Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston
Who We Are
Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston is a world-renowned teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and an international leader in virtually every area of adult medicine.
Our leadership in patient quality and safety, the development of state of the art treatments and technologies, biomedical research, and investment in teaching the next generation of caregivers, has improved the health of people in New England, the United States, and around the world.
Quality and Safety
BWH has shaped the national patient safety and quality agenda for the past two decades.
In the early 1990s, BWH pioneered Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) to prevent medication errors, helping to establish what is now a nationally accepted patient safety practice.
BWH has also received numerous patient safety awards in recognition of its landmark electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) and bar-coding system, which places barcodes on patients’ medications, name bands and nurses’ badges. A nurse scans all three barcodes before administering a medication to ensure that each patient receives the correct medication and dosage at the correct time.
State of the Art Treatment and Technology
BWH is at the forefront in developing treatments and technologies that transform health care. Recent examples include performing the second facial transplant in the United States and our robotic surgery program.
Based on a legacy of many firsts – such as the first mitral valve surgery and first successful human organ transplant – we are a world leader in using new research findings and new technology to provide complex care in less invasive ways.
Our surgeons use the FDA-approved da Vinci Surgical System to perform a variety of urologic, gynecologic, and general laparoscopic procedures that improve surgical outcomes while reducing hospital stays and patient recovery time.
We were, in fact, the site of the first successful robot-assisted laparoscopic tubal sterilization reversal and first robot-assisted radical hysterectomy in New England.
Commitment to Research
The BWH Biomedical Research Institute (BRI) is one of the most powerful biomedical research institutes in the world. In 2008, BWH received a total of $441 million in research support from all sources. For over a decade, it has been one of the two hospitals receiving the most National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among independent hospitals in the United States.
With over 3,200 researchers, BWH has long had great success in research as measured by the number of important discoveries, the size and scope of its research portfolio, and the volume of publications annually.
Our researchers have led the way in pioneering discoveries including regenerative medicine, designing nanoparticles to attack different types of cancer, and starting a clinical trial for a type of Alzheimer’s disease vaccine. Our research also includes internationally-known population studies including the Nurses’ Health Study and Physicians’ Health Study.
Services and Special Capabilities
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Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center
The new Shapiro Cardiovascular Center is one-of-a-kind, with some of the world’s leading cardiovascular experts in a newly-designed facility that combines the latest technology with patient-centered care. -
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center
Our Center brings together one of the world’s leading cancer institutes and one of the world’s leading hospitals, creating 12 specialized centers that integrate medical, surgical, and radiation treatments with the latest trials. -
Brigham and Women’s Orthopedic and Arthritis Center
BWH has one of the largest orthopedic and arthritis programs in the world. Our specialists – many of whom are leaders in their fields – are leading the way in research and advanced therapies for every form of bone and joint disease and injury. -
Brigham and Women’s Neurosciences Institute
The BWH Neurosciences Institute offers the most advanced treatments for all diseases of the nervous system. The Institute integrates neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and neuroradiology, with advanced research and clinical trials. -
Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health
With one of the largest obstetric and gynecology programs in the country, BWH is a top provider of high-risk obstetric care, newborn intensive care, infertility services, complex gynecologic surgery, and gender-specific care.
Awards and Recognition
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American Stroke Association Gold Award
BWH received the American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines Gold Performance Achievement Award for commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care for two consecutive years. -
Joint Commission: Gold Seal of Approval 2007
BWH is fully accredited by the Joint Commission. Based on the Joint Commission Quality Check, BWH has better than average care for both heart attack and heart failure. -
NCQH National Quality Healthcare Award
In 2006, BWH became the first hospital in New England–and 13th overall–to win the prestigious National Quality Healthcare Award, based on performance across eight dimensions of quality. -
Leapfrog Group Top Hospital 2007
In 2007, for the third year in a row, BWH was named to the Leapfrog Group’s list of “Top Hospitals” for making significant strides in quality and patient safety. -
Thomson: Top 100 & Top Performance Improvement Leader
Thomson Healthcare named BWH as one of the nation’s top 100 hospitals and as a top performance improvement leader in 2007. -
University HealthSystem Consortium Quality and Accountability Top Performer
In 2007, for the third year in a row, the University HealthSystem Consortium recognized BWH for excellence in delivering high-quality, safe, effective and equitable care among a cadre of the country’s leading academic medical centers. -
U.S. News & World Report – America's Best Hospitals
BWH is honored to be consistently listed on the Honor Roll of U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Hospitals issue since the Honor Roll's inception in 1995.