Funding addresses social determinants of health in underserved communities hit hard by COVID-19
BOSTON - Boston Medical Center (BMC) today announced that the MassMutual Foundation Board of Directors has approved a $1 million grant to expand BMC’s health equity programming in local communities.
BMC has decades of expertise in programming that addresses social determinants of health, which are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.
“We are grateful to the MassMutual Foundation for their generous support,” said Kate Walsh, President and CEO of Boston Medical Center Health System. “The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the true inequities in our society and the devastating impact it has on communities we serve. With the support of the MassMutual Foundation, we can expand the wrap-around support that BMC develops to help our patients and their families lead healthier lives.”
The financial support from the MassMutual Foundation will allow BMC to expand its established health equity programming in underserved communities and communities of color. This effort aims to analyze patient data in order to develop and centralize a comprehensive portfolio of health-advancing social services that go beyond traditional healthcare. It will begin with the patients BMC serves in the Boston area and eventually expand to BMC’s community health centers and accountable care organization partners across Massachusetts.
BMC has piloted many novel health interventions that were adopted nationwide, including the country’s first hospital-based therapeutic food pantry. As health care providers in Massachusetts prepare for a possible second surge in COVID-19 cases, the underserved community - particularly people of color - will continue to be disproportionately affected by the virus as well as other co-occurring health conditions.
“Boston Medical Center’s leadership and expertise in health equity programming is widely known and highly respected throughout our region, and we are honored to support its advancement,” said Dennis Duquette, president of the MassMutual Foundation. “Their comprehensive approach is helping to mitigate systemic barriers to successful healthcare access, delivery, and outcomes and is essential in ensuring that all families and communities can grow and thrive, regardless of zip code.”
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About Boston Medical Center
Boston Medical Center (BMC) is a private, not-for-profit, 514-bed, academic medical center that is the primary teaching affiliate of Boston University School of Medicine. It is the largest and busiest provider of trauma and emergency services in New England. BMC offers specialized care for complex health problems and is a leading research institution, receiving more than $166 million in sponsored research funding in fiscal year 2019. It is the 13th largest funding recipient in the U.S. from the National Institutes of Health among independent hospitals. In 1997, BMC founded Boston Medical Center Health Plan, Inc., now one of the top ranked Medicaid MCOs in the country, as a non-profit managed care organization. Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine are partners in Boston HealthNet – 12 community health centers focused on providing exceptional health care to residents of Boston. For more information, please visit http://www.bmc.org.
About the MassMutual Foundation
The MassMutual Foundation, Inc. is a dedicated corporate foundation established by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). The MassMutual Foundation activates connections and untapped opportunities within communities, so that all families can build their financial capability and thrive. In support of this mission, the Foundation develops partnerships and provides grants in support of our signature programs. The Foundation also supports anchor institutions in the communities where MassMutual operates. To learn more, visit the MassMutual Foundation.
CRN: 202211-274714