A letter from our leadership
Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed a series of deeply troubling incidents of racism, hatred, and violence that have created an environment of hostility and fear. Our country, our communities, and our children are hurting. The pain of this moment is a call to all of us to stand up and to speak ... Read More
Cancer and COVID-19: Ethics guidelines for resource allocation
Main findings: Hospitals should create guidelines in advance to ensure cancer patients are fairly represented in possible resource allocation decisions — in COVID-19 and other emergencies.A cancer diagnosis should be considered as any other underlying health condition.Decisions about distributing limited resources should not be made by a patient’s physician. As the COVID-19 pandemic began surging ... Read More
Taking care of our community during COVID-19 and beyond
Although COVID-19 has affected the health of most children less acutely than adults, many young people who live in the communities surrounding Boston Children’s Hospital are experiencing the virus’s impact in other troubling ways as their families struggle with food insecurity and are having trouble meeting many other basic needs. “Right now, there’s been a ... Read More
The polio outbreak of 1955: Lessons from an epidemic
“This is going to be a tough year.” Claire McCarthy was a young physical therapist in early March 1955 when orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Grice, made this observation. At the time, Boston Children’s Hospital was the receiving center for adults and children with polio in New England. The hospital typically saw an upsurge in cases ... Read More
Biocontainment Unit supports nurses on the frontlines of infection control
When cases of COVID-19 began to mount this winter, Boston Children’s Hospital was ready to spring into action — in fact, the hospital has been preparing for such a pandemic for six years. In collaboration with Boston Children’s Chief of Medical Critical Care, Michael Agus, MD; Hospital Epidemiologist and Medical Director of Infection Prevention and ... Read More
Community coming together: Simmons University provides housing for Boston Children’s staff
Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, we’ve had to adapt to many changes to our daily routines. For most of us, this includes working from home and going out only when necessary. But for the frontline staff at Boston Children’s Hospital — from doctors and nurses to front desk staff and food service personnel ... Read More
Nurses find simulation to be a core component of daily care delivery
Complex patients, new technology, a demanding health care environment. These factors and more underscore the growing importance of simulation as a key component of nurses’ education and training. At Boston Children’s Hospital, nurses use simulation to hone skills, refine experience, improve interprofessional communication, and expand competence and confidence. Simulation is a core component of their ... Read More
Nurse scientists: Advancing pediatric care through research
Quality nursing care depends on ongoing clinical inquiry — that is, asking questions about current processes and developing the best solutions to those concerns. “The power of critical thinking strengthens nurses’ ability to be clinical experts and practice at the highest level,” says Jean Connor, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN, director of Nursing Research, Cardiovascular and ... Read More
Boston Children’s nurses: Setting the standard for innovation
As clinicians at Boston Children’s Hospital continue to pioneer new therapies for both kids and adults, nurses play a critical role in bringing those treatments to families. To make sure groundbreaking treatments like gene therapies are integrated into both nursing practice and patient care, Boston Children’s nurses have developed a series of processes. When ... Read More
Census 2020: Every child counts to ensure health equity
With much of the world focused on the new coronavirus, it’s hard for many of us to think about anything else. But one important task that needs everyone’s attention is the 2020 census form. With many offices and schools currently closed, now is the perfect time to complete your census and make sure all your children ... Read More