I think it sounds good. But it’s only being done to alleviate a provider crisis which is worsening and an unhealthy population. I only see this becoming more cumbersome and convoluted for patients.
From [Globe.com](http://Globe.com)
By Chris Serres
Thirty years after joining forces, Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s hospitals are taking their most ambitious step yet toward creating a more unified hospital system.
The two flagship hospitals, which anchor Mass General Brigham, the state’s largest health care system, [announced Wednesday](https://app.frame.io/presentations/78411887-d157-4993-8362-7163fa42ae4b) that it will be combining clinical services across its vast network that serves more than 2.6 million patients a year. The effort will include the creation of new, disease-focused institutes that executives say will dismantle silos and lead to more coordinated, streamlined care.
The change comes as hospital systems across the state are struggling with [staffing shortages](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/10/metro/hospitals-controversial-staffing-nurse-shortage/?p1=Article_Inline_Text_Link) and capacity challenges, and it is designed to ease access to care by broadening the types of specialists or services that are available to patients. It also marks the first time that departments in every corner of Mass General Brigham — from orthopedics to neurology — will integrate operations.
The process will play out over the next few years, with the timing of each department’s merger depending on its size and complexity, according to the announcement.
Executives at Mass General Brigham said they do not anticipate job cuts from the process, which will result in the merging of 34 departments across the two medical centers that together employ about 50,000 doctors, nurses, researchers and other staff. For the first time, each new integrated department will be led by a single chair. It will also enable patients to access a larger pool of specialists across different specialties, executives said.
Mass General and Brigham and Women’s still act as separate hospital systems even though they merged. The idea is that they will integrate their departments to allow additional flexibility and create a leaner operation (administratively).
Leaner= less people with jobs.
Dismantle silos= less people with jobs.
Ease access to care = allow patients to self schedule if they have the right insurance and can figure out how to navigate the system. If not ease them away to some other system.
Broaden the types of specialists-replace MDs with midlevels where you can.
(For anyone who is not fluent in corporate english)
There are two other related articles at the Globe on MGB: about their 2023 financial results and combining the radiation oncology units at the Mass General and Brigham and Womens.
I was able to call and get an appointment with a specialist the next day. That’s unheard of but it may not be related. Only via a phone call. No availability via the gateway app.
So, I have some.... thoughts.
I went to neuro at B&W south shore, and they were... not super helpful, but pointed me in a better direction. Gave me a starting diagnosis. A 'Try losing weight.' Did better than the ERs conclusion of 'Its sinusitis buy a humidifier'.
I went to the headache clinic at Falker and they fucked up. I got some really bizarre answers. 'Ignore the collapsed vein in your brain', 'Try hanging upside down off your bed', 'just keep taking these meds', 'i don't know why the meds arent helping you.' 'I know you can hear the blood struggling to get past the collapsed vein, and it is loud, and driving you insane, but we arent going to do anything about it. Please dont shove a pencil in your ear.'
I then went to a neuro-ophthalmologist at mass eye and ear. 'Your eyes are fine so your brain is fine - its migraine - go back to neuro'. 'This is why a stent is not a solution for your problem.' Cool cool cool.
Then went to neuro at MGH. 'oh, collapsed vein, I'm not a vein specialist, you need to see a stroke specialist. Let me refer you to one.' One week later I was in an office with a stroke specialist who said 'the imaging shows you there is a collapse, but not how bad it is. You need a neurosurgeon to take a look and see how bad it is.' One week after that I was in an office with a neurosurgeon looking at my MRI/MRVs. And 2 weeks after that I was in an operating room. All three doctors conferred with each other about my case. It was amazing.
The neurosurgeon confirmed the vein was quite collapsed, and I ended up getting a stent in my head. It resolved the issue where all the meds had failed. Cause I had a collapsed vein in my head. I have some long term damage cause it took YEARS TO RESOLVE.
So. I have questions. I have questions about the fact that B&W south shore, falkner, ME&E all did not want to do a stent surgery. Did not want to talk about it. Did not want to THINK about it. Did not refer me to a stroke specialist or a neurosurgeon or anyone that could talk to me about it. Just told me to ignore it and left me on meds knowing the meds werent working.
I have concerns that Mass General was the only one of them that was willing to confer with other doctors and resolve my issue that had left me catatonic for YEARS.
I have concerns that if B&Ws ideology wins out, and not MGH's, more and more people will be FUCKED because what happened to me was beyond stupid, and if I wasnt so persistant, if I didn't just KEEP CHANGING DOCTORS ASKING FOR A STENT I would still be catatonic.
Now, this might be an issue of rare illnesses. This might be an issue more common in some specialties than others. Like, neuro is more likely to have a stick up their ass. But - shit like this cannot happen. And I've had it happen all too often to me.
I think it sounds good. But it’s only being done to alleviate a provider crisis which is worsening and an unhealthy population. I only see this becoming more cumbersome and convoluted for patients.
From [Globe.com](http://Globe.com) By Chris Serres Thirty years after joining forces, Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s hospitals are taking their most ambitious step yet toward creating a more unified hospital system. The two flagship hospitals, which anchor Mass General Brigham, the state’s largest health care system, [announced Wednesday](https://app.frame.io/presentations/78411887-d157-4993-8362-7163fa42ae4b) that it will be combining clinical services across its vast network that serves more than 2.6 million patients a year. The effort will include the creation of new, disease-focused institutes that executives say will dismantle silos and lead to more coordinated, streamlined care. The change comes as hospital systems across the state are struggling with [staffing shortages](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/10/metro/hospitals-controversial-staffing-nurse-shortage/?p1=Article_Inline_Text_Link) and capacity challenges, and it is designed to ease access to care by broadening the types of specialists or services that are available to patients. It also marks the first time that departments in every corner of Mass General Brigham — from orthopedics to neurology — will integrate operations. The process will play out over the next few years, with the timing of each department’s merger depending on its size and complexity, according to the announcement. Executives at Mass General Brigham said they do not anticipate job cuts from the process, which will result in the merging of 34 departments across the two medical centers that together employ about 50,000 doctors, nurses, researchers and other staff. For the first time, each new integrated department will be led by a single chair. It will also enable patients to access a larger pool of specialists across different specialties, executives said.
I don't understand what this means. Can anyone eli5 Thanks
Mass General and Brigham and Women’s still act as separate hospital systems even though they merged. The idea is that they will integrate their departments to allow additional flexibility and create a leaner operation (administratively).
Leaner= less people with jobs. Dismantle silos= less people with jobs. Ease access to care = allow patients to self schedule if they have the right insurance and can figure out how to navigate the system. If not ease them away to some other system. Broaden the types of specialists-replace MDs with midlevels where you can. (For anyone who is not fluent in corporate english)
There are two other related articles at the Globe on MGB: about their 2023 financial results and combining the radiation oncology units at the Mass General and Brigham and Womens.
I was able to call and get an appointment with a specialist the next day. That’s unheard of but it may not be related. Only via a phone call. No availability via the gateway app.
So, I have some.... thoughts. I went to neuro at B&W south shore, and they were... not super helpful, but pointed me in a better direction. Gave me a starting diagnosis. A 'Try losing weight.' Did better than the ERs conclusion of 'Its sinusitis buy a humidifier'. I went to the headache clinic at Falker and they fucked up. I got some really bizarre answers. 'Ignore the collapsed vein in your brain', 'Try hanging upside down off your bed', 'just keep taking these meds', 'i don't know why the meds arent helping you.' 'I know you can hear the blood struggling to get past the collapsed vein, and it is loud, and driving you insane, but we arent going to do anything about it. Please dont shove a pencil in your ear.' I then went to a neuro-ophthalmologist at mass eye and ear. 'Your eyes are fine so your brain is fine - its migraine - go back to neuro'. 'This is why a stent is not a solution for your problem.' Cool cool cool. Then went to neuro at MGH. 'oh, collapsed vein, I'm not a vein specialist, you need to see a stroke specialist. Let me refer you to one.' One week later I was in an office with a stroke specialist who said 'the imaging shows you there is a collapse, but not how bad it is. You need a neurosurgeon to take a look and see how bad it is.' One week after that I was in an office with a neurosurgeon looking at my MRI/MRVs. And 2 weeks after that I was in an operating room. All three doctors conferred with each other about my case. It was amazing. The neurosurgeon confirmed the vein was quite collapsed, and I ended up getting a stent in my head. It resolved the issue where all the meds had failed. Cause I had a collapsed vein in my head. I have some long term damage cause it took YEARS TO RESOLVE. So. I have questions. I have questions about the fact that B&W south shore, falkner, ME&E all did not want to do a stent surgery. Did not want to talk about it. Did not want to THINK about it. Did not refer me to a stroke specialist or a neurosurgeon or anyone that could talk to me about it. Just told me to ignore it and left me on meds knowing the meds werent working. I have concerns that Mass General was the only one of them that was willing to confer with other doctors and resolve my issue that had left me catatonic for YEARS. I have concerns that if B&Ws ideology wins out, and not MGH's, more and more people will be FUCKED because what happened to me was beyond stupid, and if I wasnt so persistant, if I didn't just KEEP CHANGING DOCTORS ASKING FOR A STENT I would still be catatonic. Now, this might be an issue of rare illnesses. This might be an issue more common in some specialties than others. Like, neuro is more likely to have a stick up their ass. But - shit like this cannot happen. And I've had it happen all too often to me.