Newton-Wellesley News

NEWTON, MA – Steve and Rebecca Sullivan of Wellesley have made a $1.6 million commitment to support palliative care at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, which, coupled with their gift of $1.5M in the spring of 2021 brings their sponsorship to more than $3 million for this vital service.

The most recent Sullivan gift will support the establishment of a palliative care nurse navigator position within the hospital. The addition of this new role benefits the entire hospital and be particularly impactful in our Emergency Department where a palliative care nurse navigator will significantly enhance our ability to provide efficient, high-quality care for some of our most seriously ill patients. Research shows that an ED-embedded Palliative Care Consult Program can improve the quality of care for patients and families, streamline patient flow, and provide vital support to our care teams.

A gift of $1.5 million in the spring of 2021 endowed the Sullivan Family Chief of Palliative Care position, currently held by Kosha Thakore, MD, a talented and compassionate physician who leads the NWH Palliative Care team.

Palliative care is provided by a team of health care providers, including doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and myriad trained specialists. The team works with other hospital providers to provide comfort and improve quality of life for patients and their families. This form of care is offered alongside other treatments a person may be receiving and adds an extra layer of support and relief that complements ongoing care.

“We are deeply grateful to the Sullivans for their commitment and compassion,” says Ellen Moloney, president and chief operating officer of NWH.  Palliative care is essential to providing patients and families with comprehensive care and the Sullivans have enabled us to embrace this important aspect of patient and family support. We take great pride in the excellence of our Palliative Care Division and are deeply appreciative of the Sullivans for their leadership in this area. The nature of their gifts also ensures that our service will remain for years to come.”

A legacy of heartfelt support

Steve and Rebecca Sullivan have been committed to NWH for many years.  Steve served on the NWH Board of Trustees for nine years in addition to serving as co-chair of the Palliative Care Council. As the Sullivans became more engaged through events and volunteering, their appreciation for NWH grew.

Wishing to make NWH a focus of their generosity, they became early champions of community support for a budding program in Palliative Care. “As we learned more about the many benefits of palliative care, we sensed that expanding it could benefit so many families in our community,” says Rebecca, reflecting in part on the end-of-life care she experienced with her own mother.

“Looking ahead, we are excited to think about the impact this role can have on enhancing quality of care that Newton-Wellesley can provide to patients and their families during critical times,” she says.

NEWTON, MA – Newton-Wellesley Hospital, a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, was once again awarded an “A” grade for safety Friday by the Leapfrog Group, an independent, national not-for-profit watchdog organization. The hospital received the top grade in Spring 2024.

The Leapfrog Group assigns letter grades, ranging from “A” to “F,” to general hospitals throughout the United States. The grades are based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition from the Leapfrog Group with an ‘A’ grade for safety. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our physicians and staff, who go above and beyond to ensure the well-being of our patients,” said Newton-Wellesley president and chief operating officer Ellen Moloney. “At Newton-Wellesley we are committed to serving our community and providing exceptional patient care, while prioritizing patient safety every step of the way, and this is a testament to that.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. Safety Grade results are updated each fall and spring.

“Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade is a significant accomplishment for Newton-Wellesley,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It reflects enormous dedication to your patients and their families, and your whole community should be proud. I extend my congratulations to Newton-Wellesley, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for their tireless efforts to put patients first.”

The full Leapfrog grade details for hospitals are available online at HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

11.19.2024

NEWTON, MA – Newton-Wellesley Hospital, a member of Mass General Brigham, was honored as one of the top women-led businesses in Massachusetts, according to a list published in the Boston Globe Magazine “Women & Power” issue earlier this month. Newton-Wellesley Hospital joins multiple Mass General Brigham entities that are successfully helmed by female leaders.

Newton-Wellesley Hospital is led by president and chief operating officer Ellen Moloney, who has served in the top leadership role since 2023.

“Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Mass General Brigham are extraordinary organizations that are dedicated to serving the community and delivering high-quality care to patients and families,” says Moloney. “I am proud and grateful to represent and support the advancement of women throughout our healthcare system and our community.”

The Top 100 Women-Led Businesses List was assembled by The Women’s Edge, a non-profit organization that works to advance women in leadership positions. The Women’s Edge ranks organizations by examining a number of variables including their revenue, diversity, operating budget, number of employees, and innovative projects.

The announcement was made November 1 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, with Mass General Brigham serving as presenting sponsor. The entire list can be found online here.

NEWTON, MA –Newton-Wellesley Hospital has been named on Newsweek’s 2024 lists of ‘American’s Best Cancer Hospitals’ and ‘America’s Best Neurological Hospitals’, published last month.

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication, expertise, and compassionate care provided by our exceptional teams in both these specialties,” said Ellen Moloney, president and chief operating officer. “Their talent, and unwavering commitment to excellence and patient well-being, drives us to continue our pursuit in achieving the highest standards in care.”

This is the first year the publication has announced “America’s Best Hospital” rankings for the neurology specialty and the second for cancer. The rankings recognized the top 200 cancer hospitals and top 175 neurological hospitals.

“We are honored to be named among the best in the nation. This recognition highlights the tireless efforts and expertise of our neurology team and their commitment to providing top-tier care,” said Dr. Avraham Almozlino, chief of Neurology at Newton-Wellesley.

“Being named one of America’s Best Cancer Hospitals is a significant achievement that underscores the hard work and commitment of our oncology team, whose focus on innovative treatments and compassionate patient care is second to none,” added Dr. Lawrence Blaszkowsky, medical director of the Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley.

The rankings were compiled by market and consumer data company Statista, utilizing four data sources: a nationwide online survey, hospital quality metrics, results from patient experience surveys, and Statista’s patient reported outcome Measurers (PROMS) implementation survey.

“These facilities have delivered remarkable results for patients with complex, sometimes life-threatening conditions. Their inclusion here highlights their achievements and serves as a guide for individuals needing such care,” said Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief, on Newsweek’s website.

Complete ranking methodology is available online at:

https://d.newsweek.com/en/file/471638/methodology-abnh-2024-updated.pdf (for neurology) and

https://d.newsweek.com/en/file/471783/methodology-americas-best-cancer-hospitals-2024-updated.pdf (for cancer).

NEWTON, MA – Newton-Wellesley Hospital has climbed one spot in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Hospitals rankings released today. The hospital is ranked #7 in Massachusetts, one spot higher than in the 2023-2024 rankings, and #6 overall in the Boston Metro Area.

Newton-Wellesley has also been named “High Performing” in the treatment of ten specialties: back surgery (spinal fusion), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart failure, hip replacement, kidney failure, leukemia/lymphoma/myeloma, lung cancer surgery, and pneumonia. The “High Performing” designation is the highest award a hospital can earn in the publisher’s Common Adult Procedure and Condition Ratings.

“Being acknowledged by U.S. News & World Report is a source of pride for all of us and underscores our team’s commitment and effort in serving our community,” said Ellen Moloney, president and chief operating officer. “Every day I’m humbled by our team’s dedication, enthusiasm, and compassion for our patients.”

U.S. News evaluated nearly 5,000 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. Hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care and patient experience.

“For 35 years, U.S. News has been a leading resource for patients navigating their health care decisions,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “The ‘High Performing’ designation acknowledges hospitals that consistently deliver high-quality care for specific medical procedures and conditions. This recognition highlights their expertise and commitment to patient well-being.”

To calculate the Best Hospitals rankings, U.S. News evaluated each hospital’s performance on objective measures such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications, and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings methodology and Procedures & Conditions ratings methodology measure patient outcomes using data from millions of records provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

This year, among other methodology refinements, U.S. News incorporated new data on care provided to patients with Medicare Advantage insurance and on care provided to outpatients, nearly doubling the number of patients included in its annual data analysis. The Procedures & Conditions ratings are based entirely on objective quality measures.

Additional details about the U.S. News & World Report rankings, and ranking system, can be found online at usnews.com/best-hospitals.