THE PILOT STUDY, THE RESEARCHERS COMPARED OUTCOMES OF THOSE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM AND THOSE ABLE TO ATTEND FEWER THAN HALF THE MEETINGS, AS WELL AS 33 PEOPLE WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE. AS EXPECTED, THE "COMPLETERS" HAD A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER NUMBER OF TOTAL VISITS THAN THE OTHER TWO GROUPS.SIMILARLY, THE NUMBER OF CGM USERS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY BY 70 PERCENT AMONG THE COMPLETERS BUT REMAINED UNCHANGED IN THE OTHER TWO GROUPS. LIKEWISE, THE COMPLETERS SAW SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THEIR HBA1C LEVELS, A MEASURE OF BLOOD SUGAR, WITHIN THEIR GROUP. "WE BELIEVE THE EFFORTS OF THE CASE MANAGERS TO OVERCOME OPERATIONAL HURDLES AND OTHER CLINICAL CHALLENGES BY COORDINATING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS AND THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAM WERE PART OF THE REASON WE SAW THESE POSITIVE OUTCOMES," TOSCHI SAID. "LEVERAGING FREQUENT TELEHEALTH-BASED VISITS AND THE ANCHORING ROLE OF THE CASE MANAGERS PROVIDED ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS FOR AT LEAST SOME OF THE SELF-REPORTED BARRIERS TO DIABETES CARE IN YOUNG ADULTS WITH T1D."
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SELECTED JOSLIN PUBLICATIONS FYE 9/30/24
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HYBRID CARE MODEL: COMBINING TELEMEDICINE AND OFFICE VISITS FOR DIABETES MANAGEMENT IN OLDER ADULTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETESMED RES ARCH / SEP 30 2024BILH AUTHORS ELENA TOSCHI, ATIF ADAM, REBECCA HURLBERT, CHRISTINE SLYNE, LORI LAFFEL, MEDHA MUNSHI ROLE OF DIVALENT CATIONS IN INFECTIONS IN HOST-PATHOGEN INTERACTIONINT J MOL SCI / SEP 10 2024BILH AUTHORS JOHN A D'ELIA, LARRY A WEINRAUCHCHARACTERIZING VASCULAR WALL AND LUMEN CALIBER IN EYES WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY BASED ON ADAPTIVE OPTICS SCANNING LASER OPHTHALMOSCOPYDIAGNOSTICS (BASEL) / SEP 12 2024BILH AUTHORS KONSTANTINA SAMPANI, JENNIFER K SUNCAN INTRANASAL NALOXONE PREVENT HYPOGLYCEMIA-ASSOCIATED AUTONOMIC FAILURE?J CLIN ENDOCRINOL METAB / SEP 27 2024BILH AUTHORS HAMAYLE SAEED, MARY-ELIZABETH PATTIM6A MRNA METHYLATION BY METTL14 REGULATES EARLY PANCREATIC CELL DIFFERENTIATIONEMBO J / SEP 25 2024BILH AUTHORS SEVIM KAHRAMAN, DARIO F DE JESUS, NATALIE K BROWN, JIANG HU, ROHIT N KULKARNIEXERCISE ACTIVATES AMPK IN MOUSE AND HUMAN PANCREATIC ISLETS TO DECREASE SENESCENCENAT METAB / SEP 24 2024BILH AUTHORS PRISCILA CARAPETO, KANAKO IWASAKI, FRANCESKO HELA, JIHO KAHNG, ANA B ALVES-WAGNER, ROELAND J W MIDDELBEEK, MICHAEL F HIRSHMAN, LAURIE J GOODYEAR, CRISTINA AGUAYO-MAZZUCATOPOSTPRANDIAL METABOLOMICS ANALYSIS REVEALS DISORDERED SEROTONIN METABOLISM IN POST-BARIATRIC HYPOGLYCEMIAJ CLIN INVEST / SEP 12 2024BILH AUTHORS RAFAEL FERRAZ-BANNITZ, BERKCAN OZTURK, CAMERON CUMMINGS, VISSARION EFTHYMIOU, PILAR CASANOVA QUEROL, LINDSAY POULOS, HANNA WANG, VALERIE NAVARRETE, HAMAYLE SAEED, CHRISTOPHER M MULLA, HUI PAN, JONATHAN M DREYFUSS, MARY-ELIZABETH PATTI CIRCULATING METABOLITE BIOMARKERS OF GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN YOUTH-ONSET TYPE 2 DIABETESJAMA OPHTHALMOL / SEP 1 2024BILH AUTHORS CHANG LU, JONATHAN M DREYFUSS, SHUNING ZHENG, DANIELLE WOLFS, ELVIRA ISGANAITISULTRA-WIDEFIELD AND EARLY TREATMENT DIABETIC RETINOPATHY STUDY 7-FIELD GRADING OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHYJAMA OPHTHALMOL / SEP 2 2024BILH AUTHORS LLOYD PAUL AIELLO, JENNIFER K SUNASSESSMENT OF BASELINE ULTRAWIDEFIELD FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHIC QUANTITATIVE LEAKAGE PARAMETERS WITH ULTRAWIDEFIELD FUNDUS FEATURES AND CLINICAL PARAMETERS IN DIABETIC RETINOPATHY IN PROTOCOL AAOPHTHALMOL RETINA / AUG 30 2024BILH AUTHORS JENNIFER K SUNNEURODEGENERATIVE BIOMARKERS IN DIFFERENT CHAMBERS OF THE EYE RELATIVE TO PLASMA: AN AGREEMENT VALIDATION STUDYALZHEIMERS RES THER / AUG 26 2024BILH AUTHORS KONSTANTINA SAMPANIWHAT REALLY MATTERS?: HOW INSULIN DOSE, TIMING, AND DISTRIBUTION RELATE TO MEAL COMPOSITION IN FREE-LIVING PEOPLE WITH TYPE 1 DIABETESDIABETES TECHNOL THER / AUG 22 2024BILH AUTHORS ELENA TOSCHI, ASTRID ATAKOV-CASTILLO ENDOTHELIN 3/EDNRB SIGNALING INDUCES THERMOGENIC DIFFERENTIATION OF WHITE ADIPOSE TISSUENAT COMMUN / AUG 22 2024BILH AUTHORS CHIH-HAO WANG, TADATAKA TSUJI, TIAN LIAN HUANG, MARI SATO, FARNAZ SHAMSI, YU-HUA TSENGSCREENDMT REVEALS DIHOMES ARE REPLICABLY INVERSELY ASSOCIATED WITH BMI AND STIMULATE ADIPOCYTE CALCIUM INFLUXCOMMUN BIOL / AUG 14 2024BILH AUTHORS JONATHAN M DREYFUSS, HUI PAN LIGHT-RESPONSIVE ADIPOSE-HYPOTHALAMUS AXIS CONTROLS METABOLIC REGULATIONNAT COMMUN / AUG 8 2024BILH AUTHORS TADATAKA TSUJI, YANG ZHANG, TIAN LIAN HUANG, HENRIQUE CAMARA, MEGHAN HALPIN, MATTHEW D LYNESMATRISOME PROTEOMICS REVEALS NOVEL MEDIATORS OF MUSCLE REMODELING WITH AEROBIC EXERCISE TRAININGMATRIX BIOL PLUS / AUG 7 2024BILH AUTHORS PATTARAWAN PATTAMAPRAPANONT, EILEEN M COONEY, TARA L MACDONALD, HUI PAN, JONATHAN M DREYFUSS, SARAH J LESSARDLIGNAN INTAKE AND TYPE 2 DIABETES INCIDENCE AMONG US MEN AND WOMENJAMA NETW OPEN / AUG 1 2024BILH AUTHORS QI SUNEVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PANCREATIC DUCTS BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOKGASTROENTEROLOGY / JUL 31 2024BILH AUTHORS ROHIT KULKARNIFENOFIBRATE SHOWS PROMISE IN SLOWING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY PROGRESSIONNEJM EVID / JUL 23 2024BILH AUTHORS PAOLO S SILVA, LLOYD PAUL AIELLOTHE ARDUOUS PATH TOWARD EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ENDOCRINOLOGY CAREJ ENDOCR SOC / JUL 15 2024BILH AUTHORS GIULIO R ROMEO, TIZIANA CAPUTOEXPRESSION PROFILING BY HIGH-THROUGHPUT SEQUENCING REVEALS GADD45, SMAD7, EGR-1 AND HOXA3 ACTIVATION IN MYOSTATIN (MSTN) AND GDF11 TREATED MYOBLASTSGENET MOL BIOL / JUL 15 2024BILH AUTHORS AMY J WAGERSEXERCISE TRAINING AND COLD EXPOSURE TRIGGER DISTINCT MOLECULAR ADAPTATIONS TO INGUINAL WHITE ADIPOSE TISSUECELL REP / JUL 13 2024BILH AUTHORS MARIA VAMVINI, PASQUALE NIGRO, TIZIANA CAPUTO, KRISTIN I STANFORD, MICHAEL F HIRSHMAN, ROELAND J W MIDDELBEEK, LAURIE J GOODYEARMULTI-STEP REGULATION OF MICRORNA EXPRESSION AND SECRETION INTO SMALL EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES BY INSULINCELL REP / JUL 13 2024BILH AUTHORS MARSEL LINO, RUBEN GARCIA-MARTIN, VITOR ROSETTO MUOZ, GABRIEL PALERMO RUIZ, ALLAH NAWAZ, BRUNA BRASIL BRANDO, JONATHAN DREYFUS, HUI PAN, C RONALD KAHNIMPACT OF A TUBELESS, DISPOSABLE INSULIN PUMP ON EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AND INPATIENT ADMISSIONS AMONG A MEDICARE POPULATIONJ MANAG CARE SPEC PHARM / JUN 17 2024BILH AUTHORS MEDHA N MUNSHIRATIONALE OF BASIC AND CELLULAR MECHANISMS CONSIDERED IN UPDATING THE STAGING SYSTEM FOR DIABETIC RETINAL DISEASEOPHTHALMOL SCI / MAR 27 2024BILH AUTHORS WARD FICKWEILER, GEORGE KING, LLOYD PAUL AIELLO
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS GRADUATE MEDICAL
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CHARITY CARE AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATIONMOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL'S (MAH) CENTRAL LONGSTANDING ACADEMIC FOCUS IS MEDICAL EDUCATION THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO TEACHING STUDENTS AND TRAINEES IN A RESPECTFUL AND COLLABORATIVE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT. THIS COMMITMENT, COUPLED WITH THE INSTITUTION'S WILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL PRACTICE INNOVATION, MAKE MAH A TOP CHOICE AMONG STUDENTS AND TRAINEES IN THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS. THE HOSPITAL TRAINS MEDICAL STUDENTS, INTERNS, RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS, ALONG WITH OTHER ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE AREA.MAH HAS SEVERAL RESIDENCY AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS, WITH 52 INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENTS, 12 RADIOLOGY RESIDENTS, 6 PODIATRY RESIDENTS, AND 3 UROGYNECOLOGY FELLOWS DURING MAH'S ACADEMIC YEAR JULY 1, 2023 JUNE 30, 2024 WHICH OVERLAPS WITH A PORTION OF MAH'S FISCAL YEAR ACTIVITIES REPORTED IN THIS FILING. THE HOSPITAL ALSO HOSTS ROTATING RESIDENTS IN GENERAL SURGERY, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, UROLOGY, AND OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY, AND SUPPORTS THE EDUCATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. FINALLY, THE HOSPITAL SERVES AS A TRAINING SITE FOR PHARMACY STUDENTS FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT STUDENTS FROM NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, CLINICAL NURSE ANESTHETISTS FROM BOSTON COLLEGE, AND CLINICAL NURSE MIDWIVES FROM MULTIPLE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE EAST COAST. STAFF PHYSICIANS AT MAH WHO HOLD FACULTY APPOINTMENTS AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL OR BOSTON UNIVERSITY INSTRUCT PHYSICIAN TRAINEES THROUGH SUPERVISION OF DAILY PATIENT CARE AND A RANGE OF INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. AS PART OF THE HOSPITAL'S COMMITMENT TO MEDICAL STUDENT EDUCATION AND LONGSTANDING AFFILIATION WITH HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, MAH IS A CORE SITE FOR THE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL SUB-INTERNSHIP IN MEDICINE. THE HOSPITAL ALSO PARTICIPATES IN THE INTRODUCTORY COURSES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE FOR PRE-CLINICAL HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS IMMERSIVE TRAINING IN CLINICAL MEDICINE FOR BIOMEDICAL DOCTORAL STUDENTS FROM THE JOINT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL / MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY'S HEALTH SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE HOSPITAL HOSTS THIRD-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ON THE OBSTETRICS AND NEUROLOGY SERVICES, AS WELL AS MEDICAL STUDENTS FROM HARVARD AND OTHER SCHOOLS WHO CHOOSE TO DO SUB-INTERNSHIPS AND SUBSPECIALTY ELECTIVES DURING THEIR THIRD AND FOURTH YEARS.THE MAH INTERNAL MEDICINE TRAINING PROGRAM, THE LARGEST OF ALL MAH RESIDENCIES, OFFERS A THREE-YEAR CATEGORICAL MEDICINE TRACK AND A ONE-YEAR PRELIMINARY MEDICINE TRACK. THE RESIDENCY CELEBRATED ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2024 WHICH ATTESTS TO THE LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO MEDICAL EDUCATION AT MAH. THE THREE-YEAR CATEGORICAL TRACK PREPARES RESIDENTS FOR CERTIFICATION BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF INTERNAL MEDICINE AND CAREERS THAT COVER THE FULL SPECTRUM OF OPPORTUNITIES IN BOTH GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE AND THE MEDICAL SUB-SPECIALTIES. RESIDENTS CAN TAILOR THEIR 36 MONTHS OF TRAINING TO OBTAIN THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND INSIGHT REQUIRED TO PURSUE SUBSEQUENT CAREERS IN PRIMARY CARE OR HOSPITALIST MEDICINE. IN ADDITION, THEY ARE PREPARED TO CONTINUE THEIR TRAINING IN COMPETITIVE SUB-SPECIALTY FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MAH SUPPORTS TRAINEES IN THEIR INTENDED CAREER GOALS THROUGH THE USE OF DEFINED PATHWAYS. THESE PATHWAYS, IN PRIMARY CARE, HOSPITALIST MEDICINE, OR SUB-SPECIALTY MEDICINE, OUTLINE THE MILESTONES THAT THE TRAINEE SHOULD MEET THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF TRAINING. THE PRELIMINARY MEDICINE INTERNSHIP TRACK OFFERS ONE YEAR OF TRAINING IN MEDICINE FOR PHYSICIANS WHO WILL CONTINUE THEIR TRAINING IN SPECIALTIES OTHER THAN INTERNAL MEDICINE, SUCH AS RADIOLOGY, OPHTHALMOLOGY, ANESTHESIOLOGY, RADIATION ONCOLOGY, NEUROLOGY, DERMATOLOGY, PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION, AND OTHERS. THIS PROGRAM IS HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER BY TOP STUDENTS FROM MEDICAL SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY GIVEN THE RIGOR OF THE TRAINING. ALL INTERNAL MEDICINE TRAINEES ARE APPOINTED AS CLINICAL FELLOWS AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL. THE MAH RADIOLOGY RESIDENCY PROGRAM HAS A LONGSTANDING HISTORY AS A COMPETITIVE TRAINING PROGRAM. RESIDENTS ARE TYPICALLY ASSIGNED IN ONE-MONTH BLOCKS TO ONE OF THE DIFFERENT IMAGING MODALITIES. EARLY IN TRAINING, RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO READ EXTENSIVELY, MASTER ANATOMY, PARTICIPATE IN THE PROTOCOLLING AND INTERPRETATION OF PATIENT EXAMINATIONS, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEMS. RESIDENTS ADVANCE TO INCREASED LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITY WITH APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION. THREE RESIDENTS ARE CHOSEN EACH YEAR FOR A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM, AND ARE APPOINTED AS CLINICAL FELLOWS AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL. THE HIGH RATIO OF STAFF RADIOLOGISTS TO RESIDENTS RESULTS IN CLOSE CONTACT BETWEEN THE STAFF AND RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAM. AFTER THE RESIDENT HAS OBTAINED THE NECESSARY FIRM FOUNDATIONS IN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF RADIOLOGY, THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY IN BOTH ROUTINE AND SPECIALIZED EXAMINATIONS AND PROCEDURES. THE MAJORITY OF OUR RESIDENTS PURSUE SUBSPECIALTY FELLOWSHIP TRAINING; HOWEVER, THE GOAL OF THE RADIOLOGY RESIDENCY PROGRAM IS TO TRAIN RESIDENTS TO BE FULLY QUALIFIED IN DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY AND SPECIAL PROCEDURES BY THE TIME THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM. GRADUATES HAVE PURSUED CAREERS IN BOTH ACADEMIA AND PRIVATE PRACTICE.IN ADDITION TO THE INTERNAL MEDICINE AND RADIOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAMS, MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL HAS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED THREE-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAM IN PODIATRY WITH TWO RESIDENTS PER YEAR THAT TRAINS PODIATRIC RESIDENTS IN FULL SPECTRUM SURGICAL PODIATRIC TRAINING. ADDITIONALLY, MAH IS A SITE FOR OTHER POST-GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION DISCIPLINES INCLUDING NURSE PRACTITIONERS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIVES. MAH IS ALSO A CORE SITE FOR THE BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER SURGICAL RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR COVERED BY THIS FILING, MAH HAD NET EXPENDITURES OF $19,255,552 REPORTED ON THIS SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7F RELATED TO MAH'S RESIDENCY PROGRAM AND TO TEACHING OTHER STUDENTS RELATED TO ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS WHICH REPRESENTED 5.2% OF MAH'S TOTAL EXPENSES.IRC 501(R) REPORTING UNDER REVENUE PROCEDURE 2015-21:DURING A REVIEW OF MAH'S SECTION 501(R) COMPLIANCE IN FY24, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HOSPITAL WAS NOT CONSISTENTLY OFFERING A COPY OF ITS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY (PLS) AS PART OF PATIENT INTAKE OR DISCHARGE. THE HOSPITAL HAS WORKED AND IS CONTINUING TO WORK ON TRAINING ITS INTAKE AND DISCHARGE TEAMS TO ENSURE THAT A COPY OF THE PLS IS OFFERED. THE HOSPITAL IS NOT AWARE OF ANY PATIENTS WHO WOULD QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT WERE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY NOT BEING OFFERED A COPY OF THE PLS AT EITHER INTAKE OR DISCHARGE. MAH HAS ADOPTED PROCEDURES THAT REQUIRE IT TO REVIEW, ON A REGULAR BASIS, ITS POLICIES AND PROCEDURE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 501(R) AND THE REGULATIONS ISSUED THEREUNDER. THOSE PROCEDURES INCLUDE REVIEWING A SECTION 501(R) COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY
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(SCHEDULE H, PART VI, QUESTIONS 5 AND 6)THE HOSPITAL MAINTAINS AN OPEN MEDICAL STAFF AND AS NOTED IN THIS FORM 990 PARTS I AND VI, THE MAJORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS ARE INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND ACCOMPLISHMENTSAS NOTED THROUGHOUT THIS FORM 990, MAH IS A MEMBER OF THE BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH (BILH) NETWORK OF AFFILIATES. AS NOTED IN VARIOUS NARRATIVE DISCLOSURES THAT SUPPORT THIS FORM 990 AND RELATED SCHEDULES FOR THE PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, BILH IS A MASSACHUSETTS NON-PROFIT CORPORATION EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH'S (BILH) MISSION IS TO SUPPORT ITS AFFILIATES AND THOSE AFFILIATES' MISSIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. BILH STRIVES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO ITS AFFILIATES WHICH SUPPORT THE DELIVERING THE HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE THAT EVERY PATIENT DESERVES. BILH BELIEVES THAT EFFECTIVE CARE IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND SIMPLE TO ACCESS SO IT IS BILH'S FOCUS TO PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH CARE THAT IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AND CONVENIENT REGARDLESS OF WHERE PATIENTS LIVE, THEIR HEALTH HISTORY OR STAGE OF LIFE.THE BILH CORE VALUES AND PRINCIPALS ARE LISTED HERE AS WELL AS NETWORK-WIDE ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING. THE BILH NETWORK IS DELIVERING ON THE PROMISE TO BILH PATIENTS AND COMMUNITIES TO EXPAND ACCESS AND PROVIDE EXTRAORDINARY CARE, WHILE ALSO ADVANCING MEDICINE THROUGH DISCOVERY AND EDUCATION. THE BILH PURPOSE STATEMENT ARTICULATES THE IMPACT THAT EACH BILH AFFILIATE STRIVES TO MAKE IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. THESE SHARED VALUES GUIDE EACH ENTITY'S DAILY EFFORTS AND KEEP EACH AFFILIATE ALIGNED IN THE PURSUIT OF THE BILH PURPOSE, SHOWING HOW "WE CARE" FOR PATIENTS, EACH OTHER AND THE COMMUNITIES SERVED.PURPOSE STATEMENT: BILH CREATES HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES ONE PERSON AT A TIME THROUGH SEAMLESS CARE AND GROUND-BREAKING SCIENCE, DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND EQUITY.BILH WE CARE VALUES:WELLBEING. WE PROVIDE A HEALTH-FOCUSED WORKPLACE AND SUPPORT A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE.EMPATHY. WE DO OUR BEST TO UNDERSTAND OTHERS' FEELINGS, NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVES.COLLABORATION. WE WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS.ACCOUNTABILITY. WE HOLD OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER TO BEHAVIORS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE OUR COLLECTIVE GOALS.RESPECT. WE VALUE DIVERSITY AND TREAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH DIGNITY AND INCLUSIVENESS.EQUITY. EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTAIN THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN OUR WORKPLACE AND THROUGH THE CARE WE PROVIDE.BILH IS ACCOMPLISHING THIS MISSION BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO ITS AFFILIATES WHICH INCLUDE:1. A PHYSICIAN ENTERPRISE THAT ENCOMPASSES THE SYSTEM'S NETWORK OF EMPLOYED PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALTY PHYSICIANS LOCATED THROUGHOUT OUR REGION;2. A HOSPITAL AND AMBULATORY SERVICES GROUP THAT INCLUDES WORLD-CLASS ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS AND TEACHING HOSPITALS WITH AFFILIATIONS WITH HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, UM AND TUFTS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE; LEADING COMMUNITY HOSPITALS; A RENOWNED ORTHOPEDICS HOSPITAL; AND COMPREHENSIVE AMBULATORY CENTERS;3. A POPULATION HEALTH ENTERPRISE THAT EMBRACES A MODEL OF CARE TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF ALL THOSE SERVED BY BILH; THE POPULATION HEALTH DOMAIN INCLUDES THE SYSTEM'S CLINICALLY INTEGRATED NETWORK OF AFFILIATED PROVIDERS AND VITAL SERVICES, INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HOME CARE SERVICES; 4. A ROBUST NETWORK OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL SERVICES TO ADVANCE STRATEGIC GOALS, BOTH LOCALLY AND AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL, THAT OFFERS EXPERTISE AND STANDARDIZED RESOURCES BASED ON BEST PRACTICES.DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH (BILH) SERVED AS THE SOLE MEMBER OF BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. (BIDMC), MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL (MAH), NEW ENGLAND BAPTIST HOSPITAL (NEBH), BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL -- MILTON, INC. (MILTON), BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL -- NEEDHAM, INC. (NEEDHAM), BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL -- PLYMOUTH, INC. (PLYMOUTH), LAHEY HEALTH SHARED SERVICES (LHSS), LAHEY CLINIC FOUNDATION (LCF), WINCHESTER HOSPITAL (WINCHESTER), NORTHEAST HOSPITAL CORPORATION (NHC) WHICH INCLUDES BEVERLY, ADDISON GILBERT AND BAYRIDGE HOSPITALS, NORTHEAST BEHAVIORAL CORPORATION (NBHC), ANNA JAQUES HOSPITAL (AJH), THE BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH PERFORMANCE NETWORK (BILHPN), THE JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER, EXETER HEALTH RESOURCES, INC (EHRI) AND THE BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH PHARMACY. THE LAHEY CLINIC FOUNDATION IN TURN SERVED AS THE SOLE MEMBER OF LAHEY CLINIC INC, AND LAHEY CLINIC HOSPITAL D/B/A LAHEY HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER (LHMC), EHRI IN TURN SERVED AS THE SOLE MEMBER OF EXETER HOSPITAL AND LHSS IN TURN SERVED AS THE SOLE MEMBER OF BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH PRIMARY CARE. THE ENTITIES LISTED HERE MAY HAVE ALSO, IN TURN, SERVED AS MEMBER TO OTHER NETWORK AFFILIATES. SEE FORM 990 SCHEDULE R FOR ADDITIONAL AFFILIATED ENTITIES. BILH PROVIDES CENTRALIZED SUPPORT TO ITS NETWORK OF SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS. BILH SUPPORT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING, STRATEGIC PLANNING, COMPLIANCE, GOVERNANCE AND LEGAL SUPPORT, HUMAN RESOURCES, PATIENT CARE PAYOR CONTRACTING, OPERATIONAL SUPPORT SUCH AS PROCESSING PAYROLL AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, NETWORK-WIDE BENEFIT PLAN STRUCTURING AND NETWORK-WIDE CASH MANAGEMENT. BILH OVERSEES THE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF ITS AFFILIATES, INCLUDING PROVIDING MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, DEBT STRUCTURING SUPPORT, FINANCING OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THROUGH ITS OBLIGATED GROUP DEBT AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AUDIT, TREASURY, INSURANCE AND TAX SERVICES. FOR THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING BILH, INC. PROVIDED SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO ITS AFFILIATES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,835,226,845.ADDITIONAL DETAIL ABOUT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACROSS BILH ARE BELOW.
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BILH NETWORK ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024BILH'S SUPPORT OF ITS AFFILIATES ENABLES THE NETWORK AS A WHOLE TO ACCOMPLISH ITS PRIMARY MISSION OF IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. AS NOTED PREVIOUSLY IN THIS FILING, BILH STRIVES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION BY DELIVERING THE HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE THAT EVERY PATIENT DESERVES. BILH BELIEVES THAT EFFECTIVE CARE IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND SIMPLE TO USE SO IT IS BILH'S FOCUS TO PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH CARE THAT IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AND CONVENIENT REGARDLESS OF WHERE PATIENTS LIVE, THEIR HEALTH HISTORY OR STAGE OF LIFE AND BILH IS ACCOMPLISHING THIS GOAL BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO EACH OF ITS AFFILIATES, PROVIDING AN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND OPERATING MODEL WHICH IS DRIVEN BY FOUR DEEPLY INTERCONNECTED DOMAINS DESIGNED TO ADVANCE MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS ORGANIZATIONS, CARE SETTINGS, SPECIALTIES, AND GEOGRAPHIES TO ENSURE BILH PATIENTS RECEIVE THE CARE THEY NEED IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY LIVE AND WORK.PATIENT CARE DELIVERY ACROSS THE BILH NETWORK - FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024HOSPITAL CARE:DURING THE PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, THE BILH HOSPITALS PROVIDED CARE TO PATIENTS IN A FULL SPECTRUM OF SPECIALTIES AND UTILIZING A WIDE RANGE OF MODALITIES. BELOW ARE A SAMPLE OF THE HOSPITAL CARE PROVIDED TO BILH PATIENTS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR COVERED BY THIS FILING, BILH HOSPITALS HAD APPROXIMATELY 4.9 MILLION OUTPATIENT ENCOUNTERS. APPROXIMATELY 80,000 OUTPATIENT/AMBULATORY SURGERIES AND OVER 100,000 ENDOSCOPIES WERE PERFORMED, IN ADDITION, ACROSS BILH HOSPITALS PATIENTS HAD MORE THAN 141,000 ONCOLOGY VISITS AND ALMOST 111,000 ONCOLOGY INFUSIONS, 268,000 EKGS, OVER 59,000 ORTHOPEDIC PROCEDURES, MORE THAN 758,000 RADIOLOGY EXAMS, OVER 312,000 CT EXAMS, MORE THAN 177,000 ULTRASOUND PROCEDURES, OVER 142,000 MRIS, OVER 221,000 OUTPATIENT BREAST IMAGING EXAMS, APPROXIMATELY 312,000 OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION AND PHYSICAL THERAPY VISITS AND MORE THAN 11.7 MILLION OUTPATIENT LAB TESTS WERE PERFORMED. THE BILH HOSPITALS ALSO HAD APPROXIMATELY 432,000 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS, MORE THAN 35,000 OBSERVATION CASES AND MORE THAN 137,000 INPATIENT DISCHARGES WITH APPROXIMATELY 729,000 INPATIENT DAYS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 44,000 INPATIENT PSYCH DAYS. DURING THIS PERIOD MORE THAN 31,000 INPATIENT SURGERIES WERE PERFORMED AND APPROXIMATELY 14,000 NEWBORNS WERE DELIVERED AND THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 52,000 PAIN CLINIC VISITS. BILH HOSPITALS ALSO HAD MORE THAN 75,000 URGENT CARE VISITS DURING THIS PERIOD. NON-HOSPITAL PHYSICIAN CARE:DURING THE PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, THE BILH PHYSICIANS PROVIDED CARE TO PATIENTS OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITALS AND IN PHYSICIAN OFFICE OR OTHER CLINICAL SETTINGS. BELOW ARE A SAMPLE OF THE NON-HOSPITAL PHYSICIAN SERVICES PROVIDED TO BILH PATIENTS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR COVERED BY THIS FILING, MORE THAN 470 PRIMARY CARE AND FAMILY PRACTICE PROVIDERS HAD APPROXIMATELY 843,000 PATIENT VISITS AND PROVIDERS ACROSS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF SPECIALTIES HAD MORE THAN 624,000 PATIENT VISITS. IN ADDITION, JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER HAD MORE THAN 27,000 PATIENT VISITS RELATED TO DIABETES CARE AND THERE WERE MORE THAN 53,000 URGENT CARE VISITS TO NON-HOSPITAL URGENT CARE LOCATIONS. COMMUNITY BENEFITS, UNCOMPENSATED CARE, COSTS TO PROVIDE CARE TO MEDICAID AND MEDICARE PATIENTS FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024DURING THE FISCAL YEAR COVERED BY THIS FILING BILH HOSPITALS PROVIDED MORE THAN $52 MILLION IN NET COST OF CHARITY CARE, INCLUDING CARE FOR EMERGENT SERVICES PROVIDED TO NON-PAYING PATIENTS AND INCLUDING PAYMENTS TO THE HEALTH SAFETY NET TRUST.IN ADDITION TO THE CHARITY CARE REPORTED ABOVE, EACH OF THE BILH HOSPITALS ALSO PROVIDES CARE TO PATIENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, INCLUDING PARTICULARLY THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, WHICH IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. THE MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH REFORM LAW PROVIDED AN INITIATIVE FOR EXPANSION OF MEDICAID COVERAGE TO GREATER POPULATIONS AND FOR ENROLLMENT OF UNINSURED PATIENTS IN OTHER INSURANCE PROGRAMS. PAYMENTS FROM MEDICAID AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ENSURE LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS DO NOT COVER THE COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED. DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, THE COST OF PROVIDING CARE TO MEDICAID PATIENTS ACROSS BILH EXCEEDED PAYMENTS RECEIVED FOR PROVIDING THAT CARE RESULTING IN A COMBINED SHORTFALL EXCEEDING $35.5 MILLION RELATED TO TREATING MEDICAID PATIENTS. MEDICARE IS THE FEDERALLY SPONSORED HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR ELDERLY OR DISABLED PATIENTS. PAYMENTS FROM MEDICARE DO NOT COVER THE COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED. ALL BILH HOSPITALS PROVIDE CARE TO PATIENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. DURING THE FISCAL PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, THE COST OF PROVIDING CARE TO MEDICARE PATIENTS ACROSS BILH EXCEEDED PAYMENTS RECEIVED FOR PROVIDING THAT CARE, RESULTING IN A COMBINED SHORTFALL EXCEEDING $161 MILLION RELATED TO TREATING MEDICARE PATIENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE COSTS NOTED ABOVE, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR COVERED BY THIS FILING BILH HOSPITALS PROVIDED COMBINED COMMUNITY BENEFITS, COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT SERVICES, CASH AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND OTHER GROUPS AS WELL AS COSTS INCURRED RELATED TO SUBSIDIES FOR PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY CARE ACCESS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE AND OTHER CARE PROVIDED AT A LOSS TOTALING OVER $150 MILLION. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THESE ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS EACH HOSPITAL'S MOST RECENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY, PLEASE SEE FORM 990 SCHEDULE H FOR EACH OF THE BILH HOSPITALS. EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ACROSS BILH SERVE PATIENT CARE BOTH AT BILH AND BEYOND AS PART OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. (BIDMC OR MEDICAL CENTER) IS A TERTIARY CARE ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER PROVIDING LEADING EDGE PATIENT CARE, IS A WORLD CLASS RESEARCH INSTITUTION AND IS DEVOTED TO TEACHING AND TRAINING THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OF TOMORROW, EMBRACING TECHNOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL PRACTICE INNOVATION AND TO THAT END, PART OF THE MEDICAL CENTER'S MISSION IS TO BE A WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH INSTITUTION WHERE OUTSTANDING SCIENTISTS WORK TO DEVELOP NEW KNOWLEDGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE HEALTH OF OUR LOCAL AND EXTENDED COMMUNITIES. BIDMC HAS THE LARGEST RESEARCH OPERATIONS ACROSS BILH AND DURING THE FISCAL YEAR COVERED BY THIS FILING, THE MEDICAL CENTER INCURRED OVER $370 MILLION IN RESEARCH EXPENSES, MORE THAN $91 MILLION OF WHICH WERE INTERNALLY FUNDED.ACROSS BILH HOSPITALS, COSTS FOR TRAINING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS EXCEEDED $210 MILLION. REIMBURSEMENT FROM MEDICARE FOR THESE ACTIVITIES WAS APPROXIMATELY $67 MILLION WHICH LEFT A COMBINED SHORTFALL RELATED TO THESE ACTIVITIES ACROSS BILH OF OVER $143 MILLION WHICH IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM OF TOMORROW.
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ADDITIONAL BILH NETWORK ACTIVITIES:
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EXPANDING ACCESS AND SERVICES; CONTINUING TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CARE AT A LOWER COST; BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FILING, BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH ("BILH") REMAINED COMMITTED TO DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY CARE AT A LOWER COST BY LEVERAGING COMMUNITY SETTINGS AND MAINTAINING CARE WITHIN THE BILH PERFORMANCE NETWORK ("BILHPN"), WHEN APPROPRIATE. THE FOLLOWING HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THESE ONGOING EFFORTS. IN ADDITIONAL TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS NOTED ABOVE, BILH CONTINUED THIS COMMITMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: ENHANCING THE BILHPN OPERATING MODELBILH PERFORMANCE NETWORK ("BILHPN") IS BILH'S CLINICALLY INTEGRATED NETWORK OF PHYSICIANS, CLINICIANS, AND HOSPITALS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE CARE FOR PATIENTS. BILHPN ACHIEVED ITS GOAL OF BECOMING A FULLY INTEGRATED CLINICALLY INTEGRATED NETWORK ("CIN") IN FY 2024. THIS MOVE POSITIONED ITS PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE CARE QUALITY AND SUCCEED IN A VALUE-BASED DELIVERY SYSTEM. ALONGSIDE THIS TRANSFORMATION, BILHPN HAS REDEFINED ITS OPERATING MODEL TO PRIORITIZE HIGH-QUALITY CARE, IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE POPULATIONS BILH SERVES, ENHANCE PERFORMANCE, AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING ACROSS ITS NETWORK. THROUGHOUT FY 2024, BILHPN CONCENTRATED ON QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES, SUCH AS REDUCING DISPARITY GAPS, LOWERING READMISSION RATES, IMPROVING DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT, AND ENHANCING SKILLED NURSING CARE VISITS. IMPROVING PHARMACY ACCESSTHROUGHOUT FY 2024, BILH PHARMACY EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION THAT REFLECTS ITS ONGOING COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE AND REDUCING THE COST OF CARE. ITS ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE: EXPANDED ACCESS TO 8,000 ADDITIONAL PATIENTS, INCLUDING 5,700 MEDICAID PATIENTS; IMPROVED PATIENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES; LAUNCHED CLINICS FOCUSED ON WEIGHT LOSS AND IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO ANTICOAGULATION MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE CENTRALIZED ANTICOAGULATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM; LAUNCHED INSCRIPT TO PROVIDE PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGEMENT ("PBM") SERVICES TO FULLY INSURED AND SELF-FUNDED HEALTH PLANS, RESULTING IN HEALTH PLAN MEMBERS SAVING OVER 20% IN OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS AND GREATER ACCESS TO MEDICATION; AND, EXPANDED PHARMACY PRESENCE IN CLINICS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS FOR TREATING DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES.INCREASING ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICESIN FY 2024, BILH AWARDED $1.2 MILLION TO FOUR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NAVIGATOR PROGRAMS THAT WILL FUND THE HIRING, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NAVIGATORS WHO WILL WORK TO IDENTIFY, UNDERSTAND, AND EFFECTIVELY CONNECT RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES TO APPROPRIATE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE. THE FOUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GATEWAY MUNICIPALITIES OF HAVERHILL, LYNN, PEABODY, AND QUINCY HAVE BEEN GIVEN $300,000 EACH FROM FY 2024 TO 2027 TO LAUNCH THESE PROGRAMS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. LABORATORY SERVICES EXPANSION AND OPTIMIZATIONBILH TRANSITIONED TO CENTRALIZED OVERSIGHT OF ALL LABORATORY DRAW SITES IN FY 2024 AND CREATED 11 NEW COMMUNITY-BASED LAB DRAW STATIONS, WHICH INCREASES PATIENT ACCESS TO LAB SERVICES AND IMPROVES BOTH PATIENT AND PROVIDER SATISFACTION. THE CENTRALIZED OVERSIGHT MODEL BETTER ENABLES BILH TO FOCUS ON QUALITY, SERVICE, AND PHLEBOTOMIST RECRUITMENT. IN ADDITION, BILH CONTINUES TO REFINE TRANSPORTATION ROUTES FOR LAB SPECIMENS, MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS FOR TURNAROUND TIMES AND EFFICIENCY, WHICH FURTHER IMPROVES THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LABORATORY SERVICES.ENHANCEMENT OF CARE DELIVERY ACROSS PRIMARY CARE PRACTICESBILH PRIMARY CARE ("BILHPC") CONTINUED TO ENHANCE CARE DELIVERY AND ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF CARE THROUGHOUT ITS PRACTICES, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES: PARTNERED WITH A BILHPN PHARMACIST AND LOCAL DIABETES NURSE EDUCATORS TO LAUNCH A DIABETES HUB AND SPOKE MODEL IN THE MILTON AND NEEDHAM PRIMARY CARE REGIONS, WHERE A DIABETES-SPECIALIZED ADVANCED PRACTICE PRACTITIONER IS EMBEDDED IN THE PRACTICE; COLLABORATED WITH BILH PHARMACY TO PLAN THE EXPANSION OF REMOTE BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING FOR IMPROVED HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT; EXPANDED THE VIRTUALIST PROGRAM, ENHANCING ACCESS TO ACUTE AND OVERFLOW CARE; AND INTRODUCED A SELF-SCHEDULING TOOL FOR NEW PATIENTS SEEKING TO ESTABLISH CARE WITH A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER.EDUCATION AND AWARENESS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO CAREIN FY 2024, BILH WORKED TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR MASSHEALTH PATIENTS IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS THROUGH VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES. A KEY EFFORT WAS LAUNCHING A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, AVAILABLE IN SEVEN LANGUAGES, TO ENGAGE PATIENTS AND SHARE HEALTH INFORMATION. NEW ENGLAND BAPTIST HOSPITAL ("NEBH") HOSTED INFORMATION SESSIONS TO EDUCATE UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS ABOUT ITS SERVICES. NEBH ALSO PERFORMED OUTREACH TO COMMUNITY HOUSING FACILITIES, PARTICIPATED IN BOSTON MAYOR WU'S HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH LUNCHEON, AND PARTNERED WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND MAIN STREET BOARDS.
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Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.