Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

History of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

The history of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center began with the founding of two separate Boston hospitals. New England Deaconess Hospital (NEDH) opened in 1896, followed by Beth Israel Hospital (BIH) in 1916. In 1996, one hundred years after NEDH’s founding, the two merged to form Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Before the merger, both hospitals had notable achievements in patient care and research:

• 1927: NEDH offers cancer care at the Palmer Memorial Hospital. The cancer program dedicated resources to cancer treatment and research at a time when many thought cancer was incurable.
• 1951: NEDH establishes the Cancer Research Institute. This is the first research facility in New England devoted to cancer research.
• 1972: BIH creates a Patient Bill of Rights. This is later used as a model for a state bill of rights designed to inform patients and providers of their rights under the law.
• 1991: BIH and NEDH both go smoke-free. The same year, a doctor at BIH published a landmark study on medical error. This puts BIH at the forefront of a push for better healthcare safety and transparency.

As Beth Israel Deaconess, the Center continues to be an innovator in cancer care and patient advocacy through:

• Groundbreaking cancer vaccine research
• Streamlined clinical procedures that help deliver new treatments to patients more efficiently
• Early adoption of online patient care portals to improve communication and access to care

In 2019, Beth Israel Deaconess became one of the founding hospitals of Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH). This healthcare system connects services from medical centers, teaching hospitals and specialty hospitals. This helps to expand access to quality care and research for patients with rare cancers like mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Care at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Beth Israel Deaconess has specialists who treat mesothelioma. Patients can expect a multidisciplinary approach to care. This includes access to clinical trials and other medical advances available through Beth Israel Deaconess’s status as an academic medical center.

Patients’ care teams may include:

• Genetic counselors
• Nutritionists
• Palliative care specialists
• Pathologists
• Social workers
• Surgical oncologists

People with pleural mesothelioma receive treatment through the center’s Lung and Thoracic Cancer Program. A team of doctors and other specialists works together as part of this program to treat patients and improve their quality of life.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Specializations

• Cancer pain management
• Chemotherapy
• Clinical trials
• Imaging and pathology
• Immunotherapy
• Photodynamic therapy
• Surgery
• Targeted therapy
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Accreditations

• American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award
• Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WasteWise National Data Award (2020)
• EPA’s Green Innovator Award (2020)
• EPA’s WasteWise National Narrative Award, Non-profit Organization Category (2021)
• Human Rights Campaign Designation as a Healthcare Equality Leader
• Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence

Patient and Family Services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Beth Israel Deaconess offers support resources for patients and families. Physicians and registered nurses assess patient and family needs and connect them with resources through the center’s Case Management Program. Resources at Beth Israel Deaconess include:

• Hospitalist Care
• Nutrition
• Palliative Care
• Radiology & Imaging
• Rehabilitation Services
• The Arnold-Warfield Pain Center
• The Division of Gerontology

Patient and Family Services in the Boston Area

Beth Israel Deaconess is located in Boston, a major metropolitan area. The area has many services catering to cancer patients and their families. In addition to services provided by Beth Israel Deaconess, other local organizations offer counseling, hospice, pain clinics and related services.