PARTNERS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, INC. - An Integrated HealthCare Delivery System

Partners HealthCare System is dedicated to developing an integrated HealthCare delivery system throughout the region that offers patients a continuum of coordinated, high-quality care. Partners is creating a framework in which all aspects of the HealthCare delivery system are coordinated between and among providers and facilities.

PARTNERS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM INC. - Excellence in Patient Care at Home and Abroad

The member organizations of Partners HealthCare System, Inc. have joined together in a commitment to serve the community and, by virtue of their international prominence, the world. Together, they are dedicated to enhancing patient care, teaching and research, and taking a leadership role as an integrated HealthCare system. Partners HealthCare System understands that increasing value and continuously improving quality are essential to maintaining excellence.


MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL - Largest Teaching Hospital of Harvard Medical School

Founded in 1811, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is recognized as a world leader in academic medicine and has made pivotal contributions to the advancement of medicine throughout history.

In 1846, MGH was the first to use ether as an anesthetic, demonstrating to the world the performance of surgery without pain. In 1896, MGH produced the first X-ray image just 30 days after the technique was discovered in Europe. Then in 1925, MGH founded the nation's first tumor clinic, advancing a "specialist" approach to the study of disease.

Today, MGH provides sophisticated, multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic care in every medical specialty and subspecialty. MGH employs over 3,700 specialist and sub-specialist physicians including research physicians, fellows and dentists. MGH maintains 875 acute care-beds. Its professional staff treated 47,878 patients and 1,440,766 outpatients and performed 32,650 surgical procedures in 2002.

MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL ("MGH") Ranked 3rd for overall excellence by U.S. News & World Report in its "Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals" for demonstrating high levels of competence in 12 major medical specialties. The MGH ranks among the "Top 5 Hospitals in America" for excellence in treating Digestive, Ear Nose and Throat, Cardiac, Geriatric, Gynecological, Kidney and Orthopedic Diseases, as well as Respiratory, Neurological and Hormonal Disorders. MGH was ranked among the "Top 10 Best Hospitals in America" for excellence in Rheumatological and Urological Diseases. (See U.S. News & World Report, July 18, 2005)



RESEARCH

The Lawrence E. Martin Research Laboratory
While MGH conducts research in multiple departments on its main campus, most of the remaining research is conducted in the Lawrence E. Martin Laboratories located 1 mile from the hospital. Within this facility are not only standard and dedicated laboratories assigned to specific research programs, but also specialized equipment and services made available to all qualified investigators. Expenditures for research at the MGH amounted to $215,760,000 in 1998.

Edwin I. Steel Laboratory for Tumor Biology
The Edwin I. Steel Laboratory for Tumor Biology also conducts basic and advanced onocological research.


MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1945: Developed the Pap smear, a definitive tool in the diagnosis of cervical cancer
• 1960: Used proton beam radiation to treat eye, neck, and brain tumors
• 1962: Performed the world's first reattachment of a severed, human limb
• 1964: Pioneered technology to support the long-term storage of blood
• 1969: Developed the intra-aortic balloon catheter, the world's first temporary, aortic-assist device
• 1970s: Developed Positron Emission Tomography scanning (PET) and Magnetic
• Resonance Imaging (MRI), providing for the noninvasive imaging of internal organs
• 1981: Developed artificial skin made from living cells, with MIT and Shriners Burn Institute
• 1993: Discovered genes responsible for Huntington's disease
• 1995: Performed first cartilage transplant operation in the United States
• 1998: Applied molecular genetic analysis to classify and treat brain tumors
• 1999: Demonstrated efficacy of a new, less toxic regimen for bone marrow transplantation
• 1999: First to induce spinal cord growth across injured site without use of implanted cells


SPECIALTY PRACTICE CENTERS

• Alzheimer's and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Brain Tumor Center
• Bone and Joint Radiology
• Burns and Trauma Program
• Cancer Center
• Cancer Surgery
• Cardiac Surgery
• Cardiology Division
• Cardiovascular Research Center
• Cardiology
• Center for Bone Marrow Transplantation
• Center for Innovative Minimally Invasive Therapy
• Center for Reproductive Biology
• Center for Study Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Center for Women's Mental Health
• Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention
• Executive Registry
• Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit
• General Internal Medicine Unit
• Gynecology
• Knight Center for Interventional Cardiology
• Sports Medicine Service
• Hematology and Oncology
• Neurology
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pain Center
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatrics
• Laser Center
• Maxwell and Eleanor Blum Patient and Family Learning Center
• Palliative Care Center
• Pain Center
• Renal Unit
• Transplantation Unit
• Transplantation Biology Research Center


INTERNATIONAL PATIENT CENTERS

• International Center
• Patient Education Center
• Telemedicine Center
• Hotels and restaurants adjacent to campus
• Travel agency and bank located on campus
• 24-hour shuttle service


BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL

Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) is a world-renowned center for advanced patient care, research, and medical education. Our experienced staff is dedicated to providing care that always places the patient first.

The Brigham and Women's Hospital ("BWH") ("BWH") is ranked 12th by U.S. News & World Report in its "Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals" for demonstrating high levels of competence in six major medical specialties. BWH ranks among the "Top Five Hospitals in America" for excellence in treating Kidney, Gynecological and Rheumatological Disease. Brigham and Women's ranks among "America's Top 10 Best Hospitals" for excellence in treating Cardiac, Digestive and Endocrine Diseases. (See, U.S. & World Report, July 2005).


SPECIALTY PRACTICE CENTERS

Women's Health Services
BWH has provided quality HealthCare to women for more than a century. Today the tradition of leadership continues: U.S. News & World Report ranked BWH among the top 5 US hospitals for the quality of its gynecological services, and among the top 10 hospitals nationally.

Cancer Care/Oncology
Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare-a new service that combines the expertise of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital is committed to providing you with the finest cancer care available today.

Cardiac Center
The Cardiac Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston provides one of the most comprehensive programs available for treating patients with cardiovascular disease. All diagnostic services and treatments are provided by the staff of BWH, an institution recognized worldwide for its expertise and contributions to the fields of cardiology and cardiac surgery. U.S. News & World Report has ranked BWH among the top 10 US hospitals for the quality of its cardiology services every year since 1994.

The Center for Chest Diseases
The Center for Chest Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital, which joins the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, provides a comprehensive program of services to patients with pulmonary and thoracic conditions. Among other areas, the center focuses on asthma, lung cancer, minimally invasive surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep disorders, lung disease and pregnancy, and surgery for the elderly. The center's mission is to provide the highest quality care to patients through this special collaboration. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Brigham and Women's Hospital among the 10 best for the quality of its pulmonary services.

Orthopedic and Arthritis Center
Brigham and Women's Orthopedic and Arthritis Center offers the most comprehensive care for patients with injuries to bones/joints and diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system. All diagnostic services and treatments are provided by the staff of BWH, an institution recognized worldwide for its expertise and contributions to these areas. In fact, U.S. News & World Report has ranked BWH among the top 5 US hospitals in the country for the quality of rheumatology services it provides and, in 1998, among the top 10 for overall orthopedic services.


DANA-FARBER/PARTNERS CANCERCARE

Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare is dedicated to providing the highest quality care and the most advanced treatments for adults with cancer. Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare is comprised of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the founding members of the Partners HealthCare System-Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. All three hospitals are major teaching hospitals of Harvard Medical School.

Many kinds of cancer and blood disorders are treated within the 12 disease programs that are the cornerstone of Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare.


SPECIALTY PRACTICE CENTERS

• Breast Cancer
• Endocrine Cancer
• Gastrointestinal Cancer
• Genitourinary Cancer
• Gynecologic Cancer
• Head and Neck Cancer
• Hematolgic Malignancies
• Hematology, Benign
• Melanoma
• Neurologic Cancer
• Sarcoma
• Thoracic Cancer


LOCATION AND LOCAL AMENITIES
Partners HealthCare Hospitals are located minutes from downtown Boston and Cambridge. Dining, retail, and cultural amenities are available within a 5-mile radius, including the renowned Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

For information on second opinions and referrals to Partners Healthcare System, please email info@worldcare.com