The Boston Business Journal (BBJ) on Feb. 23 honored Tufts Medical Center and its Floating Hospital for Children as the "Most Admired Health Care Company/Institution in Boston" during the BBJ's second annual recognition of the city's "Most Admired Companies, CEOs and Brands."
Tufts Medical was selected as a finalist in the health care category, along with Children's Hospital Boston and Brigham and Women's Hospital. BBJ then invited the public to choose the winners for each of the nine "Most Admired" categories through an online vote.
With a total of 69 percent of the vote in its category, Tufts Medical won by one of the largest margins amongst all categories the entire award event, according to Tufts Medical Center Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications Brooke Tyson Hynes.
"Obviously there's great health care in Boston, so we were honored to receive the most honored in a city that's known for its world-class health care," she said. "Our patients and supporters really came out and voted for us and said how much they appreciate the care here."
Following its nomination, Tufts Medical staff encouraged people to vote on the BBJ website via social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, Julie Jette, director of media relations and publications at Tufts Medical, said.
"Clearly they responded very robustly," Jette said. "We do have a very loyal group of patients."
Hynes noted that Tufts Medical is smaller than the other academic medical center finalists in its category, which she believes contributed to the tremendous public support.
"I think we provide a very warm and intimate atmosphere," Hynes said. "A lot of patients develop great relationships here."
"Our staff works really hard to make people feel like a part of the family and not just a patient," Jette said. "I think that's what really makes a difference to people."
Tufts Medical has built its reputation around providing high-quality care at a lower cost, Deeb Salem, physician-in-chief at Tufts Medical Center, and Sheldon Wolff, professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, explained.
"I think at a time when businesses and individuals are struggling with rising health care costs, that's something that businesses and people particularly admire and respect," Hynes said.
Salem said that in the past few years Tufts Medical Center has garnered considerable public attention, especially in 2010 when it ranked sixth on the University HealthSystem Consortium's top 10 list of quality academic medical centers in the country.
"All together, we share a wonderful reputation these days," Salem said.
The hospital has been actively working to expand its primary care footprint, Salem said, adding that the BBJ likely recognized the medical center's efforts to reach out to the Boston community.
In addition to establishing partnerships with other community hospitals, Tufts Medical has been working in the Chinatown area of Boston in order to provide health care to more of its residents, according to Salem.
"So we're right out there, not just talking, but really working to help that community, and that's paying off for us," Salem said.
Salem hopes that Tufts Medical will continue to gain public approval as a result of this recognition from the BBJ.
"In my mind, the best is yet to come," Salem said. "I think we're on a very good trajectory. More and more people are going to realize that we do amazing things."
Hynes expressed gratitude toward the BBJ and the many supporters of Tufts Medical who made their voices heard during the voting process.
"We're very excited," she said. "On behalf of all our doctors and nurses, it's really gratifying to hear directly from the public how much they appreciate what we're doing every day."
