Improving How You Live and Stay Healthy
Having good health means more than just medical care – it means having basic things like food, a stable home, transportation, education, and jobs. That is why we created THRIVE, a special program that helps patients connect with resources at the hospital and in the community. The program works to meet immediate needs like food and housing, while also helping patients find opportunities for education and jobs to build a better future.
Understanding THRIVE in Three Easy Steps
Your provider will discuss your situation
Every six months during your visits, we will ask you about your daily life – like if you have enough food or a stable place to live. Your answers help us find the right support for you.
Our expert clinicians dive into your needs
Resources span food and nutrition, education, financial assistance, housing and shelter, transportation, employment, caregiving, health, and legal aid.
We will share resources to help you
We will share a personalized guide with both BMC and community resources, designed for your exact needs. Make sure to stay connected with your provider, as new resources become available all the time.
Maureen's THRIVE Story
See how BMC's THRIVE program could help you like it helped our patient Maureen with housing and other social needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
THRIVE helps patients connect with resources to meet their basic needs, like food, housing, transportation, education, and jobs. During your clinic visit you will be asked questions about these basic needs. If you request support, we will provide information about hospital and community-based programs that can help. While we work to find the best resources for each patient, program eligibility varies and may change over time. Our goal is to help you stay healthy by addressing challenges that impact your daily life.
Every six months, you’ll be asked to fill out a survey, available in many languages, before you see your provider. It will include questions about things like whether you have enough food, have housing, or want job training. This helps your provider understand your needs better. You can also share your concerns directly with your provider during your visit.
Your provider may ask about your general wellbeing, access to food, housing stability, transportation to appointments, job assistance, or childcare. They might also ask if you feel safe at home or if there are specific resources that could improve your overall health and quality of life.
At BMC, medical assistants (MAs) play an essential role in addressing your needs. During your visit, the MA will record your survey responses in Epic, our electronic health record system. Based on your responses, the MA will give you a personalized resource guide that lists programs and services to address your needs. After reviewing the resource guide, you'll meet with your provider, who will discuss your concerns in detail and take any necessary next steps.
If you need additional help, your provider may connect you with a navigator or social worker for more in-depth assistance. This collaborative approach ensures that your needs are met holistically and that you have access to the resources and support you require.
All BMC patients can answer questions about their daily needs during their visits. We will share information about helpful programs at the hospital and in the community. While these programs decide who can receive their help, we will give you the information you need to get started.
You can be referred by your provider, social worker, or patient navigator. They will provide you with the details and, in some cases, help you complete the application process. You may also receive direct outreach from community organizations BMC collaborates with, ensuring you have the support you need.
While we can’t guarantee access to every resource, we’ll do our best to connect you with programs that fit your needs. If one option isn’t available, we’ll explore alternatives together.
Yes, BMC’s Patient Financial Services can help with questions about health insurance or medical bills. You can call them at 617.414.5155 or visit BMC’s Patient Financial Assistance page.
A patient navigator is a trained member of your care team at the hospital. They can give you information about how to get around the hospital and can help you make appointments with different providers or appointments for tests when you have trouble doing it on your own.
Your patient navigator knows about many community programs that can help with things like food, housing, transportation, and other needs. While they cannot promise you will get these services, they will do their best to connect you with helpful resources.
Patient navigators help for a short time, not long-term. They can guide you to services but do not provide the services themselves, like a case manager or social worker. If you think a patient navigator could help you, ask your provider about meeting with one.
Social workers are trained professionals who focus on your emotional and behavioral health needs. They help you and your family cope with illness, injury, or other life challenges. Through one-on-one meetings, they learn about your mental health, family support, and how your medical condition affects your daily life.
While supporting your emotional wellbeing, social workers also look at factors that might affect your health, such as housing, food, or employment challenges. They work closely with your entire medical team to create a care plan that considers both your emotional and practical needs.
Social workers serve as strong advocates for you and your family. They provide counseling, connect you with resources, and help you develop coping skills. They use their expertise in trauma-informed care to support you through difficult times and help you build on your existing strengths.
Ask your doctor or nurse if a patient navigator or social worker is available in your clinic to help you. While these staff members are not available in all clinics, you can still find resources in many languages by visiting massthrive.org.
It’s helpful to bring any paperwork or information about your current needs, like notices from your landlord, utility bills, or a list of medications. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything – your navigator or social worker will help you figure out the next steps.
Patient navigators typically work with you for a short time to guide you to resources. Social workers can offer more long-term support if needed, depending on your situation.
Need Help Now?
In addition to THRIVE, MassThrive offers a list of all programs available in your area in more than 100 languages, while 211 can connect you to emergency services for food, shelter, and more. We also offer hospital resources for specific needs.
- Contact BMC Patient Financial Services at 617.414.5155 for questions about health insurance or medical bills.
- BMC’s Domestic Violence Program can help if you don’t feel safe at home. You can also call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.7233 or contact the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) at 1.844.878.6682 for help related to violence or abuse.
Meet Krishna, Manager of THRIVE Operations
Krishna Varela-Poole, our operations manager, joined THRIVE to advocate for our patients and serve as a voice that empowers them to grow and create change. Her work is crucial to our ability to connect patients with the resources they need to achieve health and wellbeing in all aspects of their lives.
For Our Partners
100k Patients
More than 100,000 of our patients have been screened for social needs impacting their health.
Every Six Months
Patients are re-screened for social determinants of health every six months to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Six Languages
Our custom screener is available in six languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, and Arabic.
Ways We Help Our Patients
Basic Needs
Emergency shelter
Food
Household utilities, phone, and internet
Housing and homelessness
Transportation
Financial & Legal Help
Education
Economic mobility
Employment and job training
Immigration resources
Managing and growing money
Medical Support
Caregiver support
Digital health needs (MyChart)
Medication and prescription assistance
Mental health support
How to Get Involved
If you have a resource that you’d like to share with our patients, please go to massthrive.org to check if it is already listed there. If it is not, you can either contact us at THRIVE@bmc.org or go to the end of the MassThrive website and click ”Suggest Program.” Our team will add it within 24 to 48 hours.
First, be sure to check massthrive.org to see if your program is listed.
THRIVE offers unique opportunities to study how addressing social needs impacts health outcomes. Our program connects a diverse patient population with essential resources like housing, food, and employment, while collecting data on healthcare and social services integration.
Interested in collaborating?
- View our published research
- Contact us at THRIVE@bmc.org to discuss research opportunities
Your support can make a transformative difference in the lives of our patients and communities. THRIVE bridges the gap between clinical care and essential community services, helping to improve health outcomes for thousands of individuals and families.
Contributions to THRIVE allow us to expand access to housing, food security, and economic stability, directly impacting our community’s wellbeing. Join us in creating a healthier and more equitable future. Contact us at THRIVE@bmc.org.
We want to provide our patients with the same opportunities to thrive regardless of their race, ethnicity, immigration status, or socioeconomic status. That’s what we set out to achieve with THRIVE.
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Español
Tiếng Việt
Kreyol ayisyen
en