The Cambridge Hospital
THE CAMBRIDGE HOSPITAL
1493 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: (617) 498-1984
Contact: Luke Wennik
Assistant Manager of Public Relations
The Cambridge Hospital (TCH), a 176-bed full-service hospital owned by the
City of Cambridge and affiliated with Harvard Medical School, is an outstanding
example of a unified health care network. Going beyond the provision of direct
medical care, the hospital displays its utmost commitment to improving the
health status its community through its nationally recognized and innovative
programs. Under the auspices of the Department of Health and Hospitals, TCH's
reputation has flourished in many arenas. The Board, Administration and
Medical Staff are particularly proud of TCH's continued improvement in patient
care services, which has occurred during the hospital's transition into one of
the best public teaching facilities in the country. TCH is a site for Harvard
Medical School's residency training programs in primary care/internal medicine,
psychiatry, pediatrics, orthopedics, surgery and it is a Tufts Medical School
affiliated ob/gyn residency.
The Cambridge Hospital's passionate commitment to its patients and
community will never change. Looking ahead, TCH is building on its
strength. In 1993, its 75th year, TCH has more patient driven
programs in the works, including a women's health center, a
birthing center, expanded geriatric services, and continued
concentration and expansion in primary care services. In order to
serve its community better, TCH will continue to forge
partnerships with social and human service agencies, City
departments and neighborhood organizations. The City of Cambridge
has been most supportive of its public teaching hospital and is
proud of this year's remarkable achievements. TCH looks forward to
creating new community services and to remaining true to its
mission of accessible, quality healthcare for all.
1993 has been a banner year for The Cambridge Hospital. Every three
years, each hospital in the country must undergo an accreditation
survey by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO). In FY93, TCH passed rigorous surveys of
every aspect of the institution's operations including, nursing
and medical care, quality assurance, governance, and physical
plant safety. Similarly, TCH's services meet the standards of the
Massachusetts Departments of Public Health, Mental Health and
Health Care Quality, College of American Pathologists and
residency training programs.
After having the quality of its services validated by JCAHO, TCH entered the
national limelight when it became the 1993 recipient of the Foster G. McGaw Prize,
in June of 1993. This award is given annually by the American Hospital
Association (AHA) and the Baxter Foundation to one hospital whose programs set
an example and can be replicated nationally. The award recognizes excellence in
community service. The Cambridge Hospital's innovative community programs have
been hailed as national models and were publicly acknowledged by First Lady,
Hillary Rodham Clinton, at the AHA convention in August of 1993, where
Hospital CEO, John G. O'Brien accepted the Foster G. McGaw Prize before 4000
health care industry leaders. Working with numerous community health, social
and human service agencies as well as several City departments, TCH has
developed unique, visionary programs to address its community's wide ranging
health problems. TCH's multidisciplinary health care providers face problems in
the community head on. Infants-at-risk, mothers with AIDS, homeless citizens,
the fragile homebound elderly, adolescents and linguistic minorities are just
some of the people whose lives are improved through the diligent efforts of TCH's award winning staff.
TCH offers a wide range of services. The Hospital's inpatient
complement includes medical/surgical, intensive care, maternity,
pediatrics, addictions treatment, and adult/child psychiatry
units. Other Hospital-based services include the 24-hour medical
and psychiatry emergency departments, adult and pediatric primary
care practices, and outpatient specialty services, including eye,
dental, cardiology, gynecology, orthopedics, surgery, occupational
health, behavioral medicine, and podiatry services. 24 hour
interpreter services are available and encompass 28 languages
including sign language and ranging from Spanish and Portuguese to
several Haitian dialects. Many of the most widely used departments
are pleased to be operating in newly designed spaces. Cambridge
Pediatrics, the Zinberg Clinic, the Primary Care Center and the
Dental Clinic have all undergone significant renovations and are
now state-of-the-art. The Angiography and Cardiopulmonary units
have also been revitalized and now have up-to-the- minute equipment
and friendly, multicultural staffs.
In addition to the inpatient and outpatient services available on
the Hospital's campus, TCH has extended its walls to include the
community. Healthcare services can be accessed through the
Hospital's highly acclaimed neighborhood health center system. The
network of health centers located in the Cambridgeport, East
Cambridge, North Cambridge, Riverside, and Windsor Street areas
give Cambridge residents access to top quality primary care with
attention to women's, men's, senior, pediatric and adolescent
health needs. Mental healthcare and social services are also
available through the centers. The neighborhood health center
system is staffed with multicultural and multilingual employees.
The teen health center, located at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin
School, provides primary medical care and school health services
for adolescents. The new Riverside Health Center, located on
Western Avenue, provides all of the services mentioned above and
it houses the Breast Health Project, The Men of Color Task Force,The Child Care Center and the Haitian Mental Health Team. A new clinic for the elderly, which will be part of the city-wide senior center, is in the planning stages. TCH provides much needed services, developed in response to our community's health issues. Examples of the model, community-based services include the following:
The Breast Health Project is made up of a multicultural,
multilingual team of women, which includes a nurse coordinator and
two outreach workers. The goal of this program is to break down
barriers, both cultural and economical that prevent women from
having mammograms and regular check-ups. A mobile mammography unit
is used to bring the service right into targeted neighborhoods.
The Men of Color Task Force is up and running, with a
full-time director in an office in the newly built Riverside
Health Center. The purpose of this task force is to link men of
color to healthcare providers in the Hospital's system. Outreach
is being done through neighborhood churches, schools, social and
athletic organizations to encourage men of color to seek ongoing,
preventive care. A diverse team of understanding providers at the
Riverside Health Center includes both a male nurse practitioner
and a male primary care doctor.
Housecalls for the Homebound Elderly continues to be one of
TCH's most inspiring services. TCH receives numerous inquiries
from other hospitals around the country, who are seeking to
implement similar programs in their communities. Housecalls
provides medical evaluations at home by physicians from the
Hospital's department of medicine, nursing visits from the
Cambridge Nurse's Association, coordinated home care visits by
Somerville Cambridge Elder Services, and mental health
consultation and evaluation by the Geriatric Service.
The Child Care Center is a Hospital-sponsored program that is
convenient, affordable, and representative of the Hospital's
multicultural work force. The program was developed in
collaboration with the Department of Human Services, and is housed
in the newly constructed city-wide youth center in Area IV.
Enrollment began in the summer of 1993 and since its inception, it
has been a success for TCH's hard working parents and their
children.
TCH is planning for a healthy future with Project REACH, which
stands for Renewal and Expansion as A Center for Community Health.
In FY93, the City Council approved the 40 million dollar expansion
project. Through Project REACH, the Hospital will be able to
provide for its growing patient base, particularly in ambulatory
care where 45% growth is anticipated during the next eight years.
The project includes renovations of existing space, creation of an
ambulatory care center and additional parking capacity. In a
landmark agreement with the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood
Association(MCNA), the Hospital, MCNA and the City of Cambridge
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This unique document
involves the Hospital's community neighbors in every aspect of the
process of building and renovating TCH. Several sub-committees are
currently at work, striving to create a building that addresses
the neighborhood's needs while allowing the Hospital to continue
providing health care services for the community in a dignified
environment. Inside the new building and throughout the existing
space, patients will enjoy a renovated emergency department, a
newly designed maternity unit, a completely modernized surgical
suite and a functional, comprehensive ambulatory care center.
Plans are in the works for a public education space where
literature on health issues affecting people of all ages and all
backgrounds will be made available. Throughout the final design,
patients will find that attention to their comfort and needs has
been the driving force behind Project REACH. The new building will
present a welcoming image to the community, while remaining
respectful of its neighbors and in harmony with surrounding
streets and homes. TCH hopes to break ground with the new building
project in 1994.
The Cambridge Hospital prides itself on serving all patients
equally, regardless of their ability to pay. Its patient
population is diverse from socioeconomic and demographic
perspectives. In addition to serving those of great need, The
Cambridge Hospital has become more popular with professional
families, who have learned of its excellent reputation and are
eager to support its community services. The majority of its
patients are Cambridge residents who enjoy the convenience of the
neighborhood health centers and the campus based specialty
clinics. Outpatient volumes show an increase in use by TCH
patients and grew from 163,134 visits in FY92 to 178,354 in FY93,
an increase of over 9% percent. Medicare, Medicaid and Self-pay
constituted approximately 80% percent of TCH's total charges in
FY93. TCH has contracted with many insurers to continue providing
access to patients who are members of health maintenance
organizations. TCH currently has contracts with: Harvard Community
Health Plan, Bay State, Pilgrim Health Care, HMO Blue,
Neighborhood Health Plan and U.S. Healthcare.
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Last Update May 8, 1995