How Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Lives United

Stressing its focus on individualized, quality-driven patient care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) strives to be a "medical center with a heart" for all who pass through its doors.  With one in ten of its patients requiring language assistance, BIDMC was among the first hospitals to establish an interpreter service that provides 74,000 in-person interpretation and 35,000 phone encounters each year.  BIDMC's sign language interpretation program, established with Children's Hospital, was the state's first for patient care.

A diverse workforce also helps to ensure that patients feel welcome at BIDMC.   BIDMC offers employees, at little or no cost, a variety of programs to improve their education and move up to more advanced positions at the hospital. BIDMC also collaborates with community organizations to train community residents for jobs at the medical center.  Boston's high school students are given summer jobs, internships or offered opportunities to shadow BIDMC staff and experience the variety and promise of careers in health care.  Coupled with targeted recruitment, these workforce development strategies have resulted in a more culturally and racially diverse workforce at BIDMC.  The United Way's employment initiative shares this understanding of the importance of providing individuals with tools to enter the workforce and training to improve their careers so they can build better lives for themselves and their families.

BIDMC reaches out to the community through its network of community health centers.  The Bowdoin Street Health Center is a good example.  Staff at Bowdoin Street recently designed and implemented a model for personalized diabetes care that helps some 600 diabetics with self-care, assisted by a multi-disciplinary team at the health center and home visits.  Bowdoin Street also participates in the Fitness in the City program that provides a comprehensive set of evaluations, family counseling, fitness activities for kids, and community education.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center also supports United Way’s work directly through a workplace giving campaign and participation in the annual Healthcare Leadership Breakfast.