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(Click on the logos for more information and to visit their websites)
 www.partners.org
Partners HealthCare is a not-for-profit network of hospitals, physicians, health centers founded by Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Partners HealthCare is dedicated to patient care, teaching, research, and service to the community. BWH, MGH and Partners were active participants in Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s Task Force on Disparities, and BWH President, Gary Gottlieb, MD, was one of the Task Force co-chairs.
BWH, MGH and Partners have committed more than $6 million to identify and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care in Boston.
The hospitals have agreed to:
- measure the quality of patient care and patient satisfaction by race, ethnicity, language, and education;
- improve education and cultural competence for doctors, nurses and other caregivers, staff and patients;
- help patients take an active role in their care;
- work to diversity their professional workforce and governing boards;
- collaborate closely with members of the community.
 www.mgh.harvard.edu
In July 2005, with initial funding of $3 million, Massachusetts General Hospital created the Disparities Solutions Center -- the first national disparities center to be based in a hospital. The Center is working to move policy to practice and transfer what it learns throughout the nation.
The MGH Center is led by Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPH. Dr. Betancourt was a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee, which produced the 2002 landmark report (Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health Care) which revealed striking disparities in the quality of health care services delivered to minority and white patients even for patients of the same socioeconomic background and access to care. The MGH Disparities Solutions Center will:
- Advise the MGH in its efforts to identify and address racial and ethnic disparities in care;
- Develop and evaluate customized solutions to eliminate disparities throughout the health care community in Boston and beyond;
- Educate, train and expand the number of leaders working to end disparities nationwide.
 www.brighamandwomens.org
Brigham and Women’s Hospital has established the Health Equity Program to reduce disparities in neighboring communities, a $3.7 million effort to address infant mortality and other health care disparities including heart disease, HIV/AIDS, care for patients with severe mental illness, and violence prevention among young men. The effort is led by JudyAnn Bigby, MD. The hospital’s new Center for Surgery and Public Health will, among other things, examine disparities in surgical care. It is led by Selwyn Rogers, MD.
www.bluecrossma.com
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is proud of its longstanding legacy of community giving. In addition to contributing to a variety of charitable organizations, we remain dedicated to community partnerships that use new ideas and resources to address health-related and social issues throughout Massachusetts.
Some major initiatives include:
- Working closely with other community partners, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation supports the development of solutions that extend health care access to those who need it most.
- Our Jump Up and Go!TM program helps children become more physically active and develop healthy behaviors.
- School Partnerships, like the one Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has with Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, provide student internships, training programs, career preparation seminars, job-shadowing opportunities, and renewable college scholarships to deserving students every year.
 www.bphc.org
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