Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Statement Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To see our full nondiscrimination statement, click here.

Campus Construction Update

Starting September 14, we’re closing the Menino building lobby entrance. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

Pain-Free Newborn Care

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Pain Free Newborn Care is a program designed to minimize the pain and discomfort associated with a pediatric patient’s hospital visit.

For newborns undergoing a circumcision, the following analgesics are recommended:

  1. ELAMAX (lidocaine cream) applied to the penis about 30 minutes before the procedure.
  2. Acetaminophen given orally before the procedure.
  3. Buffered lidocaine (with bicarbonate added) administered for penile block.
  4. Sucrose 12% oral solution given by syringe two to three minutes before the procedure.
  5. Pacifier offered during the procedure (but thrown away before baby returns to parents).
  6. Ideally, baby should go back to parents and be held and breastfed after procedure.

For newborns undergoing a blood draw or an IV insertion:

  1. Babies are given sucrose 12% oral solution by syringe two to three minutes before the procedure.
  2. During the procedure, a gloved finger is offered for the baby to suck.
  3. The medical staff attempts to get the baby back to the family or mother as soon as possible after a painful procedure so she can hold or breastfeed her baby.

For newborns undergoing the heel stick associated with the newborn metabolic screen, it is recommended that the physician:

  1. Performing the test while the baby is held skin to skin.
  2. Perform the test while the baby is breastfeeding.*

*Gray L, Miller LW, Philipp BL, Blass EM. Breastfeeding is analgesic in healthy newborns. Pediatrics 2002; 109(4): 590-593.